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A 100m motor yacht costs $1,500,000 to $2,500,000 per week base fee in peak Mediterranean (last week of June through third week of August, 2026). The same hull runs $1,300,000 to $2,200,000 in peak Caribbean (December through April). Shoulder season drops the base fee 12 to 20 percent in both regions. APA, gratuity, and VAT add 35 to 50 percent on top, so the all-in for a peak Mediterranean week on a $1.9M base lands between $2.65M and $2.85M depending on cruising waters and itinerary.
This page covers the 100m+ band, the top end of the active charter market. The active fleet at this size is roughly 20 to 25 yachts globally, and effective availability in any peak week is 3 to 6 yachts split across the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Rate competition exists but is narrow. Knowing the band ceiling and the typical APA reconciliation matters more here than at 50m or 30m because there are fewer comparable hulls to triangulate against.
What a 100m charter yacht looks like
The reference 100m motor yacht in 2026 is 96 to 115m LOA, built 2010 to 2024, 8 to 10 guest cabins, sleeping 12 guests (the commercial cap), crew of 28 to 40, beam 15 to 18m, draft 4.0 to 5.2m. Cruising speed is 14 to 17 knots, top speed 17 to 22 knots. Fuel burn underway is 1,400 to 2,400 litres an hour. Range at cruise is 5,000 to 8,500 nautical miles. Helicopter operations are routine. Two-tender garages, beach clubs across the full beam, owner decks of 400 to 800 square metres, and dynamic positioning are standard.
The standard build at this band has a full-beam owner's deck (bedroom suite, study, private terrace, private gym), one or two VIP suites, six to eight further guest cabins, a beach club running the full beam with sauna, steam, hammam, two treatment rooms, and a thalassotherapy pool, a tender garage with three to four tenders plus the water-toy package, a certified helipad with stowage for a Bell 429 or AW109, an indoor swimming pool, a guest cinema, a dedicated children's playroom on some layouts, a hospital-grade medical bay, and a separate guest-staff accommodation block. Newer builds (2018 and later) often include diesel-electric or hybrid propulsion as standard, a submersible, and a hangar for a second tender or a tender plus a small submersible.
What a 100m delivers that an 80m does not. Volume is the main answer. A 100m has 30 to 50 percent more interior volume than an 80m, which translates to larger cabins, more public spaces, and proper crew-quarters separation. Crew complement is large enough that the service operates 24 hours without the captain or chief stew personally rotating through guest-facing duties. The captain is a strategic operator; the chief officer and senior crew run the day-to-day guest service. Submarine and helicopter operations are routine rather than exceptional. The 100m is the band where the boat becomes the trip rather than a platform for the trip.
Base fee by region and season
The 2026 weekly base fee ranges for crewed 96 to 115m motor yachts at the top of the active fleet for the band.
| Region | Peak base/week | Shoulder base/week |
|---|---|---|
| Cote d'Azur and Italian Riviera | $1,950,000 to $2,500,000 | $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 |
| Amalfi, Capri, Sardinia | $1,850,000 to $2,400,000 | $1,450,000 to $1,950,000 |
| Balearics (Mallorca, Ibiza) | $1,750,000 to $2,250,000 | $1,400,000 to $1,800,000 |
| Croatia and Montenegro | $1,550,000 to $2,000,000 | $1,200,000 to $1,650,000 |
| Greek Cyclades and Ionian | $1,650,000 to $2,150,000 | $1,300,000 to $1,750,000 |
| Turkey (Bodrum, Gocek) | $1,500,000 to $1,950,000 | $1,200,000 to $1,600,000 |
| BVI and US Virgin Islands | $1,350,000 to $1,800,000 | $1,100,000 to $1,500,000 |
| St Barths and Antigua | $1,600,000 to $2,200,000 | $1,250,000 to $1,750,000 |
| Bahamas (Nassau and Exumas) | $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 | $1,200,000 to $1,650,000 |
| Maldives and Seychelles | $1,750,000 to $2,300,000 | $1,400,000 to $1,850,000 |
The Indian Ocean rate ceiling sits close to the Mediterranean ceiling because the yachts that go to the Maldives or Seychelles in winter are typically the same yachts that command top Mediterranean rates in summer, and the owner does not discount materially for the second region. The Caribbean is the discount region at this band; rates run 15 to 25 percent below the Mediterranean ceiling for comparable yachts.
What drives the rate inside the band
Four factors move the 100m band price meaningfully on otherwise similar yachts.
Builder and pedigree. A Lurssen, Oceanco, or Feadship at 100m trades at the top of the band, with Lurssen typically commanding the highest premium for yachts built since 2015. Abeking and Rasmussen and Blohm und Voss sit just below. Other yards at 100m trade 15 to 25 percent below custom-German.
Build year and refit scope. A 2022 to 2024 build at 100m trades at the top. A 2014 build with a 2024 full refit (machinery, interior, electronics, exterior paint) trades within 8 percent of new. A 2010 build with a cosmetic-only 2023 refit trades 20 to 30 percent below new. The 100m yachts that hold rate best are the ones with documented refits at five to seven year intervals; the ones that lose rate fast are the ones that skip a refit cycle.
Captain and crew structure. A 100m yacht with a captain of 10-plus years at the band and a stable senior crew structure (chief officer, chief engineer, chief stew, head chef all in place for three or more years) trades at the top of the band. Captain turnover within 24 months knocks 5 to 10 percent off the rate at the band, and central agents will say so off-record. On-record, the broker line is usually that the new captain is excellent.
Specific platform features. A submarine, a hospital-grade medical bay with a doctor available, a certified helipad with stowage, a wellness deck with a doctor-staffed treatment program, or a dedicated cinema with first-run film access (some yachts hold studio agreements) each adds rate at this band. A 100m without these features trades as a long 80m.
The all-in cost math at 100m
A 100m motor yacht with a $1,900,000 weekly base fee, chartering in French waters in the first week of August 2026.
Base fee: $1,900,000. APA (33 percent of base): $627,000. Gratuity (10 percent of base, paid at trip end): $190,000. VAT (10 percent on base in French waters under short-term charter regime): $190,000. Total all-in: $2,907,000.
Move the charter to Italian waters under the standard regime: VAT rises to 22 percent ($418,000), all-in $3,135,000. Apply the Italian short-term lease scheme: effective VAT roughly 6.6 percent ($125,400), all-in $2,842,400. Move to Croatian waters: VAT 13 percent ($247,000), all-in $2,964,000. Greek waters: VAT 12 percent ($228,000), all-in $2,945,000. Turkish waters with a commercial flag in transit: VAT zero, all-in $2,717,000. The Caribbean (St Barths peak): no VAT, base fee 10 to 15 percent lower, all-in for a comparable 100m at $1.65M base lands at $2.35M to $2.45M.
The VAT delta at 100m between French short-term regime and Italian standard regime on a single peak week is $228,000. On a four-week charter, the delta is $912,000. The MYBA contract should specify the jurisdiction and the VAT structure before signing. At 100m, the contract complexity is sufficient that engaging a maritime lawyer for review is worth the legal fee. Burgess, Edmiston, Y.CO, and Camper and Nicholsons can recommend counsel; we prefer clients use a lawyer independent of the broker for contract review.
What APA covers on a 100m
APA at 33 percent of $1,900,000 base is $627,000 for the week. Typical 100m peak Mediterranean week consumption against that float.
Fuel: $180,000 to $320,000 on a moderate-cruising week (60 to 100 nautical miles a day, 5 to 8 hours underway). Cruising-heavy weeks push fuel to $450,000. Dockage: $85,000 to $200,000 for two to three nights alongside in peak Saint-Tropez, Capri, Porto Cervo, or Monaco. Five nights alongside in Monaco peak is rarely achievable at 100m because so few berths accept the length and beam, and the ones that do quote $300,000 plus for the week. Provisioning: $75,000 to $130,000 on 12 guests with a chef, sous chef, pastry chef, and dedicated children's chef, including breakfast and lunch on board most days and dinner ashore three to four times. Wines at this band drive provisioning materially; a single dinner with first-growth Bordeaux runs $20,000 to $40,000 against APA. Shore excursions, tender ops, helicopter movements, submarine use, and water toys fuel: $40,000 to $130,000. Helicopter movements alone can run $50,000 to $130,000 on an active week. Communications (Starlink Maritime Pro plus crew data plus business-grade redundancy): $7,000 to $12,000. Crew taxis, owner-account flowers, owner-account beverages, security pass-throughs: $12,000 to $30,000. Minor repairs and consumables: $8,000 to $18,000.
Total: $407,000 to $840,000 against the $627,000 APA float. Most 100m peak charters reconcile within $75,000 of the float, refund or top-up. APA at 35 percent on a 100m with documented usage and helicopter operations is reasonable. APA above 40 percent at this band is unusual and worth questioning. The float should track the itinerary; a Caribbean week without helicopter use should not run the same APA as a Mediterranean week with three helicopter movements a day.
Crew gratuity at the 100m band
Gratuity practice on a 100m yacht with 32 crew. 6 percent of base ($114,000) is the floor. 8 percent ($152,000) is the standard for good service. 10 percent ($190,000) is the standard for excellent service. 12 percent ($228,000) is reserved for service that genuinely solved a problem or held a complex itinerary together. Above 12 percent is uncommon at this band.
The captain typically takes 8 to 11 percent of the tip pool, the chief officer 5 to 7 percent, the chief engineer 5 to 7 percent, the chief stew and head chef each 6 to 8 percent, and the remaining 55 to 65 percent of the pool is split across the rest of the crew by rank and tenure. On a $190,000 tip pool, the captain takes $15,000 to $21,000 and each junior crew member $2,000 to $4,000 depending on rank and tenure.
The tip is paid by wire to a designated crew account at trip end. Cash above $30,000 creates customs reporting issues at most jurisdictions, and the captain on a 100m has neither the inclination nor the authority to manage that paperwork. A small additional cash gift to the captain or chief stew at trip end alongside the wire is appreciated but optional.
Who the 100m charter actually suits
The 100m band is the right product for three guest configurations.
Multi-family charters with full guest staff (12 guests, plus 6 to 10 staff in dedicated quarters). The 100m is the band where personal security, governesses, a personal chef working alongside the yacht's chef team, a valet, a personal trainer, and a doctor can all sleep in dedicated staff quarters. Below 80m, this is not possible. The 100m delivers the family-with-staff configuration that mirrors how the same family operates ashore.
State and head-of-state charters (8 to 12 guests, plus 10 to 20 security and protocol staff). Government heads of state, royalty, and senior corporate principals charter at 100m specifically because the security and protocol footprint requires dedicated quarters and operational separation from the guest experience. The certified helipad, the medical bay, and the dynamic positioning all serve this profile.
Flagship corporate charters (8 to 12 guests, corporate platform use). Some large corporate clients charter at 100m to host investor groups, board offsites, and major customer events on the yacht over a week. The cinema converts to a presentation room, the saloons convert to break-out rooms, and the helipad receives executives in turn. The 100m platform is the only band where this is genuinely possible without the corporate use compromising guest experience.
The 100m band does not suit small charter parties (6 or fewer guests, no staff). At this configuration, the yacht is empty volume and uncommitted crew, and a strong 70m delivers the same trip for 40 to 50 percent less. The band also does not suit clients who want to anchor in tight Mediterranean bays; the maneuvering profile and the draft push the boat to deeper anchorages and longer tender rides than at 60m or below.
What we would pass on at this band
Four patterns at the 100m band that do not justify the rate.
The 100m built for an owner who has just placed the yacht on the charter market. A first-season charter yacht at 100m has all the issues described for first-season 80m yachts, multiplied by the larger systems and more complex operations. Software glitches in stabilizer control, propulsion teething on diesel-electric drives, audio-visual issues across larger zone counts, HVAC zoning problems, and unresolved warranty work all surface during the first two seasons. Pass on the first season, and consider passing on the second.
Charters where the central agent will not name the captain or send a captain CV. At 100m, the central agent should be willing to share the captain's name, tenure on the yacht, and prior commands. If the central agent refuses or stalls, the reason is usually that the captain is recent. Ask directly. Anything below two years on the yacht at 100m is a flag worth weighing against the rate.
The 100m where the helipad is described as "certified" without the supporting documentation. Helipad certification means specific things: deck dimensions and load rating, fire suppression on the deck, fuel handling, crew training and qualification, and an inspection regime. Some 100m yachts are quoted with a "certified helipad" that is in practice a touch-and-go pad with a fire-extinguisher cabinet. Ask for the certification documentation. If the broker cannot produce it, the helipad is touch-and-go, and helicopter operations are constrained.
Yachts with a recent dispute between owner and central agent. When an owner moves a 100m from one exclusive central agent to another, the new central agent has not yet built the operational rhythm with the captain and crew. The first season under a new exclusive is operationally rougher than the prior or the next. Ask whether the central agent listing has been stable for at least 18 months. Brokers do not volunteer this; they will confirm if asked directly.
Yachts at the 100m band to consider
We name the strongest 100m+ charter yachts for 2026 in Best charter yachts 100m plus, with Editor's Pick, full rankings, and the yachts we would pass on at the band. For broader context on size selection, read How to choose charter yacht size. For the 80m band below, read Yacht charter cost 80m and the broader Yacht charter cost by size framework.
FAQ
How much does a 100m yacht charter cost per week? $1,500,000 to $2,500,000 per week base fee peak Mediterranean. $1,300,000 to $2,200,000 peak Caribbean. Shoulder drops 12 to 20 percent. APA, gratuity, and VAT add 35 to 50 percent.
How many 100m yachts are available for charter? Roughly 20 to 25 globally. Effective availability in any peak week is 3 to 6 yachts across the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
Why does rate growth slow above 80m? The 12 guest cap is the same at every band. Above 80m, additional length buys volume, deck terraces, and crew comfort, not paying-guest capacity.
What is included in the all-in cost? Base fee, APA float (covering fuel, dockage, provisioning, communications, helicopter, and minor pass-throughs), gratuity, and VAT or local equivalent. Crew wages and insurance are inside the base.
How far in advance should you book? 9 to 14 months for peak Mediterranean or peak Caribbean weeks. 4 to 6 months for shoulder.