# Yacht Charter True-Cost Calculator > Work out the real cost of a crewed yacht charter: charter fee plus VAT by cruising area, APA, delivery, local fees and crew tip — per guest and per day. The headline charter fee is only part of the bill. Add tax for where you start, the APA for running costs, delivery, local fees and the crew gratuity to see what a week on board really costs — per guest and per day. - Use the tool: https://globalluxagency.com/tools/yacht-charter-cost-calculator - For: Yachts, jets & villas, Travel advisors & agencies, Travellers - Price: free, no sign-up; calculations run in the browser and nothing is stored - Last updated: 2026-11-12 - Publisher: Luxury Travel Tools by Global Lux Agency (https://globalluxagency.com) Guidance only, not advice. Tax and legal rules change and depend on your exact circumstances. This tool gives general guidance based on the information you provide and any published sources listed on this page. It is not tax, legal or financial advice. Check the figures and terms in your contract with your broker, supplier or a qualified adviser before relying on them. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does a yacht charter really cost on top of the charter fee? Typically tax (0–22% in our default cruising areas, depending on where the charter starts), an Advance Provisioning Allowance of around 25–40% of the fee, and a crew gratuity of 5–15% or more. Using those ranges, the extras add roughly 30–77% to the headline fee before delivery or local fees. ### What is the APA and is it refundable? The Advance Provisioning Allowance is paid before the charter and spent by the captain on running costs such as fuel, food and drink, berthing and communications. The captain keeps accounts, and any unspent balance is returned at the end. If it runs low you will be asked to top it up. VAT is charged on the charter fee, not on the APA itself, though purchases made with it may include local taxes. ### Why does the VAT rate depend on where the charter starts? Within the EU, charter VAT is usually due in the country where the charter begins. Some countries (France, Italy) reduce the VAT in proportion to documented time spent outside EU waters; others (Spain, Croatia) charge on the full fee. Outside the EU, rules vary — the Bahamas applies a consolidated 14% charter tax, while the BVI charges cruising permit fees instead. ### How much should I tip the crew? MYBA guidelines suggest 5–15% of the base charter fee, with 10% standard for a week. On American-run yachts and in the Caribbean, 15–20% is common. The gratuity is always discretionary and is usually handed to the captain to share among the crew. ### Is this a quote? No. It is an estimate based on the figures you enter and the published sources listed on this page. Your broker’s contract is the final word on tax, APA and fees. ## Sources and default figures - **Croatia yacht charter VAT rate:** 13%. Confidence: high; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Croatia – Corporate – Other taxes](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/Croatia/Corporate/Other-taxes) (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, 2026-08-27); [Yacht Charter Taxes & VAT (Updated 2026)](https://iyc.com/charter_taxes_vat/) (IYC, 2026-05-07). - **Greece yacht charter VAT rate (typical qualifying charter):** 13%. Confidence: medium; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Yacht Charter Taxes & VAT (Updated 2026)](https://iyc.com/charter_taxes_vat/) (IYC, 2026-05-07); [Greece – Corporate – Other taxes](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/greece/corporate/other-taxes) (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, 2026-09-08). - **Italy yacht charter VAT rate:** 22%. Confidence: high; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Yacht Charter Taxes & VAT (Updated 2026)](https://iyc.com/charter_taxes_vat/) (IYC, 2026-05-07); [New laws on tax for yacht charter in Italy come into place](https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/news/breaking-new-laws-on-tax-for-yacht-charter-in-italy-come-into-place-today) (YachtCharterFleet). - **France/Monaco yacht charter VAT rate:** 20%. Confidence: high; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Yacht Charter Taxes & VAT (Updated 2026)](https://iyc.com/charter_taxes_vat/) (IYC, 2026-05-07); [Lump sum tax reductions on yacht charter in France come to an end](https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/news/lump-sum-tax-reductions-on-yacht-charter-in-france-comes-to-an-end) (YachtCharterFleet). - **Spain yacht charter VAT rate:** 21%. Confidence: high; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Yacht Charter Taxes & VAT (Updated 2026)](https://iyc.com/charter_taxes_vat/) (IYC, 2026-05-07). - **Montenegro yacht charter VAT rate:** 0%. Confidence: medium; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Yacht Charter Taxes & VAT (Updated 2026)](https://iyc.com/charter_taxes_vat/) (IYC, 2026-05-07). - **Türkiye yacht charter VAT rate:** no reliable published figure; the tool asks the user for it. Confidence: low; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Yacht Charter Taxes & VAT (Updated 2026)](https://iyc.com/charter_taxes_vat/) (IYC, 2026-05-07); [Turkey – Corporate – Other taxes](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/turkey/corporate/other-taxes) (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, 2026-09-09). - **Bahamas foreign yacht charter tax:** 14%. Confidence: high; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Charting a new course: substantial developments in Bahamian maritime law](https://chambers.com/articles/charting-a-new-course-substantial-developments-in-bahamian-maritime-law) (Chambers and Partners, 2026-04-15); [Yacht Charter Taxes & VAT (Updated 2026)](https://iyc.com/charter_taxes_vat/) (IYC, 2026-05-07). - **BVI yacht charter VAT:** 0%. Confidence: low; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Yacht Charter Taxes & VAT (Updated 2026)](https://iyc.com/charter_taxes_vat/) (IYC, 2026-05-07). - **USVI yacht charter VAT:** 0%. Confidence: low; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Yacht Charter Taxes & VAT (Updated 2026)](https://iyc.com/charter_taxes_vat/) (IYC, 2026-05-07). - **BVI cruising permit fee (foreign-based charter boat):** 16 USD per person per day. Confidence: medium; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Guide: Cruising and Home Permit Act 2021](https://harneys.com/media/lz0d4flr/guide-cruising-and-home-permit-act-2021.pdf) (Harneys, 2024-11-01). - **Typical APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) as % of charter fee:** 25–40% of charter fee. Confidence: medium; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Everything you need to know about the APA](https://iyc.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-apa/) (IYC, 2026-09-07). - **Customary crew gratuity as % of base charter fee (MYBA guideline):** 5–15% of base charter fee (standard 10). Confidence: medium; last verified 2026-11-12. Source: [Captain and crew gratuities: how much to tip](https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/advice/captain-and-crew-gratuities-tips-how-much) (YachtCharterFleet, 2023-01-24).