ELRE
How much does it cost to charter a yacht? The real total, not the base fee
Weekly fees from listings, plus APA, VAT and crew gratuity, with a worked total.
How much does it cost to charter a yacht depends on one number everybody quotes, the weekly fee, and three that are added on top of it: the APA, VAT and the crew gratuity. A listing that shows a weekly rate shows the first of the four. This page puts the four side by side, with the figures we could source and the date of each source, so that you can compare two proposals on the same footing.
ELRE does not own or operate yachts and is not a broker. Availability, price and contract are confirmed by the operator or broker you deal with. For how a charter works (broker, owner, contract) see our guide to luxury yacht charter.
What the weekly fee is, in numbers
The fee covers the yacht and its crew. These are the ranges we found, each with its source.
- Italy listings, Boat International: weekly “from” prices of about 30,000 euro (a 29 m yacht) up to 980,000 euro (a 74 m yacht). Some prices are shown in dollars and many listings show no price.
- Averages from broker Denison Yacht Sales, quoting BOAT International listings (July 2023): about 40,000 euro a week under 30 m, about 71,000 euro between 30 and 40 m, about 220,000 euro between 50 and 60 m. They are averages, not a price list.
- Sicily, Northrop & Johnson: an entry point of about 50,000 dollars a week for a crewed charter, with motor yachts listed from about 210,000 to 989,000 dollars and sailing yachts from about 85,000 to 230,000 dollars.
- Amalfi Coast, Boatbookings (page undated, footer 2026): crewed catamarans of 15–20 m from about 9,000 to 45,000 euro, motor yachts of 22–36 m from about 26,000 to 172,000 euro and a 60 m Benetti at about 340,000–360,000 euro a week.
Two cautions. Listings mix currencies and dates, and exchange rates are not guaranteed. And the same size of yacht can differ widely by age, crew and itinerary, so use these figures to see the range, not to price a trip.
The three additions
- The APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance): an advance for fuel, ports, food and drink, usually 30–35% of the fee according to Denison. It is a deposit against real costs: the unspent part is returned, and you should ask for the statement of spending.
- VAT: Italy applied 22% to charters in the 2022 figures published by WI Yachts. Rules change and have exceptions that depend on the itinerary and the flag, so ask the broker to state the rate that applies to your trip in writing.
- Crew gratuity: WI Yachts indicates 10–15% of the weekly fee in the Mediterranean. It is discretionary and usually handed over at the end of the week.
A worked example (our arithmetic, not a quote)
Take the Denison average for a 30–40 m yacht, 71,000 euro a week, and add the additions above.
| Item | Low (euro) | High (euro) |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly fee | 71,000 | 71,000 |
| APA at 30% / 35% | 21,300 | 24,850 |
| VAT at 22% on the fee | 15,620 | 15,620 |
| Gratuity at 10% / 15% | 7,100 | 10,650 |
| Total outlay | 115,020 | 122,120 |
This is an illustration. It applies VAT to the fee only; whether and how VAT applies to the APA, and how much of the APA you get back, depends on the contract. The APA is the part most likely to come back in part, so the final cost can be lower than the total outlay. The useful result is the proportion: a weekly fee of 71,000 euro leads to roughly 115,000–122,000 euro of cash out, about 62–72% more than the headline number.
The same sum on yachts we saw in Genoa
At the Genoa Boat Show we photographed yachts of very different sizes. Here is how the weekly fees that brokers list for the same models, or their closest siblings, turn into a total, with the arithmetic used above: APA 30–35% of the fee, VAT 22% on the fee, gratuity 10–15%. They are listing prices read on 28 October 2026, not quotes.
| Yacht | Length | Listed weekly fee (euro) | Our total (euro) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegame BGX63, as photographed | 20 m | from 35,000 | 56,700–60,200 | Sanlorenzo charter page, Greece |
| Sanlorenzo SL78, the nearest Sanlorenzo on charter to the hybrid we photographed | 24.64 m | 46,000–49,000 | 74,520–84,280 | Boatbookings, EM3, Amalfi Coast |
| Azimut Grande, same family as the Grande 44M (this unit) | 26 m | 70,000–85,000 | 113,400–146,200 | Happycharter, Naples; APA 35% mandatory |
| Mangusta 165 REV, as photographed | 49.95 m | 300,000–330,000 | 486,000–567,600 | Marine Project; VAT and APA excluded |
Three models in our photos have no charter listing that we could find: the Bluegame BGX83 (25.6 m, new for 2026; one broker states it is not available for charter), the Azimut Grande 44M and the 25.5 m Sanlorenzo hybrid with two diesel and two electric engines. For them a written quote is the only price. The totals are our arithmetic and assume Italian VAT at 22%: the VAT and APA that really apply depend on the contract and the itinerary, so ask the broker for them in writing.
And the helicopters we saw? A transfer from the yacht to an airport or helipad is priced by the flight hour. These are indicative 2026 ranges, excluding taxes and fees (Excell Jets):
| Helicopter | Seats | Hourly rate (euro) |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus H125 | 5 | from 1,500 |
| Airbus H130 | 6 | about 2,700 |
| AgustaWestland AW109 Power | 5 | about 3,300 |
| AgustaWestland AW139 | 8 | from 3,000 |
As a fixed-price example, Welojets lists a one-way Nice to Monaco flight in an AW109 from 3,900 euro, with positioning, fuel, crew, standard handling and taxes included. Landing fees and repositioning can be added, so ask for the total.
Where else the bill can move
Fuel on a long itinerary, port and marina fees, and delivery fees for a yacht that has to reach your port are usually settled through the APA or quoted separately, depending on the contract. A protected-area permit can be a separate cost: in the Egadi Islands, for example, anchoring and mooring in the marine protected area are subject to authorisations issued by the park authority. Ask who requests them and who pays.
Four checks before you pay a deposit
- Ask for one document. A written proposal with fee, APA percentage, VAT rate, gratuity guidance and cancellation terms.
- Compare totals, not fees. Convert both proposals to the same currency and add the additions.
- Ask what is included in the fee. Water toys, tender, fuel for the tender, linen and the number of crew.
- Ask about the APA statement. When you receive the spending breakdown and when the balance is paid back.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charter a yacht for a week?
From listing prices of about 9,000 euro for a crewed catamaran to close to a million euro for the largest motor yachts, plus the APA, VAT and gratuity. Only a written proposal gives the real total.
Is the APA included in the weekly price?
No. It is paid on top as an advance for running costs, commonly 30–35% of the fee, and the unspent part is returned.
Is VAT charged on a yacht charter in Italy?
Italy applied 22% in the 2022 figures we cite. Ask for the rate in writing for your itinerary.
How much should I tip the crew?
WI Yachts indicates 10–15% of the weekly fee in the Mediterranean.
Thinking about a house by the sea?
Federico Cappellina Architects designs contemporary villas in North-East and North-West Italy: visit the studio, or request a private consultation.
Sources
- Italy luxury yacht charter — Boat International
- How much does it cost to charter a yacht — Denison Yacht Sales (July 2023)
- Yacht charter Sicily — Northrop & Johnson (undated)
- Amalfi Coast yacht charter — Boatbookings (undated, footer 2026)
- WI Yachts, charter terms and guidance (VAT 2022, gratuity), already cited on /en/luxury-yacht-charter/
Yacht charter Italy
Regions, ports, season and costs
Yacht charter Sardinia
Ports, season and costs
Yacht charter Amalfi Coast
Season, costs and park rules
Yacht charter Sicily
Aeolian and Egadi islands
Luxury yacht charter
The ELRE overview