Crewed vs bareboat yacht charter
Bareboat, skippered or crewed yacht charter: who needs a licence, what a skipper costs per day, and how APA and tips work. Sourced and dated.
Every yacht charter falls into one of three models. They differ in who sails the boat, who needs a licence and which extra costs apply.
Last checked: 27 Oct 2026.
The three models
- Bareboat: you rent the boat and sail it yourself. You need an accepted licence or sailing résumé in most Mediterranean destinations (requirements by country).
- Skippered: a professional skipper sails the boat. The Globe Sailor puts the skipper's fee at about €150–300 per day, with the skipper's meals at your expense (The Globe Sailor, checked 28 Oct 2026). That is €1,050–€2,100 for 7 days (our arithmetic).
- Crewed: skipper plus a cook or host (larger yachts add more crew). The fee is usually quoted with an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) of around 25–35% of the charter fee for sailing yachts and catamarans and 35–40% for motor yachts (Helm, checked 27 Oct 2026), and a customary gratuity of 10–20% (Worth Avenue Yachts, checked 27 Oct 2026).
Side by side
| Bareboat | Skippered | Crewed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who sails | You | Professional skipper | Professional crew |
| Licence or résumé | Usually yes | No | No |
| Extra people to pay | None | Skipper, €150–300/day (The Globe Sailor, checked 28 Oct 2026) | Included in the fee, plus tips |
| APA | No | No | 25–35% (sail, catamaran); 35–40% (motor) (Helm, checked 27 Oct 2026) |
| Food | You provision: €20–40 per person per day (The Globe Sailor, checked 28 Oct 2026) | You provision | Via the APA |
| Verified price averages on this site | Catamaran monthly series, mixed bareboat and crewed | Our arithmetic only | None yet |
12 Knots' catamaran averages mix bareboat and crewed listings, so they cannot be split by model. We don't show a crewed price average because we have no verified one.
How to choose
- No accepted licence or new to the area: skippered or crewed.
- Want to sail yourself and keep cost down: bareboat, with a licence.
- Want meals and service included: crewed; budget the APA and tips on top of the fee.
More detail: bareboat vs skippered. Totals: true cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a crewed and a bareboat yacht charter?
On a bareboat charter you sail the boat yourself and usually need a licence or résumé. On a crewed charter a professional crew sails and looks after the guests, and you pay an APA and customary tips on top of the fee.
How much does a skipper cost?
The Globe Sailor says about €150–300 per day depending on the destination, plus the skipper's meals.