Croatia Yacht Charter
Crewed catamarans, gulets and motor yachts from Dubrovnik and Split, from €13,000 a week plus 13% VAT. Broker-led since 1992.
Reviewed by Adrian Sneed, Charter Broker at Sneed Charters — a family brokerage arranging Mediterranean charters since 1992. Croatian rates and VAT checked October 2026.
IN SHORT
A crewed week in Croatia starts around €13,000 for a catamaran or gulet, and about €17,000 in July and August. Add an APA of 25–35% (an advance for fuel, food and berths; whatever is unspent comes back to you) and 13% VAT. June and September are the months to want; in July and August the problem is crowds and berths, not wind.
Where to cruise in Croatia
Croatia’s crewed charters run along the Dalmatian coast, in three grounds. All three are short hops between walled towns, which is why we call Croatia the easiest first charter in the Mediterranean.
Southern Dalmatia, from Dubrovnik
- Best months
- June, September
- Between islands
- Short hops
- Start from
- Dubrovnik
The Elaphiti Islands, Mljet and Korčula, all short hops from Dubrovnik’s walls. Korčula Town’s berths need booking weeks ahead in summer for anything above mid-size. See a sample week.
Pictured: Dubrovnik’s walled old town
Central Dalmatia, from Split and Hvar
- Best months
- June, September
- Between islands
- Short hops
- Start from
- Split
Hvar, the Pakleni Islands, Brač and Vis. Hvar’s berths need arranging weeks ahead, so your broker books them early.
Pictured: Hvar Town and harbour
Northern Dalmatia and the Kornati
- Best months
- June, September
- Between islands
- Short hops, sparser harbours
- Start from
- Your broker will advise
The bare islands of the Kornati National Park and the waterfalls of Krka National Park, among sparsely populated islands. Kornati moorings, like Hvar’s, need arranging weeks ahead.
Pictured: Mana Island, Kornati National Park
Dubrovnik to Split in seven days
This is the classic one-way week: Dubrovnik to Split, in short daily legs. One-way routes usually carry a delivery fee for the yacht’s return, which we quote before you sign. Your captain sets the final route on the forecast.
7-day itinerary: Dubrovnik to Split, one way
Southern islands first, then Hvar and Brač, ending at Diocletian’s Palace.
- Day 1
Board in Dubrovnik
Walk the city walls late in the afternoon, then dinner aboard.
- Day 2
Dubrovnik to the Elaphiti Islands
Swim stops and a quiet village anchorage for the night.
- Day 3
Elaphiti to Korčula
Korčula Town and a vineyard visit, with the berth booked ahead.
- Day 4
Korčula to Hvar
Hvar Town for the evening, on a berth booked weeks ahead.
- Day 5
Hvar to the Pakleni Islands
A day at anchor in the lagoons, with lunch aboard.
- Day 6
Pakleni to Brač
Zlatni Rat beach and dinner at a konoba ashore.
- Day 7
Brač to Split
Breakfast aboard and ashore by midday, with time for Diocletian’s Palace before the airport.
Want this week planned around your dates and the yacht you have in mind?
Your broker builds the route around your party, the yacht and the forecast for that week.
Plan my weekWhen to go
June and September are the months to want in Croatia. In July and August the weather is still settled; the trouble is the crowds, the berths and the peak rates.
Best months for a Croatia charter
Our recommendation, laid across the season.
months we recommend July and August, the peak weeks, where we do not
Why August in Croatia is about berths, not wind
Unlike Greece, Croatia has no meltemi to plan around: its strong wind, the bora, is mostly a winter wind, and summer is settled. What fills in August is harbours. Berths at Hvar, Korčula and in the Kornati need arranging weeks ahead for anything above mid-size, and a late booking can mean anchoring off instead of stepping ashore.
If August is your only window, ask early. If it isn’t, take September: the same sea, with the peak weeks behind it. If you have already done Croatia, Greece is the better second charter.
What a crewed week in Croatia costs
A crewed catamaran or gulet starts around €13,000 a week in the shoulder months and €17,000 in July and August; a smaller crewed sailing yacht can start at €9,000, and the largest superyachts reach €310,000. The five yacht types are below. On top of the rate come an APA, 13% VAT and a crew tip, shown line by line further down.
Crewed sailing catamaran
- Size
- 52–60 ft
- Shoulder
- €13,000–€24,000
- July–August
- €17,000–€42,000
- Guests
- 8–10
Stable at anchor and roomy on deck: the usual choice for a first charter.
Pictured: guests swimming off a crewed catamaran
Gulet
- Size
- 80–118 ft (24–36 m)
- Shoulder
- €15,000–€25,000
- July–August
- €20,000–€55,000; deluxe €70,000+
- Guests
- 12–20+
A traditional wooden yacht with a wide deck that usually cruises under engine; it takes larger families and groups than most yachts.
Pictured: a gulet at anchor in Bobovišća, Brač
Crewed sailing yacht
- Size
- 49 ft and up
- Shoulder
- from €9,000
- July–August
- from €12,000
- Guests
- 6–8
For a party that wants to sail.
Pictured: a crewed sailing yacht under sail
Crewed motor yacht
- Size
- 80–130 ft
- Shoulder
- from €44,000
- July–August
- €44,000–€130,000
- Guests
- 8–12
Range: Dubrovnik to Split without a long day at sea.
Pictured: a crewed motor yacht at anchor
Superyacht
- Size
- 130 ft and above
- Shoulder
- from €85,000
- July–August
- €85,000–€210,000; the most luxurious to €310,000
- Guests
- 10–12
Full service, the most space and the largest crew. A non-EU-flagged yacht needs a Croatian cabotage licence, so ask early.
Pictured: a large yacht on the Adriatic
Shoulder is May, June, September and October. Peak is July and August. To see individual yachts, search our fleet.
Those are market ranges, not a menu. What you pay turns on the yacht, the week and how early you ask.
Croatian VAT on a crewed week is 13% when the charter starts in Croatia, level with Greece and below France (20%), Spain (21%) and Italy (22%). A charter that starts outside the EU and cruises into Croatia pays the 13% for its days in Croatian waters. The full comparison is on our Mediterranean charter page.
What a week actually costs, all in
A €60,000 charter fee is not what leaves your account. Add an APA of 25–35% and 13% VAT on the fee, and the realistic total is €82,800 to €88,800, roughly 38 to 48% above the headline. A crew gratuity of 10–15% is customary and sits on top.
| Line | Low case | High case |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee | €60,000 | €60,000 |
| APA at 25–35% | €15,000 | €21,000 |
| Croatian charter VAT at 13% | €7,800 | €7,800 |
| All in | €82,800 | €88,800 |
A one-way week adds a delivery fee, which we quote before you sign. Croatia’s tourist tax for charter guests is collected through the yacht’s operator rather than paid by you separately. The APA is a float, not a fee: whatever is unspent comes back to you. See our full guide to yacht charter costs.
What is included, and what is not
On MYBA terms, the weekly rate covers the yacht and crew, running costs come out of the APA, and a few items sit outside both.
In the charter fee 4 items
- Yacht and full crew: captain, chef, deck, interior
- Insurance and running maintenance
- Water toys and tenders aboard
- Menus planned around your tastes and allergies
Paid from the APA 4 items
- Fuel for the yacht and tenders
- All food and drink
- Berths, moorings and port fees
- Communications, laundry, deliveries
In Hvar in August, berths are the real constraint.
Outside both 4 items
- Croatian VAT: 13%
- Crew gratuity, 10–15%, your choice
- Delivery fee, if one-way
- Flights, hotels and travel insurance
Want this worked out for a real yacht and your dates?
Get My ShortlistYour broker replies within one business day with yachts that are actually free for your week, priced with APA and VAT included. No fee to you.
Your brokers
You get a named broker, not a call centre. The same person takes your first message, negotiates the contract and is reachable while you are aboard.
Hansel Sneed
Founder & Charter Broker
Hansel founded Sneed Charters in 1992 and has been placing crewed charters for more than thirty years.
Adrian Sneed
Charter Broker
Adrian is the broker who reviewed the rates and taxes published on this page, and the person who will answer when you send your dates.
Get a shortlist for your dates
Tell us the group, the dates and roughly what you want to spend. Your broker comes back with yachts that are actually free for your week.
- Reply within one business day
- Priced with APA and VAT included
- No fee to you
Prefer to talk it through? Call 1-561-463-6840 or message us on WhatsApp.
What happens after you send it
- Your broker checks which yachts are genuinely free for your week.
- You get a shortlist with landed costs: charter fee, APA estimate, VAT and any delivery fee.
- You choose. We negotiate and contract on MYBA terms, the industry-standard charter agreement: 50% on signing, the balance about a month before.
Croatia yacht charter FAQs
How much does it cost to charter a yacht in Croatia for a week?
A crewed week in Croatia starts around €13,000 for a catamaran or gulet and runs past €200,000 for the largest superyachts. Add an APA of 25–35% for fuel, food and berths, 13% VAT on the charter fee, and a customary 10–15% crew tip. A €60,000 week lands at €82,800 to €88,800 before the tip.
When is the best time to charter a yacht in Croatia?
June and September. The weather is settled all summer, since the bora is mostly a winter wind, but July and August bring peak rates, crowds, and berths at Hvar, Korčula and the Kornati that need booking weeks ahead. If August is your only window, ask early.
Can I charter a yacht from Dubrovnik to Split one way?
Yes. Dubrovnik to Split in seven days is the classic Croatian week, by way of the Elaphiti Islands, Korčula, Hvar, the Pakleni Islands and Brač. A one-way route usually adds a delivery fee for the yacht’s return, which we quote before you sign. A round trip from either port avoids it.
Should I choose a gulet or a catamaran in Croatia?
A catamaran is stable at anchor and roomy on deck, which makes it the usual first charter. A gulet is a traditional wooden yacht with a wide deck that usually cruises under engine, suited to larger families and groups. Tell us your party and we will shortlist both.
Does a crewed yacht charter in Croatia include a private chef?
Yes. On a crewed charter the weekly rate covers the full crew, including a chef, who plans menus around your tastes and allergies before you board. The food and drink themselves are paid from the APA, an advance paid before the charter; whatever is unspent comes back to you.
Do I pay a fee to use a charter broker?
No. The yacht’s owner pays our commission, so there is no broker fee on your invoice. You get a named broker, Hansel or Adrian, who takes your first message, negotiates the MYBA contract and stays reachable while you are aboard.
SOURCES
- Praxis, Croatia charter rules for EU-flagged and non-EU-flagged yachts (November 2023) — 13% VAT and the pro-rata rule
- Croatia Week, nautical tourist tax (April 2021) — tourist tax for charter guests
- MYBA, The Worldwide Yachting Association — the MYBA Charter Agreement
- Croatian National Tourist Board