Question 1

How much does a crewed yacht charter cost?

Accepted Answer

A proper crewed catamaran starts at around 30,000 euros a week, a crewed motor yacht at 50,000 to 60,000, and superyacht charters run from the low hundreds of thousands past 500,000.You can find catamarans below 30,000. That number is where the boats that live up to their photos begin, with a crew who do this for a living.Above it the scale simply keeps going: more crew than guests, more space, more toys, and a week that gets bigger and grander at every step.Whatever the yacht, four things make up the bill:Charter fee: the yacht, crew and insurance for the week. The listed price.APA: a prep...

Question 2

What is APA, and what does it cover?

Accepted Answer

APA is a prepaid fund the captain spends on fuel, food, drinks, dockage, laundry and anything else you ask for that is not in the charter fee.It is set at 20 to 25 percent of the charter fee on a catamaran or sailing yacht and 30 to 40 percent on a motor yacht, because the percentage tracks fuel consumption.You pay it before boarding and whatever is left is returned to you at the end. It is a working budget, not a second charter fee.Ask the captain for a running total mid-week. You are entitled to an itemized account with receipts at the end, not a single closing number.Related: When are th...

Question 3

Why are prices shown without VAT and APA?

Accepted Answer

Because the tax and the spending are not fixed, and the charter fee is. VAT runs from 0 to 22 percent depending on whose waters you cruise, and APA depends on how far you go and what you eat and drink.That is why every listing in the industry shows the fee alone.Our quotes spell out the full picture: fee, APA percentage, the tax rate for your route, and what is and is not included. If a quote elsewhere shows one number, ask what sits behind it.Related: What is APA, and what does it cover, Does VAT change by country.Full guide: How much does a yacht charter cost.By destination: Greece · Cro...

Question 4

Does VAT change by country?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Charter tax follows the water you cruise in, not your nationality, and runs from 0 percent in the British Virgin Islands to 22 percent in Italy.Greece and Croatia charge 13 percent, France and Monaco 20, Spain 21. The Bahamas charge a flat 14 percent charter tax. Turkey charges 20 percent on Turkish-flagged yachts and nothing on foreign-flagged ones.It is charged on the charter fee, not on the APA. A route crossing borders is taxed by days in each country, which your broker calculates before you sign.Full guide: Yacht charter VAT by country.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy ·...

Question 5

Are food, drinks and fuel included?

Accepted Answer

On most crewed yachts, no. Food, drinks and fuel come out of the APA, at cost, with receipts, which is the plus-expenses model and the norm in the Mediterranean.A smaller number of yachts are all-inclusive, mostly in the Virgin Islands, where food, drinks, fuel within a normal cruising range and usually dockage are already in the price.Premium wine and long passages are still extra on those, so read the inclusions line.Full guide: How much does a yacht charter cost.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 6

All-inclusive or plus expenses: which is better?

Accepted Answer

Neither is cheaper by nature. All-inclusive is easier to budget and ends with no settlement; plus expenses means you only pay for what you actually use, with a receipt for every euro.Compare the two by working out the all-in number for the week, not by comparing headline rates, because the two rates measure different things.All-inclusive is common in the British Virgin Islands and rare in the Mediterranean, so in most destinations the choice makes itself.Related: Are food, drinks and fuel included, How much does a crewed yacht charter cost.Full guide: How much does a yacht charter cost.By d...

Question 7

How much should we tip the crew?

Accepted Answer

A tip is always at your discretion and never in the contract. The custom is 5 to 15 percent of the charter fee in the Mediterranean and 15 to 20 percent in the Caribbean.It is handed to the captain on the last day and shared across the crew. Calculate it on the charter fee, never on VAT or the APA.In the Mediterranean, 5 says a decent week, 10 a good one, 15 a great one. In the Caribbean, 15 is the usual floor.Full guide: Crewed yacht charter etiquette.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Turkey · Bahamas

Question 8

Does booking through a broker cost more?

Accepted Answer

No. You pay the same charter fee whether you book through us or with the yacht's own central agent, because our commission is paid by the owner out of that fee.It works the way a hotel pays a travel agent.What you get for it is someone on your side: a shortlist from the whole market rather than one fleet, the contract checked, the APA account read, and a phone that answers mid-week.Full guide: What to have ready before you talk to a broker.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 9

How do payments work, and why not by card?

Accepted Answer

By bank transfer, in two stages: around half the charter fee when you sign, then the balance, the APA and the tax before you board.Cards, PayPal and cash apps are not used for these amounts anywhere in the industry. The processing fees would add thousands to a six-figure booking, and chargeback rules do not fit a yacht taken off the market for your dates.Some yachts will accept a card with a fee attached, so ask if it matters to you.The exact schedule is written in your charter agreement and invoice. Always confirm payment details through your broker before sending funds.Related: When are t...

Question 10

When are the final payment and APA due?

Accepted Answer

Before embarkation, usually 30 to 60 days ahead, in one transfer: the remaining balance of the fee, the APA, and the tax.The exact date is in your charter agreement. For a booking made inside that window, everything is due at signing.Related: How do payments work, and why not by card, What is APA, and what does it cover.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 11

Can we get a discount?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. Shoulder months, a yacht with a gap between two bookings, or a late-season week are where discounts happen; peak July and August almost never.It depends on the owner, the dates and how far ahead we are.Tell us your budget honestly and we will tell you where it goes furthest. That is usually worth more than a percentage off a yacht that was the wrong choice to begin with.Related: How far in advance should we book, How much does a crewed yacht charter cost.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · A...

Question 12

What happens after we inquire?

Accepted Answer

A broker who knows the destination comes back the same day with questions or a first shortlist, usually three to six yachts with real availability for your dates.From there it is a conversation: you react, we refine, and once you like one we hold it and send the charter agreement.The whole thing can take a week or an afternoon, depending on how decided you are.Full guide: What to have ready before you talk to a broker.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 13

What is the charter agreement?

Accepted Answer

The contract between you and the yacht's owner, almost always the MYBA form in the Mediterranean and the CYBA form in the Caribbean.Both are standard industry documents that every broker and owner knows, so the terms are not a surprise.It sets the dates, the fee, the APA percentage, the payment schedule, the cancellation terms, and who is responsible if the yacht breaks down or the weather closes in. We go through it with you before you sign.Full guide: Yacht charter glossary.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · Corsica · Antarctica

Question 14

What is the preference sheet?

Accepted Answer

A questionnaire you fill in after booking, covering food, drink, allergies, how you like your mornings and which water toys matter. It is the crew's only briefing on you before you step aboard.The more specific it is, the better the week. A chef who knows you are vegetarian and hate coriander plans a different menu from one who knows nothing.Related: What happens after we inquire, Does the crew stay on board.Full guide: Crewed yacht charter etiquette.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · Corsica · Antarctica

Question 15

How far in advance should we book?

Accepted Answer

Six to twelve months ahead for July or August in the Mediterranean, or Christmas and New Year in the Caribbean. Three to four months is usually enough for the shoulder season.The best yachts at peak dates are gone by the previous autumn.Last-minute weeks do come up. The earlier you inquire, the more of the fleet is still open to you.Related: Is it too early to inquire for next year, Can we get a discount.By destination: Greece · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 16

Is it too early to inquire for next year?

Accepted Answer

No. Next year's rates are usually published by early autumn and many yachts take bookings a year out, so if your dates are fixed, earlier is always better.If your dates are loose, tell us that too. We can watch the market for you and flag the right moment.Related: How far in advance should we book, What happens after we inquire.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Corsica · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 17

When should we book flights?

Accepted Answer

After the charter agreement is signed, never before, because until then the yacht is not confirmed and dates can shift by a day at the owner's end.Plan to arrive the day before boarding. A delayed flight into a charter that starts at noon costs you a day on the water and nobody can give it back.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Antarctica

Question 18

What if the weather turns?

Accepted Answer

The captain decides where the yacht goes and safety comes first, so bad weather means a change of route or a day in a sheltered bay, not a cancelled charter.Refunds for weather are not part of the standard contract.In hurricane regions the agreement has specific clauses for named storms. We explain those before you sign, and we recommend cancellation insurance for any Caribbean charter in the autumn.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 19

Do we need travel or cancellation insurance?

Accepted Answer

We recommend it. The charter fee is non-refundable once paid, and the standard agreement does not cover illness, missed flights or a family emergency on your side.Charter cancellation cover is a normal product from yacht insurers and costs a small percentage of the fee.Your own travel insurance may cover part of it, so check before buying twice.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 20

Are you insured as a broker?

Accepted Answer

Yes. DMA Yachting carries professional insurance through ITIC with cover up to 500,000 euros, and our founders are members of CYBA and IYBA.Those are the associations whose contracts and conduct rules the industry runs on.Insurance is one sign of a real brokerage. The others are a named broker you can call, a contract you recognize, and payment instructions confirmed by that person before any money moves.Related: Does booking through a broker cost more, What is the charter agreement.Full guide: About DMA Yachting.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Co...

Question 21

Crewed, captain-only or bareboat: what is the difference?

Accepted Answer

Crewed means a captain plus at least a chef or hostess, and on bigger yachts a full team, so you do nothing. Captain-only means one professional runs the boat while you cook and provision; bareboat means no crew at all.Bareboat needs a licence and the experience to prove it.We book crewed charters. For most first-timers and every family holiday, a chef on board is the difference between a boat trip and a holiday.Related: Motor yacht, catamaran or sailing yacht, Does the crew stay on board.Full guide: Yacht charter glossary.By destination: Greece · Croatia · French Riviera · Mallorca · C...

Question 22

Motor yacht, catamaran or sailing yacht?

Accepted Answer

A catamaran for space, stability and value, a motor yacht for speed and more cabins per foot, a sailing yacht if the sailing itself is the point.Catamarans have two hulls, a shallow draft and a huge deck, and they do not heel. Motor yachts give you the classic luxury feel at two to three times the fuel.For eight guests on a first charter, a crewed catamaran is what we suggest most often. It is the boat people come back to.Related: Crewed, captain-only or bareboat: what is the difference, Will we get seasick.Full guide: Explore the fleet.Browse: Motor yachts · Catamarans · Sailing yachts

Question 23

More than 12 guests: one yacht or two?

Accepted Answer

Usually two, because almost every charter yacht is licensed for a maximum of 12 guests whatever its size. Yachts licensed for more exist but they are few and expensive.The rules change above 12, which is why the limit is near-universal.Two yachts cruising together, called a tandem charter, is how most groups of 13 to 24 do it. You share anchorages and evenings and split up during the day.Full guide: Yacht charters for more than 12 guests.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 24

Can kids exceed the guest count?

Accepted Answer

No. The 12-guest limit counts every person who sleeps aboard, including infants. It is a licensing and safety rule, not a matter of bed space, and captains cannot bend it.Some yachts have extra berths for children within the 12, so a family of 13 needs a second boat or a larger licensed yacht.Tell us the exact headcount, ages included, and we will only show boats that fit.Related: More than 12 guests: one yacht or two, Motor yacht, catamaran or sailing yacht.By destination: Greece · Croatia · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 25

What is a tandem charter?

Accepted Answer

Two yachts chartered together for the same week and the same route, each with its own crew, contract and APA. It is the normal answer for groups over 12.They anchor side by side, meet for dinners and beach days, and the captains coordinate the plan.It often costs less than one large yacht that can take everyone.Full guide: Yacht charters for more than 12 guests.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 26

Does the crew stay on board?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the whole week. The crew live aboard in their own quarters, usually forward and separate from the guest cabins, on duty from breakfast until the last guest goes to bed.On a small yacht you will see more of them than on a large one.If you want the crew ashore for an evening, say so, and they will happily take it.Related: What is the preference sheet, How much should we tip the crew.Full guide: Crewed yacht charter etiquette.By destination: Greece · Croatia · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 27

Will we get seasick?

Accepted Answer

Most people do not. A crewed charter spends most of the day at anchor in sheltered bays, with two or three hours of moving between them, and catamarans barely rock.Larger motor yachts have stabilizers that work at anchor as well as underway.If you know you are sensitive, tell us. We can choose a catamaran, a calm-water route and short hops, and the captain can plan around the wind.Related: Motor yacht, catamaran or sailing yacht, Mediterranean, Caribbean or beyond: where should a first-timer go.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · ...

Question 28

Can we drive the jet ski?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the country, not the yacht. Greece, Croatia, Italy and Spain require a licence for the driver; the British Virgin Islands ban jet skis for charter guests outright.The Bahamas and the French Riviera are more relaxed, but the captain still has the final say.Send us any licence you hold and we will tell you what it is worth where you are going.Related: Crewed, captain-only or bareboat: what is the difference, What if the weather turns.Full guide: Jet ski rules by destination.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas

Question 29

What should we pack?

Accepted Answer

Less than you think, in a soft bag: swimwear, light layers, one smart outfit for dinner ashore, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen.Cabins have limited storage and hard suitcases have nowhere to go.The yacht has towels, snorkels, toys and usually a well-stocked bar. Bring your medication, your chargers and a book. Leave the heels at home.Related: Does the crew stay on board, What is the preference sheet.By destination: Greece · Mallorca · Bahamas · Exotica

Question 30

Mediterranean, Caribbean or beyond: where should a first-timer go?

Accepted Answer

Greece or Croatia in summer, the British Virgin Islands in winter. Both give you sheltered water, short hops and the widest choice of crewed catamarans at sensible prices.Italy and the French Riviera are the glamour end, with prices to match. Mallorca, Turkey and Corsica are the quieter Mediterranean picks.Exotic and polar charters are for the second or third trip, once you know you love the life aboard.Each of our destination sites answers these same questions for its own waters, with local prices and rules.Full guide: Caribbean vs Mediterranean.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy ?...

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