What a Yacht Charter Really Costs
One of the most common questions we receive is: “Is the price I see the price I pay?”
Honest answer: the yacht price is the largest part — but rarely the only part. Here is the full picture, so there are no surprises at the marina.
Included in the Charter Price
- Use of the yacht for the agreed period
- Standard onboard equipment (sails, tender, safety gear, linens, dishes)
- Hull and third-party liability insurance
- VAT in most EU destinations
Typical Extras (Bareboat & Skippered)
Fuel
Paid by consumption. Sailing yachts: €100–€300/week. Motor yachts: significantly more, depending on cruising speed.
Marina & Mooring Fees
Typically €40–€500+ per night depending on the destination, marina and yacht size.
- For smaller sailing yachts in Greece and Croatia, marina fees may range from €40–€150 per night.
- For larger sailing yachts, catamarans and premium destinations such as Mallorca, Ibiza, Sardinia, Capri or the Amalfi Coast, marina fees can easily exceed €250–€500 per night and may be significantly higher during peak season.
- Catamarans often pay approximately 1.5–2 times the berth cost of an equivalent monohull due to their wider beam.
- Anchoring in bays is often free or substantially cheaper than staying in marinas and is a popular way to reduce overall cruising costs.
Important: The figures above primarily reflect sailing yachts, catamarans and smaller motor yachts up to approximately 50–60 ft.
Luxury crewed yachts, superyachts and larger motor yachts operate in a completely different cost category.
For larger motor yachts and superyachts, marina fees may range from several hundred to several thousand euros per night depending on yacht size, destination and season.
Final Cleaning
One-off fee of €150–€500, paid at the base.
Skipper
€180–€250 per day plus food onboard. A skipper usually needs a private or shared cabin.
Hostess / Cook (optional)
€150–€220 per day. Recommended for families and groups of 6+.
Provisioning
Food and drinks — paid directly by you. Budget approximately €30–€60 per person per day for self-catering.
Tourist Tax
Croatia, Greece and Italy levy small per-person daily taxes — typically €1–€3/day.
Deposit Waiver Insurance
Optional, 5–10% of the charter price. Strongly recommended — see our insurance guide.
Luxury Crewed Yachts & the APA
Fully crewed motor yachts and large sailing yachts use the APA system (Advance Provisioning Allowance) — usually 25–35% of the charter fee, paid up front.
It covers running costs during the trip:
- fuel,
- food and drinks,
- marina and port fees,
- guest requests onshore.
The captain accounts for every expense, and any unused balance is returned at the end of the charter.
A Realistic Example
Bareboat & Skippered Charter Example
Catamaran 46 ft, Mallorca, 1 week in June, 6 guests, skippered:
- Yacht — €9,500
- Skipper — €1,400
- Deposit waiver — €700
- Marinas (5 nights) — €900
- Fuel — €250
- Final cleaning — €300
- Provisioning (self-catering) — €1,300
Total: roughly €14,400 — about €2,400 per guest for a 7-day private sailing holiday in the Balearics.
Note: This example reflects a skippered catamaran charter and should not be used as a reference for luxury crewed yachts or superyachts, where fuel consumption, marina fees, crew costs and onboard services can be substantially higher.
At Max Maris Yachting, every quote we send includes a full cost breakdown in writing before any deposit is paid.