# True cost of a week's yacht or catamaran charter: every destination compared

> All-in cost of a week's yacht or catamaran charter per person for 4, 6 or 8 people in 10 destinations: charter, skipper, fuel, marina, food, taxes. Sourced.

URL: https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/
Last updated: 2026-10-28
Author: Catamaran Index editorial team

Among the areas where we have fuel, marina and extras figures, a week's catamaran charter is cheapest per person for 6 people in Croatia in March at €987–1,127 and priciest in Ibiza in July at €2,312–2,452 (our arithmetic: 12 Knots' average weekly price plus fuel, 6 marina nights, mandatory extras and food at €20–40 a day, bareboat). Fuel, marina fees and extras are not verified for the BVI, the Bahamas, Thailand and Belize, so their totals cover only the charter and food.

*Checked 28 Oct 2026. Charter prices are 12 Knots' asking prices (mix of bareboat and crewed); extras are The Globe Sailor's September 2026 figures; taxes and fees are labelled official, secondary or not verified. Totals are our arithmetic and exclude flights, drinks and the refundable deposit.*

## Every destination compared

| Destination | Cheapest month | Per person (6), cheapest | Peak month | Per person (6), peak | Skipper/day | Deposit | Data | Boats |
|---|---|---:|---|---:|---:|---:|---|---|
| [Croatia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/croatia/) | March | €987–1,127 | July | €1,948–2,088 | €200 | €4,000 | Complete | [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=croatia&pos=truecost-row) |
| [Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/greece/) | March | €1,071–1,211 | August | €1,907–2,047 | €195 | €3,500 | Complete | [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=greece&pos=truecost-row) |
| [BVI](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/bvi/) | September | €1,276–1,416 | March | €1,769–1,909 | not verified | not verified | Partial | [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=bvi&pos=truecost-row) |
| [Bahamas](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/bahamas/) | September | €1,239–1,379 | March | €1,940–2,080 | not verified | not verified | Partial | [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=bahamas&pos=truecost-row) |
| [Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/turkey/) | March | €1,151–1,291 | September | €1,656–1,796 | €170 | €3,500 | Complete | [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=turkey&pos=truecost-row) |
| [Italy](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/italy/) | November | €1,230–1,370 | August | €1,988–2,128 | €191 | €4,000 | Complete | [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=italy&pos=truecost-row) |
| [Mallorca](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/balearics/) | January | €1,059–1,199 | July | €1,964–2,104 | €210 | €4,350 | Complete | [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=mallorca&pos=truecost-row) |
| [Ibiza](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/balearics/) | February | €1,437–1,577 | July | €2,312–2,452 | €210 | €4,350 | Complete | [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=ibiza&pos=truecost-row) |
| [Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/thailand/) | August | €973–1,113 | January | €1,846–1,986 | not verified | not verified | Partial | [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=thailand&pos=truecost-row) |
| [French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/french-polynesia/) | January | €1,175–1,315 | July | €2,106–2,246 | €274 | €4,000 | Complete | [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=french-polynesia&pos=truecost-row) |
| [Belize](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/belize/) | October | €1,197–1,337 | March | €2,049–2,189 | not verified | not verified | Partial | [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=belize&pos=truecost-row) |

Per person = bareboat total for 6 people ÷ 6, food at €20–40 per person per day (our arithmetic). "Partial" = fuel, marina fees and extras not verified, so the real total is higher.

## Per person by group size

Bareboat, food at €20 per person per day (the low end), cheapest month:

| Area | 4 people | 6 people | 8 people |
|---|---:|---:|---:|
| [Croatia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/croatia/) (March) | €1,410 | €987 | €775 |
| [Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/greece/) (March) | €1,537 | €1,071 | €839 |
| [BVI](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/bvi/) (September, partial) | €1,844 | €1,276 | €992 |
| [Bahamas](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/bahamas/) (September, partial) | €1,788 | €1,239 | €964 |
| [Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/turkey/) (March) | €1,656 | €1,151 | €898 |
| [Italy](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/italy/) (November) | €1,775 | €1,230 | €957 |
| [Mallorca](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/balearics/) (January) | €1,519 | €1,059 | €829 |
| [Ibiza](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/balearics/) (February) | €2,086 | €1,437 | €1,113 |
| [Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/thailand/) (August, partial) | €1,389 | €973 | €765 |
| [French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/french-polynesia/) (January) | €1,693 | €1,175 | €916 |
| [Belize](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/belize/) (October, partial) | €1,726 | €1,197 | €933 |

Same, priciest month:

| Area | 4 people | 6 people | 8 people |
|---|---:|---:|---:|
| [Croatia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/croatia/) (July) | €2,852 | €1,948 | €1,496 |
| [Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/greece/) (August) | €2,790 | €1,907 | €1,465 |
| [BVI](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/bvi/) (March, partial) | €2,583 | €1,769 | €1,362 |
| [Bahamas](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/bahamas/) (March, partial) | €2,840 | €1,940 | €1,490 |
| [Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/turkey/) (September) | €2,414 | €1,656 | €1,277 |
| [Italy](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/italy/) (August) | €2,913 | €1,988 | €1,526 |
| [Mallorca](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/balearics/) (July) | €2,877 | €1,964 | €1,508 |
| [Ibiza](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/balearics/) (July) | €3,398 | €2,312 | €1,769 |
| [Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/thailand/) (January, partial) | €2,699 | €1,846 | €1,419 |
| [French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/french-polynesia/) (July) | €3,089 | €2,106 | €1,614 |
| [Belize](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/belize/) (March, partial) | €3,004 | €2,049 | €1,572 |

## What a charter week adds to the price

A charter quote is only the start. A realistic weekly budget adds fuel, marina fees, mandatory extras, food, possibly a skipper and, on crewed yachts, an APA and tips.

| Cost line | Typical figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee (catamaran, per week) | See each destination; e.g. Croatia €3,558–€9,324 by month | ([12 Knots](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/croatia/catamaran-charter/), checked 27 Oct 2026) |
| Skipper | €150–300 per day, plus their meals | ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026) |
| Fuel | ~4–5 litres per hour under engine; €210–356 per week for a catamaran depending on destination | ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026) |
| Marina / port fees | Around €120 per night for a 40-ft sailing yacht in high season; catamarans often pay more | ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026) |
| Final cleaning | €100–250 depending on boat size | ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026) |
| Provisioning | €20–40 per person per day, excluding drinks | ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026) |
| Tourist tax | €2–10 per person per day | ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026) |
| Security deposit (refundable) | €4,000–10,000 for a catamaran | ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026) |
| APA (crewed charters) | ~25–35% of the charter fee for sailing yachts and catamarans; covers food, drink, fuel, mooring fees | ([Helm](https://www.helm.yt/article/what-is-an-apa), checked 27 Oct 2026) |
| Crew gratuity (crewed charters) | Customarily 10–20% of the charter fee | ([Worth Avenue Yachts](https://www.worthavenueyachts.com/explore/charter-terms-and-conditions/), checked 27 Oct 2026) |

Extras by destination (catamaran):

| Destination | Fuel / week | Port fee / night | Mandatory extras | Deposit |
|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|
| Croatia | €262 | €135 | €450 | €4,000 |
| Greece | €315 | €56 | €410 | €3,500 |
| Turkey | €210 | €70 | €390 | €3,500 |
| Italy | €307 | €120 | €430 | €4,000 |
| Balearic Islands | €277 | €122 | €335 | €4,350 |
| French Polynesia | €210 | €62 | €620 | €4,000 |

Source: The Globe Sailor, figures recorded September 2026 ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026). The Globe Sailor's table does not state a period for every column: the skipper fee is per day and the port fee per night (read from the article text); fuel per week is our reading. The generic tourist tax range above is not used in our totals: on each destination page we add a tax only where we could verify a euro rate for charter guests.

## Tourist taxes, permits and park fees by destination

| Destination | What we found | Status |
|---|---|---|
| [Croatia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/croatia/#taxes) | Law: the charter company collects tourist tax per night (under-12s exempt); euro amount not verified. Kornati park ticket is per boat (our summary) | not verified, official |
| [Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/greece/#taxes) | TEPAI cruising tax is per vessel and owner-paid; rates and pass-through to guests not verified (our summary) | not verified |
| [British Virgin Islands](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/bvi/#taxes) | Cruising permit per person per day (2017 rate, secondary); NPT permit price not verified (our summary) | secondary, not verified |
| [Bahamas](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/bahamas/#taxes) | Exuma park fees are per boat and person; Customs cruising permit for Bahamas-based charter boats not verified (our summary) | not verified |
| [Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/turkey/#taxes) | Göcek paid buoy zones from 2026 (secondary); guest tax and transit log not verified (our summary) | not verified |
| [Italy](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/italy/#taxes) | La Maddalena tariff and municipal tourist tax on charter guests not verified (our summary) | not verified |
| [Balearic Islands](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/balearics/#taxes) | Cabrera buoy fees (official); whether the sustainable tourism tax applies to charter guests not verified (our summary) | not verified |
| [Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/thailand/#taxes) | Similan park entry per foreign adult (travel site, secondary); no official fee page found (our summary) | secondary, not verified |
| [French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/french-polynesia/#taxes) | Taxe de séjour on charter guests not verified (our summary) | not verified |
| [Belize](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/belize/#taxes) | Hol Chan fee (sources conflict); PACT conservation fee not verified (our summary) | not verified, secondary |

## Crewed charters: APA and tips

On a crewed charter the APA (advance provisioning allowance) of about 25–35% of the charter fee for sailing yachts and catamarans covers food, drink, fuel and port fees ([Helm](https://www.helm.yt/article/what-is-an-apa), checked 27 Oct 2026), so those lines leave the bill. A crew gratuity of 10–20% is customary ([Worth Avenue Yachts](https://www.worthavenueyachts.com/explore/charter-terms-and-conditions/), checked 27 Oct 2026). We show no crewed total: 12 Knots' averages mix bareboat and crewed listings, so "charter + APA" would mislead. See [crewed vs bareboat](https://catamaranindex.com/guides/crewed-vs-bareboat-yacht-charter/) and [bareboat vs skippered](https://catamaranindex.com/compare/bareboat-vs-skippered/).

## How we add it up

Bareboat total = 12 Knots' average weekly price for the month + fuel + 6 marina nights + mandatory extras + any verified per-person-per-night tax in euros × people × 7 + food at €20 (low) to €40 (high) per person per day for 7 days. A skippered total adds 7 × the destination's skipper day rate; the skipper is not counted as a guest. Lines that are not verified, or not in euros, are shown but never added, and the total is called partial. Park fees depend on your route and are never added. All-in = charter + fuel per week + 6 marina nights + mandatory extras + food at €20 per person per day for 8 people. Inputs are The Globe Sailor's September 2026 catamaran figures ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026) (fuel per week and port fee per night are our reading of its table); the sums are our arithmetic. We include no tourist tax yet because we could not verify a per-night euro rate for charter guests. Drinks, park fees, flights and the refundable deposit are not included. Full method: [methodology](https://catamaranindex.com/methodology/#truecost). Run your own numbers: [cost calculator](https://catamaranindex.com/tools/charter-cost-calculator/#calculator).

Related guides: [how much does a yacht charter cost?](https://catamaranindex.com/guides/how-much-does-a-yacht-charter-cost/) · [catamaran charter cost by destination and month](https://catamaranindex.com/guides/catamaran-charter-cost/)

## See boats for rent

**[See catamarans for rent on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=catamarans&pos=truecost)**

Ask the operator for the full extras list before you book. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you ([disclosure](https://catamaranindex.com/affiliate-disclosure/)).

## Sources

- [12 Knots: Catamaran charter in Croatia](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/croatia/catamaran-charter/) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [The Globe Sailor: What it really costs to charter a yacht](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Helm: What is an APA?](https://www.helm.yt/article/what-is-an-apa) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [Worth Avenue Yachts: Charter terms & conditions](https://www.worthavenueyachts.com/explore/charter-terms-and-conditions/) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [zakon.hr (legal database): Zakon o turističkoj pristojbi (Tourist Tax Act), NN 52/19, 32/20, 42/20, consolidated](https://www.zakon.hr/z/2071/zakon-o-turistickoj-pristojbi) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Legal 500 (law-firm article, first published on Mondaq): BVI Government raises charter cruising permit fees effective 1 August](https://www.legal500.com/intelligence/british-virgin-islands/transport/bvi-government-raises-charter-cruising-permit-fees-effective-1-august) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Tisland (travel site): Similan Islands open on 15 October 2026](https://www.tisland.travel/en/blog/similany-otkryvayutsya-15-oktyabrya-2026) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [The San Pedro Sun (newspaper): Governor General approves PACT amendment bill: departure taxes increase](https://www.sanpedrosun.com/government/2017/04/14/governor-general-approves-pact-amendment-bill-departure-taxes-increase/) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.

12 Knots sources for every area are listed on each destination page. Data: [JSON](https://catamaranindex.com/api/true-cost.json).

## How to read the labels

- **[Secondary source]**: From a newspaper, law firm, travel site or charter company; not official.
- **[Not verified]**: We could not confirm it. We leave it open rather than guess, and never add it to a total.
- No label: Read in an official text: government, port or park authority, ministry, or an operator's own published tariff.

Charter prices are 12 Knots' asking prices and cost lines are The Globe Sailor's, so most lines are secondary. Totals, per-person figures, APA amounts and ranges are our arithmetic. Amounts in other currencies are shown as published and never converted or added.

## True cost by destination

[Croatia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/croatia/) · [Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/greece/) · [British Virgin Islands](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/bvi/) · [Bahamas](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/bahamas/) · [Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/turkey/) · [Italy](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/italy/) · [Balearic Islands](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/balearics/) · [Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/thailand/) · [French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/french-polynesia/) · [Belize](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/belize/)

## FAQ

### What is APA on a yacht charter?

The Advance Provisioning Allowance is paid on top of the charter fee on crewed charters to cover food, drink, fuel, mooring fees and operating costs. Helm puts it at around 25–35% of the charter fee for sailing yachts and catamarans and 35–40% for motor yachts.

### How much does a skipper cost per day?

The Globe Sailor says the skipper's fee is generally between €150 and €300 per day depending on the destination, and that the skipper's meals are at your expense.

### How much should I budget for fuel on a catamaran charter?

The Globe Sailor suggests allowing 4 to 5 litres per hour under engine, and its September 2026 weekly fuel budgets for a catamaran range from €210 (Turkey, French Polynesia) to €356 (Martinique).

### Which yacht charter destination is cheapest per person?

For 6 people on a bareboat catamaran in each area's cheapest month, Croatia is cheapest at €987–1,127 per person in March (our arithmetic, areas with complete data only). 4 destinations have partial data and are not ranked: their totals omit fuel, marina fees and extras.

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