# True cost of a week's yacht or catamaran charter in French Polynesia

> French Polynesia: all-in cost of a week's catamaran charter for 4, 6 or 8 people, cheapest vs peak month, skipper, fuel, marina, taxes, deposit. Sourced.

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

A week's catamaran charter in French Polynesia costs about €1,175–1,315 per person for 6 people in January, the cheapest month, and €2,106–2,246 in July, the priciest: 12 Knots' average weekly price plus fuel, 6 marina nights, mandatory extras and food at €20–40 a day (our arithmetic on The Globe Sailor's September 2026 figures). A skipper adds €1,918 for the week (€274 a day), the refundable deposit is around €4,000, and tourist taxes and park fees are not included: whether a taxe de séjour applies to charter guests, and its amount.

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

## How much does a week's charter in French Polynesia really cost?

| People | January total | Per person | July total | Per person |
|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|
| 4 people, bareboat | €6,771–7,331 | €1,693–1,833 | €12,354–12,914 | €3,089–3,229 |
| 6 people, bareboat | €7,051–7,891 | €1,175–1,315 | €12,634–13,474 | €2,106–2,246 |
| 8 people, bareboat | €7,331–8,451 | €916–1,056 | €12,914–14,034 | €1,614–1,754 |
| 4 people, with a skipper | €8,689–9,249 | €2,172–2,312 | €14,272–14,832 | €3,568–3,708 |
| 6 people, with a skipper | €8,969–9,809 | €1,495–1,635 | €14,552–15,392 | €2,425–2,565 |
| 8 people, with a skipper | €9,249–10,369 | €1,156–1,296 | €14,832–15,952 | €1,854–1,994 |

Range = food at €20 to €40 per person per day. Our arithmetic; inputs below.

The Globe Sailor's figures are for 4-cabin boats for 8 people; with a skipper on board, check that the boat has a berth for them.

## Every cost line

| Cost line | Amount | In the total? | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charter fee, cheapest month (January) | €5,009 per week | Yes | secondary | [12 Knots](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/) |
| Charter fee, priciest month (July) | €10,592 per week | Yes | secondary | [12 Knots](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/) |
| Skipper | €274 per day *(Counted only in the "with a skipper" totals (7 days).)* | Skippered totals only | secondary | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Cook or hostess | not verified *(We found no usable published day rate.)* | No | not verified | – |
| Fuel | €210 per week | Yes | secondary | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Marina fees, 6 nights | €62 × 6 = €372 | Yes | secondary | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Mandatory extras (cleaning, consumables) | €620 | Yes | secondary | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Food (provisioning), excluding drinks | €20–40 per person per day | Yes | secondary | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Taxe de séjour on boats | not verified *(The only official document found covers cruise ships and dates from 2011; we do not show it.)* | No | not verified | – |
| APA (crewed charters only) | 25–35% of the charter fee *(On the French Polynesia fee that is €1,252–1,753 in the cheapest month and €2,648–3,707 in the priciest (our arithmetic).)* | No | secondary | [Helm](https://www.helm.yt/article/what-is-an-apa) |
| Crew gratuity (crewed charters) | 10–20% of the charter fee | No | secondary | [Worth Avenue Yachts](https://www.worthavenueyachts.com/explore/charter-terms-and-conditions/) |
| Security deposit (refundable) | €4,000 | No | secondary | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Damage waiver (optional) | €230 | No | secondary | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |

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.

## Tourist tax, cruising permits and other charges

- **[Not verified]** Taxe de séjour on boats: not verified. The only official document found covers cruise ships and dates from 2011; we do not show it.

## Marina and mooring fees

The Globe Sailor lists a port fee of €62 per night for a catamaran in French Polynesia. Over 6 nights in port that is €62 × 6 = €372 (our arithmetic) ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026). The other nights you anchor or take a buoy.

Mooring buoys and anchoring rules: [snorkel and dive guide](https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/french-polynesia/#moorings).

## National park and marine park fees

Not in the totals: they depend on your route. If your route goes there:

| Fee | Amount | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagoon or dive-site fees | Not verified | not verified | – |

More: [park fees and rules in the snorkel and dive guide](https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/french-polynesia/#fees).

## Skipper, cook or hostess, APA and tips

A skipper for French Polynesia is €274 per day on The Globe Sailor's catamaran table, so €1,918 for seven days (our arithmetic) ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026); their meals are on top. The skipper is not counted as a guest.

A cook or hostess's day rate: **not verified**; we found no usable published rate.

On crewed charters an APA (advance provisioning allowance) of 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); it replaces those lines, so it is not in the bareboat total. 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, because 12 Knots' averages mix bareboat and crewed listings.

More: [bareboat vs skippered](https://catamaranindex.com/compare/bareboat-vs-skippered/), [crewed vs bareboat](https://catamaranindex.com/guides/crewed-vs-bareboat-yacht-charter/), [do I need a licence in French Polynesia?](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/french-polynesia/).

## Security deposit and damage waiver

The Globe Sailor lists a security deposit of €4,000 for a catamaran in French Polynesia and an optional damage waiver of €230 ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026). The deposit is refundable and in no total on this page.

## Cheapest month vs peak month

| Month | 12 Knots avg per week | Per person, 6 people, bareboat (our arithmetic) |
|---|---:|---:|
| [January](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/january/) | €5,009 | €1,175–1,315 |
| [February](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/february/) | €5,811 | €1,309–1,449 |
| [March](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/march/) | €7,493 | €1,589–1,729 |
| [April](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/april/) | €9,399 | €1,907–2,047 |
| [May](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/may/) | €9,284 | €1,888–2,028 |
| [June](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/june/) | €9,450 | €1,915–2,055 |
| [July](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/july/) | €10,592 | €2,106–2,246 |
| [August](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/august/) | €10,317 | €2,060–2,200 |
| [September](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/september/) | €10,209 | €2,042–2,182 |
| [October](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/october/) | €9,777 | €1,970–2,110 |
| [November](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/november/) | €7,473 | €1,586–1,726 |
| [December](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/december/) | €6,773 | €1,469–1,609 |

Tahiti's dry season runs from May to October ([Tahiti Tourisme](https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/travel-planner/tahiti-weather/), checked 27 Oct 2026). When to go, weighing price against weather: [best time to charter in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/french-polynesia/).

## See boats in French Polynesia

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

Ask the operator for the full extras list (skipper, cleaning, tourist tax, deposit) before you book; listings and prices on SamBoat are SamBoat's own. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you ([disclosure](https://catamaranindex.com/affiliate-disclosure/)).

## What we could not verify

- Whether a taxe de séjour applies to charter guests, and its amount.

## 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.

## Sources

- [12 Knots: Catamaran charter in French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/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.
- [Tahiti Tourisme: Tahiti weather](https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/travel-planner/tahiti-weather/) (official), checked 27 Oct 2026.

Method: [methodology](https://catamaranindex.com/methodology/#truecost). Data: [JSON](https://catamaranindex.com/api/true-cost/french-polynesia.json). Run your own numbers: [cost calculator](https://catamaranindex.com/tools/charter-cost-calculator/#calculator).

## More on French Polynesia

- [True cost of a week's charter, every destination compared](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/)
- [French Polynesia yacht and catamaran charter: prices, season and licence](https://catamaranindex.com/french-polynesia/)
- [French Polynesia catamaran cost by month, all-in and per person](https://catamaranindex.com/french-polynesia/catamaran/)
- [Best time to charter in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/french-polynesia/)
- [Fishing rules in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/french-polynesia/)
- [Snorkelling and diving in French Polynesia](https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/french-polynesia/)
- [Do I need a licence to rent a boat in French Polynesia?](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/french-polynesia/)
- [Catamaran Index home](https://catamaranindex.com/)

## FAQ

### How much does a week's catamaran charter in French Polynesia cost per person?

A week's catamaran charter in French Polynesia costs about €1,175–1,315 per person for 6 people in January, the cheapest month, and €2,106–2,246 in July, the priciest: 12 Knots' average weekly price plus fuel, 6 marina nights, mandatory extras and food at €20–40 a day (our arithmetic on The Globe Sailor's September 2026 figures). A skipper adds €1,918 for the week (€274 a day), the refundable deposit is around €4,000, and tourist taxes and park fees are not included: whether a taxe de séjour applies to charter guests, and its amount.

### What is not included in a yacht charter price in French Polynesia?

Not included in the charter price in French Polynesia: fuel (€210 per week), marina fees (€62 per night, 6 nights = €372), mandatory extras such as cleaning (€620), food (€20–40 per person per day), a skipper (€274 per day), tourist taxes and park fees (whether a taxe de séjour applies to charter guests, and its amount: not verified) and a refundable deposit (€4,000). Amounts from The Globe Sailor, September 2026; the sums are our arithmetic.

### Do you pay tourist tax on a charter in French Polynesia?

Taxe de séjour on boats: not verified.

### How much is a skipper in French Polynesia?

€274 per day, so €1,918 for a week (our arithmetic), on The Globe Sailor's September 2026 catamaran table; the skipper's meals are extra. The general range is €150–300 per day.

### How much is the security deposit for a catamaran charter in French Polynesia?

€4,000 on The Globe Sailor's September 2026 catamaran table, with an optional damage waiver of €230. The deposit is refundable.

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