How much does a crewed yacht charter cost?

For the charter fee alone, crewed weeks start from about $5,500 (Turkey's Turquoise Coast) and run to several hundred thousand dollars for large motor yachts. On top of the fee, budget for running costs (APA), local tax, and a crew gratuity of 10 to 15 percent (these totals use the standard 10 percent). A $40,000 charter fee typically comes to between about $44,000 and $69,000 all-in, depending on where you cruise.

What is APA on a yacht charter?

APA, the Advance Provisioning Allowance, is a deposit for the week's running costs: food, drink, fuel, marina and port fees. It's usually 20 to 40 percent of the charter fee on plus-expenses yachts, spent against receipts during the week and reconciled at the end, with any balance refunded. It isn't a tax.

How much should I tip the crew on a yacht charter?

10 to 15 percent of the charter fee is customary, like a restaurant tip: 10 percent is standard, 15 percent is for exceptional service. It's usually given to the captain on the last day to share with the crew.

Cost guide

Yacht charter cost by destination

TL;DR: A crewed yacht charter costs the weekly charter fee plus three things: running costs (APA, up to about 40% of the fee), local VAT or charter tax (none to 22%, depending on the country), and a crew gratuity of 10–15% (10% is the standard, and the totals here use it). So the same $40,000 charter fee comes to anywhere from about $44,000 to $69,000 all-in, depending on where you cruise and how the yacht is priced.

Last reviewed: October 2026

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The four parts of the price

The charter fee. The weekly rate for the yacht and its crew, the number on the listing.
Running costs (APA). On plus-expenses yachts, roughly 20–40% of the fee for food, drink, fuel and port fees, reconciled against receipts at the end of the week. All-inclusive yachts, common in the Caribbean, fold most of this into the fee.
VAT or charter tax. Set by the country where the charter starts, and usually charged on the fee, not the APA.
Crew gratuity. 10–15% of the fee. Think of it like a restaurant tip: 10% is standard, 15% is for exceptional service.

By destination

Each card shows how yachts there are usually priced, the APA and tax to expect, where crewed weeks start, and what a $40,000 charter fee comes to all-in with a 10% gratuity (a 15% gratuity adds another $2,000). Mediterranean yachts are usually quoted in euros; figures here are approximate US dollar equivalents.

British Virgin Islands

Priced: Mostly all-inclusive

APA: 0%–35% of the fee

Tax: No VAT. A cruising permit of about $4 per guest per day for BVI-based yachts.

Crewed weeks from: about $20,000, charter fee only

$40,000 fee, all-in: about $44,000–$58,000

BVI charter guide

The Bahamas

Priced: Both all-inclusive and plus expenses

APA: 0%–35% of the fee

Tax: 14% on foreign-flagged charter yachts (4% charter tax plus 10% VAT). Bahamas-based operators charge VAT instead.

Crewed weeks from: about $20,000, charter fee only

$40,000 fee, all-in: about $49,500–$63,500

Bahamas cost guide

St Barths, St Martin and Anguilla

Priced: Mostly all-inclusive

APA: 0%–35% of the fee

Tax: Depends where you start: none in St Barths, 4% in French St Martin, 5% in Dutch Sint Maarten, 13% in Anguilla.

Crewed weeks from: about $14,000, charter fee only

$40,000 fee, all-in: about $46,000–$60,000

The Grenadines

Priced: Mostly all-inclusive

APA: 0%–10% of the fee

Tax: Up to 16% VAT, and only when a St Vincent-registered company makes the charter. Many start in Grenada or St Lucia.

Crewed weeks from: about $21,000, charter fee only

$40,000 fee, all-in: about $50,500–$54,500

Croatia's Dalmatian coast

Priced: Plus expenses (APA)

APA: 20%–35% of the fee

Tax: 13% VAT on the charter fee, for charters starting in Croatia.

Crewed weeks from: about $21,000 (quoted in euros), charter fee only

$40,000 fee, all-in: about $57,000–$63,000

Croatia charter guide

Greece (Cyclades and Ionian)

Priced: Plus expenses (APA)

APA: 20%–30% of the fee

Tax: 13% VAT on a reduced base, so usually 5.2% (international itineraries) or 6.5% (Greek waters only) of the fee. 13% in full for charters of 48 hours or less.

Crewed weeks from: about $18,500 (quoted in euros), charter fee only

$40,000 fee, all-in: about $54,500–$58,500

Greece charter guide

The Amalfi Coast and Aeolian Islands

Priced: Plus expenses (APA)

APA: 30%–40% of the fee

Tax: 22% VAT, reduced in proportion to documented time outside EU waters.

Crewed weeks from: about $27,000 (quoted in euros), charter fee only

$40,000 fee, all-in: about $65,000–$69,000

The Côte d'Azur and Corsica

Priced: Plus expenses (APA)

APA: 30%–40% of the fee

Tax: 20% VAT for charters starting in France or Monaco, reduced for documented time outside EU waters.

Crewed weeks from: about $27,500 (quoted in euros), charter fee only

$40,000 fee, all-in: about $64,000–$68,000

Turkey's Turquoise Coast

Priced: Mostly all-inclusive

APA: 0%–20% of the fee

Tax: 20% VAT. Gulets are often quoted full board, sometimes with VAT included: check each quote.

Crewed weeks from: about $5,500 (quoted in euros), charter fee only

$40,000 fee, all-in: about $52,000–$60,000

French Polynesia

Priced: Both all-inclusive and plus expenses

APA: 0%–35% of the fee

Tax: 5% charter tax, usually handled by the local agent.

Crewed weeks from: about $45,000, charter fee only

$40,000 fee, all-in: about $46,000–$60,000

New England in summer

Priced: Plus expenses (APA)

APA: 25%–35% of the fee

Tax: Usually none in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maine. Massachusetts charges 6.25% when you have the yacht to yourselves.

Crewed weeks from: about $25,000, charter fee only

$40,000 fee, all-in: about $54,000–$58,000

Day charters in Miami and New York

Day charters are priced by the hour or the day, usually with fuel, tax and gratuity on top. In Florida a crewed charter is generally exempt from sales tax; a bareboat rental is taxed. See Miami yacht charter and New York yacht charter for day rates by size.

Questions to ask about any quote

Is the yacht all-inclusive or plus expenses? If plus expenses, what APA percentage, and what does it cover?
Which VAT or charter tax applies to this itinerary, and is it in the quoted price?
Are there cruising permits, park fees or delivery charges if we start away from the yacht's base?
What does the crew gratuity usually come to on this yacht?

Our figures come from tax authorities and official fee schedules, checked in October 2026 and re-checked yearly. Rates are confirmed only in a charter contract. Choosing the yacht itself? See BVI crewed catamarans and Bahamas motor yachts.

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