How Much Does It Cost to Charter a Superyacht?
Updated July 2025 · 8 min read · YachtAuthorities Research
A superyacht charter costs €18,000–€300,000+ per week depending on vessel size. Add APA (30%) and crew gratuity (12%) for the true all-in total.
Charter Rate Table by Vessel Size
| Size | Type | Guests | Crew | Base Rate/wk | All-In/wk | Per Person/wk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28–35m | Motor Yacht | 6–8 | 4–5 | €18k–€35k | €25k–€50k | €3k–€7k |
| 35–45m | Motor Yacht | 8–10 | 5–7 | €35k–€65k | €48k–€92k | €5k–€10k |
| 45–55m | Motor Yacht | 10–12 | 7–10 | €65k–€120k | €90k–€168k | €8k–€17k |
| 55–65m | Motor Yacht | 12 | 10–14 | €120k–€200k | €165k–€280k | €14k–€23k |
| 65m+ | Motor Yacht | 12 | 14+ | €200k+ | €275k+ | €23k+ |
| 35–45m | Sailing Yacht | 8–10 | 4–6 | €25k–€50k | €35k–€70k | €4k–€8k |
| 20–28m | Catamaran | 6–8 | 2–4 | €12k–€22k | €16k–€30k | €2k–€5k |
Base rates are Mediterranean peak season (July–August). All-in includes 30% APA and 12% crew gratuity.
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Understanding Charter Costs
Base Charter Rate
The base charter rate covers the vessel, crew, and all onboard facilities for the charter period. It does not include running expenses — those are covered by the APA. Rates are set by the vessel owner and vary by season, vessel age, and refit status. A recently refitted vessel typically commands a 10–20% premium.
APA — Advance Provisioning Allowance
APA is typically 25–35% of the base rate, paid upfront. It covers: fuel (the largest variable cost — a 55m motor yacht burns 400–600 litres/hour at cruising speed), provisioning (food and beverages — budget €150–€300 per person per day for a fully-crewed experience), marina fees (€2,000–€10,000 per night in peak season at major ports), and crew gratuity. Any unspent APA is refunded in full at the end of the charter.
Crew Gratuity
Gratuity of 10–15% of the base rate is customary for satisfied guests. On a €100,000/week charter, this is €10,000–€15,000 per week. For a 10-person crew, that distributes to €700–€1,050 each. Gratuity is cash or bank transfer and is at the guest's discretion — but expected for excellent service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charter a superyacht?
Superyacht charter costs range from €18,000 to €300,000+ per week depending on vessel size. A 40m motor yacht typically costs €45,000–€85,000 per week base rate. A 50–60m motor yacht costs €85,000–€150,000 per week. On top of the base rate, add APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) of 25–35% for fuel, food, port fees, and crew gratuity of 10–15%. Total all-in costs are typically 35–50% above the listed base rate.
What is APA in yacht charter?
APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. It is a separate deposit paid at the start of a charter — typically 25–35% of the base charter rate — used to cover running expenses including fuel, food and provisioning, port and marina fees, water toys refills, and communications. Any unspent APA is refunded at the end of the charter. APA is not profit for the charter company; it is a passthrough for actual expenses.
How much does a yacht charter cost in the Mediterranean?
Mediterranean superyacht charter rates (base rate only): 30–40m motor yacht €18,000–€45,000/wk; 40–50m motor yacht €45,000–€85,000/wk; 50–60m motor yacht €85,000–€150,000/wk; 60m+ motor yacht €150,000–€300,000+/wk. Sailing yachts and catamarans are generally 30–50% less than equivalent-length motor yachts. Peak season (July–August) commands a 10–20% premium over shoulder season.
What is included in a superyacht charter?
A superyacht charter base rate typically includes: the vessel and all its facilities, professional crew (captain, deckhands, chef, stewardesses), standard water toys (paddleboards, snorkelling gear, inflatable tender), satellite communications, and all onboard linen and amenities. Not included in the base rate: fuel, food and beverages, port and marina fees, harbour dues, crew gratuity, and any premium water toys or excursions. These are covered by the APA.
How much is the crew gratuity on a yacht charter?
Crew gratuity on a superyacht charter is typically 10–15% of the base charter rate, paid at the end of a successful charter. On a €100,000/week charter, expect to tip €10,000–€15,000 per week. Gratuity is discretionary but strongly expected in the industry. It is distributed among all crew members by the captain. For a 7-day charter on a 50m vessel with a crew of 10, this works out to approximately €700–€1,050 per crew member.
How much does it cost to charter a yacht per person?
Per-person superyacht charter costs depend on group size and vessel. A 45m motor yacht at €65,000/week with 10 guests costs €6,500 per person per week before APA and gratuity. Add 30% APA and 12% gratuity and the all-in cost is approximately €9,000–€10,000 per person per week — comparable to a high-end resort but with a private vessel, private chef, and full crew.
What is the cheapest yacht charter available?
The most affordable superyacht charters start from around €12,000–€18,000 per week for a 28–35m vessel with 6–8 guests. Catamarans and gulets in the Eastern Mediterranean (Turkey, Greece) offer the best value at these sizes. For a genuine superyacht experience (40m+, professional crew of 5+, full chef service), budget a minimum of €35,000–€45,000 per week base rate plus APA.
6 Key Takeaways
- 1Base rate is only 65–75% of total cost — always budget for APA and gratuity
- 2APA of 30% is the industry standard; fuel-intensive routes (long passages) may need 35%
- 3Crew gratuity of 10–15% is discretionary but expected for good service
- 4Peak Med season (July–August) adds 10–20% to base rates
- 5Per-person cost on a full 10-guest 50m charter: ~€9,000–€11,000/week all-in
- 6Sailing yachts and gulets offer 30–50% savings vs motor yachts of similar length
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