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Charter pricing
How Charter Pricing Works: APA, VAT and What Is Included
This page explains, in full, how a crewed yacht charter is priced: the four parts of the bill, what each one covers, and what stays outside the figure you are quoted. Every destination cost page links here rather than repeating it.
What You Are Actually Paying For
A crewed charter has four parts. Only the first is the figure you see advertised, which is why a quote can look like a surprise when it is really just the same charter written out in full.
- Charter fee
The yacht, her full crew, their wages and food, and insurance, for the period of the charter. This is the number in the listing.
The headline figure - APA
Advance Provisioning Allowance. A float you pay up front which the captain spends on your behalf, on fuel, food, drink and berths.
- VAT
Charged by the country the charter begins in, not the one the yacht is flagged in.
Set by the country you embark in - Crew gratuity
Discretionary, handed to the captain at the end and shared among the crew. Nobody will ask you for it, and it is genuinely optional.
5 to 15%, 10% is customary
The APA is the part most people misread: it is a float, not a fee. Anything the captain does not spend comes back to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the price per person or for the whole yacht?
For the whole yacht. A crewed charter gives you exclusive use of the yacht and her crew, and the price is the same whether you sail with four guests or with twelve.
What is APA and do I get it back?
APA is the Advance Provisioning Allowance. It is a float you pay up front which the captain spends on your behalf on fuel, food, drink and berths, and the yacht you choose sets the figure. It is your money throughout: at the end of the charter you receive an itemised account with receipts, and anything unspent is returned to you.
Is fuel included in the charter price?
No. Fuel for both the yacht and her tender is paid from the APA, and together with berths it is the largest part of it. That is why a week spent largely at anchor costs less to run than one covering long distances.
How much should I tip the crew?
Between 5 and 15% of the charter fee, with 10% the customary figure. It is entirely discretionary, it is given to the captain at the end of the charter and shared among the crew, and no one aboard will raise it with you.
What is not included in the price I am quoted?
Your quote covers the yacht, her crew and insurance. Outside it sit the APA, which pays for fuel, provisioning and berths, the tax of the country you embark in, and a discretionary crew gratuity at the end. Your travel to and from the destination is separate, though the crew will arrange transfers if you ask.
Rates by Destination
The rules on this page are the same everywhere. The figures are not: the size bands, the tax rate and the season all belong to the destination you charter from.
Want this costed for your dates?
Send us the week and the party size and we will come back with live availability and a full breakdown.