In brief
As of July 2026, a week on a fully crewed catamaran in the Mediterranean starts around €20,000; crewed 30-metre motor yachts run from roughly €45,000 to €55,000 in shoulder season, rising past €150,000 in peak weeks for larger vessels. On top of the base rate, an Advance Provisioning Allowance of typically 20 to 35 percent covers fuel, food, berthing and drinks, with unused funds returned. VAT and gratuity are additional. These are market observations, not quotations.
What does a week actually cost in 2026?
The ranges below reflect the Mediterranean market as we observe it in July 2026. Every yacht prices individually, and season moves the same vessel by half or more, but these are honest planning bands.
| Yacht type | Shoulder season, weekly | Peak weeks, weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Crewed catamaran, 4 to 5 cabins | €20,000 to €35,000 | €30,000 to €50,000 |
| Crewed motor yacht, ~30 m | €45,000 to €55,000 | €70,000 to €110,000 |
| Crewed motor yacht, 35 to 45 m | €80,000 to €130,000 | €130,000 to €250,000 |
| Larger and pedigree vessels | €150,000 and up | €200,000 to €500,000 and beyond |
Market rates observed July 2026. Individual yachts vary; a written quotation for your dates is the only real number.
What is APA and what does it cover?
The Advance Provisioning Allowance is the charter world's operating float: an amount paid before the charter, typically 20 to 35 percent of the base rate, from which the captain pays for fuel, food and drinks, berthing, and incidentals during your week. It is your money, accounted for line by line, and whatever is unspent is returned after the charter. It is not a fee; it is how a private vessel provisions for you specifically.
The costs the brochure does not mention
| Item | Typical scale | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| APA | 20 to 35% of base rate | Fuel, provisioning, berthing; unspent balance returned |
| VAT | Varies by embarkation country | Charged on the charter fee in most Mediterranean states |
| Delivery or relocation | Case by case | Applies if the yacht repositions for your embarkation port |
| Gratuity | Customarily 10 to 15% | Discretionary, given to the crew at the guests' judgement |
Skip the estimating
Send your month, group size and region. We reply with a written, all-inclusive quotation for two or three yachts that genuinely fit.
Request a Quotation →How to plan your charter spend in five steps
- Fix the party first. Guest count sets cabin count, and cabin count is the largest single driver of the rate band you are in.
- Choose season deliberately. The same yacht can differ by half between late June and mid September; our month-by-month guide shows where the value windows fall.
- Read every quote as base plus APA plus VAT. Comparing headline rates alone rewards whoever hid the most.
- Decide what on-board life you want. Water toys, particular cuisine and specific crew skills all exist; naming preferences early produces better matching, not higher pricing.
- Get it in writing. A proper proposal itemises the fee, APA basis, VAT treatment and every inclusion before you pay anything. That is the standard we work to.
Why per person, it may cost less than you expect
A crewed catamaran at €25,000 shared by eight guests is roughly €3,100 each for a week including your accommodation, a private chef, crew and a moving front-row seat on the Mediterranean. Set against a comparable week in a five-star coastal suite, the yacht is frequently the stronger value; it is simply priced as one number instead of many small ones.
Ready for a written proposal?
Month, group size and occasion. The operator replies within 24 hours with an itinerary and itemised proposal, honestly priced and with nothing invented.
Get the Written Proposal →Frequently Asked Questions
As of July 2026, fully crewed catamarans start around €20,000 per week, crewed 30-metre motor yachts from roughly €45,000 to €55,000 in shoulder season, and peak weeks on larger vessels run past €150,000. APA, VAT and gratuity are additional. A written quotation for your specific dates is the only firm number.
The Advance Provisioning Allowance, typically 20 to 35 percent of the base rate, paid up front to fund fuel, food, drinks, berthing and incidentals during your charter. The captain accounts for it line by line and any unspent balance is returned to you.
On crewed charters, food and drink are provisioned through the APA to your preferences rather than bundled into the base rate. That is why two identical yachts can suit very different dining styles at different final costs.
Age, pedigree, crew reputation, refit condition and demand for specific weeks all price in. Season is the biggest lever of all: the same vessel can differ by half between shoulder and peak weeks.
No. Our proposals itemise the charter fee, APA basis, VAT treatment and every inclusion in writing before you commit. The consultation and proposal are complimentary.
Sometimes. The 2026 market has shown a pronounced late-booking pattern, and gaps in good yachts' calendars do appear at short notice. Flexibility on dates and region is what unlocks them; tell us your window and we will watch it.
Why charter with Meliora Escapes
- Meliora Escapes is a Dubai based luxury travel consultancy serving guests across the Gulf, the UK and beyond.
- We are the Exclusive International Sales Representative for Ritrella, a 58-metre private yacht hotel in the Maldives, so we know the vessel intimately, not from a brochure.
- Wholesale access to 300,000+ properties worldwide means your pre-charter and post-charter hotels are curated in the same proposal.
- A named consultant handles your charter from enquiry to embarkation, reachable on WhatsApp in Arabic or English, in your time zone.