How Much Does a Private Yacht Charter Cost?

That is like asking “how much does a bottle of wine cost?” or “how much does a car cost?” A private yacht charter can cost anywhere from $2,500 per person per week to $50,000 per person per week. Bottom line – it can be as affordable or as grand luxe as you choose. And as long as you let us choose the right yacht and crew for your expectations, it doesn’t matter how much you spend – the results are the same. No matter what our clients spend, we are used to hearing, “It was my best vacation ever!”

What Determines Yacht Charter Cost? Age of the yacht, date of recent refit, size, number of decks, level of luxury, how much the yacht cost to build, experience of the crew and chef, and onboard toy and amenity inventory. And sometimes, it is the whim of the owners – how motivated they are to have charters.

What is the starting price for a saiing catamaran yacht charter? Just the sound of the word yacht charter conjures up images of the rich and famous. Most people are surprised that there are private yachts available for the average traveler. So let’s start on the lower end where a week on luxury catamaran in the BVI with all meals and an open bar starts around $2,500 per person.  Take a look at Nutmeg as an example of this. That is considerably less than what most people expect to pay and competes with the cost of a high end cruise ship or luxury shoreside resort. If you are a Ritz Carleton or Four Seasons kind of traveler, then you’d feel most comfortable an a 62’ catamaran like Callista that charters for $4,000-$4,500 pp week.  Or if you want to charter Richard Branson's former catamaran, the 105' Bella Vita, you will pay about $9,000 pp/week.

Motor yachts: Motor yachts tend to be more expensive than sailing catamarans for two reasons – they are typically more expensive to buy and fuel adds to the charter cost. A 62' power cat like Ultra starts at about $4,000 pp/week all-inclusive in the BVI. In the Bahamas, motor yachts start closer to $4,000/pp/week plus expenses.

Superyachts: Superyachts – yachts 90’ or larger- can cost from $4,000/pp/week to $50,000/pp/wk plus expenses. Again, the rate varies widely according to the newness of the yacht, the technology, the artwork and design, and the equipment inventory. We have superyachts for all budgets!

What’s the difference between all-inclusive and plus expenses?

All-inclusive Rates include the hire of the yacht and crew, all meals, snacks, open standard bar (champagnes, vintage wines, extraordinary brands, and excessive consumption are additional), the use and instruction of all onboard watersports equipment, cruising taxes, and port fees. This type of rate structure is found on most catamarans and sailing yachts under 80’ in the Caribbean. A handful of motor yachts operate with an all-inclusive rate. 

Plus expenses includes the hire of the yacht, the crew, and the yacht's insurance. The Charterer pays for all of the operating expenses of the yacht "at cost". These expenses include the Charterer's food and beverage; consumables; fuel for the yacht, tenders and watercraft; dockage; port fees; cruising taxes; communications; personal laundry; shoreside water and electricity; port agent fees, if required; etc. Typically, these additional costs add 30-35% to the yacht charter fee.

The reason for the “plus expenses” rate structure is that on motor yachts, super yachts and higher end sailing yachts, the cost of additional expenses varies widely from one person to the next according to itinerary (and fuel used), the types of food and beverage that is ordered, parties, whether you dock each night or anchor out, etc. with “plus expenses”, you only pay for what you consume.