What exactly is included in the price of your cruise or boat hire?
Updated on: 01/06/2026In brief
It all depends on the arrangement. With a bareboat charter (boat without a skipper), the displayed price covers the boat, its safety and navigation equipment, the tender and the basic hull insurance: the security deposit, fuel, final cleaning, local taxes (transit log, tourist tax) and any options remain payable by you. With a cabin cruise or a crewed charter, the price additionally includes the per-person accommodation and the crew, but rarely the provisioning and the extras. In every case, Filovent never includes flights in the boat price, and a service charge as well as optional cancellation insurance may be added to your quote. The golden rule: read your quote line by line and have any unclear item confirmed by our concierge service before you book.
Bareboat or all-inclusive cruise: two pricing logics
Before comparing two prices, you need to know what each one covers. At Filovent, the price of a bareboat charter (without a skipper) corresponds to the provision of the boat for the chosen period: it is a 'hull' rate. The price of a cabin cruise, on the other hand, is quoted per person and includes the berth on board plus, depending on the case, full or half board. Finally, the crewed charter adds the services of a skipper and often a hostess. Three models, three different pricing scopes: this is the main source of confusion when comparing quotes, and the most frequent reason for queries to our customer service.
What the price of a bareboat charter does (and doesn't) include
With a bareboat charter (without a skipper), the scope is the same at the vast majority of our partners' bases. The table below summarises what is included in the price and what remains payable as a supplement or directly on site.
| Included in the charter price | Not included (payable separately or on site) |
|---|---|
| The provision of the boat for the booked period | The security deposit (left at the base at check-in) |
| The mandatory safety equipment (lifejackets, liferaft, extinguishers) | The fuel (diesel), charged according to actual consumption |
| The navigation equipment (GPS, VHF, charts, autopilot depending on the boat) | The final cleaning (fixed fee deducted from the deposit) |
| The tender and its outboard motor (depending on the operator) | The local taxes (transit log, tourist tax, navigation fee) |
| The boat's basic hull insurance | Moorings and buoys outside the home marina |
| Bed linen and galley crockery (depending on the operator, worth checking) | The options: skipper, hostess, provisioning, Wi-Fi, paddleboard, kayak |
| The cooking gas (usually 1 or 2 bottles depending on the duration) | Flights and airport transfers to the base |
Bed linen, towels and onboard linen follow a logic specific to each operator: included with some, charged as an extra with others. It is one of the points best clarified at the time of booking to avoid an unpleasant surprise at check-in.
Costs paid on site: deposit, consumables, cleaning
Several items are never built into the displayed price, as they depend on your actual use, and are paid directly at the base, at check-in or at check-out. The security deposit tops the list of questions our customer service receives.
Security deposit: left on arrival, usually by bank card authorisation. Allow roughly €1,500–3,000 for a monohull and €3,000–6,000 for a catamaran, depending on the size and model. The largest catamarans can go higher, up to €10,000–12,000. It is refunded in full at check-out if there is no damage. A deposit waiver (excess reduction insurance) lets you reduce or cancel this deposit: it is chosen in advance but does not always remove the card pre-authorisation on site.
Fuel: paid on arrival according to the remaining level. Allow €80–250 per week when sailing mainly under sail. The bill rises quickly with a catamaran that motors a lot: it can exceed €400 per week, for example in the Caribbean.
Water: charged according to the refills carried out during the charter. A common practice in Croatia, Greece and Turkey, where marina offices charge for water by the refill (€5–15 per refill).
Gas: usually included in the base rate. Beyond the bottles supplied, the operator bills it according to actual consumption.
Final cleaning: a fixed fee between €80 and €250 depending on the size of the boat, deducted from the deposit. Some operators reduce this fee if the boat is returned spotless, to be negotiated at check-in.
Local taxes and transit log by country
Navigation and tourist taxes almost never appear in the 'hull' price of a charter and vary greatly from one country to another. The transit log, for instance, is a mandatory onboard register in some countries (Turkey in particular) that bundles the administrative and port fees linked to your entry and your crew. Here are the main cases, with indicative amounts to be confirmed with our concierge service depending on your boat and the length of the cruise.
| Destination | Type of tax | Indicative amount |
|---|---|---|
| Croatia | Navigation permit, safety fee and tourist tax (sojourn tax) | €150–350 per week depending on the size of the boat and the number of crew |
| Greece | TEPAI, the monthly Greek navigation tax, based on the length of the boat | For a 12-metre sailing yacht, about €30–50 per month |
| Turkey | Mandatory transit log (onboard register and port fees) | Variable depending on the boat, usually a few dozen euros |
| Caribbean (BVI in particular) | Cruising permit and national marine park fee | Payable in USD; a few dollars per person per day |
| Italy, Balearic Islands | No transit log, but anchoring fees in certain protected areas | Depending on the anchorage, payable on site |
In short: the same boat at the same 'hull' rate can cost several hundred euros more on site depending on the sailing area. Always ask for a breakdown of these taxes before confirming, especially in Croatia, where they are among the highest.
What the price of a cabin cruise includes
A cabin cruise is booked by the berth, like a floating hotel room. The per-person price usually includes the cabin accommodation, the skipper and the coordination of the itinerary. Depending on the option chosen, the provisioning (the shopping and onboard supplies) and the meals may be included (full board, half board) or left to the participants via a shared onboard kitty. Almost always extra: flights, drinks, shore excursions, local taxes and the crew gratuity. It is the ideal arrangement for travelling solo or as a couple without chartering a whole boat, but the exact scope varies from one cruise to another, hence the importance of reading each offer's 'included / not included' description.
Skippered or crewed charter: what changes
If you charter a whole boat with a skipper, the skipper's cost is added to the bareboat price (in the region of €180–280 per day in the Mediterranean, though Côte d'Azur and Balearic bases often exceed €300 per day in high season; on far-flung destinations such as Polynesia or the Seychelles, expect rather €300–400 per day), with their meals on top. On a crewed charter — skipper, hostess and possibly a cook — the rate typically covers the boat and crew. Running costs such as provisioning, fuel, port taxes and extras are pooled into an APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance), essentially an advance on expenses, in the region of 20–30% of the charter price; it is paid before departure and reconciled at the end of the cruise according to actual spending. The crew gratuity, however, is never included: 5–15% of the price of the service is customary, depending on your satisfaction.
What about flights? Never included in the boat price
It is a question that comes up very often: Filovent never includes flights in the price of a charter or cruise, nor, unless explicitly stated, the transfers between the airport and the charter base. You remain free to book your tickets with the airline of your choice, which lets you optimise dates and fares. For far-flung destinations with infrequent connections (Polynesia, Seychelles, Caribbean), it is worth booking your flights before finalising transfers and provisioning. Our concierge service can arrange the airport-to-marina transfer through a local partner.
Filovent fees: service charge and insurance
Beyond the boat price and the operator's charges, two items may appear on your Filovent quote. On the one hand, a booking or service charge, which covers the support of your concierge service from booking to your return from the cruise: it appears clearly on the quote, never hidden. On the other hand, an optional cancellation insurance, strongly recommended for far-flung destinations and high budgets. For cruises in the Caribbean, Polynesia, the Seychelles or Asia, you can also arrange repatriation cover in advance with a specialist travel insurer. These protections are taken out before departure, ideally at the time of booking.
Reading your Filovent quote line by line
On a Filovent quote, some items are already paid at the time of booking, while others remain payable on site. The table below shows, for a boat charter, how the main items break down and to whom each one is paid.
| Item | Included in the displayed price? | Paid to whom / when? |
|---|---|---|
| Boat charter (hull) | Yes | Filovent (deposit then balance) |
| Skipper / hostess (optional) | No, added as a separate line | Filovent (with the balance) or operator (at check-in) |
| Filovent service charge | Dedicated line on the quote | Filovent |
| Cancellation insurance | No, optional | Filovent (when taken out) |
| Security deposit | No | Operator (at the base, refunded at check-out) |
| Fuel, water, cleaning, local taxes | No | Operator (on site, at check-in or check-out) |
| Flights and transfers | No | Airline / transfer provider |
If an extra appears on your Filovent quote but not on the operator's confirmation (or vice versa): contact our concierge service immediately. It is one of the most frequent sources of friction at check-in.
Frequently asked questions about the price of a charter or cruise
Is the deposit included in the price?
No, the deposit is never included in the charter price. It is left at the base at check-in, usually by bank card authorisation, and amounts to roughly €1,500–3,000 for a monohull and €3,000–6,000 for a catamaran (up to €10,000–12,000 for the largest models). It is refunded in full when the boat is returned if there is no damage.
Is fuel included in the charter price?
No, fuel is not included in the displayed price. Diesel is charged at the base according to actual consumption, in the region of €80–250 per week when sailing mainly under sail. A catamaran that motors a lot uses considerably more and can exceed €400 per week, for example in the Caribbean.
Is the final cleaning included?
The final cleaning is almost always an extra: a fixed fee of €80–250 depending on the size of the boat, deducted from the deposit at check-out. Some operators reduce this amount if the boat is returned clean, which is best agreed directly with the base.
Are flights included in the cruise price?
No, Filovent never includes flights in the price of a boat charter or cruise, and the transfers between the airport and the base only when they are explicitly mentioned. You book your tickets freely with the airline of your choice, which lets you optimise dates and fares.
What is a transit log?
The transit log is an onboard register that is mandatory in some countries, such as Turkey, bundling the administrative and port fees linked to your entry and your crew. It is paid on site, on top of the charter price, and its amount varies according to the boat and the duration.
What is the TEPAI in Greece?
The TEPAI is the monthly Greek navigation tax, calculated according to the length of the boat. It is not included in the charter price and is payable for each month of sailing in Greek waters: for a 12-metre sailing yacht, allow about €30–50 per month.
What is the APA on a crewed charter?
The APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance), in other words the 'advance on provisions', is an advance paid before departure on a crewed charter, in the region of 20–30% of the charter price. It covers provisioning, fuel, port taxes and extras, and is reconciled at the end of the cruise according to actual spending.
Find out more
To plan your budget with peace of mind, browse our dedicated pages:
→ Bareboat charter: everything about the bareboat option;
→ Skippered charter: how our skipper service works and what it costs;
→ Provisions and shopping: provisioning and local suppliers;
→ Flights and transfers: organising your arrival all the way to the marina;
→ Our concierge service: your single point of contact to decode every line of your quote.
For any question about the price of your booking, contact your Filovent adviser or our concierge service on +44 20 4576 3186.
Content verified by the Filovent concierge team. Each year our advisers handle numerous charters and cruises and know in detail what is included, the local taxes and the deposits applied by our partners. Last updated: June 2026.
