The base rate is the smallest variable in a charter quote — the APA, VAT, and routing decisions move the total bill far more. Most published charter pricing focuses on the weekly figure because that is what the central agency quotes. The advisor's job is to set out the rest before contracting, because the total cost of a week aboard runs typically 30 to 50 percent above the headline number.
What follows is the working breakdown — the line items, the conventions, and the figures that move them. The Mediterranean is the reference market; Caribbean and Indian Ocean pricing follow a similar structure with regional variation.
The base weekly rate — what it covers
The base rate is the weekly charter figure quoted in euros (Mediterranean) or US dollars (Caribbean and Indian Ocean). It covers the yacht, the crew, the standard onboard amenities, the insurance, and the operating overhead that the yacht's management firm builds into the rate.
For Mediterranean motor yachts between 30 and 40 metres, weekly rates run roughly €120,000 to €280,000. For yachts between 40 and 50 metres, €250,000 to €450,000. Above 50 metres the spread widens significantly — €400,000 to €1,000,000+ per week is the typical band, depending on builder, refit cycle and the yacht's commercial reputation.
Sailing yachts run lower on a per-metre basis. A 40-metre Perini Navi sailing yacht typically charters at a rate that a 35-metre motor yacht commands. The relationship is not strict but holds across most of the international fleet.
APA — the advance provisioning allowance
The APA is the most consistently underestimated line item. It is paid up front, typically 25 to 35 percent of the base rate, and covers everything operational during the charter that is not the yacht and crew themselves: fuel, food, beverages, harbour fees, customs and clearance, water-toys consumables, laundry, and any guest-side requests during the week.
Most Mediterranean charters spend close to the full APA. Some spend over it — if the route is fuel-heavy, if the wine list is generous, if the harbour fees during high season run higher than planned. Whatever is not spent is returned at the end of the charter, itemised against the actual expenses.
The advisor sets a realistic APA expectation during contracting. A low APA quoted to make the headline figure look slimmer is a misalignment; the costs do not disappear, they just move outside the framework.
VAT
VAT depends on the country of embarkation and is confirmed for each charter.
Crew gratuity — the convention
Crew gratuity is paid at the end of the charter, conventionally 5 to 15 percent of the base rate. It is not a service charge built into the rate; it is a separate payment to the crew, handled directly by the principal at disembarkation.
Convention runs around 10 percent for a charter where service was as expected and around 15 percent for exceptional weeks. Below 5 percent is unusual; above 15 percent is uncommon outside very specific events. The yacht's central agency provides guidance during the contracting; the advisor confirms before disembarkation.
What moves the rate — beyond the obvious
The base rate is set commercially per yacht and per season, but several factors move it in practice:
— Calendar week. Late May (Cannes, Monaco GP), mid-August, early September (Monaco Yacht Show, Cannes Yachting Festival) move rates 20–40 percent above shoulder-week figures on the same yacht.
— Length and quality of refit. A yacht five years from its last refit charters at a discount to the same yacht two years out.
— Crew tenure. A crew that has shipped the same yacht for three or more seasons commands a premium; the rate reflects the operational reliability.
— Destination requests. Some yachts charge a positioning fee for charters that start outside the yacht's standard cruising area. Others do not.
— New-to-charter yachts. Yachts in their first commercial year sometimes charter at a calibration rate while the central agency gauges the market.
Day charter pricing — different model
Day charter pricing does not follow the weekly model. Dubai, the Riviera and the Cyclades each maintain day-charter fleets with day or half-day rates. A Dubai day charter runs typically AED 8,000 to 25,000 for a half-day on a 25-metre yacht; AED 25,000 to 60,000 for a full day on a 35-metre yacht.
Mediterranean day charter rates vary widely. A Cannes day charter on a 25-metre yacht runs typically €4,000 to €8,000 for a half-day inclusive of crew, fuel and standard catering. Longer or larger formats scale up.
The total cost of a charter week is the figure that matters, not the headline rate. A €300,000 weekly figure quoted privately translates into roughly €380,000 to €420,000 in total Mediterranean cruising cost across base, APA, VAT and gratuity. That is the number that goes into the bank confirmation, not the rate sheet.
