Yacht Charter Glossary
Delivery Fee
Also known as: Repositioning Fee · Yacht Delivery Charge · Positioning Fee
Full explanation
Most yachts in Greece are based in three home ports: Athens (Alimos, Lavrion, Olympic Marine), Corfu, and Rhodes.
If your itinerary embarks elsewhere - say, you want to start from Mykonos - the yacht has to travel there before you board and return after you disembark.
That cost is the delivery fee.
Two common models. (1) Time charter at daily rate: the yacht runs to your start point and you pay 1/7th of the weekly charter fee per delivery day.
A 24-hour passage from Athens to Mykonos at a yacht's €150,000/week rate costs about €21,500 each way. (2) Negotiated flat fee: smaller and mid-tier yachts often quote a fixed delivery - e.g. €4,000 each way from Athens to Mykonos.
Always cheaper than the time-charter model but only available with operators that have flexible scheduling.
When delivery is waived: if the yacht is already in your start port (often the case in peak season as the fleet redistributes), or if your itinerary ends back at the home base, the delivery may be cancelled or halved.
A good broker checks the yacht's pre/post-charter calendar before quoting and negotiates the waiver.
Why it matters for UHNW charterers
Delivery is the cost line where unsophisticated brokers cost their clients €15–30k unnecessarily. A UHNW buyer should be told before signing where the yacht is positioned and whether the delivery can be eliminated by adjusting the embarkation port by 30 nautical miles. That conversation separates a transactional broker from a relationship broker.
Worked examples
Yacht based Athens, charter embarks Mykonos
Time at sea: ~10 hours each way at 18 knots. Delivery cost at daily rate: €4,300 one-way → €8,600 return. Often negotiable down to €5,500 flat on mid-tier yachts.
Yacht based Corfu, charter embarks Kefalonia
Time at sea: ~6 hours each way. Often waived entirely on Ionian-based yachts since the fleet expects to reposition for charters across the chain.
Frequently asked
About delivery fee
Is the delivery fee always charged?
No. If the yacht is already positioned at your embarkation port, or if your start and end are at its home base, delivery is typically waived.
Can I negotiate a delivery fee?
Yes - and you should. Delivery is one of the most negotiable items in a charter contract. A skilled broker can often eliminate or halve it by adjusting embarkation timing or routing.
Does the delivery fee come with VAT?
Yes. In Greece in 2026 delivery is invoiced at the same 12% reduced VAT rate as the charter fee, provided the trip is within Greek waters.
Who pays the fuel for the delivery passage?
The fuel cost for delivery is part of the delivery fee under a flat-rate model, or drawn from the APA if the delivery is treated as a charter day.
Related terms
Other definitions worth knowing
APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance)
APA is an upfront sum - typically 25–35% of the base charter fee - paid before embarkation to cover the …
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…
Embarkation
Embarkation is the formal start of a yacht charter - the moment guests board the yacht at the agreed port.…
Greek VAT on Yacht Charters
Greek yacht charters are taxed at a reduced VAT rate of 12% (half the standard 24% Greek VAT rate), applied …
MYBA Charter Contract
The MYBA Charter Agreement is the industry-standard contract for luxury yacht charters worldwide, published …
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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.