Planning a vacation on a yacht is an exciting job, but it’s also a challenge – especially when you need to estimate the cost of it. Yachts have their weekly rent rate but in addition to that, what other fees, like food/drink, local taxes, or fuel, are charterers required to pay? It’s easy to grasp the basics of yacht charter cost but with us being in your corner as the experts we can help you to precisely estimate the cost of your next once-in-a-lifetime holiday.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE YACHT CHARTER FEE
The base cost of a yacht charter depends on various factors, such as the type of yacht, yacht age, yacht size, yacht equipment, the charter destination and route, yacht charter period and season, local taxes, bareboat or skippered/crewed yacht.
Besides these obvious ones, sometimes there are also factors that can significantly impact price, for example, a yacht's reputation. A yacht can develop a reputation based on previous experiences and feedback and the owner can modify a price based on that.
When chartering a yacht from our fleet you can expect two different price structures: “Plus All Expenses” (MYBA Terms) and “Mostly All Inclusive” (Gulet Terms).
What do these terms mean exactly? Here’s a quick look:
Plus All Expenses Charters – Rates for larger motor yachts do not include running expenses, which must be paid separately. For these luxury charters, the base price is for the yacht only. Additional expenses, i.e. food, bar, fuel, dockage, port taxes, and other expenses, are charged separately. Most frequently, the running expenses are paid by an Advance Provisioning Allowance, or APA, which is typically 30% of the base price; this is an amount that’s paid prior to the charter.
Mostly All-Inclusive rate includes; accommodation, crew and their expenses, fuel for up to 4 hours cruising per day, fuel for generators, public harbor fees & taxes, use of recreational equipment, tourist taxes, and VAT (13%). Obligatory extra costs in these terms are Food options (Half board or Full board) and Beverage options (Alcoholic or Non-alcoholic packages).
WHAT OTHER COSTS CAN YOU EXPECT TO PAY?
When planning your budget for a yacht charter, besides the base charter price you should count on other costs on the way, which are:
Fuel consumption - This cost depends on the boat model/engine. Naturally, smaller vessels consume less fuel than bigger ones, especially if they are equipped with a generator. The consumption depends on engine power, cruising speed, yacht size, tonnage, etc.
Mooring fees - Mooring fees depend on the size of the boat, sailing period, and location. You can choose between a berth in the marina, a berth in the city ports on a jetty, a mooring buoy, or anchoring. Anchoring in Croatia is free, except in a few places where you can be charged. Usually, the free berth or buoys requires you to dine at the local restaurant or tavern that tends to these buoys or mooring lines. For prices in ACI Marinas on the Croatian coast, you can check directly on their web pages.
Food and drinks - Food and drinks are ordered in advance to be delivered on the yacht, based on the guests' preference sheets. The advantage of a crewed yacht charter is that you have freshly prepared meals every day with no need to leave the yacht but it would be a shame not to try some of Croatia’s outstanding restaurants and wine varieties. If you want to dine out, the possibilities are endless. You can find some inspiration and recommendations in our destination blogs.
Taxes and Value Added Tax (VAT) – Yachts working on MYBA terms will not include local taxes or a Value Added Tax into their charter rate. Croatian VAT is 13% of the base price.
Insurance - Charterers can purchase cancellation and limitation insurance, similar to traveler’s insurance. This insurance can help the charterer cover the costs if he must cancel or shorten his vacation. Charter brokers can help to compare different insurance options and then offer several options.
Crew Gratuity – Although crew gratuity is not mandatory, it is definitely recommended and appreciated, especially if you were truly satisfied with your charter. Usually, crew gratuity is roughly 15-20% of the base charter fee and it is given to the captain at the conclusion of the charter.
Delivery Fees - These fees do not apply on most charters, but you may be asked to pay delivery costs if you are not chartering in the yacht’s home port and if an “empty leg” is caused. In most cases, you will only be required to cover the fuel for the trip.
Car Parking – If you have a car, car parking is not included in the yacht rental price. This is the extra cost, paid directly to the marina reception.
We would strongly recommend that you plan your activities beforehand to get the best deals on prices. If you have flexible dates we have more freedom and options to suggest the best time to charter a yacht that best fits your budget. Our hope is that this shortlisting will help you to approximately calculate the expected costs when chartering a yacht. In case you need more details and information, please feel free to contact us! We are here to assist you with every detail and explain all charter costs. Let us design the charter of your dreams!