MotorConquest
Built 1966 · 30 m · 9 guests
From €35,000 a week
135°Charter costs
What a week aboard a classic yacht costs
Weekly rates from the yachts we feature, by size, style, age and cruising ground, and what to budget on top for running costs, VAT and the crew.
The short answer
Half of the 151 crewed yachts we feature with a published weekly rate start below €61,000 a week. A quarter start below €35,000 and a quarter above €105,000, across a range from €12,500 for a small classic sailing yacht to €700,000 for the largest motor yachts.
- Typical starting rate a week
- €61,000
- A quarter of yachts start below
- €35,000
- A quarter start above
- €105,000
- Typical rate per guest a week
- €5,800
Starting rates are usually for the low season and are before the running costs, VAT and gratuity explained below.
Size matters most
Length drives the rate more than anything else: a bigger yacht means more guests, more crew and more fuel. The typical starting rate rises from €26,500 a week for yachts under 30 m to €325,000 for those of 60 m and over.
| Yachts | Featured | Typical rate | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 m | 38 | €26,500 | €12,250 to €53,629 |
| 30 to 40 m | 50 | €51,000 | €15,750 to €161,334 |
| 40 to 60 m | 47 | €105,000 | €45,500 to €240,000 |
| 60 m and over | 16 | €325,000 | €105,000 to €700,000 |
Sail, motor or expedition
Sailing yachts start at a typical €39,000 a week and motor yachts at €75,000. Expedition vessels, built for long passages and remote waters, start at a typical €140,000. A classic sailing yacht also uses far less fuel under sail, which keeps the running costs down.
| Yachts | Featured | Typical rate | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sailing yachts | 70 | €39,000 | €12,250 to €540,000 |
| Motor yachts | 65 | €75,000 | €17,876 to €700,000 |
| Expedition vessels | 16 | €140,000 | €31,284 to €490,000 |
Does age matter?
Less than you might think. The typical rate by age group ranges from €44,500 to €82,000 a week, whereas by length it ranges from €26,500 to €325,000. A beautifully restored classic is priced like any fine yacht of her size: you are paying for the space, the crew and the condition, and her history comes with it.
| Yachts | Featured | Typical rate | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built before 1940 | 27 | €44,500 | €14,000 to €590,000 |
| Built 1940 to 1979 | 45 | €53,500 | €17,400 to €700,000 |
| Built 1980 to 1999 | 28 | €82,000 | €17,000 to €540,000 |
| Built 2000 or later | 51 | €65,000 | €12,250 to €595,000 |
Where she cruises
The typical starting rate of the yachts cruising each region. Many yachts cruise more than one, moving between the Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean in winter, so they appear in each.
| Yachts | Featured | Typical rate | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Mediterranean | 79 | €65,000 | €14,000 to €700,000 |
| Eastern Mediterranean | 52 | €65,000 | €12,250 to €700,000 |
| Caribbean | 30 | €105,000 | €21,452 to €700,000 |
| Northern Europe | 28 | €80,500 | €20,000 to €595,000 |
| US East Coast | 14 | €55,500 | €18,000 to €700,000 |
| Asia and the Indian Ocean | 14 | €77,500 | €18,200 to €700,000 |
| Arctic and Antarctic | 8 | €155,000 | €68,750 to €595,000 |
What to budget on top
Most yachts in the Mediterranean are chartered on MYBA terms, known as “plus expenses”. The charter fee covers the yacht and her equipment, the crew’s wages, food and uniforms, insurance and the everyday consumables aboard. The running costs of your week are paid on top, and three further costs follow.
Running costs (the APA)
The advance provisioning allowance is usually 25% to 40% of the charter fee: around 25% to 35% for a sailing yacht and 30% to 40% for a motor yacht, which burns more fuel. It is paid with the balance of the charter fee, usually a month or so before you board, and the captain uses it for fuel, food and drink, berthing and other running costs. You are kept informed of spending during the week, and at the end the captain accounts for every item with receipts and refunds any balance.
Not every yacht works this way. Some Greek yachts include harbour fees in the rate, and in the Caribbean many yachts charter all-inclusive, with meals, drinks and fuel in the rate and no APA.
VAT
VAT is added to the charter fee, and to any delivery fee, according to where the charter starts. It is not charged on the APA: what the APA buys already includes local taxes.
| Starting in | VAT | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| France and Monaco | 20% | Reduced in proportion to documented time outside EU waters. |
| Italy | 22% | Reduced in proportion to documented time outside EU waters. |
| Spain, including the Balearics | 21% | No reduction for time in international waters. |
| Greece | 5.2% or 6.5% | The effective rate for most crewed charters, depending on the yacht’s licence. Short charters pay more. |
| Croatia | 13% | For charters with accommodation on board. |
| Bahamas | 14% | 10% VAT plus a 4% charter tax, both on the charter fee. |
| Most Caribbean islands | None | Including the British Virgin Islands, St Barths and the Grenadines. Cruising permits and park fees instead. |
| United States | No VAT | State and local sales taxes can apply, depending on where the charter starts. |
Rates as at 11 October 2026. Tax rules change, so we confirm the VAT on every charter.
A gratuity for the crew
Entirely at your discretion. In the Mediterranean, MYBA’s guidance has suggested 5% to 15% of the charter fee for excellent service; in the Caribbean and the United States, 15% to 20% is customary. It is worked out on the charter fee alone, not the APA or VAT, and is usually handed to the captain at the end of the charter to share among the crew.
Sometimes: delivery and local fees
If the yacht has to sail from her base to meet you, or end the charter elsewhere, a delivery fee applies. In the Caribbean, some islands charge cruising permits and park fees per guest.
A worked example
A week aboard a sailing yacht at the typical starting rate, with the APA at 30% and a gratuity of 10%. Where she starts makes a real difference:
One week at €61,000
| Starting in France | Starting in Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee | €61,000 | €61,000 |
| VAT on the charter fee | €12,200 (20%) | €3,965 (6.5%) |
| APA at 30%, for fuel, food, drink and berthing | €18,500 | €18,500 |
| Crew gratuity at 10% | €6,100 | €6,100 |
| Total for the week | €97,800 | €89,565 |
The APA is an advance, not a charge: you pay for what is actually used and any balance is refunded. In France, VAT falls if part of the week is spent outside EU waters and the yacht can prove it.
Getting the most from your budget
- Travel either side of the peak. The rates here are starting rates, usually for the low season. Of the 66 yachts that publish both, the high-season rate is a typical 14% more than the low-season rate, and for most between 11% and 17% more.
- Start where she is based. Starting and ending at her home port avoids delivery fees for bringing her to you.
- Size the yacht to your party. Rates follow length, so a yacht that sleeps your party comfortably, rather than one with cabins to spare, is often the better value.
- Ask about the yachts not listed. These are yachts we know well, not the whole market. Tell us your budget and we will find the best yachts for it.
Classic yachts at three budgets
Charter costs: questions answered
- How much does it cost to charter a classic yacht for a week?
- Among the 151 crewed yachts we feature with a published weekly rate, half start below €61,000 a week and the middle half start between €35,000 and €105,000. On top of the rate, budget for running costs (the APA, usually 25% to 40% of the charter fee), VAT where it applies and a crew gratuity.
- What is the APA on a yacht charter?
- The advance provisioning allowance: money paid with the balance of the charter fee, usually 25% to 40% of the fee, which the captain uses for fuel, food and drink, berthing and other running costs. The captain keeps you informed of spending, accounts for it with receipts at the end, and refunds any balance.
- Is VAT included in a yacht charter rate?
- No. VAT is added to the charter fee according to where the charter starts: 20% in France and Monaco, 22% in Italy, 21% in Spain, 13% in Croatia and an effective 5.2% to 6.5% for most crewed charters in Greece. Most Caribbean islands charge no VAT on charters, while the Bahamas charge 14%. It is not charged on the APA.
- Are classic yachts cheaper to charter than modern ones?
- Not necessarily. The typical starting rate of the classic yachts we feature is €53,500 a week, against €70,000 for the modern yachts, but size and style make far more difference than age.
- How much should we tip the crew?
- It is entirely at your discretion. In the Mediterranean, MYBA's guidance has suggested 5% to 15% of the charter fee for excellent service; in the Caribbean and the United States, 15% to 20% is customary. It is worked out on the charter fee alone and usually handed to the captain at the end of the charter to share among the crew.
How we worked this out. The figures are the starting weekly rates of the 151 crewed yachts on this site that publish one, converted to euros where they are quoted in another currency. They update automatically as rates change. Running costs, VAT and gratuities are typical ranges, not quotes: we confirm the full terms for every charter. Wording last revised 11 October 2026.