Greek yacht charter pricing has three parts. Base fee, APA, and VAT. Here's exactly what each one is, what it covers, and how to budget. No surprises.
When you see a yacht's "rate per week", that's only the base. Two other components make up the all-in price. Both are industry-standard across the Mediterranean.
The headline rate you see for each yacht. Pays for exclusive use of the vessel plus crew salaries, insurance, maintenance, and crew food.
Advance Provisioning Allowance. A separate prepaid fund managed by the captain. Covers everything operational during your trip. Unused balance is refunded.
Mandatory tax on the base fee, set by law. Standard Greek charter VAT is 12% (sometimes 6.5% for specific itineraries — confirmed in your quote).
No hidden costs: the all-in price you see in your quote is the all-in price you pay. APA is a budget, not a fee — unspent balance is refunded at the end of your charter.
Here's exactly how a typical week-long Cyclades charter on a 30m motor yacht builds up.
| Cost Component | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Base charter fee | Weekly rate (high season) | €80.000 |
| APA (30%) | Fuel, food, drinks, port fees | €24.000 |
| Greek VAT (12%) | Tax on base fee only | €9.600 |
| All-in total | What you actually pay | €113.600 |
Note: APA is a budget — actual usage varies based on your preferences (more wine, less fuel, more excursions, etc.). Unspent balance is refunded.
Think of the APA as your yacht's onboard expense account. The captain manages it, you approve the spending, and every receipt is kept. Here's the full breakdown of what it covers and what's outside.
Booking a Greek charter is straightforward. Here's the sequence from first enquiry to embarkation.
Talk to broker. Get yacht options + quote. No commitment.
Yacht placed on hold. Standard charter contract signed.
50% of charter fee on signing. Confirms booking.
Remaining 50% + APA + VAT, 30 days before embarkation.
Step aboard. Captain manages APA daily, you review.
Final receipts reviewed with the captain. Unspent APA balance refunded.
Quick answers to what most first-time charterers ask.
APA varies based on your itinerary (how much fuel you'll burn), preferences (which wine you want stocked), and number of guests. We can't pre-set it for everyone. What we can do: show you the base rate publicly, then build the exact APA + VAT estimate in your personal quote within 24 hours of your enquiry.
Yes. The captain keeps every receipt. At the end of your charter, you'll see a full statement of expenses. Any unspent balance is refunded to you. If your usage exceeds the APA (rare, if budgeted correctly), you settle the difference in cash before disembarking.
APA is prepaid before embarkation (along with the balance of the base fee). This is so the yacht can be fully provisioned and fueled when you arrive. During the trip, you don't pay anything — the captain manages everything from the APA. If usage approaches the limit, the captain will let you know and you can top up.
Two different things, often confused.
"VAT paid" yacht status refers to a yacht that's been imported into the EU with VAT paid on the purchase price. Important only if you're buying a yacht — a VAT-paid yacht can circulate freely in EU waters without re-import.
Charter VAT is the 12% tax on the charter fee, applied separately every time the yacht is chartered. Paid by you, the charterer, on top of the base rate.
A growing number of Greek yachts now offer all-inclusive packages, especially for shorter charters (3-5 days) or smaller boats. We can match you with these if you prefer a fixed, predictable price. Just let us know when you enquire and we'll filter to all-inclusive options.
Standard charter cancellation terms apply. Briefly: if you cancel before final payment, you lose your deposit; if you cancel within 30 days, you lose the full charter fee. We strongly recommend charter cancellation insurance — typically 2-4% of the charter fee — which covers most cancellation scenarios (illness, family emergency, force majeure). We can arrange this for you.
The base fee covers: exclusive yacht hire, captain & full crew (their wages, food, accommodation), all routine maintenance, yacht insurance, and standard linens/towels/cleaning products. It does not include: fuel, food, drinks, port fees, mooring, or anything else operational (those are APA), and it does not include VAT.
From first conversation to first night at sea, the path is short and personal.
Where, when, how many. A 5-minute call or WhatsApp — we'll know exactly what to find.
Hand-picked yachts that fit. Honest, all-in pricing including APA & VAT. Compare side by side.
Standard charter contract. 50% deposit. We brief the crew personally. You step aboard, we handle everything.
Tell us when, where, and how many. We'll build your exact quote — base fee, APA estimate, VAT — within 24 hours.
Browse fleet → Talk to a broker