Contents
The short answer
For six to eight guests on the French Riviera, a realistic weekly planning range is about €2,500–7,000 for a 38–46 ft sailing yacht in shoulder or peak season, €5,500–12,000 for a 42–50 ft catamaran, and roughly €20,000–50,000 for a crewed 15–25 m motor yacht. Premium and superyacht charters sit in a different price category. These are planning ranges, not quotations: the final amount changes with dates, yacht age, base, VAT treatment, equipment and contract terms.
The advertised weekly rate is only the starting point. One operator may include final cleaning and linen while another lists them as a mandatory charter pack. A useful comparison therefore separates fixed contract costs from route-dependent spending.
Mandatory and variable costs
Cost line — Usually mandatory? — What to confirm
Yacht hire — Yes — Seven-night rate, model, dates and base
VAT and operator fees — Often — Whether tax is already included
Cleaning, linen and comfort/charter pack — Usually — Fixed per yacht or per cabin
Security deposit or damage waiver — Yes — Amount, payment method and release timing
Skipper — If licence/experience is not accepted — Weekly fee, berth and meals
Fuel — Variable — Engine hours, generator, passages and fuel price
Marinas and moorings — Variable — Length × beam × local seasonal tariff
Food and drinks — Variable — Self-provisioning, delivery or chef service
Tender, outboard, water toys and Wi‑Fi — Variable — What the selected yacht already includes
APA and crew gratuity — Crewed charters — Advance for expenses; tip is normally separate
One-way, transfers and local taxes — Sometimes — Start/end base and route
Mandatory costs are the items required to hand over the yacht; variable costs depend on the route and crew choices. Compare the complete budget, not one average line.
Three useful budget scenarios
Shoulder-season bareboat. A 38–46 ft sailing yacht in May or October may start around €2,500–7,000 for the boat.
Add roughly €500–1,000 for mandatory packs and €600–1,200 for a modest fuel, food and marina budget. This keeps a six-person trip near €600–1,500 per person, excluding any deposit that is returned.
Catamaran with a skipper. In June or September, a 42–50 ft catamaran commonly needs €5,500–12,000 for the base charter. Add the skipper, provisions, fuel, berthing and selected extras. A working total of €8,000–16,000 is more useful for planning than the headline rate.
Crewed Riviera charter. Published French Riviera examples put 15 m yachts from about €20,000 per week and 25 m yachts from about €30,000; a 2026 market overview gives roughly €15,000–50,000 for crewed 15–25 m yachts.
Add an APA, often 25–35% of the charter fee, to cover fuel, food, drinks, berthing and incidentals. Ask for the balance and refund process in writing.
Season, marinas and the cost of width
May, early June, September and October normally offer more availability than July and August. Peak summer and event dates around Saint-Tropez and Cannes should be priced early. Always compare like with like: the same number of nights, yacht type, length, build year, VAT basis and inclusions.
Antibes’ Port Vauban is a major Riviera base with technical services and berths for large vessels. Saint-Tropez publishes a 2026 berth formula based on length overall, beam and seasonal rate. That matters because a wide catamaran can cost more to berth than a monohull of similar length. Obtain a written berth quote rather than assuming that “marina fees” are included.
Fuel depends on the actual itinerary, generator use, air-conditioning and manoeuvres, not simply on boat length. On crewed charters, it is often paid from the APA. For provisioning, compare supermarket shopping, delivered provisions and chef service; confirm whether water, ice, coffee, alcohol, special diets and delivery are included.
Contract checklist
Before paying,
confirm VAT,
cleaning and linen, Wi‑Fi, tender and outboard, deposit or waiver, cancellation and weather clauses, start and end bases, one-way fees, accepted skipper documents, and responsibility for fuel, water, electricity, waste and port charges.
Ask what happens if a berth is unavailable or a mechanical issue delays departure.
FAQ
Can a week cost less than €5,000? Yes, for a small sailing yacht in shoulder season with simple routing and self-catering.
A catamaran or August dates usually require more.
Is a catamaran always more expensive?
The base rate and berth can be higher because of the beam, but the extra space may lower the cost per guest.
Compare the complete trip, not just the yacht line.
Is the deposit a real cost? Usually it is a refundable security hold, but the contract must explain deductions and release timing.
When was this checked? Price ranges and operational references were checked on 25 August 2026. Request a fresh quote before payment.
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