This guide is the most comprehensive resource available in French on luxury yacht charter. It was designed by the team at International Yachts Charter and Brokerage XXIII — 20 years of experience in the international yachting market — to answer every question our clients ask before their first charter, or their tenth.
From selecting the yacht to calculating the APA to the best anchorages in the Mediterranean — you will find everything you need here to plan the perfect charter in 2026.
Part 1 — Understanding Yacht Charter
What Is a Yacht Charter?
A yacht charter is the rental of a crewed yacht for a set period — usually one week, sometimes longer. Unlike renting a pleasure boat without crew (a “bareboat charter”), luxury charter always includes a professional crew — captain, chef, chief steward/ess, deckhands.
The yacht becomes your 100% private space — your floating hotel, your private restaurant, your exclusive beach club. The crew handles all logistics — navigation, cuisine, maintenance, arranging excursions — while you enjoy every moment to the fullest.
The Difference Between a Motor Yacht and a Sailing Yacht
The motor yacht — the most in-demand charter type in the Mediterranean — offers comfort, speed, and stability. It covers long distances quickly, features generous living spaces, and has stabilisation systems that minimise roll. Our full fleet consists exclusively of motor yachts.
The sailing yacht — a sailboat with skipper — offers a more sporty sailing experience, lower fuel costs, but is more weather-dependent and generally less comfortable in terms of interior space.
Motor Yacht, Superyacht, Mega Yacht — The Differences
| Category | LOA | Typical passengers | Weekly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Yacht | 20–30 m | 6-10 guests | €10,000 – €50,000 |
| Superyacht | 30-50 m | 8-12 guests | €50,000 – €250,000 |
| Mega Yacht | 50-80 m | 10-18 guests | €200,000 – €600,000 |
| Giga Yacht | 80 m+ | 12-24 guests | €500,000 – €2,000,000 |
Part 2 — APA
APA — What You Pay in Addition to the Base Rate
APA is the most misunderstood item in luxury charter. It is an advance on the charter’s operating expenses — not a surcharge for profit, but a fund managed by the captain.
What the APA covers:
- Fuel — the largest item, varying depending on the itinerary
- Port and mooring fees
- Food and beverage provisions
- Satellite communications
- Local taxes and immigration fees
How APA is calculated: Generally 25 to 30% of the base rate. For a €100,000 charter, APA will be €25,000 to €30,000. At the end of the charter, the captain provides a detailed statement with all supporting documents. If APA has not been fully used, the balance is refunded to you within 10 days.
A concrete example with RILASSATA:
Tarif basse saison : 210 000€
APA (28%) : 58 800€
Budget total : 268 800€The Security Deposit
In addition to the rate and APA, a security deposit is generally required — between €10,000 and €50,000 depending on the size of the yacht. It covers any damage caused on board during the charter. It is refunded in full if no damage is found.
Part 3 — How to Choose Your Yacht
Criterion No. 1 — Size and Number of Guests
The basic rule — 1 cabin per couple or per single guest. For 6 people, a 3-cabin yacht (+ master) is the minimum. For 10 people, 5 cabins are required.
Our fleet covers every profile:
| Yacht | LOA | Cabins | Max guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABELY | 33 m | 4 | 8 guests |
| BASILIC | 30 m | 5 | 12 guests |
| RAY | 32 m | 4 | 8 guests |
| ASCENSION | 37 m | 5 | 10 guests |
| ANNAMIA | 43 m | 5 | 12 guests |
| RILASSATA | 49.8 m | 5 | 12 guests |
Criterion No. 2 — Speed
Speed determines your itinerary freedom. A fast yacht (20+ knots) covers Monaco → Saint-Tropez in 1h30. A slow yacht (12 knots) takes 3h30.
- ASCENSION — 25 knots — the full French Riviera itinerary in one week, effortlessly
- BASILIC — 28 knots — the fastest Riva 100 Corsaro in our fleet
- ABELY — 28 knots — compact and fast, ideal for hard-to-reach coves
Criterion No. 3 — Draft
Draft determines which coves and anchorages are accessible. A 2-metre draft opens possibilities that 3 metres close off.
- RILASSATA — 2.25 m — access to the shallow coves of Formentera and the Maddalena Archipelago
- ABELY — 2.00 m — the shallowest draft in the fleet, maximum access
Criterion No. 4 — Style and Atmosphere
Each yacht has a distinct personality:
- RILASSATA — ultra-modern, 499 GT, flybridge with pool — the largest living space in the fleet
- BASILIC — iconic Riva design, teak wood, classic Italian elegance
- RAY — explorer yacht, steel hull, 4,000 NM range — for long itineraries
- ANNAMIA — Baglietto tri-deck, 419 GT, playroom, maximum prestige
Part 4 — Mediterranean Destinations
The French Riviera — The Global Benchmark
The French Riviera is the world’s leading destination for luxury yacht charter. Cannes, Monaco, Saint-Tropez — three cities that have defined luxury yachting for a century.
Must-attend events:
- Cannes Film Festival — May 13 to 24, 2026
- Monaco Grand Prix — June 4 to 7, 2026
- Cannes Lions — June 22 to 26, 2026
- Datacloud Global Congress — June 2026
- Cannes Yachting Festival — September 8 to 13, 2026
- Monaco Yacht Show — September 23 to 26, 2026
- Voiles de Saint-Tropez — September 26 to October 4, 2026
- Giraglia Rolex Cup — June 2026
- Paradis Porsche — October 9 to 11, 2026
- MIPCOM — October 12 to 15, 2026
The Balearic Islands — Turquoise Waters and Beach Clubs
The Balearic Islands are the Mediterranean destination offering the best value for money — waters comparable to the Caribbean, easy access from Europe, rates 20 to 30% lower than the French Riviera.
- Ibiza — Cala Conta, Es Vedrà, Blue Marlin, UNESCO-listed Dalt Vila
- Formentera — Ses Illetes, the clearest beach in the Balearics
- Mallorca — the Balearics’ Costa Smeralda, sheltered coves
- Menorca — 75% of coastline UNESCO-listed, absolute privacy
Italy — Cultural and Gastronomic Richness
Italy concentrates, along a single coastline, the highest density of cultural and gastronomic heritage in the Mediterranean.
- Sardinia — Costa Smeralda, Porto Cervo, Maddalena Archipelago
- Capri — Faraglioni, Grotta Azzurra, La Piazzetta
- Portofino — Italy’s most photographed village, Cinque Terre
- Amalfi Coast — Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, UNESCO-listed
- Sicily — Aeolian Islands, Stromboli, Panarea, Taormina
Greece — Rising Fast
Greece confirms its position as the world’s third-leading destination for luxury charter — Cyclades, Dodecanese, Ionian. Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu — a diversity of islands and atmospheres unique in the Mediterranean.
The Caribbean — St Barts and the West Indies
The Caribbean — available from December to April — offers what the Mediterranean cannot replicate: the turquoise colour of shallow waters, the discretion of Saint Barthélemy, and Anguilla’s immaculate beaches.
Our Caribbean fleet is based in Saint Martin — MANATEA, Peri Yacht 95ft, available for day charter and overnight.
Dubai and the Persian Gulf
Dubai is establishing itself as the benchmark winter destination — world-class marina, spectacular skyline, international HNWI clientele. Optimal season: October to April.
Part 5 — Events and Corporate Charter
Why a Yacht for an Event?
A privately chartered superyacht during an event — Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Lions — offers what no hotel can guarantee:
The most exclusive box — a yacht in Port Hercule during the Grand Prix has a direct view of the circuit just 50 metres away. A yacht in the Bay of Cannes during the Festival can send its tender to La Croisette in 10 minutes.
Absolute privacy — no other guests, no external staff, no journalists. Your yacht is your private space.
Total flexibility — your schedule adapts to the event. A late screening at the Festival? The tender is waiting for you. A client reception on Grand Prix night? The chef prepares dinner on board.
View our full 2026 events calendar.
Part 6 — The Pre-Charter Brief
Why the Brief Is the Cornerstone of the Charter
The pre-charter brief is the document you complete 3 to 4 weeks before embarkation. It consolidates all the information the crew needs to personalise every moment of your week on board.
What the brief covers:
Gastronomy — allergies, dietary requirements, culinary preferences by meal, favourite wines and spirits, preferred meal times, childhood dishes or requested specialties. The more precise the brief — the more memorable each meal will be.
Itinerary — priority destinations, desired anchorages, favourite beaches, events to include, cruising pace (active or relaxed).
Activities — priority water sports, desired shore excursions, yoga, diving, fishing, cultural visits.
Logistics — embarkation time, embarkation port, airport transfers, disembarkation.
Our team supports every client in completing this brief — a 30-minute call is enough for the crew to have all the information needed to create a perfect week.
Part 7 — Crew Certifications
STCW — The International Standard
All crew members on our yachts are STCW-certified (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) — the international standard for seafarer training. This certification covers safety, first aid, firefighting, and survival at sea.
Part 8 — Rates and Budget
Our Fleet Rates 2026
Low season (May–June, September–October):
| Yacht | LOA | Rate/week |
|---|---|---|
| ABELY | 33 m | €28,000 |
| BASILIC | 30 m | €120,000 |
| RAY | 32 m | €90,000 |
| ASCENSION | 37 m | €100,000 |
| ANNAMIA | 43 m | €120,000 |
| RILASSATA | 49.8 m | €210,000 |
High season (July–August):
| Yacht | LOA | Rate/week |
|---|---|---|
| ABELY | 33 m | €35,000 |
| BASILIC | 30 m | €145,000 |
| RAY | 32 m | €120,000 |
| ASCENSION | 37 m | €125,000 |
| ANNAMIA | 43 m | €145,000 |
| RILASSATA | 49.8 m | €385,000 |
Total Budget — How to Calculate It
Budget total = Tarif de base + APA (28%) + Dépôt de garantie
Exemple ASCENSION basse saison :
Tarif de base : 100 000€
APA (28%) : 28 000€
Dépôt de garantie : 20 000€ (restitué)
─────────────────────────────
Budget à provisionner : 148 000€
Dépôt restitué après charter : 20 000€
Coût réel : 128 000€ (+ solde APA non consommé)Cost per Person — The Calculation That Surprises
For a group of 10 people on ASCENSION in low season:
Tarif de base + APA : 128 000€
Divisé par 10 personnes : 12 800€/personne/semaine
= 1 828€/personne/nuit
Comparable à :
→ Suite dans un palace 5 étoiles Côte d'Azur : 1 500 à 5 000€/nuit
→ Sans compter les repas (200-500€/personne/repas)
→ Sans les transferts
→ Sans les activités
Le superyacht charter devient compétitif à partir de 6 personnes.Part 9 — The Best Anchorages
French Riviera
Lérins Islands — 10 minutes from Cannes. Two protected islands, crystal-clear water, no cars. The most peaceful anchorage on the entire Riviera.
Cap d’Antibes — sheltered from the mistral, with the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc overlooking. The connoisseurs’ favourite anchorage.
Cap Ferrat — between Monaco and Nice. France’s most exclusive peninsula. Anchorage facing billionaires’ villas.
Gulf of Saint-Tropez — the largest and most sheltered on the Riviera. Direct tender access to Pampelonne.
Balearic Islands
Ses Illetes (Formentera) — the clearest beach in the Balearics. 25-metre visibility. Accessible only by sea.
Cala Conta (Ibiza) — the most photographed anchorage in Ibiza. Arrival before 10:00 AM is mandatory in high season.
Es Vedrà (Ibiza) — the sacred 382-metre rock. Sunset facing the monolith.
Italy
Cala Corsara / Cala Coticcio (Sardinia) — the two most spectacular coves in the Maddalena Archipelago. Accessible only by sea.
Off the Faraglioni (Capri) — one of the Mediterranean’s most iconic sights. Anchorage facing Capri’s three limestone stacks.
Positano (Amalfi Coast) — anchorage facing the colourful façades. Sunrise from the deck — an unforgettable image.
Fiordo di Furore (Amalfi) — a cleft in the cliff accessible by tender from the anchorage off Praiano.
Porto Cervo (Sardinia) — the Mediterranean’s most prestigious port in July–August. Superyacht submarine in Porto Cervo from the marina.
Part 10 — How to Book
The Booking Process
Step 1 — The Initial Brief (D-90 to D-30) Contact our team — a 30-minute call is enough to define your group, dates, destinations, and budget. We select the 2 to 3 most suitable options and send you a proposal within 48 hours.
Step 2 — Contract Signature (D-60 to D-30) Once the yacht is chosen — sign the MYBA contract and pay the deposit (30% of the base rate). The deposit confirms your yacht booking for the agreed dates.
Step 3 — The Pre-Charter Brief (D-30 to D-14) Complete the culinary brief and the desired itinerary. Pay the balance (70% of the rate + APA).
Step 4 — Embarkation Coordinated airport transfer. Welcome on board by the crew. Yacht presentation. Welcome champagne. Your week begins.
Step 5 — Disembarkation and APA Reconciliation At the end of the charter — the captain provides the detailed APA statement with all supporting documents. Any unused balance is refunded within 10 days.
When to Book
Events (Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix) — at least 4 to 6 months in advance. The best yachts for these weeks are booked from January.
High season July–August — 3 to 4 months in advance.
Low season May–June, September–October — 1 to 2 months is sufficient. More flexibility, more attractive rates.
Conclusion — Your First Charter or the Next One
Whether you are considering your first charter or preparing your tenth season in the Mediterranean — the team at International Yachts Charter and Brokerage XXIII is at your disposal to create the exact experience you are looking for.
Our available fleet covers every profile — from a compact, fast yacht for an intense week on the French Rivierato a 50-metre mega yacht for a Mediterranean Grand Tour Mediterranean → Balearics → Italy → Greece. And our Caribbean bases in Saint Barthélemy for clients who wish to escape the European winter.
