How Much Does It Cost to Charter a Yacht in the Caribbean?
“Well, it depends…” — so we asked the people who price charters every day.
Ask Ian Pedersen, senior marketing manager at The Moorings & Sunsail, how much it costs to charter a yacht in the Caribbean, and he’s ready for the question. He’s fielded it almost daily for the past 15 years, and his answer usually starts the same way: “Well, it depends…”
“There is no easy, one-size-fits-all answer to this question,” says Pedersen, whose duo of Clearwater, Florida-based branded yacht charter companies has bases worldwide as well as in Antigua, the Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia and St. Martin. “That’s why I ask a series of questions to help narrow down what the charter clients are looking for. An infinite number of factors can influence the cost of a charter, which can range from $5,000 to $30,000+.”
Here’s what it costs, and where you can save versus splurge:
| Charter type | Typical week | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bareboat | $5,000–$10,000 | You skipper; no crew tips |
| Skippered | $10,000–$15,000 | Captain ~$300–$350/day plus a cabin and meals; tip $100–$150/day |
| Fully crewed | $20,000+ ($20,900–$32,500+) | Captain, chef, meals, toys; budget ~20% gratuity |
| By the cabin | $2,700–$4,335 per cabin | Couples or solo guests on shared crewed yachts |
| Add-ons | Fuel $300–$500 (sail cat), $800–$1,000 (power cat); provisions ~$1,000 for 6–8; kitty ~$1,000 | Low season 20–40% cheaper |
Numbers in hand, you can browse charter yachts in the ALL AT SEA Charter section, or read on for where the money goes.
How Much Does a Bareboat, Skippered or Crewed Charter Cost?
This is the first question Pedersen usually asks. The answer can mean a difference in price of tens of thousands of dollars, he says. “I generally think of it in terms of brackets: A bareboat charter likely starts in the $5-10k range. A skippered charter is likely closer to $10-15k, and a crewed charter starts closer to $20k+.“
DIY (do-it-yourself, i.e., bareboat) will always be cheaper than taking a professional or professionals on board, adds Janet Oliver, executive director of the Charter Yacht Society of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), based in Tortola. “It comes down to what one wants from the vacation. For those who love the adventure of sailing and are competent, handing the helm over to someone else would be unlikely to be entertained unless they did not want the comfort of others aboard to rest on their shoulders. Perhaps some in the group expect a level of luxury that can’t be matched with DIY skills. They are all very different experiences and naturally priced differently.”
Captain-only adds the cost of a professional skipper, but it can be a great middle ground, according to Lesley Dowden, reservations manager at Horizon Yacht Charters St. Vincent. “You get the benefit of local knowledge and someone else handling the sailing, while still keeping a relaxed, informal holiday atmosphere.”
The cost of a captain can average $300 to $350 per day, says Kirstie Palmer, president and partner at Waypoints Yacht Charters, headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, with charters offered in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands; The Abacos, Bahamas; and Belize. “The captain needs a cabin.” For example, “a four-cabin catamaran effectively becomes a three-guest-cabin boat when a captain is aboard.”
Captains also need meals provided and gratuities.
“Fully crewed includes a captain, chef, meals, and toys, ranging from $20,900 to $32,500-plus, per week all-inclusive,” says Loïc Bonnet, chief executive officer of Dream Yacht Worldwide, with U.S. headquarters in Annapolis, Maryland, and Caribbean bases in the U.S. and BVI, St. Martin, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Grenada. “We also offer a by-the-cabin option for couples and solo guests on shared crewed yachts. This option ranges from $2,700 to $4,335 per cabin per week.”
How Yacht Size and Type Affect Charter Cost
Generally, the bigger the yacht, the bigger the weekly charter bill. At Waypoints, a smaller yacht around 40 feet runs about $8,000 a week, compared with $10,500 for a 44-footer and $12,500 to $13,000 for a yacht around 51 feet.
“Cost per person is a really useful way of looking at it,” suggests Horizon’s Dowden. “A larger yacht can represent excellent value when the cost is shared between 6 to 10 guests. For example, a $10,000 yacht divided between eight people works out to $1,250 per person for the yacht for an entire week.”
It’s not just the size of the yacht, but the type.
“Monohulls are by far the most affordable option, often costing under $10,000 for a week on the water,” says The Moorings’ Pedersen. “Catamarans, meanwhile, provide twice the living space and are in very high demand, and the price generally reflects that. Also, are you looking at a ‘standard’ 4-cabin, roughly 45’ to 50’ yacht, or a larger yacht in the 60’ to 70’+ range? Often, these larger yachts are only available in a fully-crewed configuration and require more crew members, also influencing cost.”
How Much Should You Budget for Fuel?
“For a week aboard a sailing catamaran, figure roughly $300 to $500,” says Waypoints’ Palmer. “A power cat is more expensive, with fuel for a week likely running $800 to $1,000, depending on how much time is spent under power.”
How Much Does Provisioning Cost on a Caribbean Charter?
No provisioning is needed on fully crewed yacht charters; meals aboard are included in the price. However, for bareboat or captain-only, buying groceries is essential unless you plan to eat every meal ashore, which can be costly and often inconvenient, especially in more off-the-beaten-track anchorages. In this case, DIY provisioning is generally the cheapest option, but do check how far supermarkets are from the yacht charter base.
“Take the time to itemize your provisioning and think very carefully about how often you really plan to cook and eat on the boat versus going ashore for meals,” says The Moorings’ Pedersen. “Try to minimize meals that require lots of ingredients you will only use once, only to let the rest go to waste. This can very easily save you hundreds of dollars in provisioning, and in my opinion is much better than opting for packages.”
Alternatively, charter yacht companies offer provisioning services. This saves considerable time and means you can arrive at the yacht with everything already onboard.
“There is a cost involved, but for many guests, especially after a long journey, the convenience is well worth it,” says Horizon’s Dowden.
For six to eight people, Waypoints’ Palmer recommends budgeting approximately $1,000 for provisioning, including food, alcohol, water and other drinks. “I think most people do breakfasts and lunches onboard and eat out for dinner or a couple of dinners during their vacation.”
When Is the Cheapest Time to Charter in the Caribbean?
This is the second most important factor behind the type of charter, says The Moorings’ Pedersen. “The cost varies widely depending on the time of year and goes hand-in-hand with the charter location. If a guest wants to charter in September, well, that is peak season in Greece, but low season in the Caribbean. Whereas in winter, pricing increases in the Caribbean while many European destinations are closed for the season entirely. You can either pick your destination first and choose the best time of year that suits your style and budget, or you can select your time of year and find the destination with the best conditions at that time.”
High-season peak rates in the Caribbean are in winter, with the priciest weeks being Christmas and New Year’s.
“Rates drop 20% to 40% in late spring, autumn, or Caribbean summers,” says Dream Yacht’s Bonnet.
What Extra Yacht Charter Costs Should You Budget For?
Depending on the yacht and the type of charter, Horizon’s Dowden encourages guests to budget for: water, mooring or marina fees, customs and immigration fees, if crossing between St Vincent and Grenada, optional equipment, such as SUPs, kayaks or fishing equipment, one-way charter fees, if applicable, and insurance/damage waiver and security deposit.
Waypoints’ Palmer recommends setting aside approximately $1,000 in a communal boat kitty for these miscellaneous expenses. And don’t forget the tip. For an all-inclusive charter, Palmer recommends budgeting about 20% for gratuity, which is often spelled out in the contract. On a captain-only charter, she suggests $100 to $150 per day. “If it’s bareboat, there’s no tips.”
Overall, as a good rule of thumb, Palmer recommends, “Bring twice as much cash as you think and half the amount of clothes that you think.”
Find a boat
Browse the charter yachts in ALL AT SEA’s Charter section, or start with the Sail Caribe fleet at Puerto del Rey Marina in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Run a charter yacht yourself? List it with us.
Carol Bareuther has written for ALL AT SEA since 2004.
Worth your time?
Thanks — noted.
