About Sneed Tropical Yacht Charters
A family yacht charter brokerage, founded in Palm Beach Gardens in 1992. Four brokers, three offices, and a network of more than 3,000 vessels.
Broking charters since 1991Sneed Tropical Yacht Charters is an independent charter brokerage founded in 1992 by Hansel Sneed, who has been broking charters since 1991. We arrange fully crewed motor yacht, sailing yacht, catamaran, expedition and private cruise ship charters worldwide, from 40 to over 300 feet, drawing on a network of more than 3,000 vessels. We work from three offices — Palm Beach Gardens, San Juan and Barcelona — in English and Spanish. Every charter is handled by one named broker, start to finish.
Who we are
Sneed Tropical Yacht Charters is an independent brokerage, which means we represent you rather than any one vessel. We do not own yachts and we are not a booking engine. When you send us your dates, a broker reads the enquiry personally and comes back with a shortlist drawn from the whole market.
What we arrange
Crewed motor yachts, sailing yachts and catamarans; expedition yachts for remote cruising grounds; and full-ship private cruise ship charters for large groups. We also handle yacht brokerage and new construction for clients buying rather than chartering. Vessels run from 40 feet to over 300.
Where we work
The Caribbean and Bahamas through the winter, the Mediterranean through the summer, and further afield year-round — Thailand, the Maldives, the Seychelles, the South Pacific, Alaska, New England and the Galápagos. Our brokers inspect yachts in person where they can, so the shortlist reflects the boat as it is now rather than as the brochure describes it.
How we are paid
Charter commission is paid by the yacht owner, not by you. The rate you are quoted is the same rate you would be offered going direct, which is why using a broker costs you nothing and gives you someone on your side of the contract. We work on trade terms with travel advisors, family offices and assistants booking on a client’s behalf.
Our brokers
Four people, and you will know which one is yours before you commit to anything. The broker who answers your first enquiry stays with you through the contract, the itinerary and the charter itself.
Hansel Sneed
Founder & Charter Broker
Hansel founded Sneed Tropical Yacht Charters in 1992 and has been broking yacht charters since 1991. He runs the company from Palm Beach Gardens and still takes charter clients personally rather than only managing the firm.
Adrian Sneed
Broker & Marketing Manager
Adrian joined the brokerage in 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and an MBA in marketing, and spent his early career in hotel operations with Marriott, Hilton and Disney — where service standards are set by the details guests never notice. He has also crewed aboard a sailboat in the Spanish Virgin Islands, and handles the firm’s marketing alongside his own charter clients.
María Murillo
CFO & Charter Broker
María is the company’s chief financial officer and a working charter broker. She oversees client accounts and charter payments alongside her own clients, which means the person handling your money is also someone who understands the charter itself.
Rafael J. Lopez
Broker & Manager, Barcelona
Rafael manages our Barcelona office and is the first point of contact for clients based in Europe, working in the same time zone as the Mediterranean fleet and the yacht management companies behind it.
Offices
Three offices across two time zones, so someone is reachable through the US and European working day.
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Head office since 1992. Caribbean, Bahamas and North American charters. 1-561-463-6840
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Spanish Virgin Islands and the eastern Caribbean, in the same waters our clients charter.
Barcelona, Spain
Mediterranean charters and European clients. infobarcelona@a-yachtcharter.com
What that adds up to
No franchise, no rotating queue, no automated funnel. A small team that has been doing this since the year before the company existed.
Founded in 1992 by Hansel Sneed. Browse the fleet · How chartering works · What it costs
What to expect from us
The same five things, whether you are chartering a 45ft catamaran for a week or a 300ft superyacht for a month.
One dedicated broker
You deal with the same person from first enquiry through to disembarkation, not a call centre or a rotating queue.
A reply within 24 hours
A broker reads every enquiry personally and comes back within 24 hours — with a shortlist if we have one, or an honest answer if your dates are tight.
Discretion as standard
Enquiries, itineraries and payments are handled confidentially. Many of our clients are executives, public figures and families who value their privacy.
No obligation at enquiry
We shortlist and quote against your dates before you commit to anything. If nothing fits, we say so rather than sell you the nearest thing.
English and Spanish
Every broker on the team works in both languages, across US and European hours.
Booking for someone else
Assistants, family offices and travel advisors arrange a large share of the charters we handle. We work on trade terms and pay commission — tell us who the charter is for and we will keep you copied on everything.
Talk to a broker
Send your dates, cruising ground and guest count. A named broker comes back within 24 hours with yachts that are actually available, and what they will cost with APA included.
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