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A 30m motor yacht costs $80,000 to $140,000 per week base fee in peak Mediterranean (last week of June through third week of August, 2026). The same hull runs $65,000 to $115,000 in peak Caribbean (December through April). Shoulder season drops the base fee 25 to 35 percent in both regions. APA, gratuity, and VAT add 50 to 70 percent on top, so the all-in for a peak Mediterranean week on a $110,000 base lands between $175,000 and $200,000 depending on cruising waters and itinerary.
This page covers the 30m band specifically: what you get for the money, how the rate is set, the all-in cost math, and how the band compares to 25m below and 40m above. The 30m to 34m band carries the deepest charter inventory in the active fleet across both regions, which is one reason it is also the most-quoted size in central agent inboxes.
What a 30m charter yacht looks like
The reference 30m motor yacht in 2026 is 30 to 34 metres LOA, built 2008 to 2024, 4 to 5 guest cabins, sleeping 8 to 10 guests, crew of 5 to 7, beam 7 to 8 metres, draft 1.8 to 2.4 metres. The cruising speed is 11 to 14 knots, top speed 16 to 22 knots depending on builder and engine package. Fuel burn is 200 to 350 litres an hour underway.
The standard build at this band has a master suite on the main deck or just below, a VIP cabin, two or three guest cabins (mix of twin and double), one tender (4 to 5m RIB), and a small flybridge with sun loungers and a wet bar. Newer builds (2018 and later) often include a small beach club opening at the stern, at-anchor stabilizers, and a hybrid or diesel-electric propulsion option on the highest-spec yachts.
What a 30m does not have. No tender garage in most cases (tender is on deck). No helipad. No proper gym, no spa. No accommodation for a tour guide, governor, or personal staff beyond a single stay-cabin. Sun deck is small. These are the cuts that distinguish 30m from 40m.
Base fee by region and season
The 2026 weekly base fee ranges for crewed 30m to 34m 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 | $115,000 to $140,000 | $80,000 to $105,000 |
| Amalfi, Capri, Sardinia | $110,000 to $135,000 | $75,000 to $100,000 |
| Balearics (Mallorca, Ibiza) | $100,000 to $125,000 | $70,000 to $95,000 |
| Croatia and Montenegro | $90,000 to $115,000 | $60,000 to $85,000 |
| Greek Cyclades and Ionian | $95,000 to $120,000 | $65,000 to $90,000 |
| Turkey (Bodrum, Gocek) | $80,000 to $105,000 | $55,000 to $80,000 |
| BVI and US Virgin Islands | $75,000 to $100,000 | $55,000 to $80,000 |
| St Barths and Antigua | $90,000 to $120,000 | $65,000 to $90,000 |
| Bahamas (Nassau and Exumas) | $80,000 to $105,000 | $60,000 to $85,000 |
| Maldives and Seychelles | $90,000 to $130,000 | $70,000 to $100,000 |
Yachts at the middle of the active fleet for the band typically run 15 to 25 percent below the top-of-band numbers. Yachts built before 2008 without a recent refit sometimes run 25 to 35 percent below the active-fleet ceiling for the same size.
What drives the rate inside the band
Three factors move the 30m band price meaningfully on otherwise similar boats.
Build year and refit. A 2024 build at the 30m band trades at the top of the band. A 2008 build with a 2022 refit trades 15 to 25 percent below. A 2008 build without recent refit trades 30 to 40 percent below. Refit dating matters: "2022 refit" is meaningful; "recent refit" without a date is not.
Builder reputation. Yachts by Sanlorenzo, Benetti, Mangusta, Sunseeker (the larger end of their range), Princess (the largest models), and Riva (open dayboats) at the 30m band trade at the top of the band. Yachts by smaller production builders run 10 to 20 percent below at the same age and size.
Captain tenure. Yachts with the same captain on the boat 3 plus years trade at the top of the band. Yachts with a captain in his first season trade at the bottom. The owner often does not adjust the rate for captain tenure, but central agents do, because the trip quality difference is real.
The all-in cost math at 30m
A 30m motor yacht with a $110,000 weekly base fee, chartering in French waters in the second week of August.
Base fee: $110,000. APA (30 percent of base): $33,000. Gratuity (12 percent of base, paid at trip end): $13,200. VAT (10 percent on base in French waters): $11,000. Total all-in: $167,200.
Move that charter to Italian waters under the standard regime: VAT rises to 22 percent ($24,200), all-in $180,400. Apply the Italian short-term lease scheme: effective VAT roughly 6.6 percent ($7,260), all-in $163,460.
Move the charter to Croatian waters: VAT 13 percent ($14,300), all-in $170,500. Greek waters: VAT 12 percent ($13,200), all-in $169,400. Turkish waters: VAT zero on commercial flag, all-in $156,200. BVI: no VAT, all-in $156,200 on the same numbers.
The 30m band is the cleanest size for VAT structuring because the boat itself can move between jurisdictions inside a week without consuming the whole charter to fuel and dockage. A two-week Italian charter that starts in Sardinia and crosses to Corsica (France) for the second week can split the VAT exposure, and the boat carries 320 to 400 nautical mile range without refueling.
What APA covers on a 30m
APA at 30 percent of $110,000 base is $33,000 for the week. Typical 30m peak Mediterranean week consumption.
Fuel: $9,000 to $14,000 on a moderate-cruising week (40 to 60 nautical miles a day, 5 hours underway). Cruising-heavy week pushes fuel to $18,000. Dockage: $7,000 to $14,000 for two to three nights alongside in peak Saint-Tropez, Capri, or Porto Cervo, four to five nights at anchor. Provisioning: $6,000 to $11,000 on eight guests, including breakfast, lunch on board most days, dinner ashore three to four times. Shore excursions and tender ops: $2,000 to $5,000. Communications (Starlink Maritime standard): $1,200 to $2,000. Miscellaneous (laundry, crew bond drinks, small repairs): $800 to $1,500.
Total: $26,000 to $47,500 against the $33,000 APA float. Most 30m charters in 2026 reconcile within $4,000 of the APA float, refund or top-up.
Crew gratuity at the 30m band
Gratuity practice on a 30m yacht with 6 crew. 10 percent of base ($11,000) is the floor. 12 percent ($13,200) is the standard for good service. 15 percent ($16,500) is reserved for service that solved a specific problem.
The captain typically takes 18 to 22 percent of the tip pool, the chief stew and chef each 15 to 18 percent, and the deck and interior crew split the balance. On a $13,200 tip pool, the captain takes around $2,500 and each junior crew $1,500 to $1,800. The tip is paid in cash or by wire to the captain at trip end and distributed by the yacht's tip-pool rules.
Who the 30m charter actually suits
The 30m band is the right product for three guest configurations.
Family of 6 to 8 (two parents, three or four children, sometimes plus grandparents). Master plus VIP plus two cabins suits this group without the cost step up to 40m. The 30m boat is also easier in tight Mediterranean bays (Capri, Portofino, smaller Croatian coves) where the larger yacht needs to anchor further out.
Two couples plus children (8 to 10 guests). Four-cabin layout matches two-couple configuration. Single tender plus jet skis or a chase boat covers water activity for the kids.
Group of friends (8 to 10 guests). Mixed cabin layout (some doubles, some twins) suits a group of friends or extended family. The 30m is also small enough that one charter party can use the entire boat without paying for empty cabins.
The 30m band does not suit groups above 10 guests or clients prioritizing service quality consistent with top-tier hotels ashore. For 11 plus guests, step up to 35 to 40m. For service quality consistent with Aman or Cheval Blanc shoreside, step up to 45m or above.
What we would pass on at this band
Three patterns at the 30m band that pay back nothing.
Yachts at the band without at-anchor stabilizers. A 30m yacht at anchor in any meaningful swell rolls. Without active stabilization at anchor (fin or gyro), the boat is uncomfortable for swimming, dining, and sleeping in 80 percent of typical Mediterranean anchorages. The yachts in the band built since 2015 mostly have at-anchor stabilizers; older builds frequently do not. Confirm.
The 28m yacht marketed as a "30m" through length-overall tricks. A handful of yachts at the band measure 28 to 29m hull length but quote LOA with the bowsprit or stern platform included. The cabin layout, crew complement, and cruising profile are the smaller boat, not the larger. If the bowsprit-inclusive LOA is the only way the yacht meets the 30m threshold, the charter is a 28m product priced as a 30m. Pass on it or negotiate.
Charters with crew rotation between week 1 and week 2. Some 30m yachts in the active fleet rotate the chief stew or chef between back-to-back peak charters because crew contracts at the band are tighter than at 40m plus. The second-week guests get the rotation, which means lower-quality service for the same rate. Ask the central agent specifically whether the same crew is on board for both weeks of a two-week booking.
Yachts at the 30m band to consider
We name the strongest 30 to 34m charter yachts for 2026 in Best charter yachts 30-40m, 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 40m and 50m bands above, read Yacht charter cost 50m and the broader Yacht charter cost by size framework.
FAQ
How much does a 30m yacht charter cost per week? $80,000 to $140,000 per week base fee peak Mediterranean. $65,000 to $115,000 peak Caribbean. Shoulder drops 25 to 35 percent. APA, gratuity, and VAT add 50 to 70 percent on top.
How many guests can a 30m yacht carry? 8 to 10 sleeping. The standard layout is 4 cabins, sometimes 5. Commercial charter regulations cap guests at 12 underway, but most 30m yachts physically sleep 8 to 10.
Why is a 30m yacht the most popular charter size? Price point at the threshold where the all-in math works for one-week family charters, crew of 5 to 7 delivers real service without the 40m step up, and the active fleet at this band is the deepest in the market.
What is the difference between a 30m and a 40m charter yacht? 40m yachts have 10 to 12 guest capacity, 8 to 10 crew, a beach club, a tender garage, and a 60 to 100 percent price step up. For 8 or fewer guests, the 30m is the right choice in most cases.
Can you charter a 30m sailing yacht for less than a motor yacht? Yes. A 30m sailing yacht runs 30 to 40 percent below the comparable 30m motor yacht. Smaller crew, lower cruising speed, quieter platform.