A week aboard a crewed yacht on the Riviera can be arranged from roughly €30,000 — or it can run to several million. As with villas, the headline figure is only part of the picture; understanding the structure is the key to chartering well.
Yacht charter is quoted differently from almost anything else in luxury travel: a base rate for the yacht and crew, plus a separate allowance for everything you consume along the way. Once you understand the two parts, the numbers become clear — and comparing one yacht to another becomes straightforward.
The base rate
The weekly base rate secures the yacht and its professional crew. It rises with length, volume, age, builder and amenities — a smaller sailing yacht sits at the lower end, while a large motor yacht or superyacht reaches the hundreds of thousands per week and beyond. Season matters too: July, August and event weeks such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix command the highest rates of the year.
| Yacht size | Typical base rate / week | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sailing yacht, 20–30m | €30,000 – €80,000 | Couples, small groups, intimate cruising |
| Motor yacht, 25–35m | €60,000 – €150,000 | Families, entertaining, coastal range |
| Motor yacht, 35–50m | €150,000 – €450,000 | Larger parties, full crew and amenities |
| Superyacht, 50m+ | €500,000 – €2,000,000+ | The largest, most appointed charters |
The running costs (APA)
On top of the base rate sits the Advance Provisioning Allowance — the APA — typically around 30% of the base rate. It covers fuel, food, drink, port and marina fees, and similar running costs. You pay it ahead; the captain draws against it during the charter and reconciles it at the end, refunding what is unspent or asking you to top it up if you have been especially thirsty. Factoring the APA in from the start is what keeps the true cost free of surprises.
The other line items
- VAT on the charter, which varies with the itinerary and the time spent in each country’s waters.
- Crew gratuity, customary at roughly 5–15% of the base rate, at your discretion.
- Delivery or relocation fees, if the yacht must reposition to meet your itinerary.
A good broker sets all of this out clearly before you commit, so the figure you approve is the figure you pay.
What moves the figure
- Size & type: length and volume are by far the largest drivers.
- Season: high summer and event weeks cost most; spring and autumn ease considerably.
- Build & amenities: a newer, better-equipped yacht commands a premium.
- Itinerary: distance covered affects fuel and provisioning within the APA.
- Motor vs sail: a comparable motor yacht generally costs more — see our guide to choosing between them.
A lighter way in
If a full week is more than you need, a day cruise offers the experience at a fraction of the commitment — typically a fixed day rate with catering arranged to suit, and no APA to manage. It is also the ideal way to test how you like life aboard before booking a longer charter. See our guide to the best day-cruise itineraries.
Tell us your dates, your party and your itinerary — we will return clear, all-in figures.
To explore the options, begin with the charter collection, and pair it with a villa on the coast.