APA in 30 Seconds
APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. It is an extra payment on top of the base charter fee that covers running costs during your trip: fuel, food, drinks, marina fees, and any other expenses.
On a crewed charter in the Mediterranean, the APA is typically 20 to 35 percent of the base charter fee. You pay it before the charter starts. The captain manages the budget during the trip and gives you an itemised accounting at the end. If they spent less, you get the difference back.
That is the short version. Here is the full picture.
Why APA Exists
Yacht charters in the Mediterranean work differently from the Caribbean. In the Caribbean, most crewed charters are all-inclusive. Food, drinks, fuel, and sometimes even marina fees are bundled into the base price. You pay one number, and that is it.
In the Med, charters are almost never all-inclusive. The base charter fee covers the boat and the crew. Everything else (fuel, food, drinks, marina fees, port taxes, water sports equipment rental) is separate and paid through the APA.
Why? Because Mediterranean itineraries vary enormously. One group might anchor every night and cook on board. Another might want a marina berth in Hvar Town every evening and dinner at a restaurant. The running costs for these two trips are completely different. The APA system lets the budget flex to match what you actually want.
How Much to Expect
The standard APA range is 20 to 35 percent of the base charter fee. Where you land in that range depends on two things: the type of yacht and your planned itinerary.
Sailing yachts: 20 to 25 percent. Sailing yachts burn very little fuel, which keeps costs down. Under MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) terms, the standard APA is set at around 30 percent, but sailing yachts typically come in lower. A 60-foot crewed sailing yacht with a base fee of €15,000 would have an APA of €3,000 to €3,750.
Motor yachts: 30 to 40 percent. Fuel is the main difference. A motor yacht cruising at 12 to 15 knots burns significantly more diesel than a sailing yacht. Larger motor yachts can reach 50 percent APA. A motor yacht charter of €20,000 might have an APA of €6,000 to €8,000.
Catamarans: 20 to 30 percent. They fall between sailboats and motor yachts for fuel consumption, depending on how much motoring versus sailing you do.
Here is a concrete example. A crewed catamaran in Croatia, base fee €18,000 for one week, APA at 25 percent:
APA total: €4,500.
That €4,500 is meant to cover:
- Fuel: €400 to €800 (catamarans with moderate motoring)
- Food and drinks for 8 guests for 7 days: €1,500 to €2,500
- Marina fees: €300 to €700 (3 to 4 nights in marinas, rest at anchor)
- Port taxes and national park fees: €100 to €200
- Water, ice, cleaning supplies: €100 to €200
If the captain spends €3,800, you get €700 back. If the group decides to eat at expensive restaurants every night instead of the chef cooking, you might need to top it up.
Where the Money Goes
Fuel is the most variable cost. A sailing yacht that sails 80 percent of the time might use €200 of diesel in a week. The same yacht motoring in calm conditions could use €600 or more. If you charter a motor yacht, fuel will be the single largest line item in the APA, sometimes 40 to 50 percent of it.
Food and drinks are the second biggest cost. The chef buys fresh produce, meat, fish, and drinks from local markets and supermarkets. The quality of food on a well-provisioned yacht is generally excellent. If you have dietary requirements or specific wine preferences, tell the crew before departure so they can plan accordingly.
Most crews ask you to fill in a preference sheet before the charter. This covers food allergies, favourite cuisines, how many meals you want on board versus at restaurants, and drink preferences. Fill it in thoroughly. It directly affects how well the APA is spent.
Marina fees vary dramatically. Anchoring in a bay is free (outside national parks). A marina berth in Hvar Town in August can be €150 per night for a catamaran. In Turkey, the same berth might be €40. The captain will advise on where marinas are worth the money and where anchoring is better.
Tips and gratuities are separate from the APA. Crew tips are paid directly by you at the end of the charter. Do not confuse the two. See below for tipping guidance.
The Accounting at the End
On the last day of the charter, the captain presents a written summary of all APA expenses. This should be itemised: fuel receipts, marina receipts, supermarket receipts, and any other costs.
Review it. It should add up. If the captain spent less than the APA amount, the difference is returned to you in cash. If expenses exceeded the APA (which sometimes happens if the group made expensive choices during the trip), you pay the balance.
Reputable charter companies and experienced captains are transparent about this. If something looks wrong or unexplained, ask. You are entitled to see receipts for every line item.
How to Keep APA Costs Down
Anchor more, marina less. The difference between anchoring every night and using a marina every night can be €500 to €1,000 per week. Many of the best spots in the Mediterranean are anchorages, not marina towns.
Eat on board. The chef is there for a reason. Eating ashore is wonderful for variety, but every restaurant meal for eight people adds €200 to €400 to your costs. A mix of four nights on board and three nights ashore is a good balance.
Sail, do not motor. This saves fuel and is more enjoyable anyway. Tell the captain you prefer to sail when possible.
Provisioning preferences matter. If you request premium champagne and wagyu beef, the food budget will be very different from local wine and fresh fish from the market. Be realistic about what you want versus what you are willing to spend.
APA vs All-Inclusive
Some charter companies now offer all-inclusive packages in the Mediterranean. These bundle the base fee, food, drinks, fuel, and sometimes even marina fees into one price. The advantage is simplicity. You know exactly what you will pay before the trip starts.
The disadvantage is flexibility. All-inclusive packages are priced conservatively, which means you are paying for the most expensive version of the trip even if your actual costs would be lower. For groups that plan to anchor most nights and eat on board, the APA model usually works out cheaper.
For groups that want marina berths, restaurant dinners, and premium provisions, all-inclusive can be better value because the charter company has negotiated bulk rates with marinas and suppliers.
What About Tipping?
Tips are separate from the APA and separate from the charter fee. They are paid in cash directly to the captain at the end, who distributes the amount among the crew.
Standard tipping in the Mediterranean: 10 to 15 percent of the base charter fee. On a €15,000 charter, that is €1,500 to €2,250.
In the Caribbean: 15 to 20 percent is standard.
Tipping is technically discretionary, but it is expected. Crews in the charter industry rely on tips as a significant part of their income.
The Real Total
Here is how to calculate the true cost of a crewed charter, using a €15,000 base fee as an example:
- Base charter fee: €15,000
- APA (25%): €3,750
- VAT (13% in Croatia): €1,950
- Crew tip (12%): €1,800
- Transfers to/from marina: €100
Total: approximately €22,600. That is 51 percent more than the listed price. Now you know why we always talk about total cost, not base fee.
Skip the Guesswork
Understanding APA is one thing. Comparing yacht charter quotes with different APA rates, VAT structures, and inclusion policies across multiple brokers is another. We do the comparison for you and present the real total cost, not just the base fee.
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