What’s Included in the Charter Price?
Planning Journey
Planning Centre HomeStep 4 of 10
Understanding What Your Charter Fee Covers
One of the most common questions we receive is: “What’s actually included in the charter price?”
The answer depends on the yacht, destination and pricing model you’ve chosen. While every charter is different, understanding what is typically included—and what may be an additional expense—will help you compare yachts more confidently and plan your budget more accurately.
Before confirming your booking, Yacht Charter Agents will explain exactly what is and isn’t included for your chosen yacht.
What Is Usually Included?
Although inclusions vary, the charter fee commonly covers:
The Yacht
The use of the yacht for the agreed charter period.
Professional Crew
For crewed charters, the captain and any additional crew members are generally included in the charter fee. Depending on the yacht, this may include a chef, stewardesses, deckhands or engineers.
Standard Equipment
The yacht’s normal onboard equipment is typically included, such as:
- Tender
- Paddleboards
- Snorkelling equipment
- Fishing gear (where provided)
- Kayaks
- Water toys listed in the yacht specifications
The available equipment varies from yacht to yacht.
Standard Insurance
The yacht owner’s insurance is generally included as part of the charter. This does not replace the need for guests to consider their own travel or charter insurance where appropriate.
What May Not Be Included?
Depending on the yacht and destination, additional costs may include:
- Food and beverages
- Fuel
- Dockage and marina fees
- Local taxes
- Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA)
- Premium wines and spirits
- Special requests
- Scuba diving services
- Water sports requiring specialist crew or equipment
- Gratuities for the crew
Exactly which expenses apply depends on the individual yacht and its pricing model.
Every Yacht Is Different
One of the biggest misconceptions is that every yacht charter includes the same services. In reality, two yachts with similar weekly rates may include very different things.
For example:
- One yacht may be fully all-inclusive.
- Another may operate using an APA.
- One yacht may include several water toys.
- Another may offer optional equipment at additional cost.
- Some yachts include local taxes.
- Others list taxes separately.
This is why comparing yachts based solely on their advertised weekly price can be misleading.
Before You Book
Before you confirm your charter, we’ll clearly explain:
- What’s included in the charter fee.
- Which expenses are additional.
- Whether an APA applies.
- What equipment is available onboard.
- Any optional extras that may interest your group.
Our goal is to ensure there are no surprises, allowing you to compare yachts fairly and book with complete confidence.
Crew Gratuities
Crew gratuities are generally not included in the charter fee unless specifically stated. Tipping is discretionary, but at Yacht Charter Agents we recommend budgeting approximately 20% of the base charter fee for crew gratuity as part of your overall charter planning, and your broker will explain how gratuities are typically handled for your specific charter and destination.
This recommendation is calculated on the base charter fee, not on additional expenses such as APA (where applicable), taxes or other separately charged costs.
How Yacht Charter Agents Helps
Every yacht is different, and understanding exactly what’s included can be confusing. We’ll walk you through the details of every yacht you’re considering, explain any additional costs and help you compare your options on a like-for-like basis. That way, you know exactly what you’re booking before you step onboard.