Yacht Charter Cost Explained — Base Rate, APA, VAT, Crew Gratuity

# Yacht Charter Cost Explained — Base Rate, APA, VAT, Crew Gratuity The headline number on a luxury yacht charter brochure is rarely what you actually pay. Understanding **yacht charter cost** means understanding four separate line items: base rate, APA, VAT and crew gratuity. ## 1. Base rate The base rate is the weekly fee to hire the yacht and crew. It covers the yacht, the crew's salaries, insurance, and bareboat use of the vessel. Indicative ranges: - **Sailing catamaran charter (40–50ft, all-inclusive)**: €18,000–€35,000 per week - **Crewed motor yacht (25–35m)**: €45,000–€120,000 per week - **Superyacht charter (40–60m)**: €180,000–€450,000 per week - **Trophy superyacht (70m+)**: €600,000–€2M+ per week Private yacht charter in the Maldives, BVI and a handful of other regions is sometimes quoted "all-inclusive" instead of base + APA — read the contract carefully. ## 2. APA — Advance Provisioning Allowance Most crewed and superyacht charters add an APA of **25–35% of the base rate** paid in advance. The APA covers everything the captain spends during your charter: fuel, dockage, food, beverages, communication, water sports fuel, customs, agency fees. The captain accounts every euro and refunds any surplus at the end of the week (or invoices the overage). Fuel is the wild card. A 60m motor yacht running fast between Sardinia and Capri can burn through €40,000 of diesel in a week. ## 3. VAT In the Mediterranean, **VAT applies on the base rate** for the portion of the charter inside EU waters. Rates: Croatia 13%, Italy 22% (with a partial-EU discount possible), France 20%, Greece 13%. The Caribbean, Maldives and most non-EU regions have no charter VAT. ## 4. Crew gratuity Industry standard for a crewed yacht charter is **10–20% of the base rate** as a discretionary tip to the captain and crew at the end of the week, distributed by the captain. 10% is the low bar; 15% is the considerate norm; 20% is exceptional service. ## Worked example — 40m motor yacht, Mediterranean, 1 week - Base rate: €150,000 - APA (30%): €45,000 - VAT (13%, Croatia): €19,500 - Crew gratuity (15%): €22,500 - **Total cash out: ~€237,000** ## Where the numbers move - **Off-peak shoulder**: 15–25% off base rate - **Christmas/NYE in St Barths**: base rate roughly double - **Repositioning charters**: 30–50% off the base rate in exchange for a one-way route If you want a concrete quote, our [concierge team](/concierge) builds a full cost breakdown for any specific yacht and itinerary before you commit.