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, from the Greek Charter Index 2026 (weekly, base only): motor yachts 22 to 25 m EUR 21,000 to 47,500, 26 to 31 m 35,900 to 75,000, 35 to 40 m 59,900 to 150,000, above 50 m 162,500 to 235,000; crewed sailing yachts 24 to 31 m 24,000 to 55,000; catamarans from 17,000 at 15 m, 18,900 to 48,000 at 16 to 19 m, 31,500 to 43,500 at 20 to 22 m, 54,900 to 90,000 at 23 to 24 m.
The Index carries no gulet band. Seasonal multipliers on the base fee: July-August carries the highest rate (the published number).
The Greek Charter Index puts the shoulder months, May and late September to October, at 15 to 25% below peak pricing, and April and late October lower still on many rate cards.
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. A 26 to 31 metre motor yacht at EUR 35,900 to 75,000 on the Greek Charter Index 2026 carries APA of 30 to 40%; a 20 to 22 metre catamaran at 31,500 to 43,500 carries 20 to 30%; the VAT depends on each yacht's certification, 5.2 to 12%; a positioning fee, where one applies, is quoted per yacht by the owner. The all-in figure is the one to compare, and the calculator produces it for any band.
Worked examples
Full cost of a 26 to 31 metre motor yacht week at the top of its band
Charter fee: EUR 65,000. APA at 35%: EUR 22,750. VAT on the fee at a 6.5% certification: EUR 4,225 (the 13% ceiling would be 8,450). Gratuity at 12%: EUR 7,800. **All-in before any positioning fee: about EUR 99,775.** Positioning, where the yacht must move to meet you, is quoted per yacht by the owner.
Same yacht in June, 20% below peak on the Index
Charter fee: EUR 52,000. APA at 35%: EUR 18,200. VAT at 6.5%: EUR 3,380. Gratuity at 12%: EUR 6,240. **All-in: about EUR 79,820**, the shoulder saving on the Index, same yacht, same crew, same islands.
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 and August), rarely. On shoulder dates and on yachts with open calendars some owners move; any reduction is the owner's decision, quoted per yacht, never assumed. A broker who never asks is not advocating for you.
What's the difference between weekly charter fee and daily rate?
Crewed charters are quoted weekly because the seven-night week is the operational standard and the Index is built on it. The five-night Saronic week, the shortest programme this house writes, is quoted by the owner from the weekly rate. Anything shorter is day hire, a different business with different operators.
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.
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