What's Included in a Yacht Charter — And What Isn't
The most common surprise in chartering isn't the price. It's discovering what the price did and didn't cover.
When you receive a yacht charter quote, you'll see a base rate, an APA, an estimated VAT and a note about gratuity. Each one means something specific, and confusing them is where most first-time guests get caught out. Here's exactly what sits in each line — and how to read a quote with confidence.
The base rate — the yacht and her crew, ready to go
The weekly yacht charter fee covers the yacht herself, her crew, and use of everything aboard — tenders, water toys, equipment, linen, basic insurance. It is the cost of having the yacht and her team at your service for the week.
It is not the cost of your week. Read it as 'the yacht and crew, idling at the dock' — everything that happens after you cast off is billed separately.
The APA — your running account for the week
On top of the base rate sits the APA — the Advance Provisioning Allowance, typically 30–40% of the fee. It's a float held by the captain to cover everything you consume during the week: fuel, food and drink, dockage, port fees, guest extras.
Every euro is logged. You're billed for what you actually use, and refunded the unspent balance at the end. The APA isn't an extra charge — it's your spending money, accounted for to the cent.
The extras — what sits outside both
A handful of things fall outside the rate and the APA: crew gratuity (customary, 10–15% of the base), and sometimes special requests — a private chef ashore, a particular rare wine, exceptional fuel use on a long passage, helicopter transfers.
Nothing is hidden, but it's worth knowing before you commit. A good broker volunteers the likely list before you ask.
Ask for a likely-extras list upfront. If you have to drag it out of someone, that's a signal.Our founder, on the water
The tax — and then there's VAT
Charter VAT is charged on the base fee, and the rate is set by the country whose waters you cruise. Croatia is 13%. France is 20%. Spain is 21%. Italy varies by area and yacht, often near 22%.
On a high-value week, the spread between cruising grounds alone can move the bill by tens of thousands of euros. Factor VAT in from the start, and let your cruising choice be part of the budgeting.
The real total — rate + APA + gratuity + VAT
Put together, a published rate of, say, €250,000 commonly becomes nearer €350,000 all-in. None of it is hidden — but it's rarely explained up front.
The whole number is the only one worth comparing between two quotes.
Always ask for the full estimate, line by line, before you sign. Then there are no surprises.Our founder, on the water
A good yacht charter holds no surprises — except lovely ones.
Understanding what's included isn't about pinching pennies. It's about stepping aboard with total clarity, so the only surprises that week are the good ones.
Talk to the FounderQuick answers
Are food and drinks included in a yacht charter?+
No, not in the base rate. They're paid from the APA — your running account — and you're billed for exactly what you consume, with the unspent balance refunded at the end.
Is fuel included in a yacht charter?+
Fuel is paid from the APA, not the base rate. The size of the fuel bill depends entirely on your itinerary — a fast island-hopping week burns far more than a quiet anchorage-led one.
Is the crew gratuity included?+
No. Gratuity is customary but separate, typically 10–15% of the base yacht charter fee, paid to the captain at the end of the week to distribute among the crew.
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