The most common surprise in superyacht chartering is not the base rate. It is everything that sits beneath it. Charter rates are quoted as a weekly base figure covering the vessel, crew, and core operational costs. What principals discover after booking is that the total trip cost routinely runs 30 to 50 percent above that published figure once APA, fuel, provisioning, berthing, and communications costs are accounted for. This guide removes every surprise.
Base weekly charter rates in peak Mediterranean season, June through September, currently run as follows. A 30 to 35-metre vessel costs $35,000 to $65,000 per week and suits intimate groups of 6 to 8 guests. A 40 to 45-metre vessel costs $60,000 to $120,000 per week for 8 to 10 guests. A 50 to 55-metre vessel costs $100,000 to $200,000 per week, the most popular category for business hosting and multi-generational family charters. A 60 to 65-metre vessel costs $180,000 to $350,000 per week. A 70 to 80-metre vessel costs $300,000 to $600,000 per week. Flagship vessels above 80 metres command $500,000 to $1 million per week and above. These are starting points, not final costs.
APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. It is a pre-paid sum, typically 30 to 35 percent of the base charter rate, held by the captain to cover all running expenses during the charter including fuel, food, beverages, port dues, marina fees, and communications. This is your money. Unused APA is refunded at charter end. On a $200,000 per week charter the APA deposit is $60,000 to $70,000, bringing your upfront commitment to $260,000 to $270,000 before the vessel leaves the berth.
Fuel is the largest and most variable component inside the APA and is entirely controlled by your itinerary. A 50-metre motor yacht at 12 knots burns 250 to 350 litres per hour. At Mediterranean dock prices in 2026 of $1.40 to $1.60 per litre, an 8-hour transit day consumes $2,800 to $4,480 in fuel. A week of active cruising covering 400 to 600 nautical miles between Cannes, Portofino, and Amalfi uses $15,000 to $30,000 in fuel for this vessel size. A week anchored in the Greek islands uses dramatically less. Itinerary selection is a genuine financial decision.
Berthing varies dramatically by destination. Monaco in standard peak season charges €2,000 to €5,000 per night for a 50-metre vessel. During Grand Prix week the same berth reaches €15,000 to €20,000 per night. Portofino peak season runs €5,000 to €12,000 per night. Ibiza and Capri at peak run €3,000 to €10,000 per night. The Greek islands by contrast cost €200 to €500 per night at designated anchorages. A week between Monaco and Portofino costs far more in berthing than an equivalent week in the Ionian islands at the same base charter rate.
Crew gratuity is the international yachting convention at end of charter. The industry standard is 10 to 20 percent of the base charter rate for outstanding service. On a $200,000 per week charter this means $20,000 to $40,000. It is not mandatory but outstanding captains and crews who make a charter genuinely memorable consistently earn and deserve it.
The complete picture for a 50-metre vessel at $150,000 per week: base rate $150,000, APA $45,000, fuel for active cruising $18,000, two nights premium berthing $10,000, provisioning for 12 guests over 7 days $12,000, communications and miscellaneous $2,000, crew gratuity at 15 percent $22,500. Total: approximately $259,500 for a $150,000-per-week charter on a medium-activity itinerary.
The principals who consistently secure the finest charter experiences book by January for summer, provide a detailed brief covering pace, itinerary, guest count, equipment, dietary requirements, and security considerations, and work with a specialist broker rather than a listing platform. At this level of the market the best experiences are matched, not booked.
