What is APA? The yacht charter costs nobody explains
By Erik Ljungqvist, professional skipper · 29 September 2026 · 3 min read
Short answer: APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is money you pay up front, on top of the charter fee of a crewed yacht, to cover all the on-site costs of your trip: marina and buoy fees, water taxis, national park entrance, fuel, food and drinks, and any extra activities you book. On crewed sailing yachts and catamarans it's typically 25–35% of the charter fee. The captain keeps every receipt, and whatever you don't spend is refunded at the end.
I've worked as a professional skipper in the Mediterranean and run a charter business, so I've handled APA from the captain's side of the table. Here's how it works, and the other costs that catch people out.
What APA pays for
Think of APA as the trip's running budget. The charter fee pays for the yacht and crew; APA pays for everything that happens while you're out there:
| APA covers | Examples |
|---|---|
| Marina fees | Nights in harbour, with shore power, water and showers |
| Buoy fees | Mooring buoys in popular bays |
| Water taxis | Getting ashore when you're at anchor or on a buoy |
| National park entrance | Parks such as Kornati or Mljet in Croatia |
| Fuel | For the engines, the generator and the tender |
| Food and drinks | Food and soft drinks for the crew, and often the guests' food and drinks too (see below) |
| Extra services and activities | Jet skis, water sports and anything else you book along the way |
Does APA include your own food and drinks? It depends on the charter. APA can include food and drinks for the guests, but it doesn't have to. When there's a hostess or cook on board, the guests' food budget is often handled separately. Ask before you book, so you know exactly what your APA covers.
How much APA is, and how it's settled
- Sailing yachts and catamarans: typically 25–35% of the charter fee.
- Motor yachts: usually higher, because fuel is the biggest running cost.
You pay the APA before the charter, together with the final charter payment. During the trip the captain pays for everything from it and keeps every receipt. At the end you get an account: anything unspent is refunded, and if you've spent more, you pay the difference.
A tip from the skipper's side: tell the captain how you like to travel before you arrive: more nights at anchor or in marinas, restaurants ashore or meals on board, jet ski days or quiet days. It changes the APA spend a lot, and a good captain will plan around it.
The other costs nobody explains
APA is only one of the costs that aren't in the headline price. Whatever type of charter you book, check for these:
| Cost | What it is |
|---|---|
| Transit log / comfort package | A mandatory fee on bareboat and skippered charters: end cleaning, linen, towels, gas, dinghy. |
| Tourist tax | In Croatia, €1.33 per person per night, paid before you sail. |
| Security deposit or damage waiver | A refundable deposit blocked on your card, or a non-refundable waiver that reduces it. |
| Skipper | On a skippered charter, roughly €170–€250 per day plus their food. |
| VAT | On crewed yachts, check whether the quote includes VAT. It varies by country and yacht. |
| Crew tip | Customary, not contractual. In the Mediterranean, 10–15% of the base charter fee is common on crewed yachts; on a skippered charter it's optional. |
| One-way fees | Starting and ending at different bases usually costs extra. |
For a full worked budget on a bareboat catamaran, see my catamaran charter cost guide for Croatia. For the differences between bareboat, skippered and crewed, see which charter is right for you.
Where Veezent fits
Most of the confusion comes from prices shown without these extras. Veezent's AI concierge shows the all-in price up front, including the costs that normally only appear at check-in, so you can compare boats honestly.
Sources: APA ranges and how it's settled: HELM: what is an APA?, Vital Charters: charter costs explained 2026. Crew gratuity norms: YachtCharterFleet: captain & crew gratuities. Tourist tax: eVisitor nautical FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
What does APA stand for?
Advance Provisioning Allowance. It's money you pay up front, on top of the charter fee of a crewed yacht, to cover the running costs of your trip.
What does APA cover?
All the on-site costs of the trip: marina fees, buoy fees, water taxis, national park entrance, fuel, food and soft drinks for the crew, and any extra services or activities you book along the way, such as jet skis or water sports. It can also include the guests' food and drinks, but that depends on the charter; with a hostess on board the food budget is often handled separately.
How much is APA?
On crewed sailing yachts and catamarans it is typically 25–35% of the charter fee, and more on motor yachts because they burn more fuel.
Do I get unused APA back?
Yes. The captain keeps receipts for everything spent and gives you an account at the end of the charter. Unused APA is refunded; if you've spent more than the APA, you pay the difference.
Is the crew tip included in the APA?
No. The crew gratuity is separate and customary rather than contractual. In the Mediterranean, 10–15% of the base charter fee is common.