How much does a yacht charter in Cannes cost?

Chartering a yacht in Cannes costs from €1,500 a day (day-boat ~11 m, excluding fuel) and from €25,000 a week (motor yacht 20–30 m), plus APA 25–35% and 20% VAT — public 2026 references for the Côte d’Azur, not a tariff: every Yacht Cannes quote is worked out for your date, your group and your boat.

Key takeaways

• The price of a yacht charter in Cannes is given by quote: it depends on the type of boat, the duration, the season and the crew.
• A day-boat by the day is the most accessible option; a crewed motor yacht and then a weekly charter step up from there.
• On a crewed charter the rate covers the boat and crew; fuel, food and berths run through the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), around 25–35% of the fee.
• High season and how far ahead you book weigh on the budget more than anything else.

Why the price is given by quote

The cost of a yacht charter in Cannes does not fit a single price grid, and that is normal: too many variables set it. The type and size of boat, the duration — a day or a week — the season and the make-up of the crew move the figure several-fold. That is why a serious charter is priced by quote, after a real conversation about the day or the trip you have in mind.

The right question is not “what is the rate?” but “which boat, for what programme, in which period?”. Once those three points are settled, the price becomes clear and comparable from one offer to the next.

The four factors that set the price

Boat type and size

This is the first lever. A RIB or day-boat to reach the Îles de Lérins is the most affordable option. A crewed motor yacht for the day sits well above it, and every extra metre of length, like a higher level of finish, feeds into the rate.

Duration

A day keeps the budget contained and the radius tight around Cannes. A week opens the whole Riviera but commits the boat and crew continuously: the cost is not seven times a day, but it changes scale.

Season

High season — June to September, and especially the weeks of the Cannes Film Festival in May and the Cannes Yachting Festival in September — pushes rates up and thins availability. In the shoulder season, the same boats are easier to secure and the sea is calmer.

Crew and level of service

A day-boat can sometimes be hired without crew; as size increases, a skipper then a full crew (captain, deckhand, chef, stewardess) add to both the rate and the level of service.

Budget benchmarks by boat type

We do not publish fixed rates — every quote is built for a specific day — but here are the broad benchmarks that shape a Cannes yacht charter budget.

Understanding the APA and VAT

On a crewed charter the headline rate covers the boat and its crew. Fuel, food, drinks, berths and anchoring fees fall under the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) — typically 25–35% of the charter fee, paid up front and then reconciled at the end against actual spend. If you spend less, the balance comes back to you.

VAT on the service applies according to time spent in French territorial waters, which is one reason an itinerary that ventures into Italian or Monegasque waters can change the tax treatment. For a day-boat the logic is simpler: a daily rate, with fuel sometimes charged on top. A good quote states clearly what is included, what falls under the APA, and how any VAT is handled, so the final figure holds no surprises.

How a quote is built

1. You describe the day or week you want: guest numbers, mood, destinations.
2. We propose boats that genuinely fit, never the most expensive on the list.
3. The quote sets out the boat, the crew, the planned itinerary and how the APA is calculated.
4. After the trip, the APA is reconciled against actual spend, with receipts.

What the rate does not include

Two items often escape a quick read of a quote. The crew tip, customary on a crewed charter, is generally 5–15% of the charter fee and remains at your discretion, paid at the end of the trip. Optional extras — fuel for the water toys, special provisioning requests, transfers ashore, a berth in a sought-after port at the height of season — usually come from the APA rather than the base rate. None of these is a surprise: they appear on the quote or are settled through the APA, with receipts. That is the whole point of a clear framework: you know in advance what belongs to the rate, what belongs to the allowance, and what depends on your choices on board.

Keeping the budget sensible without losing quality

A few simple decisions lighten the bill without taking anything from the day. Choosing the shoulder season — late spring or early autumn — gives access to the same boats on easier terms. Right-sizing the boat to the real guest count avoids paying for unused space. Booking early, finally, secures the right boat before high season tightens supply.

Our advice

Tell us the day you have in mind: we propose boats that genuinely fit, never the most expensive on the list, and the quote sets everything out before any commitment. Rather than starting from an abstract budget, start from the day you want to live: it is the day that points to the right boat, the right duration and the right period, and the fair price follows naturally. A short conversation is usually worth more than any price list — it lets us match a real boat to a real plan, and gives you a figure you can trust.

What are the 2026 rates by boat class?

Chartering a yacht in Cannes costs from €1,500 a day (day-boat ~11 m, excluding fuel) and from €25,000 a week (motor yacht 20–30 m), plus APA 25–35% and 20% VAT — public 2026 references for the Côte d’Azur, not a tariff: every Yacht Cannes quote is worked out for your date, your group and your boat.

On top of the rate: the APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance), 25 to 35% of the base price — fuel, food, drinks and harbour dues, reconciled against receipts at the end of the charter (median across surveyed MYBA listings: 35%) — and French VAT at 20%, in principle due on the whole charter fee since 1 November 2020 for a charter in French waters. The crew gratuity recommended by the MYBA is 5 to 15% of the charter fee.

Sources — retrieved 5 September 2026: Monaco Boats (The S Collection) — Yacht charter prices on the Riviera, day rates; International Yachts Charter & Brokerage — French Riviera weekly charter rates (Monaco Yacht Show 2026 page); Vital Charters — What's included in a yacht charter fee: MYBA contract (2026), survey of MYBA listings; service-public.gouv.fr — Taux de TVA (fiche F23567, "Vérifié le 18 juin 2025"); Mathez Compliance — Fiscalité du yachting, TVA charter.