How much does a crewed catamaran charter cost per week in the BVI?

In 2026, an all-inclusive crewed catamaran in the British Virgin Islands typically costs $20,000 to $35,000 per week for up to 6–8 guests, plus crew gratuity of 10–20% and BVI cruising taxes and permits.

How much does a yacht charter cost in the Bahamas?

Entry-level all-inclusive crewed catamarans in the Exumas start around $30,000–$38,000 per week; larger yachts run $55,000–$90,000 and up. Add the Bahamas' 4% government tax and 10% VAT on the charter fee, plus gratuity.

What is APA on a yacht charter?

APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is a deposit — usually 25–35% of the base charter fee — paid before the trip. The captain uses it for fuel, food, drinks, dockage and port fees, and any unused balance is refunded at the end.

How much should I tip the yacht crew?

Crew gratuity is customary at 10–20% of the base charter fee, given to the captain at the end of the charter to share with the crew. It is not included in all-inclusive pricing.

Is a bareboat charter much cheaper?

Yes. A bareboat catamaran can cost a fraction of a crewed one, but you pay fuel, food, mooring and a skipper if you hire one, you need sailing experience, and you do all the work — cooking, navigating, anchoring.

Does ZeniYacht charge a fee to get a quote?

No. You describe the trip to Lina, Zeniva's AI concierge, and a human yacht broker validates the options and the quote. There is no cost until you accept a charter contract and pay the deposit.

How much does a week-long yacht charter really cost in 2026?

Short answer

In 2026 a 7-day all-inclusive crewed catamaran for a family or group starts around $20,000–$35,000 in the British Virgin Islands, $30,000–$38,000 in the Bahamas (Exumas), and $55,000–$90,000+ for larger Bahamas yachts. Mediterranean charters are quoted as a base fee plus an Advance Provisioning Allowance of 25–35% and 13–22% VAT. Bareboat (no crew) charters run far less, but you pay fuel, food, mooring and a skipper if you need one.

Key takeaways

The three pricing models are all-inclusive (Caribbean crewed), base fee + APA (Mediterranean and most large yachts) and bareboat (you crew it).
"All-inclusive" usually means yacht, captain, chef, meals, standard bar, water toys and fuel for a standard itinerary — not gratuity, not taxes, not premium alcohol.
The Bahamas is the most expensive Caribbean destination because of a 4% government tax and 10% VAT on the charter fee.
Crew gratuity is customary at 10–20% of the base fee, paid at the end of the trip.
Peak weeks (Christmas, New Year, spring break, July–August in the Med) carry the highest rates and sell out 6–12 months ahead.

The three ways a yacht charter is priced

Every yacht charter quote falls into one of three models, and confusing them is the number one reason people think a charter is cheaper — or more expensive — than it really is.

All-inclusive: one price covers the yacht, captain and chef, three meals a day plus snacks, a standard bar, fuel for a normal itinerary, water toys, snorkel gear and dockage on a standard route. This is the norm for crewed catamarans in the BVI, the Bahamas and most of the Caribbean.

Base fee plus APA: the charter fee covers the yacht and crew only. You pre-pay an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) — typically 25% to 35% of the base fee — from which the captain pays fuel, food, drinks, dockage and port fees. Unused APA is refunded. This is the norm in the Mediterranean and on most motor yachts over 80 feet.

Bareboat: you rent the boat, you sail it. No crew, no food, no fuel included. You need a sailing résumé (or you hire a skipper by the day). It is the cheapest way on the water and the most work.

2026 price ranges by destination (7 days)

The figures below are 2026 market ranges compiled from published charter-company pricing (sources at the end of this guide). They are for a full week and exclude gratuity unless stated. Your actual quote depends on the specific yacht, the week and the number of guests.

Typical 7-day yacht charter cost in 2026
Destination	Type	Typical weekly range (USD)	What is on top
British Virgin Islands	Crewed catamaran, all-inclusive (up to 6–8 guests)	$20,000 – $35,000	Gratuity 10–20%, BVI cruising tax and permits
Bahamas (Exumas)	Crewed catamaran, all-inclusive (2–8 guests)	$30,000 – $38,000 entry; $55,000 – $90,000+ larger yachts	4% government tax + 10% VAT on the fee, gratuity
Caribbean (St. Martin, Grenadines, USVI)	Crewed catamaran, all-inclusive	$25,000 – $60,000	Gratuity, local cruising permits
Mediterranean (Greece, Croatia, Italy, France)	Crewed sailing or power catamaran, base fee + APA	Base fee + 25–35% APA + 13–22% VAT	Gratuity, berthing in marquee ports (Monaco, Capri, Mykonos)
Mediterranean	Bareboat catamaran 40–45 ft	Roughly $4,000 – $12,000 base (season-dependent)	Fuel, food, mooring, skipper if hired, security deposit
Any destination	Superyacht 100 ft+ with full crew	$100,000 – $500,000+ base	APA 30–35%, VAT where applicable, gratuity

What is actually included in "all-inclusive"

Included on a typical all-inclusive crewed charter: the yacht, a licensed captain, a chef, all meals and snacks prepared on board, a standard ship's bar (house wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks), fuel for a standard itinerary, dinghy, paddleboards, kayaks, snorkel gear, and standard dockage.

Usually not included: crew gratuity (10–20% of the base fee is customary), government taxes and cruising permits, premium wines and spirits, scuba diving, restaurant meals ashore, marina nights outside the standard itinerary, and flights to the embarkation port.

Read the preference sheet and the contract before paying the deposit. The difference between two "$30,000" quotes is often $6,000 of things one includes and the other bills later.

Why the Bahamas costs more than the BVI

The boats are similar; the taxes are not. The Bahamas charges a 4% government charter tax plus 10% VAT on the charter fee, which adds roughly $4,000–$5,000 to a $35,000 week. The BVI charges a much smaller cruising tax per person per day plus permits. Add the Bahamas' longer distances (more fuel) and the gap is real.

In exchange you get the Exumas: swimming pigs, iguanas, sandbars, the Thunderball Grotto and some of the clearest water in the hemisphere, with fewer boats than the BVI in high season.

When to book and how to pay less

Peak weeks — Christmas, New Year, US spring break and Easter in the Caribbean; July and August in the Mediterranean — are the most expensive and are typically reserved 6 to 12 months ahead. Shoulder season (late April to June, November to mid-December in the Caribbean; May–June and September in the Med) is usually 15–30% cheaper for the same yacht.

Other levers: filling the yacht (an 8-guest catamaran costs about the same with 4 guests as with 8, so the per-person price halves), choosing a slightly older boat with the same crew, and booking a one-way or repositioning week when a yacht moves between the Caribbean and the Med.

How ZeniYacht quotes a charter

ZeniYacht is Zeniva Travel's yacht charter division. You describe the trip — destination, dates, number of guests, budget — to Lina, Zeniva's AI travel concierge, by chat or voice. Lina shortlists yachts that match, then a human yacht broker validates availability, the contract and every line of the quote before you pay a deposit.

Every ZeniYacht quote states the pricing model (all-inclusive, base + APA, or bareboat), the taxes, and what is excluded, so two yachts can be compared on the same basis. Zeniva serves travelers in all 50 US states and Canada.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a crewed catamaran charter cost per week in the BVI?: In 2026, an all-inclusive crewed catamaran in the British Virgin Islands typically costs $20,000 to $35,000 per week for up to 6–8 guests, plus crew gratuity of 10–20% and BVI cruising taxes and permits.
How much does a yacht charter cost in the Bahamas?: Entry-level all-inclusive crewed catamarans in the Exumas start around $30,000–$38,000 per week; larger yachts run $55,000–$90,000 and up. Add the Bahamas' 4% government tax and 10% VAT on the charter fee, plus gratuity.
What is APA on a yacht charter?: APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is a deposit — usually 25–35% of the base charter fee — paid before the trip. The captain uses it for fuel, food, drinks, dockage and port fees, and any unused balance is refunded at the end.
How much should I tip the yacht crew?: Crew gratuity is customary at 10–20% of the base charter fee, given to the captain at the end of the charter to share with the crew. It is not included in all-inclusive pricing.
Is a bareboat charter much cheaper?: Yes. A bareboat catamaran can cost a fraction of a crewed one, but you pay fuel, food, mooring and a skipper if you hire one, you need sailing experience, and you do all the work — cooking, navigating, anchoring.
Does ZeniYacht charge a fee to get a quote?: No. You describe the trip to Lina, Zeniva's AI concierge, and a human yacht broker validates the options and the quote. There is no cost until you accept a charter contract and pay the deposit.

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Sources

Price ranges are market figures compiled from the sources above on September 21, 2026 and are not a Zeniva quote. Every ZeniYacht and Zeniva Travel proposal is priced individually.