Yacht Charter Glossary
Charter Fee (Base Fee)
Also known as: Base Charter Rate · Weekly Rate · Charter Hire Fee
Last updated August 2026
Full explanation
When a yacht is quoted at '€150,000 per week,' that figure is the charter fee alone.
It is the cost of renting the vessel and retaining its full crew for seven days within an agreed cruising area.
The charter fee includes the yacht itself, the crew's wages, insurance, normal maintenance and consumables (linens, cleaning products, basic galley equipment), and use of the standard onboard amenities (tenders, water toys, sun beds). What the charter fee does NOT include - the four other cost buckets: (1) APA at 20-40% of the charter fee by yacht type, covering fuel, food, drink, and port fees; (2) Greek VAT at the yacht's certified rate (5.2-13%) on the charter fee + delivery; (3) Delivery fee if the yacht must reposition; (4) Crew gratuity at 10-15% of the charter fee, paid at disembarkation. Charter-fee anatomy by yacht type, Greek market 2026 (weekly, base only): motor yachts 30-60m: €60,000-€450,000; sailing yachts 25-45m: €25,000-€180,000; catamarans 20-30m: €18,000-€90,000; gulets 25-35m: €25,000-€70,000; superyachts 50m+: €350,000-€1,500,000+. Seasonal multipliers on the base fee: July-August carries the highest rate (the published number).
June and early September normally discount 15-25%.
Late September drops 30-40%.
Off-season (April, October) can be 50% below peak.
May and shoulder-September are the sweet spot for value-quality balance.
Why it matters for UHNW charterers
Comparing two yachts by charter fee alone misleads UHNW buyers. A yacht quoted €120,000/week with a 35% APA, 13% VAT, and obligatory €15k delivery costs €192,600 fully loaded (and less if her certified VAT rate is lower) - versus a €130,000/week yacht with 25% APA, no delivery, same VAT = €179,400. The 'cheaper' yacht is more expensive once you add everything.
Worked examples
Full cost breakdown of a 'mid-market' €100,000 charter
Charter fee: €100,000. VAT at the 13% ceiling: €13,000 (a 6.5%-certified yacht would pay €6,500). APA 30%: €30,000. Delivery (Athens to Mykonos return): €8,000. Gratuity 12%: €12,000. **Fully loaded: €163,000** - 63% above the headline weekly rate.
Same yacht, no delivery (already in Mykonos), shoulder pricing
Charter fee (June discount): €82,000. VAT at the 13% ceiling: €10,660. APA 30%: €24,600. Gratuity 12%: €9,840. **Fully loaded: €127,100** - €36k saved by understanding the timing.
Frequently asked
About charter fee (base fee)
Why isn't APA included in the charter fee?
Because APA covers consumables that vary wildly between charterers - a guest list of 12 vs 4, premium spirits vs house wine, long passages vs short hops. Pooling APA with the base fee would force every charter to pay average - which means light users subsidise heavy users.
Are the crew's wages included in the charter fee?
Yes. The crew is paid by the yacht owner from the charter fee. Crew gratuity at the end is additional and goes directly to the crew.
Is the charter fee negotiable?
On standard yachts in peak season (July-August), rarely. On shoulder-season dates and on yachts with open calendars, yes - 10-15% discount is common with the right approach. A broker who never tries to negotiate is not advocating for you.
What's the difference between weekly charter fee and daily rate?
Most luxury charters are quoted weekly because a 7-night charter is the operational standard. Some yachts offer daily rates for 3-5 night charters at a 10-15% premium to weekly/7. Anything under 3 days is a 'day charter' (different product entirely).
Related terms
Other definitions worth knowing
APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance)
APA is an upfront sum, and the MYBA contract fixes how it works rather than what it costs: in practice it ru…
Gratuity (Crew Tip)
Gratuity is a separate cash tip paid to the yacht's crew at the end of a successful charter, customarily 10-…
Delivery Fee
A delivery fee is a charge billed when the yacht must travel from its home base to your chosen embarkation p…
Greek VAT on Yacht Charters
Greek charter VAT has two statutory rates: 13% for commercial crewed charters longer than 48 hours (every we…
MYBA Charter Contract
The MYBA Charter Agreement is the industry-standard contract for luxury yacht charters worldwide, published …
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.