What happens if APA runs out during a yacht charter?

If APA runs out mid-charter, the captain asks the lead guest for a top-up. The shortfall is rare but real — most commonly triggered by daily restaurant lunches off-boat, premium-spirit upgrades, or excessive fuel burn from long passage days the original APA didn’t anticipate. The captain shows the running ledger before the top-up request, so there are no surprises. Top-ups land in increments of $1,000–$5,000 USD or EUR equivalent, payable on the spot by credit card, wire, or cash. The cleaner fix is loading enough APA up front. Brokers recommend 30% for active groups with on-shore dining and 25% for boats-most-days itineraries. The yacht charter budget worksheet models APA scenarios.