How a Riviera yacht charter works – contracts, APA, crew and timing explained

A week on a crewed yacht off the Côte d'Azur is simpler than it looks, once you understand the paperwork. Here is how a charter is booked, paid for and run, from the standard contract to the captain's final accounts.

Chartering a yacht on the French Riviera sounds like a world of its own, and in some ways it is. But behind the teak decks and the tender to the beach club sits a well-worn commercial system, and most of the confusion first-time charterers feel comes from a handful of terms: MYBA, APA, delivery fees, VAT. Understand those, and a week between Monaco, Antibes and Saint-Tropez becomes an exercise in choosing anchorages rather than reading small print.

01Three kinds of charter

There are three basic formats. A bareboat charter hands you the yacht without crew: you skipper it yourself and carry the legal and safety responsibility, and most companies require a recognised licence such as the International Certificate of Competence or the RYA Day Skipper. Bareboats are usually between about 32 and 55 feet. A skippered charter adds a professional captain and sometimes a hand or two. A crewed charter – the format this guide is about – comes with a full crew, typically a captain, a chef, deckhands and stewards, who run the yacht while you are on holiday.

02The MYBA contract

Most crewed charters in the Mediterranean are written on MYBA terms. MYBA, now known as the Worldwide Yachting Association, began as the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association, and its standard charter agreement is the industry's common language. It sets out the charter period, the payment schedule, how the provisioning allowance works, cancellation, liability and insurance. The brokerage house Burgess notes that only established yachting companies can use the MYBA contract – one reason to book through a recognised broker rather than a private listing.

Under MYBA terms, the charter fee covers the hire of the yacht and her crew, along with the yacht's insurance. Almost everything you consume during the week is paid for separately, through the APA.

03How payment works

Burgess describes the usual sequence: a 50 per cent deposit by bank transfer when the contract is signed, then the remaining 50 per cent, together with the APA, applicable taxes, any delivery fees and other agreed charges, about five weeks before embarkation. Charters are quoted per week. Longer charters are pro-rated, and shorter ones carry a premium, calculated on the weekly rate divided by six. High-season rates apply in July and August, at Christmas and New Year, and during major events – on the Riviera that means weeks such as the Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix and the Monaco Yacht Show.

Cancellation terms are strict, with the share forfeited rising as the start date approaches. Brokers recommend cancellation insurance, and the exact terms are in each contract.

04The APA, explained

The Advance Provisioning Allowance is the part that surprises people. It is a prepayment, on top of the charter fee, that funds the running of the yacht during your week: fuel for the yacht and the tenders, food and drink for the party, port and mooring fees, communications and the extras you ask for. The captain administers it, keeps receipts, and can show you the account at any time; a full set of accounts comes at the end. Unused money is refunded, and if spending runs over, you top it up.

The APA is set as a percentage of the charter fee. Burgess cites 20 to 40 per cent. Sailing yachts generally sit at the lower end because they burn less fuel; motor yachts sit higher. An itinerary that covers long distances will use more of it than a week spent at anchor.

05VAT, delivery fees and the security deposit

VAT may apply depending on where the yacht cruises, so ask your broker how a week split between France, Monaco and Italy will be treated. If you want to board somewhere other than the yacht's base, expect a delivery or repositioning fee to cover the fuel and crew costs of bringing her to you. Some yachts also ask for a security deposit against damage, returned if nothing goes wrong.

06The captain decides the route

You choose where you would like to go; the captain decides where you actually go, with safety and weather taking priority. The best charters begin with a frank conversation about the party: who swims, who wants restaurants ashore, who wants nothing more than to read on deck. On the Riviera, a classic week links the harbours of Monaco and Antibes with anchorages such as those off the Cap d'Antibes, the Îles de Lérins off Cannes and the bay of Pampelonne near Saint-Tropez.

For time ashore, our city guides help: Monaco on vpios.com, the Riviera towns on verapi.fr, and Antibes out of season.

07Tipping the crew

Gratuities are discretionary, but customary. Burgess gives 10 to 15 per cent of the charter fee as the usual range, adjusted to the service received. You give your tip instructions to the captain when you review the end-of-charter APA accounts.

08When to book

Brokers recommend booking at least six months ahead, and the most sought-after yachts are reserved up to a year in advance; booking more than 18 months ahead can be difficult. A week is the standard charter; many yachts will not consider less, and some set their own minimum. Outside July and August and the event weeks, low-season rates apply. More inspiration in our travel section.

For a weekend. For a lifetime.