What Is APA on a Yacht Charter, and How Much Should You Budget?
Quick answer
The APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is an advance you pay on top of the charter fee to cover the yacht's running costs: fuel, food and drink, port and berthing fees, and communications. It is typically 25–35% of the base fee on sailing yachts and catamarans and 35–40% on motor yachts, and any unspent balance is refunded at the end of the charter.
The APA is the line on a yacht charter quote that surprises first-time charterers most. It is large, often more than a third of the base fee, and it is paid before you have spent anything. But it is not a fee: it is your own money held on account, spent on your behalf and accounted for with receipts.
This guide explains how big the APA usually is, what it pays for, how it is managed during the charter, and how inclusive Caribbean terms change the picture.
What is APA on a yacht charter?
APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance: a sum you pay in advance, on top of the base charter fee, to cover the yacht's running costs during your charter. The captain manages it, keeps every receipt, and settles the account with you at the end.
The APA exists because the standard MYBA charter contract is written on "plus expenses" terms. The base fee pays for the yacht, the crew's wages, crew food, insurance and standard equipment. Everything that varies with how you use the yacht, from fuel to champagne, is charged at cost and paid from the APA. That arrangement means you pay for what you actually consume rather than for an average built into a higher fee.
How much is the APA on a yacht charter?
The APA is typically 35–40% of the base fee on motor yachts and 25–35% on sailing yachts and catamarans. Across all yacht sizes and destinations the industry range is about 20–40%.
| Yacht type | Typical APA (% of base fee) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Motor yacht, 30–50m | 35–40% | High fuel burn at cruising speed; large tenders and toys |
| Superyacht, 50m+ | 30–40% | Bigger fuel bills, offset partly by a much larger base fee |
| Sailing yacht | 25–35% | Sails reduce fuel use; generator and tenders still burn fuel |
| Crewed catamaran (Med, plus expenses) | 25–35% | Efficient engines and smaller tenders |
| Caribbean yacht on inclusive (CTI) terms | 0–5% | Meals and some fuel are already in the price |
Brokers sometimes set the APA at the lower end for a guest group that plans long, slow days at anchor, and at the upper end for an itinerary with long passages or a heavy wine list. The percentage is a starting point, not a fixed rule.
What does the APA cover?
The APA pays for running costs that vary with how you use the yacht: fuel for the yacht, tenders and toys; food and drink; berthing and port fees; and communications. It does not cover the crew tip or the VAT on the charter fee.
Fuel
Fuel is usually the largest single item, especially on motor yachts. A long passage, for example running from Athens to the eastern Cyclades or from Nassau to the southern Exumas, burns far more than a week of short hops between neighboring anchorages. Tender and jet ski fuel adds up too.
Food and drink
The chef provisions from your preference sheet. Everyday wines, beer and soft drinks are moderate; premium vintages, rare spirits and specialty ingredients flown in can move the total quickly.
Berthing and port fees
Marina nights in high-demand harbors are expensive, particularly for larger yachts in Monaco, Saint-Tropez, Porto Cervo, Capri and Mykonos in July and August. Nights at anchor cost nothing in berthing.
Communications and other running costs
Satellite internet packages, local SIMs, cruising permits and local charges such as Greece's monthly TEPAI cruising fee or Montenegro's cruising vignette are commonly paid from the APA. Shore excursions, restaurant bookings and car transfers the crew arranges for you are too.
What the APA does not cover
The base charter fee, VAT or charter tax on that fee, and the crew gratuity are all separate. Delivery fees are also invoiced separately in the contract.
How much APA will you actually spend? Worked examples
On a typical week, motor yacht charterers spend most or all of the APA, while sailing yacht and catamaran charterers often get some back. The examples below are illustrations, not quotes, and assume plus-expenses MYBA terms.
| Example week | Base fee | APA paid | Illustrative spend | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35m motor yacht, Croatia, Split to Dubrovnik, moderate cruising | €90,000 | €31,500 (35%) | €28,000 | €3,500 refunded |
| 45m motor yacht, French Riviera, several Saint-Tropez and Monaco berths | €200,000 | €70,000 (35%) | €78,000 | €8,000 extra due |
| 30m sailing yacht, Ionian Greece, short legs, mostly at anchor | €45,000 | €11,250 (25%) | €9,000 | €2,250 refunded |
| 60m superyacht, Bahamas, Nassau to Exumas, heavy tender use | $420,000 | $147,000 (35%) | $140,000 | $7,000 refunded |
The pattern is predictable. Long passages, prestige marina nights and top-shelf wine lists push spending above the APA. Quiet anchorages, short legs and simple tastes leave a refund.
When do you pay the APA?
On standard MYBA terms, the APA is paid together with the balance of the charter fee, taxes and any delivery fee, about five weeks before embarkation. It goes into the yacht's account so the captain can provision before you arrive.
That timing matters because the chef often shops, and orders specialty items, in the days before you board. The APA also lets the captain pre-book marina berths and pay deposits on restaurants or excursions.
Can the captain ask for more APA during the charter?
Yes. If spending is running ahead of the APA, the captain should tell you and may ask for a top-up, paid by card or transfer, so the yacht is never funding your costs from its own pocket.
A good captain will share a running balance on request and flag it early if a planned passage or berth will push you over. You can ask for a mid-charter statement at any point. If you want to manage spending, the easiest levers are fewer marina nights, shorter passages, and a clear brief on wine and spirits.
How is the APA settled and refunded at the end?
On the last evening or the morning of departure, the captain presents an itemized APA account with receipts. Any surplus is refunded, usually by bank transfer, or you settle any overspend before leaving.
Expect the account to list fuel by refuelling, marina invoices by port, provisioning by supplier, and communications and sundries. Review it calmly with the captain; questions are normal and a well-run yacht will have every receipt to hand. Some charterers ask for the crew gratuity to be deducted from the APA surplus, which is simple and common, but agree it clearly. See how much to tip a yacht crew.
Is VAT charged on the APA?
VAT on a charter is normally charged on the base fee, and in France it does not apply to the APA itself. The fuel, food and marina services the APA buys carry their own local taxes at the point of sale.
Rules differ by country, and a few authorities treat certain APA items differently, so ask your broker how your starting country handles it. Our yacht charter VAT guide covers country rates. Tax rules change; confirm at booking.
How do inclusive Caribbean terms (CTI) work?
Many smaller yachts in the Caribbean, especially crewed catamarans and sailing yachts, charter on inclusive terms, where meals and a set amount of fuel are built into the price. There is often no separate APA, or only a small one of about 5%.
Caribbean Terms Inclusive (CTI) typically covers three meals a day and around four hours of cruising fuel a day. Premium wines and spirits, extra fuel, marina berths and communications cost extra and are billed at the end or covered by a small APA. Inclusive terms make budgeting simpler and are one reason crewed catamarans in the Caribbean are good value. See our crewed catamaran guide.
Larger Caribbean yachts usually charter on standard MYBA plus-expenses terms with a full APA, just as in the Mediterranean.
| MYBA plus expenses | Caribbean inclusive (CTI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical yachts | Most motor yachts and superyachts worldwide | Smaller yachts, many catamarans and sailing yachts in the Caribbean |
| Food and drink | Paid from APA at cost | Three meals a day included; premium drinks extra |
| Fuel | Paid from APA | About four hours of cruising per day included |
| Berthing and comms | Paid from APA | Usually extra |
| APA size | About 25–40% | None, or about 5% |
| Best for | Tailored menus, long passages, full control of spending | Simple, predictable budgets |
Our view
Budget the APA at the full percentage your broker quotes and treat any refund as a bonus. Under-funding it does not save money; it only means a top-up mid-week. If you want to bring the number down, change the itinerary rather than the percentage: fewer marina nights and shorter legs do more than anything else. For how the APA fits into your total budget, see yacht charter cost, and for the full booking sequence read how a yacht charter works.
Frequently asked questions
What does APA stand for on a yacht charter?
APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. It is a sum paid in advance, on top of the base charter fee, that the captain uses to pay running costs during your charter, such as fuel, food, drinks, marina fees and communications.
How much is the APA on a yacht charter?
Under standard MYBA plus-expenses terms, the APA is typically 35–40% of the base fee on motor yachts and 25–35% on sailing yachts and catamarans. Across all sizes and destinations, the industry range is roughly 20–40%. On a €100,000 motor yacht week, expect an APA of about €35,000–€40,000.
Do you get the APA back?
You get back whatever is not spent. At the end of the charter the captain presents an itemized account with receipts, and any surplus is refunded. If spending exceeds the APA, you pay the difference before you leave the yacht.
Is the crew tip included in the APA?
No. The gratuity is separate and discretionary, usually about 10–15% of the base fee in the Mediterranean and 15–20% in the Caribbean. Some charterers ask for the tip to be taken from the APA surplus, which is fine if you agree it clearly with the captain.
Is VAT charged on the APA?
It depends on the country and on what is bought. In France, charter VAT applies to the base fee and not to the APA itself, though the goods and services the APA pays for carry their own local taxes. Ask your broker how the APA is treated in your starting country.
What is the difference between APA and all-inclusive yacht charter?
On MYBA plus-expenses terms, the base fee covers the yacht and crew, and the APA pays for everything you consume. On inclusive terms, common on smaller Caribbean yachts under the CTI model, meals and a set amount of fuel are included in the price, so there is often no separate APA or only a small one.
Charter rates, APA, VAT and fees quoted are approximate, vary by yacht and season, and change often. Confirm current figures with your broker at booking.