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

When comparing Grenadines yacht charters, the advertised weekly price does not always mean the same thing.

Many crewed catamarans operate on an all-inclusive basis, where meals, drinks and normal running expenses are incorporated into the charter rate. Larger luxury yachts and motor yachts are more commonly offered plus expenses, with an Advance Provisioning Allowance, or APA, used to pay for the variable costs of your particular trip.

Understanding the difference is important because a yacht advertised at $30,000 all-inclusive and another advertised at $30,000 plus APA can have very different final costs.

On a standard plus-expenses yacht charter, the advertised base rate normally covers the yacht itself and the professional crew required to operate it.

That typically includes:

Exclusive use of the yacht

Guest accommodation

Captain and professional crew

Crew salaries

Yacht insurance

Standard onboard equipment

Normal use of the yacht's existing amenities and water toys

Variable expenses created by your particular charter are then paid separately.

These can include food, beverages, yacht fuel, tender fuel, moorings, marina fees, provisioning and local cruising expenses. Current Grenadines charter guidance commonly places these expenses inside the yacht's APA rather than the advertised base rate.

All-inclusive pricing is particularly common among crewed sailing catamarans.

A typical all-inclusive charter can include the yacht and crew, chef-prepared meals, standard beverages, normal cruising fuel and routine operating expenses. Current Grenadines catamaran listings show yachts offering full-board rates with breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and a standard ship's bar included in the weekly price.

But all-inclusive does not automatically mean absolutely everything is included.

Depending on the yacht, you may still pay separately for:

Premium wines, Champagne or spirits

Scuba diving

Certain cruising or marine park fees

Mooring buoys

Meals and drinks taken ashore

Airport transfers

Yacht relocation or one-way fees

Crew gratuity

Some yachts also offer local fare or half-board arrangements, where several lunches or dinners are intentionally taken ashore and paid for directly by the guests.

Always check the individual yacht's rate sheet rather than assuming every Grenadines all-inclusive charter follows identical rules.

APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance.

It is money paid before the charter that the captain uses to cover the expenses generated specifically by your trip.

In the Grenadines, APA on plus-expenses crewed yachts is commonly around 25% to 30% of the base charter fee, although the exact percentage depends on the yacht.

APA can be used for:

Food

Beverages

Yacht fuel

Tender fuel

Marina and mooring fees

Tobago Cays and other park fees

Local cruising expenses

Special provisioning

Other guest-requested expenses

The important distinction is that APA is not simply an additional fee.

It remains your operating budget. The captain keeps track of expenditure throughout the charter, and any unused amount is normally returned at the end. If the charter consumes more than the original allowance, you may be asked to replenish it.

For example, a yacht costing $40,000 per week with 30% APA would require an additional $12,000 operating allowance before departure.

Your initial payment would therefore be $52,000 before any separately applicable gratuity or other charges, but any unused portion of that $12,000 would be returned.

Neither system is automatically better.

All-inclusive pricing gives you greater predictability. You know much more of the holiday cost before you arrive, which is particularly attractive for families or groups sharing the expense.

APA gives you greater flexibility. Your yacht can provision specifically for your preferences, and your actual operating costs reflect how you choose to use the yacht.

A group ordering premium Champagne, cruising long distances and spending several nights in marinas will naturally spend more than guests who prefer local food, moderate beverages and quiet anchorages.

Even on a highly inclusive yacht charter, there are several expenses you should normally expect to remain outside the advertised rate.

Crew gratuity is the most important. Current Grenadines guidance commonly suggests around 10% to 15% of the base charter fee when guests are pleased with the service, but gratuity remains discretionary.

Flights and transfers to the yacht are also normally separate.

One-way charters can sometimes involve a relocation fee, particularly if the yacht needs to travel empty before or after your trip. This becomes relevant on itineraries such as St Vincent to Grenada rather than a round trip from the yacht's normal base. Current Grenadines listings show that these charges vary significantly from yacht to yacht.

The safest approach is to ask for a complete quote showing:

Base charter rate

What food and beverages are included

APA percentage, if applicable

Cruising and marine park fees

Mooring or marina costs

Relocation fees

Gratuity guidance

Any yacht-specific exclusions

The most important question is therefore not simply:

"How much is this yacht per week?"

It is:

"What will this particular yacht realistically cost for my complete Grenadines charter?"

If you prefer predictable pricing and are considering a crewed catamaran, an all-inclusive charter can be extremely convenient.

If you are chartering a larger luxury yacht or motor yacht and want complete flexibility over food, drinks, fuel and itinerary, APA is the more common structure.

Neither is better by default. The right choice depends on the yacht, your budget and how you want to spend your week in the Grenadines.