Understanding Fee and Expenses

A luxury yacht charter comes with associated costs beyond the base rental fee. Here’s what to expect:

• Charter Fee: Covers the yacht rental, crew, and standard amenities.

• Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA): Typically 25-35% of the base charter fee, covering fuel, food, beverages, docking fees, and custom requests (not applicable for all-inclusive yachts).

• Operating Expenses: These vary depending on the yacht type and travel region. If fuel efficiency is a priority, discuss it with us early in the decision process. Repositioning fees may apply if meeting or departing from a non-standard location.

• Harbor Fees: Also known as “dues” in Europe, these vary by port. In some areas, such as the Caribbean and the Pacific Northwest, harbor fees are minimal.

• Charter Cost Structures by Region:
  • Western Mediterranean Terms (WMT): Includes crew salary, insurance, and employer liability but excludes food, beverages, fuel, and harbor fees.
  • Standard Eastern Mediterranean Terms (SEM): Includes crew salary, insurance, fuel for a set number of hours, and some harbor fees. Charterers pay for food, drinks, and additional costs.
  • Standard Caribbean Terms (SCT): Includes all SEMT costs plus all meals, though premium wines, marina fees, and special equipment rentals are extra.
  • Greek Terms (GT): Includes crew salary, liability insurance, water, ship’s laundry, and harbor fees within Greek waters, but excludes fuel, food, drinks, and communications.

• Estimating Costs & Expenses: Charter prices depend on factors such as the yacht type, location, season, number of guests, distance traveled, and onboard luxury level. Most charters follow either all-inclusive pricing or an APA-based expense model, with an additional 25–35% of the base charter fee commonly added to cover costs.

• Expense Monitoring: On plus-expense charters, the captain will provide regular updates on fuel usage, communications, and beverage consumption. A full expense report will be provided at the end of your charter.

• Gratuities: Tipping is customary but optional. Crew members work hard to ensure your experience is seamless. A 10% tip of the charter fee is appropriate for good service, while 20%+ is standard for exceptional service. The gratuity is given to the captain at the end of the charter for fair distribution among the crew. The captain ensures all crew members, including those behind the scenes, are recognized for their contributions. If any crew members provided exceptional service, let the captain know so they can be acknowledged accordingly.