How Much Does a Yacht Charter Cost in 2025?
Here are the core elements that influence the cost of a yacht charter.
Published December 5, 2019
Updated January 30, 2025

Each Helm yacht charter broker is committed to finding the best value yacht charter for your group, sourcing the right yacht in the right place, at the right time, and at the right price. So we set out to answer the million-dollar question: how much does a yacht charter cost?
Well, like all complicated topics, the answer is, it depends. There are yachts of various shapes and sizes around to fit every taste and budget, from cozy monohulls to spacious catamarans, and from stripped-out racing yachts to lavish fully crewed super yacht.
And it's not even as simple as just picking the right boat - the cost can vary enormously depending on a number of factors, from where you go, to when, and what you get up to. There are also some incredible special offers to be had!
But if that sounds like a cop-out, it's not - we're still going to clear up some of the confusion over the price of a yachting holiday.
Below, we break down the core elements that influence the cost of a yacht charter.
Factors affecting Yacht Charter Costs
Factors affecting the cost of a yacht charter include:
- Type of charter
- Size of yacht
- Number of crew
- Number of guests
- Time of year
- Destination
- Expectations
- Food and drink
- Mooring fees
- Insurance and tax
What To Consider When Setting Your Budget

How Many People in Your Group?
The size of your group will influence what sort of yacht you should choose, and how large it should be. For example, if you're a small family, then a monohull could be great.
Larger families and groups of up to 10 might be better off taking a catamaran, while big parties would find a Gulet or a larger yacht better suits them.

When Do You Want To Go?
The yacht charter industry is a highly seasonal one, and prices fluctuate to reflect this.
Demand and prices are often higher during school holidays, so if you can avoid these dates, you are more likely to bag yourself a better deal.
For the eastern Mediterranean, if you can go in June or September, you're likely to benefit from great weather, dodge the crowds and get a great charter yacht at a reasonable price.
In the British Virgin Islands, if you can avoid the Christmas holidays, you can enjoy a more relaxed yacht rental with a lower charter fee.
If you're unsure of when to go, ask your yacht charter expert to recommend the best place to go for your charter vacation.

Where Do You Want To Go?
Once you've chosen what time of year you want to go, you need to decide where to go, and while on the whole the price differences between locations aren't enormous, they can vary significantly.
In locations like the Amalfi Coast and Italian Riviera, where there are hundreds of charter yacht providers with thousands of yachts, basic economics suggests you should be able to find a better deal than a more remote sailing area like the South Pacific or Indian Ocean, where there are a lot fewer yachts to choose from.


What Do You Want From Your Holiday?
Your tastes and expectations of the trip can also influence your budget. If you're looking for a relaxing time on the water in total comfort, then a crewed yacht charter is your cup of tea.
If you're more hands on, and want to get stuck in to the nitty gritty, you'd enjoy a bareboat or skippered sailing yacht.
Crewed yacht charter generally involves a higher cost, but with that comes the very finest quality of luxury yacht and service, from the moment you step aboard onwards.
We run through the full costs of a crewed yacht charter in our in-depth guide.
Of course, the number of crew will also impact the charter rate as well as the experience - the more crew members, the higher the level of service, and the higher the fee, particularly on a superyacht.


What's Your Budget Per Person?
One of the most important questions to ask is what you are comfortable spending per head on a warm weather holiday. This will give you a good indication of how much to charter a yacht.
Yachting holidays are comparable in price to many other summer holidays, but instead of a villa or resort, you're staying on a yacht that can move from beautiful anchorage to quaint fishing village to buzzing town, enjoying the sights, sounds and sailing as you go.
The number of charter guests can also influence the yacht charter price - the more of you there are on board, the more cabins you will need.
In the first week of June, a skippered private yacht charter on the French Riviera for 6 people on a 40ft yacht would be in the same sort of price range as a week in a 4-star hotel.
Chartering a larger luxury yacht like Parsifal III or The Wellesley in the east Mediterranean (as seen on Below Deck Sailing Yacht and Below Deck Mediterranean) would be the equivalent of a luxury chalet in Whistler (without Captain Lee!)
All of the above factors feed in to the budget setting for the yacht. There are several other things to consider when planning your holiday, too.
Food and Drink
How often will you eat out, and how often will you be cooking or dining on the boat?
On a crewed charter, most meals during the week will be cooked for you by the professional chef, and the expenses will be taken from the charter Advanced Provisioning Allowance.
Most people tend to have a light salad lunch at anchor, and go to a restaurant ashore in the evening, possibly cooking aboard one night a week.

Transit Log and Charter Extras
A transit log, sometimes called a welcome package, is a charge you pay at the base on check in that covers everything from cleaning fees to bedding, dinghy and outboard engine. These fees vary depending on the yacht owner.
You can find more information on yacht charter extras here.
Below is a rough breakdown of the extras costs:
- Final cleaning: can range from €80 to €250
- Outboard engine: €80-120 per week
- Bed sheets: roughly €15 per set
- Towels: roughly €5 per person
- 10GB Wifi: roughly €30 per week
- Advanced Provisioning Allowance - essentially an expense account for crewed and superyacht charter
- National Parks fees - €5 - 30
- Tourist tax - €1.40 per person per day (Croatia)
- Tip - discretionary crew gratuity, often 10% of charter price

Mooring Fees
Mooring fees, effectively parking charges for yachts, can vary enormously depending on where you go. In many places across Greece and Turkey, for instance, you'll be able to park free of charge on a restaurant pontoon, complete with water and electricity, on the proviso that you dine in their establishment that evening.
The enthusiastic owners can often be found guiding visiting yachtsmen in, and are happy to offer mooring help in return for your custom. The larger and newer facilities tend to levy some overnight fees, but they're generally a handful of euros per night, even for a 50ft motor yacht.
In more structured places like Italy and Croatia, mooring fees are higher and more methodical - a monohull is usually cheaper to moor than a catamaran. That said, you can always avoid the higher costs by dropping anchor in a bay around the corner and taking the dinghy into town, if you like.
Budget €300 per week for mooring in Croatia, and about €400 for Italy (fees can be considerably more for a superyacht, but will be covered by the APA).

Insurance and Tax
What insurance and tax considerations should be taken into account when chartering a yacht?
It is common for the cost of a charter to include a basic level of insurance, especially in locations where docking requires it as a mandatory condition. However, it is highly recommended to have your own travel insurance in place before departing and ensure that it provides coverage specifically for sailing.
For bareboat charters, the fleet operator will usually take a damage deposit, in the form of a pre-authorisation on a credit card (not a payment) - this is to indemnify them against any damages caused to the yacht during your holiday. Many operators offer a non-refundable damage deposit insurance option, which reduces your refundable pre-authorisation from €3,000 down to around €500, or sometimes even down to €0. This can offer some peace of mind. There are also third-party insurance companies like EIS that specialise in damage deposit insurance. The right option depends on your attitude to risk - your HELM broker will be happy to guide you.
Crewed charters are also subject to VAT (Value Added Tax). The VAT rate and regulations can differ depending on the location of the charter - your broker will be happy to explain this. Your can find more information on crewed yacht charter costs in our handy guide.
Your broker will also explain whether the charter fee includes local tourist taxes. These taxes can vary significantly, ranging from under 5% to over 20%, depending on the country in which you are chartering the yacht. Checking this information beforehand will help you plan your budget accurately and avoid any unexpected financial implications during your yacht charter experience.

How does the cost of a Yacht Charter compare to other vacations?
Chartering a yacht for your vacation can offer surprisingly accessible costs compared to more traditional vacation options.
While yacht charters are often perceived as being more expensive than other types of vacations, the truth is that they can be comparable in price to luxury villas, especially when you consider all of the amenities and experiences that a yacht charter offers.
For example, a week-long bareboat yacht charter in the Mediterranean can cost between €3,000 and €15,000 per week, while a crewed catamaran in Croatia can be from €20,000 to €50,000. Meanwhile, a luxury villa in the British Virgin Islands can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $35,000 per week.
But the value of a yacht charter extends beyond its price tag - you are not merely renting a vessel; you are investing in a unique experience. Imagine waking up to breathtaking sunrises over the ocean, indulging in gourmet meals prepared by a personal chef, and snorkeling in crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life. Your private yacht becomes your own floating oasis, where you can relax, unwind, and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones.
Comparing the cost of chartering a yacht to other types of vacations depends on various factors such as the destination, season, yacht size, and level of services provided.

Example Packages
Here are four example packages, to show the range of what you can book:
- Cyclades Islands Bareboat Charter: £3,040
- Landmark Birthday in the BVI: £12,490
- Family Luxury in Croatia: £34,500
- Discovering Greece in Luxury: £77,000

Build your charter
So now you know how to plan your budget, why not put us to the test?
Whether you're looking for a luxury yacht charter on a fully-crewed super yacht, a gentle cruise aboard a catamaran, or the freedom of a bareboat charter on a beautiful teak deck sailing yacht, we can find you the best value boat.
Enquire today and we'll create a bespoke package of options to suit your destination, dates and budget.
Need some help?
If you are unsure about charter or boat selection, contact us at HELM to help you decide.
We only choose boats that are in excellent condition, and we are here to help you every step of the way and to make sure the whole process is as easy as possible.