Crewed Yacht Charter in Croatia: 2027 Prices, APA and VAT
A crewed yacht charter in Croatia costs from about €7,000 a week for a small crewed catamaran to more than €100,000 for a large motor yacht or superyacht. On top of that come the extras of most luxury charters: the advance provisioning allowance (APA), often 25 to 35% of the fee, 13% Croatian VAT when it is not included, and a crew tip of 5 to 15%. This guide explains the four types of crewed boats, real prices from 2026 and 2027 listings, what is included under each contract, and how to book safely.
Key takeaways
- Crewed catamarans start around €7,000 to €14,000 a week; gulets run from about €14,000 to €100,000; motor yachts from about €20,000 upwards.
- On luxury yachts (MYBA “plus expenses” terms), food, drinks, fuel and berths are paid from an APA of roughly 25 to 35% of the fee.
- Croatian VAT on yacht charter is 13%; check whether it is included in your quote.
- The usual payment schedule is 50% at booking and the balance about four to eight weeks before departure.
- The classic route links Split and Dubrovnik via Hvar, Vis, Korčula and Mljet.
What does “crewed” mean in Croatia?
On a crewed charter, a professional crew sails the yacht, cooks or organises meals, and looks after the guests. You do not need a licence. In Croatia you will find four main types of crewed boats, each with its own pricing logic:
| Type | Typical size | Guests | Weekly price range | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crewed catamaran | 42 to 80 ft | 6 to 12 | about €7,000 to €76,500 | Weekly fee plus a food package or APA |
| Gulet | 22 to 49 m | 8 to 12 (some larger gulets are licensed for more) | about €14,000 to €100,000 | Weekly fee, food as half or full board |
| Motor yacht | 20 to 35 m | 8 to 12 | about €20,000 to €140,000 | Weekly fee “plus expenses” (MYBA) |
| Superyacht | 35 m and above | 10 to 12 | example: €130,000 to €155,000 for the 53 m Maia | Weekly fee “plus expenses” (MYBA) |
Sources: crewed catamaran and gulet listings for the 2027 and 2028 seasons on Boatbookings, motor yacht listings on Boatbookings, and the 53 m superyacht Maia on Goolets, retrieved October 2026. Sizes and guest numbers are typical ranges from these listings; the yacht’s own certificate sets the legal maximum, so check it.
Prices by type (listings retrieved October 2026)
Crewed catamarans. The most popular choice for families and groups of friends. Boatbookings lists Croatian crewed catamarans from €7,000 to €14,000 a week for a Lagoon 42 up to €72,500 to €76,500 for a Sunreef 80, with most Lagoon 55 to 65 and Sunreef 50 to 60 models between €15,000 and €35,000 (Boatbookings). A crewed catamaran gives each couple a private cabin and a lot of deck space for the price.
Gulets. Traditional wooden motor-sailers, very common in Croatia. A detailed 2026 example from the broker BeBlue: the 22 m gulet Patronice for 10 guests costs €14,000 a week in low season, €15,500 in mid season and €17,500 in high season with 13% Croatian VAT included. Food is mandatory, at €400 per person a week for half board or €700 for full board, and marina fees of about €1,500 to €2,000 a week are paid on board (BeBlue). Larger gulets of 30 to 49 m reach €100,000 a week (Boatbookings).
Motor yachts. Boatbookings lists Croatian motor yachts, chosen for speed and comfort, from about €20,000 to €23,900 a week for a 20.5 m Prestige 630S to €130,000 to €140,000 for a 33 m Custom Line 106 (Boatbookings).
Superyachts. Prices vary enormously with size and age. As one example, the 53 m Maia is listed at €130,000 a week in spring and autumn 2027 and €155,000 from mid-June to the end of August, “plus expenses”, with a 25% APA and VAT extra (Goolets).
What is included, and what is extra?
The answer depends on the contract.
MYBA “plus expenses” terms, used for most motor yachts and superyachts: the fee covers the yacht, the crew’s wages and food, and the yacht’s insurance. Guests pay separately for their food and drinks, fuel, berths and harbour fees, and communications (YachtCharterFleet, January 2023). These costs are paid from the APA.
Half or full board terms, used for many crewed catamarans and gulets: you pay the weekly fee plus a fixed food package per person, and usually marina fees and fuel beyond a set number of engine hours. BeBlue’s gulet example includes four hours of navigation a day.
APA, VAT and tips: the real budget
Advance provisioning allowance (APA)
The APA is a deposit, paid with the balance, that the captain uses for your food, drinks, fuel and berths during the charter. You receive an account at the end and any unused amount is refunded. Brokers quote different ranges: usually 25% and sometimes 30% at Bluewater (Bluewater), 25 to 30% at YachtCharterFleet (YachtCharterFleet), and 30 to 40% at SkipperCity for luxury yachts in Croatia (SkipperCity). Plan for 25 to 35% and confirm the exact figure for your yacht.
Croatian VAT
Yacht charter in Croatia is taxed at 13% VAT: the Croatian Tax Administration applies the reduced 13% rate to accommodation on nautical tourism vessels (RRIF, Tax Administration opinion). The 13% rate is lower than in Italy (22%), Spain (21%) or France (20%), according to SuperyachtNews in May 2026 (SuperyachtNews). The same report notes that charter invoices for charters starting in Croatia must now be registered with the tax authority and carry a fiscal code. Some quotes include VAT, as in the BeBlue gulet example; others, like most MYBA quotes, add it on top. Always ask.
The APA is treated differently. The same Tax Administration opinion says the operator does not charge VAT on the APA itself when it is only a deposit spent on your behalf: the fuel, food and berths paid from it carry their own VAT. If the operator re-invoices those costs in its own name, they become part of the taxable charter price.
Crew gratuity
Tips are discretionary and usually given to the captain at the end of the week for the whole crew. Bluewater suggests about 10% (Bluewater), BeBlue 5 to 10% on its gulet listing (BeBlue) and Goolets 10 to 20% on the Maia listing (Goolets). About 5 to 15% of the charter fee, depending on the service, is a fair guide, and up to 20% on superyachts.
Tourist tax
Croatia’s tourist tax for charter boats is paid online through the eVisitor system, usually by the operator, and is often passed on to guests (Noonsite). Some luxury quotes include it, as on the Maia listing; ask whether yours does.
Example budget
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Weekly charter fee | €40,000 |
| APA at 30% | €12,000 |
| VAT at 13% on the charter fee (if not included) | €5,200 |
| Crew tip at 10% | €4,000 |
| Indicative total | about €61,200 |
| Per person, 8 guests | about €7,650, or about €1,090 per guest per night |
Our calculation, for illustration only. Unused APA is refunded.
Best routes for a crewed charter in Croatia
Crewed motor yachts move faster than sailing boats, and on any crewed yacht the crew handles navigation and early starts, so you can cover more coast in a week. The classic options are:
- Split to Dubrovnik (or the reverse). Hvar and the Pakleni Islands, Vis and the Blue Cave, Korčula, Mljet National Park and the Elaphite Islands. One-way routes may carry a delivery fee: ask when you request a quote.
- Split round trip. Brač, Hvar, Vis, Šolta and Korčula, close to Split airport. Our 7-day sailing itinerary from Split shows the distances.
- Dubrovnik round trip. The Elaphites, Mljet, Korčula and Lastovo, described in our 7-day itinerary from Dubrovnik.
- North Dalmatia. Šibenik, the Krka river, the Kornati and Telašćica, for guests who prefer nature over towns.
BOAT International notes that hops between islands rarely exceed two hours on a motor yacht (BOAT International). For large yachts, the main marinas have limited long berths: Marina Frapa in Dubrovnik (Gruž) has 220 berths for yachts of 10 to 50 m plus one berth up to 100 m (Marina Frapa).
When to go
The crewed season runs from May to October, with the highest prices in July and August. June and September offer the best balance: warm water, long days and lower rates. Goolets advises booking 10 to 12 months ahead for summer (Goolets), so start looking in the autumn before your trip. Our best time to sail in Croatia guide goes month by month.
Useful to bring
- Floating polarized sunglasses: cut the glare on the water and stay afloat if they go overboard.
- A snorkel set: crewed yachts carry toys, but your own mask fits better for daily swim stops.
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen: protects you without harming the seagrass meadows in the anchorages.
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How to book a crewed yacht safely
- Use a broker. A charter broker, ideally a member of MYBA, the Worldwide Yachting Association, compares yachts, checks the crew and handles the contract at no extra cost to you.
- Get the contract terms in writing. MYBA “plus expenses” or half board? Is VAT included? How many engine hours a day? Is the tourist tax included? Is there a delivery fee?
- Follow the payment schedule. Most brokers ask for 50% when the contract is signed and the balance, plus APA and taxes, about four to eight weeks before the charter (Bluewater; Goolets).
- Fill in the preference sheet. Before the charter, the crew sends a form for food, drinks, allergies and activities. The more detail you give, the better the week.
If you are still deciding between a crewed and a bareboat charter, our bareboat vs crewed charter comparison, written for Greece, explains trade-offs that apply equally in Croatia, and the Croatia yacht charter cost guide covers bareboat and skippered prices.
Getting to the marina
Most crewed charters start in Split, Trogir or Dubrovnik. The crew can often arrange a transfer, but you can also book an airport transfer in Split at a fixed price. ACI Marina Dubrovnik is about 25 km from Dubrovnik airport (The Moorings), and Marina Frapa sits in Gruž, closer to the old town.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a crewed yacht charter in Croatia cost?
From about €7,000 a week for a small crewed catamaran to about €100,000 for the largest gulets and up to €140,000 for a 33 m motor yacht, before APA, VAT and tips. Large superyachts cost more: the 53 m Maia, for example, lists at €130,000 to €155,000 a week.
What is APA on a yacht charter?
The advance provisioning allowance is a deposit, usually 25 to 35% of the charter fee, that pays for food, drinks, fuel and berths during the week. The captain keeps receipts and refunds any unused amount.
Is VAT included in yacht charter prices in Croatia?
Sometimes. Croatian VAT on charter is 13%. Some quotes include it, others add it on top, especially on MYBA terms, so always ask your broker.
How much should you tip the crew?
Usually 5 to 15% of the charter fee, up to 20% on superyachts, depending on the service, given to the captain at the end of the charter.
Do you need a licence for a crewed charter?
No. The professional crew holds the licences; guests only need their passports and the crew list details.
Plan your crewed charter
A crewed yacht turns a week in Croatia into a hotel that moves every day. Set your budget with the APA, VAT and tip included, pick the route, and book early for summer. To compare yachts and dates, you can search crewed and skippered yachts in Croatia.
