Gulet Charter Prices Explained: What’s Included & Extra Costs

When planning a gulet charter, one of the most common (and important) questions is: what exactly is included in the price? The short answer is that gulet charter terms vary by country and by yacht. In addition, you will often see industry terms such as VAT and APA used in charter contracts – and it’s important to understand what they actually mean from the start.

This guide is designed to clearly explain standard inclusions, common extra costs, and how charter pricing works in Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Italy, and Montenegro. It will also help you understand why working with an experienced gulet charter broker matters.

First things first: no two gulets are identical

Gulets and motor sailers are most commonly chartered in Turkey, Greece, and Croatia, with a small number operating in Italy and only few gulets currently available in Montenegro, yet there is no single universal pricing model.

Each yacht has its own charter inclusions, and operating rules based on the country of registration, local maritime regulations, yacht size, age, and technical setup, as well as the owner’s preferred commercial structure. This is why we always review the exact charter terms yacht by yacht, and why transparency upfront is essential.

Key charter terms explained (before we go further)

VAT (Value Added Tax)

VAT is a government tax applied to yacht charters in many European countries. The rate and whether it is included or added on top depends on the yacht’s flag and the country of operation. VAT for some gulets may be included in Croatia, while in Greece and Italy it is usually added on top of the charter fee. In Turkey, VAT / charter tax is generally not included and is listed separately.

APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance)

APA is a prepaid onboard expense fund, usually 30–40% of the charter fee, used to cover variable costs such as fuel, food, drinks, port fees, and guest-requested services. The captain manages APA transparently and provides a full expense breakdown. Any unused amount is refunded at the end of the charter.

What is usually included in a gulet charter price

While inclusions vary, the following elements are commonly included in the base charter fee.

Yacht & Crew

Exclusive use of the gulet or motor sailer
Professional crew (captain, chef, deckhands, steward/ess)
Crew salaries and standard onboard service

Accommodation & Equipment

Fully equipped cabins with private bathrooms
Bed linen, towels, and basic cabin amenities
Use of onboard equipment (tender, snorkeling gear, basic water toys where listed)

Insurance & Safety

Standard yacht insurance
Safety equipment in line with local regulations

Country-by-country: key differences you should know

Turkey

Turkey offers one of the most guest-friendly gulet charter systems, but terms still vary by yacht.

Typically included:

Fuel for main engines for cruising on the advised itinerary (often around 4 hours per day, within Turkish waters)
Fuel for generators and air conditioning (sometimes unlimited, sometimes limited – always yacht-specific)
Crew and crew services
Linens, bathroom and beach towels - Use of onboard water toys (as listed)
Wi-Fi in Turkish waters
Embarkation and disembarkation harbour fees in the home port (e.g. Bodrum)

Usually not included:

VAT / Turkish charter tax - Food and beverages
Private marinas and special harbour fees (e.g. Göcek marinas)
Greek island harbour, customs, port and agency fees (if sailing to Greece)
Fuel for dinghy-operated water sports
Wi-Fi outside Turkish waters

Turkey allows flexible provisioning, and food and beverage costs are handled separately.

Croatia

Croatia has a structured and transparent charter system, but costs are often split between inclusions and extras.

Often included:

VAT and local guest taxes (for many yachts)
Accommodation on board
Crew and crew services
Fuel for cruising (on many gulets, sometimes with unlimited daily sailing hours) - Air conditioning and generator use (often 24/7)
Wi-Fi, water toys, tenders, and onboard entertainment (as listed)
Daily cabin cleaning and final cleaning

Usually extra:

Port, marina, and anchorage fees
National park and nature park tickets
APA (on some yachts)
Food and drinks (often mandatory meal and beverage packages)

Croatia commonly works with fixed meal plans and drinks packages, which are selected in advance and paid separately.

Greece

In Greece, around 98% of gulet and motor sailer charters operate on an APA + VAT system.

Base price typically includes:

- Yacht and crew

Not included:

Fuel - Food and beverages
Port fees
VAT (added on top of the charter fee)

All variable expenses are covered via APA, which is fully itemised during and after the charter.

Italy

Italy also follows the APA + VAT model, similar to Greece.

Expect:

Charter fee + VAT
APA covering fuel, food, port fees, and other running costs

Gulet availability in Italy is limited, which makes early planning particularly important.

Montenegro

Montenegro currently has only several gulets available for charter, each with very specific terms. Pricing structures vary, so inclusions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

What is usually not included in the charter price

Regardless of destination, the following costs are usually extra:

Food and beverages
Alcoholic drinks
Port and marina fees (especially in popular harbours)
National park and cruising permits
Optional water toys (jet skis, seabobs, etc.)
Crew gratuities (customary but discretionary)

A note on meals & drinks (briefly)

Food and beverage arrangements differ significantly by country and yacht:

Many Croatian gulets operate with mandatory Half Board or Full Board meal plans, sometimes with luxury upgrades
Drinks in Croatia are usually handled via pre-set beverage packages, and guests are typically not allowed to bring their own alcohol
In Turkey, guests can usually bring their own alcohol, and provisioning is very flexible
In APA-based systems, food and drinks are paid from APA

Because meal plans and drinks policies can strongly affect the total charter cost, we help our guests to understand these costs before signing the contract.

Why charter terms matter – and how we help

With so many variations, misunderstandings usually happen when guests assume all gulets work the same way. They don’t. As professional gulet charter brokers, we explain exact inclusions and exclusions for each yacht before booking, compare charter terms across destinations, flag any limits (fuel hours, generator usage, port costs), provide full cost estimates with no hidden surprises. Our role is to guide you through the details, answer all questions openly, and help you choose the yacht and destination that best match your expectations.