Indonesian yacht rentals use two separate deposits: a booking deposit of typically 30–50% that confirms the dates and is usually non-refundable inside the cancellation window, and a damage or security deposit — commonly USD 500–2,000 on day and short charters — held or pre-authorised and released after disembarkation. Read the cancellation table, the weather clause and the definition of fair wear before you pay either.
Two deposits, two different jobs
Guests routinely conflate them, and operators are not always careful with the language. The booking deposit buys the dates: it takes the vessel off the market and compensates the operator for turning away other enquiries. The damage deposit is a security against loss or damage during the charter, and it should come back to you.
| Booking deposit | Damage deposit | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical amount | 30–50% of the charter fee | USD 500–2,000 on day and short charters |
| When paid | On signature | Before or at embarkation |
| Refundable? | Only per the cancellation table | Yes, less any documented deduction |
| Common form | Bank transfer | Card pre-authorisation or cash held |
| Released | Applied to the balance | Usually within 7–14 days after disembarkation |
The cancellation table is the clause that matters
Every serious charter agreement has one, and it is usually a simple ladder: cancel more than 90 days out and lose a smaller share, cancel inside 30 days and lose most or all. The reason is straightforward — a boat cancelled two weeks before a peak date rarely re-sells.
Read three things in that table. First, whether the ladder is measured from the signature date or the charter date. Second, whether “non-refundable” means non-transferable, because many operators will move dates within a season even when they will not refund. Third, what happens if the operator cancels — a fair contract makes that a full refund or a substitute vessel of equal standard at their cost.
What the damage deposit is actually for
Not scratches. Every boat picks up marks in normal service, and a well-drafted agreement distinguishes fair wear and tear from damage. In practice the deductions guests see relate to:
- Lost or broken snorkelling and dive equipment, and lost tender gear.
- Damage to upholstery or teak from sun cream, red wine, spearfishing gear or fishing hooks.
- Blocked heads — the single most common deduction on charter boats worldwide, caused by anything that is not paper going down the bowl.
- Fuel used beyond the agreed cruising area, which is a charge rather than damage but is often settled from the same deposit.
- Lost keys, remotes and drone controllers left on a beach.
Ask for the deduction schedule at booking. Operators who have one will send it; operators who do not will reply that it is assessed case by case, which is worth knowing before you hand over a card.
Photographs, both directions
The single most useful habit for a charter guest is five minutes of photographs on boarding — upholstery, teak, tender, snorkel gear count — and the same five minutes on leaving. It resolves almost every dispute before it starts, and good crews welcome it because it protects them too. On multi-day charters an inventory checklist signed by both sides is standard.
Payment methods and the practical risks
Most Indonesian operators take international bank transfer for the booking deposit and card for the damage deposit. Two practical points. International transfers take longer than people expect, so start them a day before your deadline rather than on it, and always attach the payment confirmation to the signed agreement. Card pre-authorisations expire — typically after 7 to 30 days depending on the issuer — which occasionally means a second authorisation for a long booking.
Be cautious of any request to send a deposit to a personal account when you are contracting with a company. A registered operator invoices from a registered entity, a point we make in our operator comparison checklist.
Weather, and where deposits meet reality
The clause guests read least and need most. A charter cancelled by the master for sea state should be handled by the weather policy, not the cancellation table, and the two are different sections of the same document. Look for what the policy offers: a reschedule, a partial refund, a shortened route, or nothing. The full picture, including who has authority to make the call, is in weather calls on rental days.
What a fair agreement contains
- Vessel name, date, embarkation and disembarkation points and times.
- Guest numbers, and what happens if the number changes.
- Inclusions and exclusions in specific terms, not “standard inclusions”.
- Payment schedule with dates.
- Cancellation ladder for both sides.
- Damage deposit amount, form, deduction basis and release timing.
- Weather and force majeure clause naming who decides.
- Insurance position, cross-referenced to our guest insurance guide.
If any of the eight is missing, ask for it in writing before paying. That request is normal, and the speed of the answer is itself information.
Getting the deposit back smoothly
Leave the boat as you found it, land your own rubbish, count the snorkel gear back in with a crew member, settle any fuel or bar extras on the day rather than by email a week later, and take your photographs. Deposits released within a fortnight are the norm with established operators; if it has not appeared in three weeks, a polite reference to the release timing in the agreement usually resolves it.
If you would like a charter agreement read before you sign it, send it to our team on WhatsApp at +62 811-3941-4563 or email [email protected]. The booking sequence that leads up to it is set out in how to book a private yacht rental.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the damage deposit on an Indonesian yacht rental?
Commonly USD 500 to 2,000 on day and short charters, taken as a card pre-authorisation or held in cash and released after disembarkation, usually within seven to fourteen days less any documented deduction.
Is the booking deposit refundable?
Only according to the cancellation ladder in the agreement. Many operators who will not refund will still move your dates within the same season, so ask about transfer as well as refund.
What do guests actually get charged for?
Most often lost snorkelling equipment, upholstery or teak damage, blocked heads, fuel used beyond the agreed cruising area, and lost keys or controllers. Fair wear and tear should not be deducted.
How do I protect myself against a deposit dispute?
Photograph the boat, upholstery, tender and equipment on boarding and again on leaving, count gear back in with a crew member, and settle extras on the day. Ask for the deduction schedule at booking.
