How to Charter a Yacht Guide

How to Charter a Yacht

Your complete guide to chartering a luxury yacht

Yachts For Charter Destinations

What Is a Yacht Charter?

A yacht charter is a private luxury vacation aboard a fully crewed vessel. Your captain, chef, and crew handle every detail while you set the pace and the destination.

Whether you want to explore the Greek Islands, island-hop through the Bahamas, or cruise the Amalfi Coast, a charter gives you total freedom to build the trip around your group. No fixed schedules, no other passengers, no compromises.

Moran Yacht & Ship has been arranging superyacht charters since 1988. We know the yachts, the crews, and the destinations.

How Charter Pricing Works

Yacht charter pricing has two components: the charter fee and the APA. Understanding how these work together is the first step to planning your trip.

Charter Rate Ranges

Weekly charter rates typically start around $50,000 for an 80-foot motor yacht and can exceed $1 million per week for the largest superyachts. Rates vary by yacht size, age, builder, condition, destination, and season. Mediterranean charters are generally quoted in euros; Caribbean and US charters in US dollars.

Your Moran broker will provide specific pricing for any yacht you’re considering, including the charter fee, estimated APA, and any seasonal adjustments.

Luxury Yacht Charter Amenities

The Charter Fee

The charter fee is the base cost of your trip. It covers the yacht itself, the professional crew, onboard amenities, and use of the water toys and tender. Think of it as the cost of the yacht and the team that runs it.

Charter fees are quoted as weekly rates. Most charters run seven days, though shorter and longer durations are available depending on the yacht and season.

What the Charter Fee Covers

  • The yacht and all onboard spaces and amenities
  • Professional crew: captain, chef, stewardess, engineers, and deckhands (crew size varies by yacht)
  • Water toys: jet skis, paddleboards, snorkeling gear, kayaks, inflatables, and the yacht’s tender
  • Onboard linens, towels, toiletries, and amenities
Yacht Charter Guide APA Expenses

The APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance)

The APA is a separate fund that covers the running expenses of your trip: food and beverages, fuel, marina and port fees, communications, and any special requests. It typically runs 25–35% of the charter fee and is paid before departure along with the charter fee.

Your captain manages the APA throughout the charter and provides a full accounting at the end. Any unused portion is refunded to you. If expenses exceed the APA, you settle the difference at the end of the trip.

What the APA Covers

  • All food and beverage provisioning (meals, snacks, bar stock, wine, spirits)
  • Fuel for cruising and the tender
  • Marina fees, port charges, and docking
  • Communications (satellite phone, Wi-Fi data)
  • Special requests: floral arrangements, shore excursions, spa treatments, special event planning
Crew Gratuity

Gratuity is separate from both the charter fee and the APA. It is customary but not mandatory. The industry standard is 10–20% of the base charter fee, with 15–20% typical for excellent service. Your broker can advise on what’s appropriate for your specific charter.

The Charter Booking Process

Booking a charter is straightforward. Your broker handles the logistics so you can focus on what matters: where you want to go and who you want to bring.

1

Tell Us What You’re Looking For

Share your preferred dates, destination, group size, budget, and any priorities with your Moran charter broker. The more detail, the better the match.

2

Review Your Options

We vet every yacht against maintenance history, crew reputation, and guest feedback before presenting anything. You’ll receive a curated shortlist with full specs, photos, crew profiles, and reviews. Virtual walkthroughs and in-person viewings available.

3

Select Your Yacht and Sign the Charter Agreement

Your broker reviews every clause of the MYBA or AYCA contract with you and negotiates terms with the owner’s side on your behalf. You’ll sign and pay a deposit, typically 50% of the charter fee plus the full APA, with the balance due 4-6 weeks before departure.

4

Complete Your Preference Sheet

The preference sheet covers dietary requirements, allergies, beverage preferences, activity interests, special occasions, mobility needs, and your group’s daily rhythm. Your broker reviews it with you before it goes to the crew and communicates directly with the captain and chef to make sure every detail lands.

5

Pre-Charter Planning

Your broker coordinates all pre-trip logistics: transfers to the yacht, crew provisioning based on your preferences, restaurant reservations ashore, sourcing specific wines or equipment, and any last-minute itinerary adjustments. You don’t have to manage any of it.

6

Board and Enjoy

Your crew takes over from the moment you step aboard, and your broker stays in the background. If the itinerary needs adjusting, if something isn’t right, or if you want to extend the trip, we’re one call away.

7

Post-Charter

Your broker reviews the captain’s APA accounting before it reaches you, advises on crew gratuity, and collects your feedback. If you want to rebook for next season, we can lock in dates while availability is still open.

Start Planning Your Charter
How to book a luxury yacht charter

When to Book

Peak season (Mediterranean summer, Caribbean winter): Book 6–12 months ahead for the best selection. The most sought-after yachts book a year out, especially for holiday weeks and major events.

Shoulder season: 3–6 months out gives you solid options and potentially better rates as yachts reposition between seasons.

Last-minute: Deals can surface 2–4 weeks out when yachts have open gaps. Selection is limited, but pricing can be favorable. Contact us for current availability.

Popular Charter Destinations

Most charter yachts follow a seasonal migration: Mediterranean in summer, Caribbean in winter, with transatlantic crossings in between. Some regions are available year-round.

Western Mediterranean Yacht Charter

Western Mediterranean Yacht Charter

The Western Mediterranean is the world’s most popular destination for luxury yacht charter. Mediterranean glamour awaits - hop…

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Eastern Mediterranean Charter Destination

Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Charter

The Eastern Mediterranean offers some of the most pristine cruising grounds in the world for private yacht charter.…

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Caribbean Islands Yacht Charters

Caribbean Yacht Charter

Vibrant culture, turquoise waters, and spectacular scenery make for the perfect private yacht charter - Caribbean sands are…

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Bahamas Yacht Charters

Bahamas

Scattered like dabs of possibility on an adventurer’s palette, the Bahamas are ready-made for exploration and there is…

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USA Based Charter Brokers Moran Yacht & Ship

Why Use a Charter Broker?

A charter broker costs you nothing extra. The broker’s commission is built into the published charter rate and split between the listing broker and your broker. You pay the same rate whether you go direct or work with us.

  • Access to the full global fleet, not just one company’s listings. We have relationships with yachts worldwide and can source options you won’t find on your own.
  • Insider knowledge of crews, yachts, and destinations. We know which crews deliver exceptional service, which yachts are well-maintained, and which itineraries actually work.
  • Contract protection through industry-standard MYBA or AYCA charter agreements that clearly define responsibilities and protect your deposit.
  • On-trip support. If anything comes up during your charter, your broker is one call away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most charter yachts accommodate 6–12 guests overnight across 3–6 staterooms. Flag state regulations cap overnight guests at 12 on most commercially registered yachts. Day charters and event cruises may allow higher numbers depending on the vessel’s certification.

Absolutely. Many yachts are well-suited for families, with water toys, game consoles, child-safe deck areas, and crew experienced with young guests. Let your broker know the ages of your children so we can match you with the right yacht and crew.

Gratuity is customary but not mandatory. The standard range is 10–20% of the base charter fee, with 15–20% typical for excellent service. Your broker can advise.

Your captain plans routes with weather in mind and will adjust the itinerary to find sheltered anchorages or redirect to calmer waters. The flexibility of a private charter means you’re never locked into a fixed route.

Yes. Your captain will propose a route based on your preferences, weather, and local conditions, but you have full flexibility to change plans day by day. The itinerary is a starting point, not a contract.

A crewed charter includes a professional crew—captain, chef, and service staff—who handle everything while you relax. A bareboat charter means you captain the yacht yourself or select a crew of your choice. Moran specializes in crewed charters on superyachts.

MYBA (formerly the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) publishes the industry-standard charter contract used worldwide. It defines the responsibilities of the charterer, owner, and broker, including payment terms, cancellation policies, insurance requirements, and dispute resolution. Your Moran broker will walk you through every section before you sign.

Cancellation terms are defined in the charter agreement. Policies vary, but deposits are typically non-refundable unless the yacht is re-booked for the same period. Charter trip insurance is available and strongly recommended. Your broker can connect you with specialist marine insurance providers.

USA Based Charter Brokers Moran Yacht & Ship

Ready to Start Planning?

Contact our charter team to discuss your trip. Whether you’re booking your first charter or your twentieth, we’ll find the right yacht for your group.

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