# Malta Yacht Charter Cost, APA, VAT & Crew Tipping Guide (2026)
> A day charter in Malta is quoted as one all-in figure: from €1,900 for the whole yacht, including 18% Maltese VAT, a licensed skipper and 30 nautical miles of fuel, with no APA and no hidden extras. Weekly crewed and superyacht charters work differently. They are quoted as a base charter fee — from €34,800 a week for a crewed motor yacht and from €66,000 a week for a 34m+ superyacht — plus an Advance Provisioning Allowance of 25% to 35% of that fee, plus VAT on the charter, and a customary crew gratuity of 5% to 15% paid at the end. As a planning rule, a weekly crewed charter costs the base fee plus roughly 45% to 55% once APA, VAT and gratuity are added.
Canonical page: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa

## Contact
- Email: info@lycyachts.com
- WhatsApp only (no voice calls): +44 7537 166275
- WhatsApp: https://wa.me/447537166275
- Base: Portomaso Marina, St Julian's, Malta
- Hours: Mon–Sun 08:00–21:00 CET
- Enquiry form: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#enquire

## The four cost layers
- **Base charter fee (100%)** — The price of chartering the yacht and her crew for the period. It is the figure every broker quotes first and the number every other cost is calculated from.
- **APA — Advance Provisioning Allowance (+25–35%)** — A float transferred before boarding that the captain spends on your behalf: fuel, berths, provisions, drinks, laundry, communications. Fully accounted for, with the unspent balance returned.
- **VAT (+VAT as contracted)** — Our day-charter prices already include 18% Maltese VAT. On weekly charters the applicable rate depends on the charter contract and the itinerary, and is stated in writing before you pay.
- **Crew gratuity (+5–15%)** — Discretionary and paid at the end, usually to the captain in cash or by transfer for distribution among the crew. It is not a service charge and is never added to your invoice.

## At a glance
| Question | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| Day charter price | From €1,900 for the whole yacht, including 18% VAT, licensed skipper and 30 nautical miles of fuel |
| Day charter APA | None. Day charters are quoted as a single all-in figure |
| Weekly crewed motor yacht | From €34,800 per week base fee, plus APA and VAT |
| Weekly superyacht (34m+) | From €66,000 per week base fee, plus APA and VAT |
| APA percentage | 25% to 35% of the base charter fee, held by the captain and accounted for line by line |
| What APA covers | Fuel, dockage and port fees, food and beverage, fresh provisions, laundry, communications, and any excursions or fees the crew pay on your behalf |
| What APA does not cover | The charter fee itself, VAT, crew gratuity, and travel to and from Malta |
| Unspent APA | Returned to you in full at the end of the charter, with receipts |
| VAT | 18% standard Maltese rate is already included in our day-charter prices; weekly charter VAT is confirmed in writing on the contract |
| Crew gratuity | Discretionary. 5% to 10% of the base fee is normal in the Mediterranean, 10% to 15% for exceptional service, handed to the captain to distribute |
| Fuel on day charters | 30 nautical miles included (35 on the Axopar 45); additional miles charged on actual consumption |
| Deposit structure | 50% confirms the booking; balance due 7 days before departure; APA transferred before boarding |

## Worked budgets

### Full-day charter, Axopar 37ST, 8 guests
The simplest case in Malta: one figure, nothing to settle afterwards.

| Item | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Whole-yacht day rate | €1,900 |
| 18% Maltese VAT | Included |
| Licensed skipper | Included |
| Fuel, first 30 nautical miles | Included |
| APA | Not applicable |
| Optional catered platter lunch, 8 guests | €280 |
| Optional skipper gratuity (discretionary) | €100–150 |

**Total: €1,900 as quoted · €2,300 with lunch and a gratuity**

At eight guests that is roughly €240 per person for the yacht, before extras. Additional nautical miles beyond the included 30 are charged on actual consumption and are usually nil on the standard Comino and Gozo route.

Source: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#example-day-charter

### One week, crewed 20m motor yacht, 8 guests
A typical Malta and Sicily week on a crewed flybridge yacht.

| Item | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Base charter fee, 7 nights | €34,800 |
| APA at 30% | €10,440 |
| VAT on the charter fee (18% illustrative) | €6,264 |
| Crew gratuity at 10% of base | €3,480 |

**Total: ≈ €54,984 all in**

APA is a float, not a fee. On a quiet week with short passages a meaningful portion comes back; on a week with long runs to Sicily, marina nights and heavy provisioning the captain may ask to top it up. The gratuity is discretionary.

Source: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#example-weekly-crewed

### One week, 40m superyacht, 11 guests
The structure at the top of the fleet, using AURA's published rate.

| Item | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Base charter fee, 7 nights | €100,000 |
| APA at 30% | €30,000 |
| VAT on the charter fee (18% illustrative) | €18,000 |
| Crew gratuity at 10% of base | €10,000 |

**Total: ≈ €158,000 all in**

At eleven guests that is roughly €14,400 per person for the week, all in, with a crew of eight, a chef and full water toys. The VAT rate shown is illustrative — the applicable treatment is confirmed on your charter contract before any payment.

Source: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#example-superyacht

## Fuel consumption at cruising speed (indicative)
| Yacht | Cruising speed | Fuel at cruise | At anchor |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Axopar 37ST, twin outboards | 26–30 knots | approx. 55–70 litres per hour | Negligible — no generator |
| Axopar 45 Cross Top | 24–28 knots | approx. 80–110 litres per hour | Negligible — no generator |
| Sunseeker Manhattan 66 | 20–24 knots | approx. 200–260 litres per hour | approx. 8–12 litres per hour on generator |
| Sunseeker 86 | 20–22 knots | approx. 300–380 litres per hour | approx. 15–25 litres per hour on generator |
| 34m–40m superyacht | 12–16 knots | approx. 200–450 litres per hour | approx. 40–90 litres per hour on generators |

## Crew gratuity norms (Mediterranean)
- **Day charter with a skipper: €50–150** — A single skipper for a day. A cash tip at the end, handed directly, is normal and never expected.
- **Crewed day charter: 5–10% of the day rate** — A chef, stewardess and deck crew who ran the day. Give it to the captain to share, rather than tipping individually.
- **Weekly crewed charter, good service: 5–10% of the base fee** — The Mediterranean norm. Paid at the end of the week to the captain, in cash or by bank transfer, for distribution across the crew.
- **Weekly charter, exceptional service: 10–15% of the base fee** — Reserved for a crew who genuinely made the week. Above 15% is unusual in the Mediterranean, though US-based guests often tip at that level out of habit.

## Direct answers

### What is APA on a yacht charter?
**APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance. It is a float of 25% to 35% of the base charter fee, transferred before boarding, that the captain spends on your behalf on fuel, berths, food, drink and running costs — and accounts for with receipts.**

APA exists because nobody can price a week at sea in advance. Fuel depends on how far you cruise, berths depend on where you sleep, and provisioning depends on what you eat and drink. Rather than guess, the captain holds your float, spends against it, shows you the running balance during the week, and returns whatever is left. If you cruise hard and eat well the captain will ask to top it up mid-week; that is normal, not a surprise charge.

Source: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#apa-explained

### Does a Malta day charter have APA?
**No. Our day charters are quoted as a single all-in figure including 18% VAT, the licensed skipper and 30 nautical miles of fuel. There is nothing to settle at the pontoon.**

This is a deliberate difference from much of the Malta market, where day-charter quotes are often fuel-excluded and reconciled at the end of the day on consumption. Additional nautical miles beyond the included allowance are charged on actual use, and the standard Comino and Gozo route sits inside the allowance.

Source: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#day-charter-apa

### What VAT applies to a yacht charter in Malta?
**The standard Maltese VAT rate is 18%, and it is already included in every day-charter price we quote. On weekly and superyacht charters, the applicable VAT treatment depends on the charter contract and itinerary and is stated in writing before payment.**

Yacht charter VAT in the EU is decided by where the charter starts and how the contract is structured, and Malta operates specific rules for short-term charters of pleasure craft. We do not give tax advice or quote a rate we have not confirmed: your contract will show the exact rate applied, and for a large charter the central agent's documentation sets it out in full. Treat any operator who is vague about VAT as a reason to ask for the contract early.

Source: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#vat-rates

### How much do you tip yacht crew in the Mediterranean?
**5% to 10% of the base charter fee for good service, and 10% to 15% for exceptional service. It is discretionary, paid at the end, and given to the captain to distribute among the crew.**

Cash in euros is still the most common, though a bank transfer to the captain is equally acceptable and increasingly normal for larger sums. Do not tip crew members individually — it cuts across the way a yacht's crew shares gratuity. On a skippered day charter there is no expectation at all; €50 to €150 is a generous gesture for a single skipper.

Source: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#crew-tipping

### How much fuel does a charter yacht use?
**Roughly 55 to 70 litres an hour on a fast outboard day cruiser, 200 to 260 on a 20m flybridge motor yacht, and 200 to 450 on a 34m to 40m superyacht at cruising speed, plus generator burn at anchor on the larger yachts.**

Fuel is the largest single variable in APA, and it is governed by speed far more than by size. Dropping a 20-metre motor yacht from 24 knots to 10 knots can more than halve consumption. On a Malta week that matters: Malta to Sicily and back at speed is a genuinely expensive decision, while a week spent between Comino, Gozo and the south coast burns very little because passages are short and most hours are at anchor.

Source: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#fuel-burn-costs

### What should I budget beyond the charter fee?
**Add roughly 45% to 55% to the base fee for a weekly crewed charter once APA, VAT and a customary gratuity are included. A Malta day charter needs nothing added beyond optional catering and extras.**

Worked through: a €100,000 week with 30% APA, 18% VAT and a 10% gratuity lands near €158,000. Budget the full figure from the outset, because APA arrives as a separate transfer before boarding and catches first-time charterers out more often than any other cost. Whatever APA is not spent comes back to you.

Source: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#sample-budget

### What costs surprise first-time charterers?
**APA transferred separately before boarding, marina berths on a busy week, delivery or repositioning fees when a yacht is not already in Malta, and fuel on long passages.**

Delivery fees are the one to ask about first. A yacht based in Sicily or Sardinia chartering in Malta may carry a repositioning cost, which either sits in the base fee or arrives as a line item. We tell you which before you commit. Travel, insurance and anything you buy ashore are yours, and travel insurance covering charter cancellation is worth having on a week at this value.

Source: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#hidden-costs

### Is a private charter better value than a shared trip?
**Per head it is more expensive; per day it buys a different product. The honest comparison is a whole-yacht price divided by your group against a per-seat ticket on a boat with 80 other people and a fixed return time.**

At €1,900 for eight guests, a full private day is about €240 each — several times a shared ticket. What you get is the route you want, the hours you want, swim stops where you choose and nobody else aboard. For two people, a shared trip is usually the sensible purchase. For a group of six or more, or anyone who wants the Blue Lagoon without the crowds, private is where the money starts to make sense.

Source: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#value-comparison

## Common mistakes
- **Budgeting only the base fee** — APA, VAT and gratuity add 45% to 55% to a weekly charter. Plan the total from day one so the pre-boarding APA transfer is not a shock.
- **Comparing a fuel-excluded quote to an all-in one** — Two Malta quotes for the same yacht can be €400 apart on paper and identical in reality. Ask what fuel allowance is included before comparing.
- **Treating APA as a fee** — It is your money held by the captain. Ask for the running balance mid-week and expect receipts and a return of the unspent portion.
- **Planning a fast Sicily crossing without pricing the fuel** — Speed, not distance, drives fuel. A high-speed crossing can cost more in fuel than a night's berth in a five-star marina.
- **Tipping crew individually** — It undercuts the way a crew shares gratuity. Hand it to the captain and let the yacht's own system distribute it.

## FAQ

### How much does it cost to charter a yacht in Malta for a day?
From €1,900 for the whole yacht on the Axopar 37ST, including 18% VAT, a licensed skipper and 30 nautical miles of fuel. The Axopar 45 Cross Top is €3,500, the crewed Sunseeker Manhattan 66 is €6,500 and the 26m Sunseeker 86 is €10,900. Prices are per yacht, not per person.

### What does APA stand for?
Advance Provisioning Allowance — a float of 25% to 35% of the base charter fee that you transfer before boarding and the captain spends on fuel, berths, provisions and running costs, accounting for it with receipts and returning the unspent balance.

### Is APA refundable?
Yes. Any APA the captain has not spent by the end of the charter is returned to you in full, with an accounting of what was spent and on what.

### What percentage is APA usually?
25% to 35% of the base charter fee in the Mediterranean. Thirty per cent is the most common figure. Itineraries with long passages, high-season marina nights or heavy provisioning sit at the upper end.

### Does a day charter in Malta include fuel?
Ours include 30 nautical miles of fuel, and 35 on the Axopar 45 — enough for the standard Comino, Blue Lagoon and Gozo route. Additional miles are charged on actual consumption. Many Malta quotes are fuel-excluded and settled afterwards, so check before comparing prices.

### Is VAT included in your prices?
Yes on day charters — 18% Maltese VAT is inside every day-charter figure we quote. For weekly and superyacht charters the applicable VAT treatment depends on the contract and itinerary and is stated in writing before any payment.

### How much should I tip the crew?
5% to 10% of the base charter fee for good service and 10% to 15% for exceptional service, paid at the end to the captain for distribution. On a skippered day charter nothing is expected; €50 to €150 is generous.

### When do I pay, and how?
50% confirms the booking, the balance falls due seven days before departure, and APA on weekly charters is transferred before boarding. Payment is by bank transfer, with card accepted on request. Company invoices carry your VAT number and purchase-order reference.

### What is not included in a charter price?
Travel to and from Malta, travel insurance, anything bought ashore, crew gratuity, and on weekly charters the APA and VAT. On day charters, catering, water toys, transfers and fuel beyond the included allowance are itemised separately in your quote.

### Can I get a written quote before committing anything?
Yes, and you should insist on one anywhere you charter. Every enquiry is answered by a charter manager within four working hours with a written quote showing the charter fee, what is included, and every optional extra as a separate line.

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VAT figures in worked examples are illustrative; the applicable rate is confirmed in writing on the charter contract before payment. Enquire: https://luxuryyachtchartermalta.com/yacht-charter-malta-cost-apa#enquire