Yacht Charter Glossary
Delivery Fee
Also known as: Repositioning Fee · Yacht Delivery Charge · Positioning Fee
Last updated August 2026
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 VAT rate as the charter fee, whatever certified rate applies to that yacht.
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
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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.