BOOK EARLY
What Affects a Yacht Charter Cost?
Before setting sail, understanding the basics of Yacht Charter Pricing and determining whether this kind of a holiday fits your pocket is cruicial. Considering your desired level of customization, overall vacation expectations and most important rationalizing your budget flexibility to your abilities are the essential factors when it comes to luxury yacht charters.
What is a private yacht charter?
By definition, a private yacht charter is an exclusive sailing holiday experience allowing you to discover the location of your desire from a comfort of a chartered sailing yacht or a catamaran. With personalized and flexible itineraries and indulging onboard accommodation it is the ultimate vacation for families and groups who desire to explore at their own pace. It is a completely different level of a holiday then all inclusive cruise, where you book a cabin and share the ship with other guests.
Yacht Rental In Croatia
Croatia has largest number of yachting companies operating with over 5.000 yachts for rental of different sizes and types. That is why we truly believe that there is a yacht in Croatia suitable for every pocket. From Luxury motor yachts, cruising catamarans and sailing yachts to smaller and more affordable sailboats, Croatia yacht charter rates vary substantially. Discovering the breathtaking coastline and islands of the Adriatic Sea is definitivelly the ultimate holiday made possible by Croatian yacht charter.
To make your decision easier, we've outlined 6 basic factors that can determine the overall charter costs in the following sections:
the Yacht Type & Size
The Type of Yacht Charters
The Season You Travel
The Length of the Trip
The Destination can affect the overall yacht charter cost
Additional fees you need to consider (The extras)
1. THE YACHT
The yacht rental fee presents largest part of the overall charter expense. That is why it is essential to first contact reliable Croatia yacht charter agency to help you find a suitable yacht in Croatia and guide you thorough the booking process. Based on the size of the group, your holiday expectations, the budget and traveling style, charter experts will recommend a yacht to best suit your needs.
Also keep in mind that a yacht charter vacation is after all a 7-day-living-on-board adventure and everyone should feel cozy and relaxing during their well-deserved cruising holiday.
3 types of yachts available for charter in Croatia
- Sailing Yachts; Average weekly yacht rental fee 4.000€
- Cruising Catamarans; Average weekly yacht charter cost 7.000€
- Motor Boats; Average weekly yacht charter price 10.000€
The final decision on what yacht type to select, basically depends on the level of on board commodity you desire, your travelling style and of course the depth of your wallet. Croatia catamaran Charter is ideal for a family cruise assuring your children safer and faster movement around the deck. The impressive BALI 4.2 is largest among the same-sized multi-hull competition, however, two hulls also means larger docking fees and fuel consumption.
DUFOUR 530 mono hull is the perfect yacht when it comes to balancing the price value, cruising performance and comfort. Larger yachts are more stable and effective under the sails, with less fuel consumption then motor boats. That is why renting a sailboat in Croatia is considered more environment-friendly option. Compare both in our catamaran vs.sailing yacht guide.
Yacht charter costs on luxury motor yachts might be highest, but you can expect a exquisite accommodation and luxurious deck equipment. Motor boats have higher fuel consumption, more engine noise, but you can faster hop from one island to another.
INTERNAL TIP:
If you sail with kids spacious OCEANIS 46.1 sailboat comes highly recommended especially for family yacht charters and couples.
2. THE CHARTER TYPE
There are 3 different types of Croatia yacht charters and the decision on which one to choose greatly affects expenses:
- Bareboat charters (you only pay for bareboat yacht rental price and the base fee)
- Skippered sailing yachts (you pay all from the above plus skipper is paid extra)
- Crewed yachts & gulet charters (all inclusive yacht charter option includes: professional yacht crew & full board services)
Bareboat Charters
Bareboat charter option is lowest on cost. When you don't need the skipper to run and operate the vessel, you only pay the base price for the yacht. That also means taking full responsibility over navigation, route itinerary planning and provisioning. You receive the privilege to enjoy full privacy and independence during your Split sailing trip and explore Adriatic sea at your own pace.
IMPORTANT: For chartering a bareboat yacht in Croatia you will need a adequate boat license and a VHF radio station license.
Skippered Yacht Charter
Yacht charter with skipper is most freequent charter type in Croatia and makes best balance between the yacht rental cost and the experience you receive. It is still considered affordable for most groups, but the largest benefit on skippered charter is a completely flexible itinerary adjustable with your skipper before and during the sailing trip.
You can always upgrade skippered package with a hostess service to supply the yacht with provisions and prepare simple meals on board. In this case APA "plus expenses yacht charter" is recommended.
What is APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance)?
This is the extra cost that is used to cover all the additional fees during your charter week. It is also recommended to the guests that don't want to carry too much cash to their holiday. Based on your food preferences and itinerary wishes, this sum should be paid before the charter to any of the crew members to dispose with this cash covering the provisions, port fees, taxes and fuel.
APA cover additional costs incurred during your cruise:
- fuel consumption
- docking fees
- onboard provisions
Gratuity for crew members on skippered sailing holiday is not included and ranges from 15-30% from their weekly fee.
Crewed Yacht Charter
The most indulgent and exclusive option is a luxury yacht charter with crew. It may be the most expensive option, but expect a exquisite holiday experience in the presence of a professional yacht staff. Carefully selected professional crew will provide unforgettable cruising moments with standard of personalized onboard service beyond any compare. Crew gratuity is usually not included in a luxury yacht charter and ranges from 3-5% of the whole charter price.
All inclusive yacht charter generally includes:
- Luxury motor yacht or a crewed catamaran
- Professional crew
- Fully catered service (Gourmet meals and Selectively prepared food aboard)
- Local taxes
- Fuel costs and harbor fees
- Water toys, fishing equipment, jest skis, snorkeling gear,...
IMPORTANT: Advanced provisioning allowance (APA) is often not included in a luxury yacht charter, since it is based on personal food & beverages selection of onboard guests.
3. YACHT CHARTER PERIOD
The yacht charter price in eastern Mediterranean largely depends on the sailing season and what in month you wish to visit Croatian coast. The summer months of June, July and August are the peak season for sailing trips in Croatia when it's quite warm on land and at sea, with the water pleasant for swimming while winds are low. This is usually the best time for sailing in Croatia. Yacht rental prices during high holiday summer season might be highest when everything is in full swing. If you enjoy buzzing island atmosphere and warm weather with abundance of sun, don't think twice and charter yacht in Croatia during peak summer.
Save money and take the advantage of low season prices
Within the months off-peak like May, June or end of September you can expect larger yacht availability with better rates, fewer crowds, lower motor boat traffic at sea and lower marina fees. Less busy harbors and island villages means that you will be able to enjoy the real atmosphere of a place and have more time to explore the islands. The weather in shoulder season might be moody ocasionally, but you can still catch lots of summer vibe at the Adriatic coast.
For seasonal tips, explore our blogs on Best time to sail Croatia and Sailing Croatia in September.
INTERNAL TIP:
Chartering a yacht in Split in late May or throughout June is probably best kept secret.
WHY?
- Most yachts still available in pre-season months
- Better yacht rental rates & discounts
- Lower crowds in popular tourist locations
- Less traffic at sea and more space in ports and island harbors
4. THE DESTINATION CAN AFFECT ON THE YACHT CHARTER COST
Croatia is still considered to be among affordable Mediterranean yachting destinations with reasonable yacht rental rates and an immense selection of available charters. Welcoming maritime atmosphere, crystal-clear seas, scenic landscapes, untouched nature and authentic local cuisine make Croatian coast one of the last heavenly oasis in the world.
The best part of Croatia yacht charters is that you can visit different places every vacation, Our suggestion is to begin your journey by focusing on one particular nautical destination you wish to explore. It is amazing how much you can see in a week.
Split Yacht Charters
Split sailing itinerary is considered most rewarding yacht charter route on Mediterranean for inexperienced sailors coming to Croatia for a fun and laid-back cruising adventure. With 2 largest yachting bases in southern Croatia, competitive yacht rental prices high quality technical service and good flight connections, Split sailing route makes best balanced cruising itinerary for a beginner.
Most yachts are moored in a beautiful UNESCO site Trogir and largest south Croatian marina Kaštela located only 5 minutes from Split international airport. For yacht selection and booking support please contact your charter broker or Active Sailing agency.
5. THE LENGTH OF THE TRIP
Most charters in the Mediterranean operate with 7-day itinerary with charter turnaround on Saturdays. Of course the length of the trip really depends on your travelling preferences and how many sailing ground you wish to cover. However, it is possible to extend a cruise to 10 days or 2 weeks at an additional cost. Week-long sailing holidays in Croatia is ideal duration for a summer yacht trip.
7-Day Split sailing Itinerary
If you are coming to Croatia for just a week and have limited time to explore, ideally is to charter yacht or catamaran in Split and hop around world-known Croatian islands Hvar, Vis and Brač . With daily sailing distances between 3 and 5 hours, expect well-balanced route to include snorkelling in lonely bays, visiting vibrant ports and historic towns and tasting top local island cuisine.
Split yacht charters fuse the very best of the Dalmatian coast and will certainly inspire you to return next year and discover scenic Northern coast or sail further south to the islands Korčula and Mljet by chartering a yacht in Dubrovnik.
Whatever activities you plan here during yacht charter vacation, try to do it slowly. Frequent stops for swimming or just chilling in bays will definitively make every day at sea count. For groups that wish to explore beyond Split itinerary and visit national parks Kornati and Krka, Trogir yacht charter or a 14-day Zadar sailing itinerary is recommended.
6. ADDITONAL FEES & EXTRAS
As we outlined before, largest part of a private yacht charter costs are:
- yacht rental price with charter base fee that ususally includes final cleaning, motor, tender boat, towels & bedding
- skipper/crew (on luxury yachts this service is included)
However, there are also variable costs and fees that you need to consider during your charter period and are not included in the charter fee. Renting yacht in Croatia for a week also brings several variable costs specified below:
- Advance Provisioning Allowance, APA. (on crewed charters covers fuel, food, marina fees, taxes and gratuities)
- Water toys (Stand up paddle boards,..)
- Mandatory Tourist tax 1,35€ per person per day
- Crew Gratuities (not mandatory but appreciated)
- Scuba diving, shore excursions & water taxis
- Eating Onshore
- Trip Insurance (medical insurance and the cancellation risk insurance is adviced in case of a travel ban or health issues )
- Cost of traveling to the departure port (transfers and taxis are not included in charter fee)
- Delivery Fee If the yacht needs to br delivered from one destination to another at your desire, there is an additional relocation fee. For example: For one way yacht charter Split to Dubrovnik an extra fee is mandatory, because skipper needs to relocate the boat to the base marina.
FAQs
- Yacht rental Fee
- Cleaning of the yacht and handling fees
- Towels & Bedding
- Dinghy with outboard motor
- Wi-Fi onboard
Small yacht rental in Croatia will cost you on average 3.500€ during the high season and about 2.000€ in June or September. Skipper, Food, Fuel and Port fees are excluded from the charter cost.
Skipper's fee on private yacht charter in Split varies between 180 and 220 euros per day, depending on yacht type and size.
Damage security deposit is mandatory for all yacht charters. Guests on board are responsible for any direct damages caused by negligence (clogging the toilet, vandalism, damaging the yacht or its parts deliberately,..). Skipper is liable to the damages from navigation and is covered by the skipper's insurance policy.
It is strongly advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance due to the possibility of significant cancellation costs. Under a number of scenarios, such as health problems, family emergencies, or other unanticipated occurrences that prohibit you from go through with the charter, this insurance can reimburse cancellation expenses.
The average docking fee for a 45-foot sailing yacht ranges between 80€ and 120€ per night and extra 50-100% for a catamaran. Price usually includes fresh-water refill, shore power, toilet and the use of bathroom facilities.
The fuel consumption cost basically depends on the type of the yacht, the size and the itinerary. Here's the fuel consumption calculated on different yachts for hire in Split:
- Smaller Sailing Yachts 50€ - 100€ weekly
- Larger Sailing Yachts 150€ - 250€ weekly
- Catamarans 250€ - 400€ weekly
- Luxury Catamarans & Motor boats 500€ - 1.500€ weekly
The APA cost varies and mostly depends on the yacht type, fuel consumption, special requests from clients and number of guests on board.
The following is a cost calculation for 3 most common options:
- FAMILY YACHTS = APA 1.500€
- CREWED CATAMARANS = APA 2.000€ - 3.500€
- LUXURY YACHT CHARTERS = APA 7.000€ - 12.000€
These extra costs that can be covered through an APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance)
- FOOD & DRINKS on board
- FUEL CHARGES
- HARBOUR FEES & DOCKING
- CREW GRATUITY
Important: Crew members will collect bills for everything they paid from APA. At the end of the charter, yacht crew returns the remaining money to the client. If the expenses and client’s spending exceed the initial APA amount, additional payments are required.
If the client already covered the yacht rental, the base fee and the APA in advance, most of the costs are already included. The only additional expenses to expect during the week are:
- Shore Excursions
- Wine Tours, Restaurants
- Transfers To & From the Charter
- Special Requests to affect the APA (gourmet meals,..)
The harbor fees in Croatian islands vary and are mostly set by the local port authority and basically includes overnight mooring fee. Water, garbage disposal and shore power are calculated separately. In modern private marinas the mooring cost is calculated in one price but can be overall higher. Especially for larger yachts and catamarans.
If you own adequate ICC boating license chartering a bareboat yacht gives you the opportunity to independently navigate without having to pay for skipper service.
