What sits where
The yacht herself
The weekly rate covers use of the yacht for the chartered period, her insurance as a vessel, and the equipment carried on board — tenders, water toys, dive gear and similar, as listed for that yacht. Anything hired in specially for you, such as a jet ski she does not carry or a seaplane transfer, is quoted on top.
The crew
Captain and crew wages are inside the rate, and so is their food. You are not billed for crew hours, and there is no service charge added at the end. Their gratuity is discretionary and separate — see the tipping guide below.
Food, beverage and fuel — via the APA
These are real, variable costs that depend entirely on how you cruise and what you drink, so they are not bundled into a fixed rate. They are paid from the Advance Provisioning Allowance, customarily 30% to 50% of the charter fee, which the captain spends on your behalf and reconciles with receipts before you disembark.
Dockage, harbour and marina fees
Also paid from the APA. A week spent at anchor costs very little in berthing; a week moving between marinas in high season on the French Riviera costs a great deal. This is the single largest reason two identical yachts can produce very different APA spend.
Cruising tax
Charged where the charter takes place, not where you booked, and it is additional to both the rate and the APA. Rates and rules differ by country and change, so the applicable tax is confirmed with your quote for the specific cruising ground and dates.
Getting there
Flights, airport transfers and any hotel nights before or after the charter are yours to arrange and are not part of the charter cost. Your broker will tell you which airport and marina the yacht is embarking from so you can book around it.
Common questions
Is food included in a yacht charter?
Food and beverage are provided on board but are not inside the weekly rate. They are paid from the Advance Provisioning Allowance, a fund of customarily 30% to 50% of the charter fee that the captain spends on your behalf. You give your preferences before departure, the crew provision to them, and unspent money is returned to you at the end with a full statement.
Are the crew included in the charter price?
Yes. Captain and crew wages, and the crew's own food, are all inside the weekly charter rate. There is no service charge and you are not billed for crew time. A gratuity at the end of the charter is customary but entirely discretionary and separate from the rate.
Is fuel included in a yacht charter?
No, fuel is paid from the Advance Provisioning Allowance rather than the base rate, because consumption depends on how far and how fast you choose to cruise. A week spent largely at anchor uses a fraction of the fuel of a week covering long passages, and charging it separately means you pay for what you actually use.
Are water toys and tenders included?
The tenders and water toys a yacht already carries are included in her rate and are listed on her own page. Equipment she does not carry — a particular jet ski, additional dive gear, a seaplane transfer — can usually be arranged and is quoted separately.
What is not included in a yacht charter at all?
Three things sit outside both the rate and the APA: cruising tax where it applies, crew gratuity, and your own travel to and from the yacht, including flights, transfers and any hotel nights either side. Everything else is either in the rate or paid from the APA.