# Yacht Charter Journal

> Independent editorial guide to crewed luxury yacht charters for 2026–2027: real weekly costs by yacht size, APA, charter VAT by country, crew tipping, seasons and destinations across the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Bahamas. Figures are researched from tax authorities, charter contract norms and current market listings, and dated on each page.

Key facts (verified October 2026):
- Typical weekly base rates: ~30m motor yacht about €50k–100k; ~40m about €95k–180k; 50m about €160k–350k; 60m+ €350k+.
- APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance): typically 25–40% of the base fee in the Med; unused APA is refunded.
- Charter VAT follows where the charter starts: Croatia 13%, France 20%, Spain 21%, Italy 22%, Greece often 12–13% for qualifying charters, Montenegro 0%; Bahamas 14% charter tax; BVI no VAT.
- Crew gratuity: about 10–15% of the base fee in the Med, 15–20% in the Caribbean and US.
- Seasons: Mediterranean May–October (peak July–August); Caribbean and Bahamas December–April; Atlantic hurricane season June 1–November 30.
- Monaco Grand Prix 2027: June 4–6, 2027.

## Destinations
- [Greece Yacht Charter: Where to Go, What It Costs and When to Sail](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/greece-yacht-charter/): Greece yacht charter guide: Cyclades, Ionian and Saronic routes, weekly costs, VAT and TEPAI fees, meltemi winds, best months and a 7-night itinerary.
- [Croatia Yacht Charter: Routes, Costs and When to Go](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/croatia-yacht-charter/): Croatia yacht charter guide: Split, Hvar, Vis and Dubrovnik routes, weekly costs, 13% VAT, best months and winds, plus a 7-night Split to Dubrovnik route.
- [Amalfi Coast Yacht Charter: Capri, Positano and Beyond](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/amalfi-coast-yacht-charter/): Amalfi Coast yacht charter guide: Capri, Positano, Ischia and the Aeolian Islands, weekly costs, Italy's 22% VAT, best months and a 7-night itinerary.
- [French Riviera Yacht Charter: Monaco, Cannes and St Tropez](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/french-riviera-yacht-charter/): French Riviera yacht charter guide: Monaco, Cannes, Antibes and St Tropez, 2026 weekly rates, 20% VAT, mistral winds, event dates and a 7-night route.
- [Ibiza and Balearics Yacht Charter: Ibiza, Formentera, Mallorca and Menorca](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/balearics-yacht-charter/): Ibiza yacht charter guide: Formentera, Mallorca and Menorca routes, weekly costs, Spain's 21% VAT, anchoring rules, best months and a 7-night itinerary.
- [Montenegro Yacht Charter: The Bay of Kotor and the Budva Riviera](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/montenegro-yacht-charter/): Montenegro yacht charter guide: Bay of Kotor, Porto Montenegro and the Budva Riviera, weekly costs, 0% charter VAT, best months and a 7-night itinerary.
- [Gulet Charter in Turkey: The Blue Cruise Guide](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/turkey-gulet-charter/): Gulet charter Turkey guide: Bodrum, Göcek and Fethiye blue cruise routes, weekly gulet prices, VAT and permits, best months and a sample 7-night itinerary.
- [Caribbean Yacht Charter Guide: Where to Go, When, and What It Costs](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/caribbean-yacht-charter/): Caribbean yacht charter guide for 2026–27: BVI, St Barts, Antigua, the Grenadines and Bahamas compared, with seasons, CTI terms, taxes and weekly costs.
- [Bahamas Yacht Charter Guide: Exumas, Abacos, Eleuthera and What It Costs](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/bahamas-yacht-charter/): Bahamas yacht charter guide: the Exumas, Abacos and Eleuthera, the 14% charter tax, best season, Nassau and Exuma flights, costs and a 7-night itinerary.
- [BVI Yacht Charter Guide: Permits, Costs and a Week in the Virgin Islands](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/bvi-yacht-charter/): BVI yacht charter guide: cruising permits, no VAT, starting in the USVI vs Tortola, crewed catamaran costs, the season and a 7-night Virgin Islands route.
- [St Barts Yacht Charter Guide: New Year's Eve, St Martin and Anguilla](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/st-barts-yacht-charter/): St Barts yacht charter guide: New Year's Eve in Gustavia, holiday minimums, flying in via St Martin (SXM), Anguilla day trips, regattas and weekly costs.

## Cost, timing and planning
- [When Is the Best Time to Charter a Yacht? A Month-by-Month Guide](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/best-time-to-charter-a-yacht/): Best time to charter a yacht by month: the Med May–Oct, Caribbean and Bahamas Dec–Apr. Peak vs shoulder value, the meltemi and hurricane season explained.
- [Crewed Catamaran Charter: Costs, Inclusive Terms and Where to Go](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/catamaran-charter/): Crewed catamaran charter guide: about $18k–$55k+ a week in the Caribbean on near-inclusive terms, Med costs, who it suits and the best regions to sail.
- [Family Yacht Charter: How to Plan a Yacht Charter With Kids](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/family-yacht-charter/): Family yacht charter guide: kid-friendly regions, water toys, safety, cabin layouts, nanny norms and the 12-guest limit for a yacht charter with kids.
- [Your First Yacht Charter: A Complete Guide for First-Timers](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/first-yacht-charter/): Planning a first yacht charter? Where to charter a yacht for the first time, what size suits your group, true costs and first time yacht charter tips.
- [How Does a Yacht Charter Work? From First Enquiry to Final Settlement](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/how-yacht-charter-works/): How does a yacht charter work? Brokers vs central agents, the MYBA contract, deposit, APA, preference sheet, itinerary, crew and end-of-charter settlement.
- [Monaco Grand Prix Yacht Charter 2027: Berths, Prices and Booking](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/monaco-grand-prix-yacht-charter/): Monaco Grand Prix yacht charter 2027 guide: race dates June 4–6, Port Hercule vs anchored berths, event pricing, minimum stays, tenders and when to book.
- [Superyacht Charter: What You Get at Every Size and What It Costs](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/superyacht-charter/): Superyacht charter guide: size bands from 30m to 100m+, weekly costs from about €95k to €1.5M+, crew ratios, the 12-guest rule, toys and where they cruise.
- [What Is APA on a Yacht Charter, and How Much Should You Budget?](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/yacht-charter-apa/): APA yacht charter guide: the Advance Provisioning Allowance is usually 25–40% of the fee. What it covers, worked examples, top-ups and refunds.
- [How Much Does a Yacht Charter Cost in 2026–2027?](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/yacht-charter-cost/): Yacht charter cost by size, from about €50k a week for 30m to €1M+ for megayachts, plus APA, VAT and tips, with all-in examples for Greece and the Bahamas.

## Comparisons
- [Bahamas vs BVI Yacht Charter: Which Is Better for Your Group?](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/bahamas-vs-bvi-yacht-charter/): Bahamas vs BVI yacht charter compared: 14% tax vs no VAT, shallow banks vs deep water, Exumas pigs vs BVI beach bars, distances, flights and our verdict.
- [Crewed vs Bareboat Yacht Charter: Which Should You Choose?](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/crewed-vs-bareboat-yacht-charter/): Crewed vs bareboat charter compared: licensing (ICC, VHF), weekly costs, skippered options and who each suits, with side-by-side cost tables.
- [Greece vs Croatia Yacht Charter: Which Is Better for Your Trip?](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/greece-vs-croatia-yacht-charter/): Greece vs Croatia yacht charter compared: VAT (about 12–24% vs 13%), the meltemi, distances, crowds, costs and US flights, with a verdict by traveler.
- [Mediterranean vs Caribbean Yacht Charter: Seasons, Costs and Which to Choose](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/mediterranean-vs-caribbean-yacht-charter/): Mediterranean vs Caribbean yacht charter: seasons, MYBA vs CTI contracts, VAT, real weekly costs, culture vs beaches and flight times from the US compared.

## Practical
- [How Far in Advance Should You Book a Yacht Charter?](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/how-far-in-advance-to-book-yacht-charter/): How far in advance to book a yacht charter: 6–12 months for most weeks, 12+ for holidays and 50m+ yachts. Lead times by season and what sells out first.
- [Yacht Charter Packing List: What to Pack and What to Wear](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/yacht-charter-packing-list/): The yacht charter packing list: soft bags, barefoot rules, what to wear on a yacht day and night, sun and seasickness kit, documents, plus a checklist.
- [Yacht Charter Tipping: How Much to Tip the Crew](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/yacht-charter-tipping/): Yacht charter tipping explained: how much to tip yacht crew in the Med (10–15%) and Caribbean (15–20%), the MYBA guideline, and how to hand it over.
- [Yacht Charter VAT and Tax by Country (2026–2027)](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/yacht-charter-vat/): Yacht charter VAT by country for 2026–2027: Greece, Croatia, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Malta and the Caribbean, with rules and a worked example.

## About
- [How we research](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/how-we-choose/): Sources and methodology.
- [Affiliate disclosure](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/affiliate-disclosure/): Funded by referral fees from charter brokers (Boatbookings, SkipperCity); prices unaffected.
- [Full content for LLMs](https://yachtcharterjournal.com/llms-full.txt)