What Is Included in a Luxury Yacht Charter? The Full Breakdown

The charter fee is the number on the listing. It is not the total cost. Understanding exactly what is included — and what is not — prevents surprises and helps you budget accurately. This guide covers every component of a crewed luxury yacht charter, from the headline rate to the final invoice.

What the Charter Fee Covers

The weekly charter fee covers the use of the yacht and the professional crew for the agreed period — typically seven nights. This includes the captain, chef, stewardesses, and deckhands. It covers all onboard equipment: tenders, jet skis, paddleboards, snorkelling gear, kayaks, and water toys. It includes bed linen, towels, and bathrobes. The yacht's insurance is included. Use of all entertainment systems, WiFi, and onboard facilities is included.

What the charter fee does not cover is everything that happens during the week. Fuel, food, drinks, marina fees, and any additional services are all paid separately through the APA.

What the APA Covers

APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. It is a deposit paid at the start of the charter — typically 30 to 35 percent of the weekly charter fee — to cover all running costs incurred during the week. The captain keeps a running account of every expense. At the end of the charter, you receive a full breakdown. Any unspent APA is returned to you. If actual costs exceed the APA, you pay the difference.

The APA covers: fuel (the largest single variable), all food and drinks on board, marina and port fees, harbour dues, customs charges, port taxes, and any additional services you request during the charter. On a 35-metre motor yacht doing active cruising in the Mediterranean in July, expect the APA to be almost fully spent. On a smaller yacht that anchors most of the time, you may receive a meaningful refund.

Fuel is the most significant variable within the APA. A 35-metre motor yacht running at cruising speed consumes 200–300 litres per hour. At current Mediterranean fuel prices of approximately €1.80–€2.20 per litre, a day of active motoring costs €2,880–€5,280 in fuel alone. If you prefer to anchor and swim rather than cover distance, the fuel bill drops significantly.

Crew Gratuity

Crew gratuity is not included in the charter fee or the APA. It is paid directly to the captain at the end of the charter, who distributes it among the crew. The industry standard is 10 to 15 percent of the charter fee, paid in cash. On a €40,000 charter, that is €4,000–€6,000.

Gratuity is discretionary but expected. The crew's base salary is set by the owner, and the gratuity is the primary way that charter guests express their appreciation for exceptional service. A crew that receives no gratuity will notice. A crew that receives a generous gratuity will remember you the next time you book the same vessel.

VAT

VAT applies to yacht charters in most European waters. The rate varies by flag state and by where the charter begins and ends. For EU charters, the effective VAT rate is typically 6 to 12 percent of the charter fee. Your broker should provide a clear VAT breakdown before you sign anything. Some charter structures allow for VAT mitigation through careful routing — this is legal and common, but it requires planning in advance.

What Is NOT Included

Flights and airport transfers are not included, though the crew can arrange local transfers from the airport to the marina. Personal travel insurance is not included. Shore excursions and restaurant meals on land are not included. Special requests — florists, musicians, event planners, photographers, or additional equipment not already on board — are not included and must be arranged and paid for separately.

A Real Cost Breakdown: 30-Metre Motor Yacht, French Riviera, July 2026

Charter fee: €40,000. APA at 35 percent: €14,000. Crew gratuity at 12 percent: €4,800. VAT at approximately 8 percent: €3,200. Total: approximately €62,000 for a group of eight guests. That is €7,750 per person for seven nights of fully catered luxury with a private crew, professional chef, and a tender and water toys at your disposal.

For a group of ten guests on the same vessel, the per-person cost drops to €6,200. The fixed costs — charter fee, VAT, gratuity — do not change with the number of guests. The APA increases slightly with more guests due to higher provisioning costs, but the per-person economics improve significantly as the group grows.

Want a line-by-line cost breakdown for a specific yacht, destination, and dates? Get in touch with our charter desk and we will give you the real number before you commit to anything.