How Much Does It Cost to Charter a Yacht? (2025 Breakdown)

The most common question in yacht chartering — and the one most sources answer least clearly — is: what does it actually cost? The brochure price is rarely the number that matters. Between base charter fees, APA, VAT, marina costs, gratuity, and the security deposit, the total bill for a week’s charter is typically 40–60% higher than the headline figure you first see.

This guide gives you the real numbers. Every cost is itemised, every destination covered, and every hidden charge explained. By the end you’ll have a realistic budget figure for the type of charter you’re considering — and no surprises when the final invoice arrives.

“The base charter fee is the opening act. What follows — APA, VAT, fuel, marina fees, gratuity — is the rest of the performance. Budget for all of it.”

The Base Charter Fee

The base charter fee is the cost of renting the yacht itself for one week. It covers the vessel, its safety equipment, navigation instruments, linens, and — for crewed charters — the crew’s wages. Everything else is extra.

Base fees vary enormously depending on four factors: the type of charter, the size and age of the boat, the departure destination, and the time of year. The tables below give realistic ranges for 2025 across the most popular charter markets.

Bareboat Charter Costs

Boat Type and Size	Low Season	Shoulder Season	Peak Season
Sailing yacht 36–40ft	€800–1,500	€1,200–2,500	€2,000–4,500
Sailing yacht 42–48ft	€1,500–2,800	€2,200–4,000	€3,500–6,500
Catamaran 40–44ft	€2,000–3,500	€3,000–5,500	€5,500–10,000
Catamaran 46–52ft	€3,500–5,500	€5,000–8,000	€8,000–14,000

Skippered Charter Costs

A skippered charter adds the professional skipper’s fee on top of the bareboat price. Skipper fees vary by destination and boat size:

Fully Crewed Charter Costs

Yacht Size and Type	Med Low Season	Med Peak Season	Caribbean (peak)
Crewed catamaran 45–52ft	€6,000–10,000	€12,000–22,000	$18,000–35,000
Crewed sailing yacht 50–65ft	€10,000–18,000	€18,000–35,000	$25,000–55,000
Motor yacht 60–80ft	€18,000–35,000	€30,000–65,000	$40,000–90,000
Superyacht 80ft+	€50,000+	€100,000–500,000+	$100,000–500,000+

The Additional Costs: What You’ll Actually Pay

The base fee is where most budget calculations stop — and where most budget surprises begin. Here is every additional cost you should account for before signing a charter agreement.

APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) — Crewed Charters Only

APA is a pre-funded expense account for the variable running costs of a crewed charter: fuel, food and drinks, marina fees, port taxes, and anything else the crew spends on your behalf during the week. It is paid before the charter begins, managed by the captain during the trip, and reconciled with receipts at the end. Unused APA is refunded.

APA is calculated as a percentage of the base charter fee:

• Sailing yachts (lower fuel consumption): 20–30% of base fee
• Motor yachts (higher fuel consumption): 30–40% of base fee
• French Riviera (high berthing costs): Up to 40%
• Caribbean (often all-inclusive contracts): Sometimes bundled into a single flat rate instead

Example: A crewed catamaran at €15,000/week in the Mediterranean requires an APA of approximately €3,750–4,500 (25–30%). Your total prepayment before boarding: around €19,000.

VAT — Varies Critically by Destination

VAT is one of the most significant and most overlooked costs in charter budgeting. It applies to the base charter fee and varies substantially by country. Always confirm with the charter company whether the quoted price is VAT-inclusive or VAT-exclusive.

Destination	VAT Rate	Notes
Croatia	13%	One of the lowest in the Med. Applied to charter fee.
Greece	12% (reduced rate)	Applies to yachts over 12m. Can vary.
Turkey	18%	On Turkish-flagged yachts.
Spain	21%	One of the highest in the Med.
Italy	22%	Applies to the charter fee.
France	20%	Applied at the port of embarkation.
BVI / St Martin / Grenadines	No VAT	Key financial advantage of Caribbean chartering.
Bahamas	4%	Plus cruising permit fees.

Marina and Berthing Fees

Marina fees accumulate quickly over a week and are one of the most variable costs in a charter budget. The difference between an expensive ACI marina in Croatia and anchoring free off an uninhabited island can be €100 per night. Most sailors split the week between marinas (for showers, electricity and restaurants) and free or cheap anchorages.

• ACI and branded marinas (Croatia, Greece): €50–200/night depending on boat size
• Small town quays: €15–60/night — often includes a meal stop ashore
• Anchoring (free bays): €0 — the most common option in the Greek islands and Caribbean
• France / Italy (peak season): Can exceed €300–400/night in popular ports like Portofino or Saint-Tropez
• Catamaran supplement: Many Croatian and Italian marinas add 50–60% on top of the base fee for catamarans due to their wider beam

Budgeting guide: Plan for 3–4 marina nights and 3–4 anchor or free buoy nights over a week. For Croatia on a 44ft catamaran, that’s approximately €300–500 in marina fees for the week.

Fuel

Fuel costs depend on how much you motor versus sail, the size of the engine, and fuel prices at the destination. Mediterranean diesel runs approximately €1.20–1.60/litre at marinas.

• Sailing well with good wind (minimal motoring): €80–150/week
• Mixed sailing and motoring (typical): €150–300/week
• Heavy motoring (July–August, light winds): €300–500/week on a catamaran

Security Deposit

Charter companies require a security deposit against any damage to the boat. This is typically pre-authorised on your credit card at check-in — not a cash payment, but it blocks the amount on your card for the duration of the trip.

• Typical range: €1,000–3,000 depending on boat size and destination
• Deposit insurance: Available for €100–200/week, it replaces the blocked card amount with a small premium — worth buying for most charters above a week

Crew Gratuity — Crewed Charters

Gratuity for a crewed charter crew is not legally mandatory but is deeply expected — and the charter industry is small enough that it reflects on you if it’s absent. The standard amounts are:

• Mediterranean: 10–15% of the base charter fee
• Caribbean: 15–20% of the base charter fee

Gratuity is calculated on the base fee only — not on the APA. It is given in cash to the captain on the final day, who distributes it among the crew.

Provisioning — Bareboat and Skippered Charters

On a bareboat or skippered charter, you provision the boat yourself — buying food, drinks and supplies before departure. Budget approximately:

• Self-catering most meals: €50–70/person/week
• Mixed (some meals ashore, some on board): €80–120/person/week
• Eating mostly ashore: €150–250/person/week (destination-dependent)

Other Costs to Know

• Deposit insurance: €100–200 — eliminates the need to block the security deposit on your credit card
• Travel insurance: Recommended for any charter. Specific policies covering charter cancellation are available.
• National park permits: Required for Kornati (Croatia), Mljet (Croatia), some Greek marine parks — typically €20–50/person
• Transit log / vignette: Required for foreign-flagged vessels in Croatian waters — approximately €30–120 depending on boat size, arranged through the charter company
• Cleaning fee: Most charters include a mandatory end-of-charter cleaning fee — typically €150–300, sometimes already included in the quoted price

The Real Total: Worked Examples

Here is what a realistic total looks like for three common charter scenarios, all based on peak season Mediterranean pricing (July).

How to Reduce Your Charter Costs

The charter market rewards flexibility and forward planning. These are the most effective ways to reduce what you pay.

Go in June or September

Shoulder season pricing in the Mediterranean is typically 20–35% lower than peak July–August rates for the same boat. The sailing conditions in June and September are often better too — more wind, fewer crowds, and restaurant tables that don’t require reservations a week in advance.

Book Early

Early booking discounts of 10–15% are common for reservations made six months or more in advance, especially through direct bookings with charter companies rather than aggregator platforms. The best boats in popular departure ports fill earliest.

Maximise Your Group Size

Charter fees are per boat, not per person. The more people you split the cost across, the more competitive the per-person price becomes. A €8,000 bareboat catamaran costs €1,333 per person for a group of six — comparable to a decent hotel for a week, but with considerably more adventure.

Choose a Destination with Low VAT

VAT is one of the most impactful variables in charter pricing and the easiest to control. Chartering in Croatia (13% VAT) rather than France (20%) on a €10,000 base fee saves €700 before you’ve made any other decisions. The BVI has no charter VAT at all.

Anchor More, Marina Less

Anchoring is free in most destinations (national park zones excepted). A week split between anchoring and town quays rather than branded marinas can save €300–600 on a typical charter — and the anchored nights are usually the most memorable.