How it works in practice
It is calculated on the base rate, not the total
Convention is a percentage of the charter fee itself — not of the fee plus APA, and not of the fee plus tax. Working from the base rate keeps the figure predictable and is what crew themselves expect.
It is genuinely discretionary
Nothing is added automatically, there is no service charge, and no one on board will raise it with you. Guests tip toward the upper end after exceptional service and toward the lower end, or not at all, when a charter has fallen short. That is the intended function of a discretionary payment.
Give it to the captain
The normal practice is a single sum to the captain, who divides it among the crew according to the yacht's own arrangement. Tipping individual crew separately is well meant but cuts across that arrangement — if you want to recognise one person in particular, say so to the captain rather than working around them.
It is separate from the APA
Gratuity is not drawn from the Advance Provisioning Allowance and does not appear on the APA statement. If there is unspent APA at the end of your charter it is returned to you; deciding to hand some of it back as a tip is a separate choice, not an offset.
Cash or transfer, in the right currency
Cash in the currency of the cruising ground is the most straightforward, and worth organising before you board rather than hunting for an ATM on the last morning. Bank transfer is usually possible — ask the captain or your broker early in the week if you would prefer it.
Common questions
Do you tip the crew on a yacht charter?
Yes, it is customary on a crewed charter, though it is entirely discretionary. Nothing is added to your bill automatically and there is no service charge. The convention is a single gratuity at the end of the charter given to the captain, who distributes it among the crew.
How much do you tip yacht crew?
Custom is 5% to 15% of the base charter fee, with around 10% a common middle figure. It is calculated on the charter fee alone, not on the fee plus the Advance Provisioning Allowance or tax. Guests tip toward the top of that range after exceptional service and toward the bottom, or not at all, if the charter has disappointed.
When do you give the gratuity?
At the end of the charter, typically on the final evening or the morning of disembarkation. There is no expectation of anything at the start or during the week.
Is the tip taken out of the APA?
No. Gratuity sits outside both the charter fee and the Advance Provisioning Allowance, and it does not appear on the APA statement. Any unspent APA is returned to you in full; choosing to give some of it to the crew is a separate decision.
Should you tip individual crew members separately?
Usually not. A single sum to the captain, distributed under the yacht's own arrangement, is the norm and keeps things fair across the whole crew, including those working out of sight in the galley and engine room. If someone has been outstanding, tell the captain rather than tipping around them.