How Yacht Charters Are Priced
Yacht charters vary in price, but they can be similar in cost to a standard cruise. Let’s explore the factors that influence the cost of a custom-tailored voyage and some price ranges you can expect.
Comparing yacht charter prices
The following prices are in USD estimates. Industry pricing is based on 8 days and 7 nights, but every vessel is different and accommodations can be made. As you can see, there’s a wide range to consider.
Why pricing can vary
Type of vessel
Different types of vessels require different costs to run.
Length of charter
The number of days and nights influences cost.
Provisioning costs
This refers to the meals, drinks, and service.
Number of guests
Some vessels charge less if you have fewer guests.
Location & season
Different locations and times have different costs.
Additional amenities
The amenities you choose to include are up to you.
Length of charter
Pricing in the industry is based on an 8-day/7-night standard, but you can charter a yacht for a shorter or longer stay. Shorter stays are less expensive, and longer ones are more.
Contact us and we’ll calculate how the length of your stay will affect pricing.
Provisioning and guests
On a yacht, “provisions” refers to any of the items you’d like to request the vessel have onboard for you. This could include specific things for breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks, or dinner ideas.
Inclusive charters
The cost for crew services, meals, and most fees are included.
- $11k/week–$200k/week
- More guests raise the overall price
APA charters
Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA) charters charge separately for fuel, food, etc.
- $35k/week–$1.3m/week
- Guest count doesn’t affect price
Cruising destinations and seasons
The same type of vessel might be more expensive to charter depending on where in the world it is. The US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands offer the best value, but we’ll help you find the perfect vessel whether price is a concern or not.
Every destination also has a charter season with higher pricing. Booking in the off-season (or hurricane season) may reveal amazing options.
- Caribbean charter season is mid August–mid October.
- New England charter season is mid June–October 1st.
- Alaska, Washington, and San Juan Islands are year-round.
- Mediterranean charter season is May–October, but the peak of the season is July–August.
Water toys
Depending on the vessel, charter yachts have a range of water toys to enjoy like snorkel gear, jet skis, inflatable unicorn floaties, and underwater scooters. Unlike commercial yacht charters, water toys are typically included in the cost of a private charter.
Scuba diving
The one activity private yachts generally have a separate fee for is scuba diving. Yachts offering scuba diving may have a per-dive fee, equipment rental fee, or even a certification fee.
Other costs to remember
Crew gratuity
At minimum, your crew will be dedicated to you, 24/7, for five days. Awarding crew gratuity is customary, but not included in any other fees. The customary rate is 20%–25% and it’s paid directly by you to the captain on the last day of the charter.
Fees and permits
Fees like rate exchanges, park fees, fishing permits, internet access, and mooring charges will vary by charter and destination. When you book with us, we’ll make sure these are factored into your budget.
What people are saying
“Canvas Yacht Charters and Doug are a pleasure to work with. Doug’s follow-up skills are remarkable and attention to detail are bar none. I very rarely leave reviews, but I can, without a doubt, recommend Canvas and Doug to everyone I know. Thanks again D!”
“We recently celebrated our 25th anniversary with three other couples, our dearest friends, on a week-long sailing charter. The trip was arranged by Doug Tibbs at Canvas Yacht Charters, and his assistance was invaluable every step of the way. He listened to our dreams for the trip, the things we were really hoping for and things we wanted to avoid, non-negotiates and crazy ideas, and he filtered them all to present us with several charter options, any one of which would have been wonderful, but we ended up on Ghost. Doug’s attention didn’t stop with the booking. He made sure we were kept aware of various important deadlines, including changes related to covid, connected us with the crew and conveyed to them all our preferences, and was available throughout to answer our big and small questions. This was truly the trip of a lifetime for every one of us onboard—the boat, the crew, the sailing, the food, the adventure. So many thanks to Doug for his care to make it everything we dreamed it could be—and we are already hoping to plan a repeat trip for next year!”
“It’s not often that I end up leaving a review for a service I didn’t end up booking, but the super customer service I received from Heather at Starrluxe definitely merits noting. From the first step in the process, she was helpful, professional, and extremely accommodating despite a difficult itinerary and an expedited time frame. She provided excellent options and went out of her way to address our every requirement. I deeply regret that our travel plans changed and we weren’t able to finalize our charter, but I greatly look forward to working with Starrluxe again in the future. Highly recommend!”
“Enjoyed working with Doug. He was attentive to our needs/desires. Got us a great boat with a great crew. He even got us a price reduction. I will look forward to working with him again.”
“Doug and his team helped us book a trip in two days for the following week. Great communications and expectation setting, which helped make the trip successful. We will recommend them to family and friends for their trips.
-Cheers, John”