Market Structure
Yacht Charter Brokers in Greece: Who Does What
Fleet owners, central agents, retail brokers, and the associations behind them. A neutral map of the Greek charter market, with the money lines in writing.
Last updated June 2026
Why the word broker means four different things
The Four Lines
The anatomy of a transparent Greek charter quote
Every serious quote in the Greek market decomposes into these four lines. If a quote hides one, ask why.
| Line | Typical size | What it covers | When it is settled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base charter fee | the published weekly rate | the yacht and her professional crew | on contract, per the agreed schedule |
| APA | 25-40% of base | fuel, provisioning, berthing - a transparent account | advanced up front, reconciled at disembarkation |
| VAT | 13% weekly crewed / 24% short, static or bareboat | Greek tax on the charter | with the charter fee |
| Crew gratuity | 15-20% of base, customary | the crew, at your discretion | handed to the captain at the week's end |
The Roles
Fleet owner, central agent, retail broker, hybrid
The Associations
MYBA and IYBA, what each name on the paperwork certifies
The Money
What you pay, and what a transparent quote shows
When the structure matters most
In peak weeks. When July and August inventory tightens, a fleet owner can only offer what he owns and a central agent only what she is mandated to fill, while the market as a whole always has more doors than any single fleet. Whoever you work with, the paperwork discipline is identical: contract before payment, every line in writing, licence verified. Booking lead times for peak weeks run 6 to 12 months, so the structural questions are best asked early, when every option is still open.
The questions that expose the pretenders
- Ask for the contract form by name. If the answer is not a recognised standard form (MYBA-standard or equivalent), ask what protects your funds and your dates, and listen carefully.
- Ask who holds the mandate for the yacht being proposed. A clean answer takes one sentence; a muddled one tells you which hat the adviser is wearing.
- Ask to see the yacht's Greek charter licence. Licensed commercial yachts are what make the 13% weekly VAT rate, insurance and legal chartering possible.
- Ask for the full cost in writing: base, APA, VAT, gratuity guidance. A professional produces this without being pressed.
- Never pay into an individual's personal account. No legitimate operation in this market will ask you to.
Frequently asked
About yacht charter brokers in greece: who does what
Does using a retail broker cost more than booking direct?
The quote you approve in writing is the figure you pay, whichever door you walk through. Under the MYBA-standard framework the professional side's remuneration is settled within the charter fee between the parties to the agreement; a legitimate quote does not grow a new line later.
What is the MYBA Charter Agreement?
The industry-standard charter contract form of the professional Mediterranean fleet, published by MYBA, The Worldwide Yachting Association (founded 1984). It standardises how funds are held, how the APA account works, and what happens on cancellation, breakdown or dispute. A serial-numbered MYBA-standard contract is the strongest single protection in a Greek charter.
What does IYBA membership mean?
Membership of the International Yacht Brokers Association, a professional association of yacht brokers with a code of ethics and professional standards. It signals a brokerage operating inside a professional framework with accountability beyond its own website.
What licence must a Greek charter yacht hold?
A Greek charter licence for commercial chartering in Greek waters. It is what makes the charter legal, insurable, and eligible for the 13% weekly crewed VAT rate rather than 24%. Ask to see it before you pay; professionals expect the question.
How do I verify a broker before paying?
Three checks before any payment: a serial-numbered MYBA-standard contract with funds properly held, a yacht holding a Greek charter licence, and every cost line in writing (base, APA, VAT, gratuity guidance). Never pay an individual's personal account. George has published the full question-by-question checklist on the Journal.
Fleet owner, central agent or retail broker - which should I use?
Each is legitimate; the incentives differ. If you already know the exact yacht, her central agent is the natural door. If you want one boat from one trusted fleet, the owner works. If you want the market compared for your dates, party and budget by someone holding no inventory, that is what a retail broker is for.
Talk to a broker who will put every line in writing.
A personal reply from George, usually within a few hours.