Budgeting for Your Sailing Holiday in Croatia
11. siječnja, 2021
Blog
When budgeting for your sailing holiday in Croatia, there are many things to consider. Contrary to popular belief, sailing is an affordable holiday when you consider it’s your accommodation, transport AND entertainment all-in-one, and that the cost can be divided between several friends or families. We want to help you make this the best holiday ever; preparation and expectations play a big part in this. So, let’s talk budget.
Charter Costs
When booking your yacht charter, included in the charter fee is yacht rental for the requested period, navigation and safety equipment, dinghy and bed linens. Not included: fuel costs (yacht must be returned with full tanks of fuel and water), tourist taxes, mooring and anchorage costs, final cleaning, crew, food, additional equipment (i.e. water toys, gennaker/spinnaker etc.) and excursions.
Yacht: Model, Size, Age
The cost of your yacht charter in Croatia can vary depending on factors like type of yacht, size, age and model. Motorboats are typically more expensive than sailing yachts, and while catamarans provide great comfort at sea, they are also more expensive to charter. Older yachts are naturally cheaper than newer yachts but you can trust that all of our yachts are maintained to the highest standard. It should also go without saying that in this instance, size does matter.
Bareboat or Crewed Yacht Charter
If you have all the required licenses and wish to bareboat, this saves money. If you wish to hire a skipper, hostess or chef, this is an extra cost on top of the charter price.
- Skipper, approximately 1,000 – 1,400 € per week (plus food)
- Hostess, approximately 1,000 € per week (plus food)
- Chef, approximately 1,400 € per week (plus food)
Note: these costs do not include gratuity for the crew. Yachting association standards suggest 5 – 15 % of the charter price for gratuity.
Yacht Charter Period
WHEN you book and charter a yacht influences the price. We offer early-booking discounts up to 35% (depending on the model) until the end of January. Thanks to our real-time booking system, you can also see ‘Best Price’, Special Offers and Last-minute booking deals which can equal huge savings. Your sailing holiday will also be cheaper if you book your yacht charter during off-peak periods, i.e. outside of July and August.
Mooring, Anchorage Fees and National Parks
The mooring and anchorage costs depend on the size of the yacht, sailing period and location but here is an idea of the costs you can expect:
- Berth in marina, 50 – 70 € per day (for yachts up to 45 feet)
- Berth in marina, 700 – 110 € per day (for yachts of over 45 feet)
- A berth in town ports 50 – 80 € per day
- Mooring buoys approx. 20 – 60 € per day
- Anchorage in Croatia is free, except in bays which have mooring buoys or concessions
- National Parks; entrance fee is required for all yachts. For yachts up to 17 m, entrance is approx. 80 – 90 €, IF you pay in advance (online), it can be almost twice the price if not. Another tip: it is cheaper to book for multiple days if this works for your itinerary.
** Note: the berth costs given are for monohulls; catamarans are typically 50 – 100% more.
Fuel Consumption
This cost is again dependent on the size of the yacht/model/engine. It also depends on how much you use the generator and sail – the more you sail, the more budget-friendly!
- Sailing yachts up to 45 feet, approx. 150 – 200 € per week
- Sailing yachts 50 feet plus, approx. 200 – 350 € per week
- Catamarans up to 45 feet, 200 – 300 € per week
- Catamarans 45 feet plus, approx. 250 – 500 € per week
Food and Drinks
This is an area where you can significantly reduce your costs. For those on a budget, the beauty of chartering a yacht is that you can cook all or most of your meals aboard. Plan your budget accordingly and stick to it. Tip: buy your water and drinks for the week at the beginning of the trip, and food for the first two days – fresh produce you can buy daily on the islands (this reduces food waste). Also, if you are eating out, it is cheaper to eat out for lunch than dinner.
- Eating out: lunch approx. 15 – 20 € per person, dinner approx. 30 – 50 € per person
- Crew: if you hire crew, they need to have three meals per day – at least one cooked (aboard or in a restaurant). If you don’t wish to include your crew in the meals you prepare on board or take them to restaurants, it’s expected of you to offer them additional money, as you are responsible for their food.
This isn’t a complete list but hopefully, it gives you an idea of costs and helps you budget for your sailing holiday in Croatia. For more information or details, please feel free to contact our dedicated team at Croatia Yachting. Now, time to plan your route!
