Independent yacht charter guide · Updated October 2026
Plan a crewed yacht charter with real numbers
What a week on a crewed yacht really costs in 2026–2027, from APA and VAT to crew tips, plus when to go and where to cruise in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
Chapter 2 of 6
Greece or Croatia?
Island-hopping the Cyclades or cruising the Dalmatian coast: how the two compare on cost, wind and anchorages.
Chapter 3 of 6
When to charter, month by month
The Mediterranean season runs May to October; June and September are the best-value months.
Chapter 4 of 6
Superyacht charters
What 40m-plus yachts include, from crew and water toys to tenders and onboard chefs.
Chapter 5 of 6
What a charter really costs
Base fee plus 25–40% APA, local VAT and a 10–20% crew tip: the full weekly picture.
Your week at sea, arranged
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The four questions every first-time charterer asks
How much does a yacht charter cost?
Crewed charters run from roughly €25,000 a week for a crewed catamaran to €100,000–200,000 for a 40m motor yacht and €350,000+ for 60m and up. Add 25–40% APA, local VAT and a 10–20% crew tip.
See the full cost breakdown →What is APA on a yacht charter?
The Advance Provisioning Allowance is an expense float, typically 25–40% of the base fee, paid before the trip. It covers fuel, food, drink and port fees, and any unused balance is refunded.
How APA works →When is the best time to charter a yacht?
The Mediterranean season runs May to October, peaking in July and August. The Caribbean and Bahamas run December to April. June and September are the best-value months in the Med.
Month-by-month guide →How much VAT is charged on a yacht charter?
VAT follows where the charter starts: Croatia 13%, France 20%, Spain 21%, Italy 22%, Greece often 12–13% for qualifying charters, Montenegro 0%. The Bahamas levies a 14% charter tax.
VAT by country →Where to charter
Seven Mediterranean cruising grounds for summer and four Caribbean ones for winter. Each suits a different kind of week.
Popular planning guides
How planning works
- Read and shortlist. Use our guides to choose a region, month and yacht size, with the APA, VAT and tips counted in.
- Tell a broker. Click “Plan my charter” to share your dates, group and budget with Boatbookings’ charter brokers. Free, no obligation.
- Compare proposals. They shortlist available yachts, negotiate terms, handle the contract and support you through the charter.