What exactly is included in the price of your cruise or boat rental?

Bareboat or all-inclusive cruise: two pricing logics

To compare prices fairly, you first need to know what each one includes. At Filovent, a bareboat charter price (without a skipper) is the boat for your chosen period — a "hull" rate, nothing more. 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 price structures — and the number-one source of confusion when comparing quotes, plus the most common reason customers contact us.

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 summarizes what is included in the price and what remains payable as an add-on or directly on site.

Bed linens, towels and onboard linens follow a logic specific to each operator: included with some, charged as an extra with others. This is best clarified at booking to avoid surprises at check-in.

Costs paid on site: deposit, consumables, cleaning

Several items are never built into the displayed price, since 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 credit card authorization. Expect roughly €1,500–3,000 for a monohull and €3,000–6,000 for a catamaran, depending on the size and model (up to €8,000 for the largest catamarans). You get a full refund at check-out if there's no damage. A deposit waiver (deductible reduction insurance) lets you reduce or cancel this deposit: it is chosen in advance but does not always remove the card pre-authorization on site.

Fuel: paid on arrival according to the remaining level. Budget €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 — especially 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 flat 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 — negotiate this directly 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) covering the administrative and port fees for your vessel and crew upon entry. Here are the main cases, with indicative amounts to confirm with our concierge team depending on your boat and the length of the cruise.

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 package, the provisioning (the groceries 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's the perfect option for solo travelers or couples who don't want to charter an entire boat, but the exact scope varies from one cruise to another, which is why it is important to read 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, roughly $200–310, in the Mediterranean; on far-flung destinations such as Polynesia or the Seychelles, expect closer to €300–400 per day), with their meals on top. The crewed charter (skipper plus hostess, and possibly a cook) often works as a semi all-inclusive package: the rate covers the boat and the crew, while provisioning, fuel, port taxes and extras are grouped into an APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance), in other words, an advance on provisions. The APA runs about 20–30% of the charter price. You pay it before departure, and the crew reconciles it at the end of the cruise against an itemized statement of 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

This is one of our most frequently asked questions: 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 optimize dates and fares. For far-flung destinations with infrequent connections (Polynesia, Seychelles, Caribbean), it is worth booking your flights before locking in transfers and provisioning. Our concierge service can arrange the airport-to-marina transfer through a local partner.

Filovent fees: booking fees 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 fee covering full concierge support from booking through your return — it's always listed clearly on your quote. 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 purchase repatriation coverage in advance with a specialized travel insurer. Purchase these policies before departure, ideally when you book.

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.

If an extra appears on your Filovent quote but not on the operator's confirmation (or vice versa): contact our concierge service immediately. It's one of the most common causes of confusion 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 credit card authorization, and amounts to roughly €1,500–3,000 for a monohull and €3,000–6,000 for a catamaran (up to €8,000 for the largest models). You get a full refund when the boat is returned if there's 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 flat 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 arranged 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 optimize dates and fares.

What is a transit log?

The transit log is an onboard register that is mandatory in some countries, such as Turkey, covering the administrative and port fees for your vessel and crew upon entry. 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 40-foot (12-meter) sailing yacht, expect 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 against an itemized statement of actual spending.

Find out more

To plan your budget with peace of mind, browse our dedicated pages:

→ Bareboat rental: everything about the bareboat option;

→ Skippered rental: how our skipper service works and what it costs;

→ Provisions and groceries: provisioning and local suppliers;

→ Flights and transfers: organizing 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 advisor or our concierge service at +1 332 378 9848.