What Is Included in a Bahamas Yacht Charter? All-Inclusive vs APA Explained

When comparing Bahamas yacht charters, the advertised weekly price does not always represent the same thing.

Some yachts, particularly crewed catamarans and sailing yachts, operate on an all-inclusive basis. Others, especially larger motor yachts and superyachts, quote a base charter fee and use an Advance Provisioning Allowance, or APA, to pay for expenses during the trip.

Understanding the difference is essential before comparing prices.

On a typical plus-expenses yacht charter, the base rate usually covers:

Use of the yacht

Accommodation in the yacht's guest cabins

Professional captain and crew

Crew salaries

Yacht insurance

Standard onboard equipment

Use of the yacht's normal water toys and amenities

What it generally does not include is the variable cost of operating your specific charter.

Food, drinks, fuel, marina fees and similar expenses are normally paid separately through the APA.

This is why two yachts advertised at the same weekly rate can ultimately have very different total costs.

All-inclusive pricing is particularly common among smaller crewed sailing yachts and catamarans operating in the Bahamas.

On these yachts, the weekly rate will typically include:

Yacht and crew

Meals prepared onboard

Standard beverages and ship's bar

Normal cruising fuel

Water

Standard onboard water toys

Snorkeling equipment and similar gear

This creates a much simpler budgeting structure because most normal onboard expenses are already included in the charter rate.

However, always check the individual yacht's terms.

“All-inclusive” does not necessarily mean absolutely everything is included. Premium wines and spirits, unusually expensive provisioning requests, excessive fuel use, dockage, shore excursions, airport transfers or relocation fees may still be charged separately depending on the yacht.

The yacht's charter agreement is what ultimately determines the inclusions.

APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance.

It is a fund paid before the charter that allows the captain and crew to pay for expenses incurred specifically for your trip.

On Bahamas motor yacht charters, APA is commonly around 25% to 40% of the base charter fee, although the exact percentage depends on the yacht and anticipated itinerary.

APA commonly pays for:

Food

Soft drinks

Alcohol

Fuel

Tender fuel

Marina and dockage fees

Certain port expenses

Special provisioning

Other operating costs incurred during your charter

The captain keeps records of the spending throughout the trip.

If you spend less than the APA provided, the unused balance is returned to you after the charter. If your expenses exceed the amount available, you may be asked to replenish the account.

APA is therefore not an automatic additional fee. It is essentially your yacht's operating budget for the week.

Usually, Bahamas charter taxes are charged separately from the advertised base rate unless the yacht specifically states otherwise.

As of 2026, Bahamas yacht charters are generally subject to a combined 14% charter tax, calculated on the base charter fee. Current Bahamas charter pricing sources note that this replaced the previous structure of 10% VAT plus a 4% charter fee from July 2025.

For an all-inclusive yacht, the charter rate may therefore include food and fuel while still being quoted plus 14% Bahamas tax.

Always look at the complete quote rather than comparing yachts solely by their advertised weekly rate.

Usually not.

Crew gratuity is normally separate from both the charter fee and APA.

The amount is discretionary and should reflect the quality of service received during the charter. Many Bahamas charter operators commonly reference gratuities around 15% to 20% of the base charter fee, although practices and individual yacht guidance can vary.

Your broker can explain the customary gratuity expectations for the specific yacht you choose.

The easiest mistake is comparing only the headline charter rates.

A $50,000 all-inclusive catamaran and a $50,000 plus-expenses motor yacht do not necessarily cost the same amount for the week.

The motor yacht may additionally require:

Base charter fee + APA + Bahamas tax + crew gratuity

while an all-inclusive yacht may already have food, beverages and normal fuel incorporated into its advertised rate, leaving primarily tax, gratuity and any excluded extras to pay separately.

So before booking, ask for a breakdown showing:

Base charter rate

What is included

APA, if applicable

Bahamas taxes

Gratuity expectations

Relocation fees, if any

Any special expenses not included in the rate

The important question is not simply “How much is the yacht per week?”

It is:

“What will this particular yacht realistically cost for my complete Bahamas charter?”

Once you compare yachts on that basis, the difference between all-inclusive and APA pricing becomes much easier to understand.