Yacht Charter Glossary
APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance)
Also known as: Advance Provisioning Allowance · Advanced Provisioning Allowance · Provisioning Allowance
Last updated August 2026
Full explanation
The Advance Provisioning Allowance is the single most misunderstood line item in yacht chartering.
It is not a deposit, a tip, or a tax.
It is a working float held by the captain in trust to pay the operating expenses of the yacht while it is under your command.
On a Greek charter in 2026, APA is normally set at 30% of the base charter fee under the MYBA contract - though it can range from 25% to 40% depending on the yacht's fuel consumption profile (a 60-metre superyacht doing 20 knots burns dramatically more than a 24-metre sailing yacht under canvas).
What APA covers: diesel, gasoline for the tender, drinking water, food and beverages provisioned to your preferences, port and marina fees, harbour clearance, customs costs, communications, and laundry.
What APA does NOT cover: the crew gratuity (separate), personal expenses ashore, dive certifications, and any third-party services the captain books on your behalf (e.g. a private chef ashore).
At the end of the charter the captain produces a full reconciliation.
If you spent less than the APA, the balance is refunded in cash or wire.
If you spent more, you settle the difference on the day of disembarkation.
UHNW buyers should expect to see every receipt - a serious captain hands over a folder, not a verbal summary.
Why it matters for UHNW charterers
APA is the difference between a quoted charter price and the actual cash you will commit. A €120,000 weekly charter in the Cyclades comes with €36,000 of APA before you board - a 30% addition to your budget. If your broker is not framing APA, season, and gratuity in the same conversation as the base fee, you are not talking to a UHNW broker.
Worked examples
Motor yacht, 35m, Mykonos → Santorini, 7 nights
Base charter fee: €105,000. APA at 30%: €31,500 wired 14 days before embarkation. Actual consumption: €27,800. Refund on disembarkation: €3,700 cash.
Sailing yacht, 28m, Ionian, 7 nights, low-consumption profile
Base charter fee: €58,000. APA at 25%: €14,500 wired 14 days before embarkation. Actual consumption: €13,200. Refund: €1,300.
Frequently asked
About apa (advance provisioning allowance)
Is APA refundable if I spend less than the deposit?
Yes. Any APA not consumed during the charter is refunded to you at disembarkation, either in cash or via bank wire within 7 days. The captain provides a full receipt-backed reconciliation.
Can the captain ask for additional APA mid-charter?
Yes, if the yacht's consumption exceeds the initial estimate (long passages, heavy guest hospitality, premium spirits). A professional captain flags this 24-48 hours in advance and shows the running ledger before requesting a top-up.
Is APA the same on a sailing yacht as on a motor yacht?
No. Sailing yachts consume less fuel and typically operate on 25% APA. Motor yachts run 30% as standard, and high-performance motor yachts (planing hulls, large displacement above 50 metres) can require 35% or more.
Who controls how APA is spent?
The captain spends APA in line with your stated preferences, agreed in the preference sheet before embarkation. You can request specific wines, brands, dietary restrictions, fuel limits - the captain is bound by your direction but has full discretion within it.
Is APA paid to the broker or directly to the yacht?
Under MYBA contract, APA is wired to a designated escrow or yacht-management account, never to the broker personally. George Yachts uses MYBA-standard escrow flow on every Greek charter we contract.
What does APA stand for in yachting?
APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. It is often written as Advanced Provisioning Allowance, but Advance is the correct MYBA term. It is the sum you wire before embarkation so the captain has working funds for everything the yacht consumes during your week: fuel, food and drink, port and marina fees, water, customs clearance and laundry. It is not a deposit, not a tip, and not a tax. On a Greek charter it is commonly set at 30% of the base charter fee, lower on a sailing yacht and higher on a fuel-hungry motor yacht, and whatever is left unspent is returned to you at disembarkation against receipts.
What is APA on a boat charter, in plain terms?
Think of it as the yacht's running-costs float, paid up front and spent on your behalf. Your quoted charter fee buys the yacht and its crew. It does not buy the diesel you burn, the food and wine you drink, the berths you take in Mykonos or Hydra, or the laundry. Those are paid from the APA, which the captain holds and spends against the preference sheet you fill in before the charter. At the end of the week he hands over a full reconciliation with receipts: underspend comes back to you, overspend is settled on the morning you step off.
Related terms
Other definitions worth knowing
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MYBA Charter Contract
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Charter Fee (Base Fee)
The charter fee is the base weekly rate paid for the use of the yacht and its crew. It excludes APA, VAT, de…
Greek VAT on Yacht Charters
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Provisioning
Provisioning is the pre-charter stocking of the yacht with food, drink, and consumables according to the gue…
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Ready to charter in Greece?
George P. Biniaris and the George Yachts team broker yachts in Greek waters under MYBA-standard contracts. Speak with us directly.