Do you have to tip on a charter yacht?

Tipping on a charter yacht is not legally required — but it is the universal expectation. Crewed yachts run on the MYBA convention: 10–20% of the base fee, paid to the captain at the end of the charter and split among the crew. The number is set by service quality, not by hours worked. Bareboat charters carry no tip. On a fully crewed catamaran where two or three people cooked every meal, drove the tender, refilled drinks, and made beds for a week, skipping the tip is read as a complaint. If the service was actually poor, drop to 5–10% and tell the broker so they can flag it. The crew compares notes; charter reputations travel. A broker will walk through tipping etiquette before signing.