Yacht Charter Cost: Weekly Rates by Size, Plus the APA, VAT and Tip on Top

Yacht charter cost starts at $2,884 a week for a small bareboat sailboat in Corfu, per The Moorings, and at about €30,000 a week for a crewed 27-meter motor yacht on Fraser Yachts’ listings. The number on the brochure is only the base rate. On a crewed charter in the Mediterranean you add an advance provisioning allowance (APA) of about 25% to 40%, a crew tip of 10% to 20%, and VAT of 13% to 24% depending on the country.

So a €100,000 week can end up near €165,000 once everything is added. This guide shows the weekly ranges by boat type, then walks through what sits on top, how Mediterranean and Caribbean terms differ, and where you can pay less.

All ranges below are listed or “from” prices read on broker and operator pages in November 2026 and are not quotes. Every figure names its source.

Yacht Charter Cost by Type and Size

The cheapest way onto the water is a bareboat charter, where you skipper the boat yourself and provide your own crew and provisions. The most expensive is a crewed superyacht, where a captain, chef and deck team run everything. In between sit crewed catamarans and mid-size motor yachts.

Three notes on reading that table. First, “from” means the cheapest listed week, usually outside peak season. Fraser’s page notes that high-season charters can add an extra 10% to 15% to the advertised price for some yachts. Second, the Fraser figures are the listed prices of individual yachts, not a market average, and the yachts on the page change. Third, the Moorings figures are entry prices for the smallest boats; a larger catamaran costs several times more, so price the exact model.

Bareboat does not mean cheap in every case. You still pay for fuel, mooring and provisions, and some charter bases require a hired skipper if you cannot show experience, which adds a daily fee to the week.

What Sits on Top of the Base Rate

This is where most budgets break. On a crewed charter, the base rate buys the boat and crew. Nearly everything else is extra.

APA: Advance Provisioning Allowance

The APA is a cash advance you pay before the charter to cover running costs. The yacht’s captain spends it on your behalf and returns what is left. BlueBnc describes budgeting 25% to 35% of the base fee: about 25% for a relaxed itinerary and closer to 35% for a fast, marina-heavy trip. Fraser says it typically adds around 30%, paid one month in advance, with any shortfall triggering a top-up request and any surplus refunded. Burgess Yachts’ charter FAQ puts it at usually 30% to 40% of the weekly rate.

The APA covers food and drink, fuel, port and marina fees, onboard communications, laundry and special requests, according to BlueBnc. It does not cover the base fee, the crew tip, VAT or local taxes, or travel to and from the yacht. Because unused APA is refunded after the captain presents a reconciled account with receipts, it is the one item on the list that may come back to you.

VAT by Country

VAT on charters depends on where the charter starts and how long the yacht stays in each country’s waters. Ocean Independence listed these 2025 charter rates:

• Greece: 24%, which Ocean Independence says is reduced by 50% to 60% depending on itinerary and vessel type.
• Croatia: 13%, charged on charters beginning in Croatia and pro rata for time spent in Croatian waters.
• France: 20%, with a proportional reduction possible for time spent in international waters.
• Italy: 22%, with the previous 6.6% scheme abolished and reductions possible for time outside the EU.
• Spain: 21%, with no reduction for time in international waters.

Greece is the line to double-check. Broker and law-firm pages quote different effective rates for Greek charters, because the reduction depends on the charter’s length, the itinerary and whether the yacht is commercially registered, and Greece has revised these rules several times. Ask the broker for the VAT line in writing, with the rate and the rule it applies, before you sign.

Crew Gratuity

Tipping is not mandatory but is standard practice. Fraser calls it “strongly suggested” at around 15% to 20% of the base charter rate. BlueBnc gives 10% to 20% of the base fee, and Burgess says tips are usually 10% to 15% of the charter fee. Per Burgess, you give the captain your instructions after reviewing the end-of-charter accounts, and the captain shares the tip among the crew.

Delivery Fees

If you join the yacht somewhere other than where it is based, Burgess says there may be a fee to cover the fuel and crew costs of moving it. No broker we read publishes a standard rate, so ask for it as a separate line in the quote.

A Worked Example

Here is a simple example using the percentages above. It assumes a base rate of €100,000 for a week in France, which is our assumption for the illustration, not a quote.

The VAT is applied to the base fee in this example, and the APA is refundable to the extent it is not spent. Charters that cruise outside French waters can reduce the VAT portion. In practice this means that the cost of a €100,000 week is about €165,000 at the bottom of your wallet, with some of it coming back.

Charter Terms: MYBA vs All-Inclusive Caribbean

How a charter is priced depends on where you sail, because two conventions dominate.

Western Mediterranean Terms

In the Mediterranean the common structure is “plus expenses”: you pay the base rate, then APA covers the rest. BlueBnc says APA handling follows MYBA guidelines, which require transparency, and that APA is standard for weekly charters under MYBA terms. The MYBA charter agreement is the contract most Mediterranean brokers use. The concept is simple: the base rate is the yacht and crew, everything you consume comes on top.

Caribbean Terms

Many smaller crewed yachts in the Caribbean are quoted on all-inclusive terms, where the weekly rate covers food, standard drinks and fuel, so there is no APA to manage. Ask whether a fuel cap applies and which drinks count as standard. Larger yachts often quote “plus expenses” even in the Caribbean; Burgess says base rates generally follow MYBA terms, with “all additional expenses” for the charterer’s account. Read the contract, not the listing. For Caribbean timing, Burgess suggests late April or November to avoid the busiest, most expensive weeks.

The practical rule: compare the all-in number, not the base rate. A lower base rate with a high APA can cost more than a higher all-inclusive rate. That is why “all inclusive yacht charter” is not automatically cheaper, only simpler.

Luxury Yacht Charter by Destination

Where you sail changes what you pay, because VAT, season and fuel all depend on the region.

Mediterranean: Greece, Croatia, the French Riviera

Greece and Croatia are the entry points for many first-time charterers. VAT is lower in Croatia at 13% than in Greece’s standard 24%, though Greece reduces it by 50% to 60% depending on the itinerary, per Ocean Independence. The French Riviera adds 20% VAT with an optional reduction for time in international waters. Marina costs can dominate: BlueBnc gives fuel of about €3,000 for a week around Mallorca and €10,000 or more for a Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera trip, and marina fees of about €600 a night at Club de Mar in Palma against €2,000 or more a night at Marina Ibiza in August.

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Caribbean: BVI and St. Barts

The BVI is the bareboat capital, with Moorings entry prices from $3,284 for a week. Larger crewed yachts cruise the US and British Virgin Islands and St. Barts, where winter holiday weeks carry the highest rates, so get a broker’s rate sheet for your exact dates.

Season and Price Swings

Prices peak in the Mediterranean in July and August, and Fraser notes high season can add 10% to 15% for some yachts. Shoulder months usually cost less. If your dates are flexible, the cheapest week is often the one just before or after peak.

Day Charters and Short Breaks

If a week is out of reach, a day charter is a real option. Getmyboat says Mediterranean prices run from $80 per person for a group day charter to over $10,000 a day for luxury yachts, with luxury crewed yachts at $3,000 to over $10,000 a day and smaller motor yachts from around $1,000 for a half day. BlueBnc says Balearic day charters typically skip the APA and include the crew, a set amount of fuel for a local route such as Palma Bay, and drinks and light snacks.

Check what a day rate excludes: extra fuel for a longer route, marina fees and the crew tip are the usual add-ons.

How to Pay Less

Four things move the final number more than any negotiation.

1. Sail in shoulder season. Fraser says peak weeks can add 10% to 15%. A week in June or September can cost noticeably less than August.
2. Choose a catamaran. Catamarans offer more deck and cabin space per dollar for groups, and a bareboat catamaran with a hired skipper costs a fraction of a crewed motor yacht from €30,000 a week.
3. Ask about positioning. Ask a broker whether any yacht is moving between regions on your dates; a yacht that has to reposition anyway may waive the delivery fee.
4. Use a broker for crewed charters. A broker can compare the APA and VAT terms across boats on your dates.

Finally, plan the rest of the trip around the charter. If your holiday needs a flight, our guide to private jet charter cost shows what the airborne part can run. For a trip that pairs sea and sand, see our guides to the best resorts in the Maldives and overwater bungalows. For other ways to see the water, read the best Antarctica cruises or browse the cruises and yachts hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to rent a yacht for a week?

A bareboat starts around $2,884 to $3,284 a week at The Moorings, per its site. Crewed motor yachts start around €30,000 for a 27-meter yacht on Fraser Yachts' listings. Add roughly 25% to 40% for APA, 10% to 20% for the crew tip, and VAT where it applies.

How much is a yacht for a day?

A yacht for a day costs from about $80 per person on a shared group charter to over $10,000 for a luxury crewed yacht, per Getmyboat. Smaller motor yachts start near $1,000 for a half day. Extra fuel, marina fees and the tip are often on top.

What is APA on a yacht charter?

APA is the advance provisioning allowance, a cash advance of about 25% to 35% of the base fee that pays for fuel, food, drink and marina fees. The captain spends it on your behalf, and unused APA is refunded after a reconciled account, per BlueBnc.

Are all-inclusive yacht charters cheaper?

Not automatically. An all-inclusive rate bundles food, drink and fuel, so the base number looks higher but the total is easier to predict. Compare the all-in cost including APA, VAT and tip, not the base rate.

How much do you tip yacht crew?

Yacht crew are usually tipped 10% to 20% of the base charter fee. Fraser suggests 15% to 20%, BlueBnc 10% to 20% and Burgess 10% to 15%. The tip is separate from the APA, and the captain shares it among the crew.

Sources

• Fraser Yachts, How much does it cost to charter a yacht, 2026, https://www.fraseryachts.com/en/superyachts-for-charter/cost-of-a-yacht-charter/
• Ocean Independence, Yacht VAT Explained, November 2025, https://www.oceanindependence.com/articles/vat-superyacht-charters-everything-you-need-know/
• BlueBnc, APA: Advance Provisioning Allowance, 2026, https://www.bluebnc.com/en-es/help-center/apa-advance-provisioning-allowance
• The Moorings, sailing charter pages, April 2026, https://www.moorings.com/yacht-vacations/sailing-charter
• Burgess Yachts, Charter FAQs, 2026, https://www.burgessyachts.com/en/charter-a-yacht/charter-faqs
• Getmyboat, luxury yacht charter, https://www.getmyboat.com/boat-rental/luxury-yacht-charter