Buyer's guide 2026
What a private charter and island celebration actually costs.
Most agencies will not publish these numbers. We do, because a client who understands APA, VAT and lead times makes faster decisions and never feels ambushed by an invoice. Everything below is the market we work in every week, in euros, for 2026 dates.
Weekly charter rates by vessel
| Vessel or venue | Guests | Per week (EUR) | Typical shores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sailing yacht, 25–30 m | 6–10 | €45,000 – €90,000 | Greece, Croatia, Balearics |
| Motor yacht, 30–40 m | 8–10 | €90,000 – €180,000 | Riviera, Amalfi, Montenegro |
| Superyacht, 45–60 m | 10–12 | €200,000 – €450,000 | Monaco, Sardinia, Miami |
| Mega-yacht, 70 m+ | 12–18 | €600,000 – €1,500,000 | Dubai, Caribbean, Med |
| Crewed catamaran fleet | 8 per hull | €25,000 – €60,000 | Palawan, Phuket, Grenadines |
| Whole-island buyout | 40–120 | €35,000 – €120,000 / night | Maldives, Polynesia, Grenadines |
Indicative 2026 ranges for high-season dates, excluding APA, VAT, gratuity and production. Your blueprint contains a modelled figure for your exact dates.
The costs beyond the charter fee
APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance)
25–35% of the charter fee, paid up front
Fuel, food, wine, berths, port dues. Unspent balance is returned with receipts.
VAT
0–22% depending on flag, route and country
Italy and France apply it; some itineraries legitimately reduce it. Ask before signing.
Crew gratuity
5–15% of the charter fee
Customary, not obligatory. Paid at the end, to the captain, for the whole crew.
Delivery / repositioning
€0 – €40,000
Charged when the vessel must move to your embarkation port.
Production and staging
€15,000 – €400,000
Florals, sound, lighting, drone show, marquee, private chef brigade.
The questions every first-time client asks
- How far in advance should a summer charter be booked?
- Mediterranean July and August: eight to twelve months. Monaco Grand Prix week, New Year in St. Barts and Christmas in the Maldives: twelve to eighteen months. Winter shoulder dates can still be found six weeks out.
- What is APA and can it be avoided?
- APA is a running expense fund, not a fee. It cannot be avoided on a crewed charter, but it is fully accounted for: you receive receipts and the unspent balance back at disembarkation.
- Is a yacht wedding legally binding?
- Rarely at sea. Most couples hold the legal ceremony ashore or at home and stage the celebration on the water. We include the correct local procedure in every blueprint.
- What happens if the weather turns?
- Every serious plan has a weather alternate contracted in advance — a sheltered anchorage or a shoreside venue on hold. If your planner has not named it, the plan is incomplete.
- How many guests can realistically sleep aboard?
- Fewer than you think: even a 60-metre vessel sleeps twelve under charter rules. Larger guest lists sleep ashore and come aboard for the day.