{"id":89436,"date":"2026-06-26T14:21:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T11:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brilions.com\/apa-v-chartere-yakhty-turtsiya\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T15:13:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:13:44","slug":"apa-yacht-charter-turkey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brilions.com\/en\/apa-yacht-charter-turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"APA in Yacht Charter Turkey: What It Is, How It’s Calculated & Do You Get Money Back"},"content":{"rendered":"

You’ve found the perfect yacht to rent in Turkey, agreed on a route along the turquoise coast \u2014 and then a mysterious line item appears on your invoice: APA<\/strong>. The amount is substantial. Is it a hidden fee? A mandatory commission? And will you get the money back if it isn’t spent?<\/p>\n

In this guide, the Brilions<\/strong> team breaks down the Advance Provisioning Allowance from A to Z: what it is, why it exists, what it covers, and exactly how it works in the Turkish yacht charter market \u2014 in Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, G\u00f6cek, Antalya and other popular charter bases.<\/p>\n

What Is APA in Yacht Charter<\/h2>\n

APA<\/strong> stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance<\/strong> \u2014 an advance deposit to cover the operating expenses of your cruise. In simple terms, it is your money, handed to the captain before the charter begins, to be spent on provisions and services for guests throughout the trip.<\/p>\n

The most important point \u2014 and the one that causes the most confusion \u2014 is this: the APA is not income for the yacht owner and not a broker commission.<\/strong> It is your money, held by the captain and spent strictly on your behalf. Whatever is left unspent is returned to you on the final day of the charter.<\/p>\n

This mechanism is enshrined in the standard MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) charter contract \u2014 the international body that governs the majority of professional yacht charters in the Mediterranean and Turkey.<\/p>\n

Why the Operating Budget Exists<\/h2>\n

When you rent a yacht, the base charter fee covers the vessel itself, the crew, and insurance \u2014 nothing more. Everything else \u2014 fuel, food, drinks, marina berths \u2014 represents variable costs that cannot be predicted in advance. They depend on your route, the appetites of your guests, the wines you choose, and how much you plan to motor between destinations.<\/p>\n

The advance provisioning allowance solves this elegantly: you fund the budget upfront, the captain manages the spending during the cruise, and at the end you receive a full report with receipts.<\/p>\n

APA vs Security Deposit: a Common Confusion<\/h2>\n

Many clients renting a yacht for the first time confuse two distinct payments. Here is how they differ.<\/p>\n

Security Deposit (Caution)<\/strong> \u2014 a refundable insurance deposit held against accidental damage to the yacht or equipment. It is blocked on your credit card or paid in cash. If the charter ends without any incident, it is returned in full. The amount is fixed per yacht and typically ranges from \u20ac1,000 to \u20ac10,000. It is most common on bareboat (skipperless) sailboat rentals.<\/p>\n

Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA)<\/strong> \u2014 the operational fund for cruise expenses: food, fuel, drinks, marina fees. It is not a security deposit. It applies primarily to crewed luxury motor yachts and gulets.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nAPA<\/th>\nSecurity Deposit<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Purpose<\/td>\nCruise operating expenses<\/td>\nInsurance against damage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Managed by<\/td>\nCaptain<\/td>\nBlocked on card \/ held by broker<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Refund<\/td>\nUnspent balance after charter<\/td>\nFull refund if no damage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amount<\/td>\n20\u201340% of charter fee<\/td>\nFixed sum per yacht<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

How the APA Is Calculated: Real Numbers<\/h2>\n

The size of the provisioning fund depends on the type of yacht and the charter standard.<\/p>\n

Motor yachts:<\/strong> typically 25\u201340% of the charter fee. Large and premium vessels with high fuel consumption tend toward 40%.<\/p>\n

Gulets:<\/strong> usually 20\u201330%. Gulets burn far less fuel, so the operating deposit is lower.<\/p>\n

Under the MYBA standard, the baseline APA is 25% of the charter fee, though for large motor yachts this frequently rises to 30\u201340%.<\/p>\n

Calculation Examples<\/h3>\n

Motor yacht charter in Bodrum or G\u00f6cek:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>\nAmount<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Yacht rental fee<\/td>\n\u20ac30,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
APA (30%)<\/td>\n\u20ac9,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total due before departure<\/strong><\/td>\n\u20ac39,000<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Gulet charter in Fethiye or Marmaris:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>\nAmount<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Yacht rental fee<\/td>\n\u20ac18,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
APA (25%)<\/td>\n\u20ac4,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total due before departure<\/strong><\/td>\n\u20ac22,500<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

A Real Example: One Week on a Motor Yacht, Bodrum to G\u00f6cek<\/h2>\n

After eight years in the charter business, we have gathered real expense data from hundreds of captain reports. Here is a typical operating budget breakdown for a seven-night cruise on a 20\u201324 m motor yacht along the Bodrum \u2014 Gulf of G\u00f6kova \u2014 G\u00f6cek route:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Expense<\/th>\nEstimated range<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Fuel (5\u20136 passages)<\/td>\n\u20ac2,000 \u2013 \u20ac3,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Provisions (8 guests, 7 days)<\/td>\n\u20ac1,500 \u2013 \u20ac2,200<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Soft drinks & water<\/td>\n\u20ac300 \u2013 \u20ac500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alcohol (moderate consumption)<\/td>\n\u20ac600 \u2013 \u20ac1,200<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marina berths (3\u20134 nights)<\/td>\n\u20ac800 \u2013 \u20ac1,800<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Miscellaneous (ice, sundries)<\/td>\n\u20ac200 \u2013 \u20ac400<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/strong><\/td>\n\u20ac5,400 \u2013 \u20ac9,600<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

On a \u20ac30,000 charter, an APA of 30% (\u20ac9,000) comfortably covers this range in virtually any scenario.<\/p>\n

If you prefer anchoring in secluded bays and drink modestly \u2014 expect a refund of \u20ac1,500\u2013\u20ac2,500. If you plan daily passages and premium wines \u2014 a small top-up may be required.<\/p>\n

\n

What the APA Covers<\/h2>\n

Fuel<\/h3>\n

The single largest expense on motor yachts. The total depends on vessel size, cruising speed, route length, and how frequently you move between locations.<\/p>\n

Spending a week at anchor in the quiet bays of G\u00f6kova is a world apart from motoring daily between Bodrum, Yal\u0131kavak and G\u00f6cek. On gulets, fuel consumption is far lower \u2014 they sail more slowly and anchor more often.<\/p>\n

Food and Provisions<\/h3>\n

The captain uses the provisioning fund to purchase everything for the guests: meat, fish, seafood, vegetables, fruit, and desserts. Before the charter, guests complete a Preference Form<\/strong> listing favourite dishes, allergies, and dietary requirements \u2014 all purchases are made based on this form.<\/p>\n

Drinks and Alcohol<\/h3>\n

Still water, juices, soft drinks, tonics, wine, Champagne, beer, and spirits \u2014 all covered by the operating budget. One important note: alcohol is expensive in Turkey<\/strong> due to high excise duties, making this line item noticeably higher than in Croatia or Greece. If you plan a serious wine list or a well-stocked bar, factor this into your budget from the start.<\/p>\n

Marina Berths<\/h3>\n

If your itinerary includes marina nights \u2014 D-Marin G\u00f6cek, Yal\u0131kavak Marina in Bodrum, Netsel Marina in Marmaris, Port G\u00f6cek \u2014 the berth fees are paid from the provisioning fund. Premium marinas typically cost \u20ac200\u2013\u20ac600 per night depending on yacht size and season.<\/p>\n

Special Requests<\/h3>\n

Premium Champagne, rare wines, live lobster, a birthday cake, flowers on board \u2014 all bespoke requests are covered by the operational deposit. The key is to discuss them with your captain or broker in advance.<\/p>\n

Port Dues<\/h3>\n

Depending on your specific charter agreement, port dues may run through the APA or be invoiced separately \u2014 check your contract.<\/p>\n

What Is NOT Included in the APA<\/h2>\n

To avoid surprises during your yacht rental, it is important to know what is billed separately:<\/p>\n