Italy remains a popular place to charter a yacht thanks to a temperate climate, beautiful anchorages, ancient history, and the fantastic gastronomic experiences that await. A yacht charter in Italy offers guests the best of both worlds — visit the historical and cultural landmarks on land, with the ability to return to your yacht to explore the plethora of quiet bays and swathes of beaches and fine dining by your personal chef. Now that you know where you want to go, you might be wondering, how much does it cost to charter a yacht in Italy?
Italy Yacht Charter FAQ
Can I negotiate a yacht charter?
Yacht charter prices are usually fairly set and don’t allow room for negotiations between the yacht owner (or yacht management company) and the charter guest.
A “base price” for the yacht will be listed which is the cost to rent the yacht and the crew onboard. You’ll add your Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA), fuel, taxes, fees, crew tip, etc. on top of this. As all of these items are necessary to run your yacht charter for the week, the yacht doesn’t have wiggle room to negotiate different prices.
The one caveat here, is on occasion, yachts will offer a special offer for a certain percentage off the base price of the charter to fill any gaps in their calendar. Of course, chartering a yacht in the shoulder or off season (where possible), will also offer a better deal than chartering a yacht during peak season.
Where can I get last minute yacht charter deals?
If you don’t have to charter on a certain day, and can be flexible, it’s always a good idea to contact your charter yacht broker so they can put you on a mailing list or send any special last minute yacht deals as they arise.
Please search for your trusted charter broker here using the YATCO broker directory.
What does it cost to rent a yacht in Italy for the week?
A yacht charter in Italy will come in a variety of prices and budgets for everyone.
As we are talking about “yacht” charters and not boats, we are referring to yachts 79ft and above. On average, you could see prices starting at anywhere from $50,000 for the week to well over $1 million.
A few things that will impact the price of your yacht charter are:
- Length – Larger yachts usually cost more, however, if they don’t have a lot of cabins, this can limit the number of people that can join you.
- Time of year – Peak season will always cost more. In Italy this means that the months of July and August will be the most expensive.
- Number of guests – How many cabins you require will determine the size yacht you need.
- Itinerary – Do you want to cruise a lot from one point to the other, and therefore burn a lot of fuel, or are you happy to stay a relatively short distance from each stop?
- Type of yacht – Do you want a large mega yacht with all the bells and whistles (water toys, tenders, helipad, etc.) or is a catamaran more your style?
What is included in a yacht charter in Italy?
When booking a yacht charter in Italy, your booking will charge a base rate and then all of the extras to be paid in installments before your trip.
Overall, these items will ultimately be included in the total cost of the yacht charter:
- The yacht
- The crew
- Food and drinks
- Fuel
- Water toys
- Personalized itinerary
- Insurance
- VAT
What isn’t included in a yacht charter in Italy are any excursions on land or other activities (ex. diving instructor, yoga teacher, etc.).
When is yacht charter season in the Mediterranean?
The yacht charter season in the Mediterranean runs from May to October, with the months of July and August being the busiest (and most expensive). The shoulder season (May and October) in the Mediterranean is still very pleasant and balmy, with warm sea water as well. It can be an excellent option if you’d like to avoid the crowds on land and peak pricing.
How much does it cost to charter a yacht in the Mediterranean?
Chartering a yacht in the Mediterranean opens a world of possibilities. The excellent thing about the Med is that no two places are the same so you can spend a lifetime chartering the beautiful waters here. From a yacht charter in the Eastern Mediterranean including Greece and the Greek Islands, to chartering a yacht in the Western Mediterranean, with the popular ports of the French Riviera, Southern Italy, and Spain, the world truly is your oyster here!
A weeklong yacht charter in the Mediterranean will cost similar to the quote we gave for a yacht charter in Italy. Depending on the size of the yacht, the time of year, and the cruising itinerary, you could be looking at starting prices around $50,000 with these increasing to over $1 million for the week. Something to bear in mind is the differing VAT rates across the Mediterranean. This is what the yacht must charge on top of all of the other inclusions. They can be as high as 24% in Greece and as low as 0% in Montenegro.
How much is it to charter a sailboat on the Amalfi Coast in Italy?
Sailboats usually cost less than motor yachts to charter in the Amalfi Coast in Italy. When considering chartering a sailboat, you’ll need to take similar things into consideration:
- Size of sailboat needed and how many guests will be joining you.
- Time of year you want to go.
- Itinerary you’d like to do.
- If you want a crewed charter or “bareboat” yacht charter.
While sailboats can be booked as a bareboat yacht charter where you need to be the captain, or someone in your group needs to know how to sail, you will just be booking the sailboat – food, drinks, etc. will all need to be supplied by you. However, if you are talking about sailing yachts, these are not usually an option for bareboat charters due to their size being 79ft and above.
For smaller sailboats, you could be looking at around $20,000 – $60,000 for a weeklong charter, while larger sailing yachts will cost much more than this.
How much does it cost to charter a catamaran in Italy?
Like the sailboat question, catamaran charters will usually cost similar to a sailboat charter in Italy. Catamarans have less space for water toys, entertaining spaces and smaller cabins than you’d find on a motor yacht.
Since we know the exact cost of a catamaran charter in Italy will depend on the length, time of year, and group size, you’ll need to consider a starting price of around $20,000 and expect it to grow from there.
How much does it cost to hire a charter captain in Italy?
If you are chartering a yacht in Italy, you won’t have to hire the charter captain separately.
All yachts for charter will come with a full-time crew including a captain.
If you are looking at a bareboat charter and require a captain, your best bet is to speak with your trusted charter yacht broker who can refer you to reputable yacht captains should you need.
Chartering a yacht in Italy is a magical experience for those looking to take in the beautiful Mediterranean weather and stunning coastlines here. Now that you know how much it is to charter a yacht in Italy, why not start your search for the perfect charter yacht?
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