Before your first charter: route, crew and budget

Chartering a crewed yacht offers a freedom no hotel holiday can match — but expectations need setting correctly. What surprises first-time charterers most is what the price does and does not include.

What the price covers

The charter fee covers the yacht and its crew. Fuel, food and drink, marina fees and crew gratuity are extra and are usually paid in advance as the 'APA' (Advance Provisioning Allowance), typically 25–35% of the charter fee. The captain manages this budget on your behalf and settles the account at the end; any balance is refunded.

Planning the route

Göcek–Fethiye–Kaş is the classic one-week itinerary: short passages, sheltered bays, a different view every night. Go through the route with your captain on day one but avoid a rigid schedule; wind and whim change the plan, and that is the beauty of chartering.

Working with the crew

The crew are the hosts of the yacht. Sharing your preferences — breakfast times, allergies, the children's routine — through the preference sheet before departure makes the first day far smoother. In the Mediterranean a gratuity of around 10–15% of the charter fee is customary and is handed to the captain at the end of the trip.

When the Yacht44 charter fleet opens, every yacht's page will show the APA rate, crew size and suggested itineraries.

Gulet or motor yacht?

A gulet offers the best value for larger family groups thanks to its broad decks and cabin count; it is slow, made for pleasant three- to four-hour passages a day. A motor yacht is faster and more private, with fewer cabins and a higher fuel bill. Sailing catamarans sit in between: calm, spacious, economical. Your group size and your preference for movement or stillness decide it.

Season and price

The Turkish Riviera charter season runs May to October; July and August are high season, with prices 30–50% higher. June and September are the smart choice — the same weather, emptier bays. Early booking (January to March) protects both choice and price; last-minute discounts exist, but the good boats are gone by then.

How a booking proceeds

The standard flow: confirm yacht and dates → MYBA-format charter agreement → 50% deposit → remaining 50% plus APA 30–45 days before departure → preference sheet and crew introduction → cruise. The agreement states cancellation terms, weather-related route changes and damage liability in plain words; do not sign without reading it.