Blog
Guides for planning a private yacht charter in San Diego — choosing the right vessel for your group, what to expect aboard, and how to build a proposal, birthday, bachelor/bachelorette, corporate event, or holiday charter around San Diego Bay. Written by the CDM Yachts team from our own fleet and booking experience, not generic advice.
Fleet
October 19, 2026 · 2 min read
A 69-foot McKinna with an 18'6" beam, a climate-controlled Skylounge, and Starlink has joined the CDM Yachts fleet, chartering from Mission Bay.
October 19, 2026 · 3 min read
A rare pod of orcas has been spotted off the San Diego coast, and gray whale season is around the corner. Here's what to know and how to plan a whale-watching charter.
October 19, 2026 · 3 min read
CDM Yachts runs three private sportfishing trips from Shelter Island, plus luxury fishing aboard the McKinna 69. Here's how the trips compare and which one fits your group.
October 18, 2026 · 4 min read
Golden hour on San Diego Bay: which yacht to book, how long to charter, and what's included in every CDM Yachts sunset cruise.
October 16, 2026 · 4 min read
Fitting a big group onto one boat takes a different yacht than a couple booking a sunset cruise. Here's how large-group charters work in San Diego.
October 14, 2026 · 4 min read
A private yacht charter makes an anniversary feel different from a dinner reservation. Here's how to plan one on San Diego Bay.
October 12, 2026 · 3 min read
A company holiday party on the water is easy to get people to attend and hard to forget. Here's how to plan one, from guest count to booking timeline.
October 11, 2026 · 4 min read
A private charter puts grandparents, parents, and kids on one deck instead of splitting tables. Here's how to plan a family reunion on San Diego Bay.
October 9, 2026 · 4 min read
A yacht charter gives a networking event or industry mixer real deck space to mingle, a skyline view, and no generic conference room.
October 5, 2026 · 4 min read
The San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival returns Nov 1–8, 2026, with its Grand Weekend on the Embarcadero. Here's how a private charter fits into the plans.
October 3, 2026 · 4 min read
Speed limits, required safety gear, BUI laws, and the California Boater Card — the San Diego boating rules a crewed charter lets you skip entirely.
October 1, 2026 · 3 min read
Every October, Two Harbors on Catalina Island turns into a pirate party. Here's what Buccaneer Days is, how moorings work, and how to get your boat there from San Diego.
Photo: Arpit Mehta, courtesy of Catalina Island Company
October 1, 2026 · 5 min read
The real rules for a CDM Yachts charter — what to bring, what's not allowed, and how the day actually runs, not generic yacht-magazine advice.
September 30, 2026 · 6 min read
Shelter Island, Point Loma, the downtown Embarcadero, the Coronado Bridge, and Glorietta Bay — a landmark-by-landmark guide to San Diego Bay from the water.
September 30, 2026 · 4 min read
Rental, charter, bareboat, crewed — what the terms actually mean, and what you get when you book a private yacht in San Diego.
September 25, 2026 · 4 min read
Welcome cruises, rehearsal dinners, after-parties, and a farewell sail — how to use a private yacht charter for the events around your San Diego wedding.
September 24, 2026 · 4 min read
A practical packing list for a San Diego Bay charter — what to wear, what food and drinks you can bring, and what to leave at home.
September 22, 2026 · 5 min read
A real breakdown of what yacht management covers — and which parts of it actually apply to a private motor yacht in San Diego, not a crewed superyacht.
September 21, 2026 · 5 min read
Skip the house party and the bar cover charge — here's how to plan a private Halloween yacht charter on San Diego Bay, from picking a vessel to what to bring.
September 17, 2026 · 2 min read
Never chartered a yacht before? Here's exactly how the process works, from picking a vessel to stepping aboard.
September 17, 2026 · 3 min read
What actually drives a San Diego yacht charter quote — vessel size, duration, and guest count — plus CDM's current published rates.
September 17, 2026 · 2 min read
A quick reference for matching your guest count to the right CDM Yachts vessel, from an intimate proposal to a 134-guest event.
September 4, 2026 · 1 min read
A look at what's actually on board our fleet — not a generic amenities checklist.
August 27, 2026 · 1 min read
The skyline, the bay, and the coastline look different from a private yacht than from land.
August 20, 2026 · 2 min read
The right yacht depends mostly on your guest count and how much of the boat you want to yourselves.
July 30, 2026 · 1 min read
An overnight charter is available by custom quote on any vessel in the fleet — here's how it differs from a standard charter.
July 16, 2026 · 3 min read
Certified for up to 134 passengers, the Westport 100 is built to entertain — here's what makes it feel bigger than its length suggests.
July 8, 2026 · 1 min read
A yacht charter solves the two hardest parts of a corporate event: getting people to actually show up, and giving them something to talk about after.
June 25, 2026 · 1 min read
From an intimate dinner cruise to a 100-guest party, here's how to size a birthday charter to the celebration.
June 18, 2026 · 1 min read
San Diego Bay hosts fireworks for several occasions each year — a private charter gets you an open-water view without the shoreline crowds.
June 11, 2026 · 1 min read
San Diego Bay is chartered year-round, but spring and summer bring their own reasons to book.
May 23, 2026 · 1 min read
Before buying a yacht, chartering a few times can clarify what you actually want — and what ownership really costs.
May 14, 2026 · 1 min read
A private charter gives you a controlled, camera-ready setting for a proposal, without an audience of strangers.
April 18, 2026 · 1 min read
San Diego's waterfront boat show is a good yearly checkpoint for boat owners — and a reminder to get your own vessel serviced before the busy season.
April 9, 2026 · 1 min read
A private yacht charter skips the bar crawl and the crowded party bus — here's how to plan one for a bachelor or bachelorette party.
March 10, 2026 · 1 min read
Petco Park sits minutes from San Diego Bay — here's how to turn a Padres game into a full day on the water.
February 27, 2026 · 1 min read
Planning a spring break trip to San Diego? Here's how a private charter fits into the week, and why to book early.
February 14, 2026 · 1 min read
San Diego's waters draw yellowfin, bluefin, and albacore tuna — here's what to know before booking a fishing charter.
January 22, 2026 · 1 min read
Gray whales migrate past San Diego every winter — here's what a private whale-watching charter can (and can't) promise.
January 6, 2026 · 1 min read
New Year's Eve is the busiest charter night of the year on San Diego Bay — here's what to know if you're planning ahead for next year.
December 12, 2025 · 1 min read
San Diego Bay's illuminated boat parade runs on select December evenings — a private charter is one of the best ways to see it.
October 3, 2025 · 1 min read
Fleet Week San Diego brings Navy ships and a harbor air show to the bay each fall — here's how a private charter fits in.
July 28, 2025 · 1 min read
San Diego Comic-Con packs the Gaslamp Quarter every summer — a short charter on the adjacent bay is an easy way to escape the crowds.
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