Yacht Charter Glossary
Gratuity (Crew Tip)
Also known as: Crew Gratuity · Yacht Tip · Crew Tip
Last updated August 2026
Full explanation
Crew gratuity is the most personal cost line of a yacht charter and the one most often left out of comparison spreadsheets.
The convention this house quotes, and the one the Greek market works to, is 10 to 15% of the base charter fee, at the guest's discretion, never of the total invoiced amount (which includes APA, VAT and any positioning fee).
What sets the percentage: service quality, crew size, charter length, and the guest's own benchmark.
Within the band the guest decides; the top of it, 15%, says the crew transformed the week.
The percentage is of the base rate on the Greek Charter Index 2026.
How to pay: cash to the captain at disembarkation, in euros, in a sealed envelope.
The captain distributes among the crew according to the yacht's own arrangement.
One envelope, to the captain, is the form; splitting it by hand undermines the captain's authority.
Bank transfer is acceptable on long charters or where cash logistics are difficult, but cash on the morning of disembarkation is the convention and what crews remember.
Why it matters for UHNW charterers
Gratuity is the line item that determines whether the crew remembers your name and gives you priority next season. The Greek charter community is small, captains talk to each other, and a reputation for fair gratuity opens doors to yachts that are nominally booked out.
Worked examples
Motor yacht, 26 to 31 metres, 7 nights, crew of four or five
Index 2026 band: EUR 35,900 to 75,000 a week. Gratuity at 10 to 15% of the base: EUR 4,000 to 9,750, in cash, one envelope to the captain, who distributes it among the crew.
LA PELLEGRINA 1, 50 metres, 7 nights, nine crew
Rate card: EUR 180,000 to 235,000 a week. Gratuity at 10 to 15% of the base: EUR 18,000 to 35,250. The top of the band is for the week the crew made: the shore excursions nobody asked for, the birthday nobody mentioned, the anchorage nobody knew.
Frequently asked
About gratuity (crew tip)
Is the gratuity included in the charter fee?
No. The base charter fee covers the yacht and its crew's salaries. Gratuity is a separate, voluntary tip paid by the charterer to the crew at the end of the charter.
What's the standard tip for a Greek yacht charter?
10 to 15% of the base charter fee, at your discretion. The top of the band is for a crew that made the week; the percentage is of the base rate, never of the APA or the VAT.
Do I tip in cash or by bank transfer?
Cash in euros on the morning of disembarkation is convention. Bank transfer is acceptable on long charters but loses the personal moment with the captain.
Do I tip the crew individually or as a group?
One envelope to the captain, who distributes among the crew. Tipping individual crew members directly is considered poor form and undermines the captain's authority.
Is gratuity taxable in Greece?
The gratuity sits outside the charter fee and the APA and does not appear on the charter invoice; it is handed to the crew, not to the yacht's operating company. How the crew declare it is a matter for them and their flag state, and this house does not advise on tax.
Related terms
Other definitions worth knowing
APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance)
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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…
Captain
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Stewardess
A stewardess is the interior crew member responsible for guest service: serving meals, tending bar, managing…
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.