How Much Does a Bahamas Yacht Charter Cost? APA and Taxes

Breakdown of Bahamas Yacht Charter Costs

YACHT & CREW

The Base Charter fee is the primary cost for renting the yacht and compensating the crew. It starts at around $15,000/week for a crewed catamaran and at least $25,000 for a crewed motor yacht. We don’t recommend setting a budget under $30,000.

APA

The APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is between 25-40% of the base fee. It covers expenses like food, beverages, fuel, and other expenses during your trip.

TAXES

In the Bahamas, there is a 4% charter tax plus a 10% VAT (Value Added Tax). These taxes are a percentage of the base charter fee, excluding the APA.

TIPS

Crew Gratuity is expected to be 15-20% of the base charter fee. (Motor yachts generally expect tipping in the higher end). We can guide you, as we know what each yacht expects and received in precious charters.

Price Structures: All-Inclusive vs. Plus Expenses

There are two main pricing models when booking a crewed yacht charter in the Bahamas: All-Inclusive and Plus-Expenses. We will give you a simple breakdown:

All-Inclusive Charters

Typically offered by Sailing Yachts and Catamarans

All-inclusive charters offer a straightforward pricing model where most of what you need is included in one rate. This covers expenses such as food, drinks, water sports, and fuel, making it an excellent choice for those who want a worry-free experience. We are also seeing some motor yachts offering an all-inclusive deal, but this is not the norm.

Plus-Expenses Charters

Typically offered by Motor Yachts

Plus-expenses charters are ideal for larger, more luxurious motor yachts where customization and flexibility are key. You pay a base price for the yacht, while other costs, like food, drinks, fuel, and port taxes, are covered separately through an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA). The APA is between 25-40% of the charter fee. At the end of your trip, we will make sure you receive a detailed expense breakdown, with any unused funds refunded.

Think of All-Inclusive as a “package deal” and Plus Expenses as a “pay-as-you-go” experience, where luxury and flexibility come with added costs.

Feature	All Inclusive Charters	Plus Expenses Charters
Crew	✓	✓
Water toys	✓	✓
Diving	Sometimes	✗
Food	✓	✗
Drinks	✓	✗
Fuel	✓	✗
Dockage	✗	✗
Transfers from Airport	✗	✗
Taxes / VAT	Sometimes	✗
Crew gratuity	✗	✗

Example of Costs of a Plus-Expense Yacht Charter

To give you an example, let’s take a look at a Bahamas charter yacht listed at $54,900 for a week. What will the total yacht charter cost be once all the fees are added?

19 reviews

Jacuzzi

LIMITLESS

From $54,900/week

4 cabins

101 ft

Hargrave

8 guests

Refit: 2021

113 Litres/Hr

View

Cost Breakdown for Motor Yacht Limitless

Total Charter Price of Limitless: $92,780/week

Price According to Yacht Type

It’s challenging to set an exact price for a yacht charter because the cost depends on numerous factors, such as the age of the yacht, the number of crew, the amenities, watersports, and the service standards. But to give you an idea, here are some examples of price ranges per yacht type.

Catamarans: The crewed catamaran fleet in the Bahamas ranges from around 50 feet to 80 feet, priced from $15,000 to $100,000 for an all-inclusive one-week charter.
Motor Yachts: Prices for motor yachts with crew and water toys start at $25,000 to $90,000 per week. At the $90,000 mark, you can expect a truly luxurious yacht with excellent amenities and top-tier service. However, in the world of motor yachting, the sky is the limit—prices can climb into the millions for ultra-high-end charters.