Question 1

How much does a crewed yacht charter cost?

Accepted Answer

A crewed yacht charter costs from about 20,000 euros a week for a family catamaran hopping between islands, to several hundred thousand for a floating resort with more crew than guests. The yacht, the destination and the month set the price.Four things make up the bill:Charter fee: the yacht, crew and insurance for the week. The listed price.APA: a prepaid fund for fuel, food, drinks and dockage. 20 to 25 percent of the fee on a catamaran, 30 to 40 on a motor yacht. Unspent money is returned.Charter tax: set by the country you cruise in, from 0 percent in the BVI to 22 percent in Italy.Crew...

Question 2

What is APA, and what does it cover?

Accepted Answer

APA is the Advance Provisioning Allowance: a fund you pay before boarding that the captain spends on fuel, food, drinks, dockage and anything you ask for that is not in the charter fee. Whatever is left comes back to you at the end.The percentage is set in your contract and tracks fuel use. Sailing yachts and catamarans usually sit at 20 to 25 percent of the charter fee. Motor yachts run 30 to 40 percent.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 the final payment and APA due, ...

Question 3

Why are prices shown without VAT and APA?

Accepted Answer

Because the yacht is the same but the tax and the spending are not. VAT depends on which country's waters you cruise, and APA depends on how far you go and what you eat and drink. The charter fee is the one fixed number, so that is what every listing shows.Our quotes always spell out the full picture: fee, APA percentage, the tax rate for your route, and what is and is not included. If a quote you get elsewhere shows one number, ask what sits behind it.Full guide: How much does a yacht charter cost.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey...

Question 4

Does VAT change by country?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it follows the water, not your nationality. It ranges from nothing 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 that crosses borders is taxed by days in each country, which your broker calculates before you sign. Our VAT guide lists every country we book.Full guide: Yacht charter VAT by country.By destination: G...

Question 5

Are food, drinks and fuel included?

Accepted Answer

On most crewed yachts, no. They come out of the APA, at cost, with receipts. That is the plus-expenses model and it is the norm in the Mediterranean.A smaller number of yachts are all-inclusive, mostly in the Virgin Islands. Food, drinks, fuel within a normal cruising range and usually dockage are in the price. Premium wine and long passages are still extra, 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 there is no settlement at the end. Plus expenses gives you a receipt for every euro and you only pay for what you actually used.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 BVI 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, How much should we tip the crew.Full guide: How much do...

Question 7

How much should we tip the crew?

Accepted Answer

A tip is always at your discretion. It is not in the contract, it is never charged up front, and nobody will ask you for it.The custom is 5 to 15 percent of the charter fee in the Mediterranean and 15 to 20 percent in the Caribbean, 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 ...

Question 8

Does booking through a broker cost more?

Accepted Answer

No. You pay the same charter fee whether you book through us or directly with the yacht's central agent. Our commission is paid by the owner out of that fee, the same way a travel agent is paid by the hotel.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 number that answers if something goes wrong mid-week.Related: Are you insured as a broker, What happens after we inquire.Full guide: What to have ready before you talk to a broker.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French...

Question 9

How do payments work, and why not by card?

Accepted Answer

By bank transfer, in two steps. A deposit of around half the charter fee when you sign, then the balance, the APA and the tax before you board. The exact schedule is written in your charter agreement and invoice.Cards, PayPal and cash apps are not the norm anywhere in the industry for these amounts. Some yachts accept a card payment with a processing fee, but for a six-figure booking a transfer is simpler and cheaper. Always confirm payment details through your broker before sending funds.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI ·...

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.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Antarctica

Question 11

Can we get a discount?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes, and it depends on the owner, the dates and how far ahead we are. 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.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, Mediterranean, Caribbean or beyond: where should a first-timer go.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · B...

Question 12

What happens after we inquire?

Accepted Answer

A broker who knows the destination reads your inquiry and 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. In the Mediterranean it is almost always the MYBA form, in the Caribbean the CYBA form. 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 for what 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: what you eat and drink, allergies, how you like your mornings, which water toys matter, whether you want quiet anchorages or a night in port. 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 for a July or August week in the Mediterranean, or Christmas and New Year in the Caribbean. The best yachts at those dates are gone by the previous autumn.For shoulder months, three to four months is usually enough, and 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, Mediterranean, Caribbean or beyond: where should a first-timer go.By destination: Greece · Italy · French Riviera · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Ant...

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. 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, not before. 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.Related: How far in advance should we book, What if the weather turns.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. 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.Related: Do we need travel or cancellation insurance, What is the charter agreement.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · Ant...

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.Related: What if the weather turns, Are you insured as a broker.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, 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 · Corsica · ...

Question 21

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

Accepted Answer

Crewed means a captain plus at least a chef or a hostess, and on bigger yachts a full team. You do nothing. Captain-only means one professional who sails and looks after the boat while you cook, clean and provision yourselves. Bareboat means no crew: you skipper it, and you need the 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: Gree...

Question 22

Motor yacht, catamaran or sailing yacht?

Accepted Answer

Catamaran if you want space, stability and the best value: two hulls, shallow draft, huge deck, and it does not heel. Motor yacht if you want speed, more cabins per foot and the classic luxury feel, at two to three times the fuel. Sailing yacht if the sailing itself is the point.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, More than 12 guests: one yacht or two.Full guide: Explore the fleet.Browse: Motor yachts · Catamarans · S...

Question 23

More than 12 guests: one yacht or two?

Accepted Answer

Usually two. Almost every charter yacht is licensed for a maximum of 12 guests, whatever its size, because the rules change above that number. Yachts licensed for more exist but they are few and expensive.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. Our large-group guide lists the yachts that can legally take more.Related: What is a tandem charter, Can kids exceed the guest count.Full guide: Yacht charters for more than 12 guests.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French...

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 kids 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 has its own crew, its own contract and its own APA. They anchor side by side, meet for dinners and beach days, and the captains coordinate the plan.It is the normal answer for groups over 12, and it often costs less than one large yacht that can take everyone.Related: More than 12 guests: one yacht or two, Mediterranean, Caribbean or beyond: where should a first-timer go.Full guide: Yacht charters for more than 12 guests.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Mallorca · Corsica · Turkey · BVI · Bahamas · Exotica · ...

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, and they are 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. Catamarans barely rock. Larger motor yachts have stabilizers.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. Tablets taken the night before the first passage work for almost everyone.Related: Motor yacht, catamaran or sailing yacht, Mediterranean, Caribbean or beyond: where should a first-timer go.By destination: Greece · Croatia · Italy · French Riviera · ...

Question 28

Can we drive the jet ski?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the country, not the yacht. Greece and Croatia require a licence for the driver and check for it. Turkey, the Bahamas and the US Virgin Islands let guests ride without one. The British Virgin Islands ban jet skis for charter guests altogether. Italy, France and Spain have rules of their own that we confirm per booking.Send us any licence you hold and we will tell you what it is worth where you are going. The captain always has the final say on the water.Related: Crewed, captain-only or bareboat: what is the difference, What if the weather turns.Full guide: Jet ski rules by des...

Question 29

What should we pack?

Accepted Answer

Less than you think, in a soft bag. Cabins have limited storage and hard suitcases have nowhere to go. Swimwear, light layers, one smart outfit for dinner ashore, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, and shoes you can slip off at the gangway.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

Summer: Greece or Croatia. Sheltered water, short hops, a new island every day, and the widest choice of crewed catamarans at sensible prices. Winter: the British Virgin Islands, where the whole territory is one calm sailing ground and all-inclusive pricing makes budgeting simple.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, ...

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