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Bahamas yacht charter cost
TL;DR: A Bahamas yacht charter is priced in four parts: the charter fee, an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) of roughly 25–35% on most motor yachts, Bahamian charter tax (14% on foreign-flagged charter yachts), and crew gratuity of 10–20%. A $40,000 all-inclusive catamaran week and a $40,000 plus-expenses motor yacht week can land about $12,000 apart once the trip is over.
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Last reviewed: October 2026
The four cost lines
| Line | What it is | Typical size |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee | The weekly rate for the yacht and crew | The listed rate, e.g. $20,000–$150,000+/week |
| APA | Advance Provisioning Allowance: fuel, food, drinks, dockage, reconciled against receipts at the end | 0% on all-inclusive terms, 25–40% on most plus-expenses motor yachts |
| Taxes | Charter tax and VAT on foreign-flagged charter yachts, collected by the Bahamas Port Department. Bahamas-based yachts charge VAT instead | 14% of the charter fee (4% charter tax + 10% VAT) |
| Crew gratuity | Discretionary but customary, handed to the captain to split with crew. Like a restaurant tip: 10% is standard, 20% is for exceptional service | 10–20% of the charter fee |
Unspent APA funds are returned at the end of the charter, reconciled against an itemized statement from the crew.
Two worked examples
All-inclusive crewed catamaran, $40,000 charter fee:
- Charter fee: $40,000
- APA: included in the rate
- Charter tax at 14% (foreign-flagged yacht): $5,600
- Gratuity at 10–20%: $4,000–$8,000
- Total: roughly $49,600–$53,600
Plus-expenses crewed motor yacht, $40,000 charter fee:
- Charter fee: $40,000
- APA at 30%: $12,000
- Charter tax at 14% (foreign-flagged yacht): $5,600
- Gratuity at 10–20% of the charter fee: $4,000–$8,000
- Total: roughly $61,600–$65,600
Same headline rate, about a $12,000 difference in what you actually pay. The contract terms, not the listed price, decide which category a yacht falls into. A Bahamas-based yacht charges VAT instead of the 14% charter tax, so confirm which applies in your quote.
How much does it cost to charter a yacht in the Bahamas?
As a starting range: a half or full-day local charter from Nassau or Bimini runs roughly $1,500–$5,000. A week-long crewed catamaran starts near $20,000 before APA, taxes and gratuity. A week-long crewed motor yacht over 80 feet typically starts near $50,000 plus expenses. Superyacht charters run well beyond that, scaling with length and crew size.
Questions people ask
What is APA?
An advance paid before the charter to cover running costs — fuel, food, drinks, dockage — spent by the crew on your behalf and reconciled with receipts at the end. Unspent money is returned.
Is gratuity required?
It's discretionary but standard practice in the industry, typically 10–20% of the charter fee. Think of it like a restaurant tip: 10% is standard, 20% is for exceptional service.
Can I get a discount on the listed rate?
No. Central agencies and brokers price charters at a published rate set by the yacht owner; brokers don't discount or mark it up. Your total cost is the charter fee plus the lines above, not a negotiated price.
Get an exact quote
General ranges only go so far. Send one enquiry with your dates, guest count and budget, and established charter brokerages return a shortlist of yachts with a full, itemized estimate for each.