Bahamas Yacht Charter Prices 2026: Rates, VAT and the 14%
A crewed catamaran lists at $26,000 a week in the Bahamas and a four-cabin motor yacht at $60,000. See the 2026 rate bands and what the 14 percent adds.
Bahamas yacht charter prices in 2026 depend far more on hull type than on the islands you visit. A crewed catamaran under 60 feet lists at a median of $26,000 for the week and a four-cabin motor yacht at $60,000, measured across 206 yachts with a current Bahamas cruising area and a bookable 2026-2027 high-season rate (Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026). On top of either number the government takes 14 percent, and on most Bahamas motor yachts a provisioning allowance of about 35 percent lands before that.
What are Bahamas yacht charter prices in 2026?
It splits cleanly in two. A crewed sailing or power catamaran under 60 feet lists at a median of $26,000 per week, with the middle half between $22,500 and $32,000 across 30 yachts. A motor yacht of 100 to 129 feet, the largest single group in the Bahamas fleet, lists at a median of $80,500, middle half $65,000 to $105,000 across 55 yachts (Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026). Between those two poles sits almost everything else.
The figures on this page are one high-season rate per yacht, read in September 2026, covering the 2026-2027 season. They are advertised rates published by each yacht’s central agent, not audited transaction prices, and they are the boat only. Taxes, the provisioning allowance where one applies, and the crew gratuity all sit outside them, and this page adds every one of those back.
View data table
| Hull type | Yachts | Median length | Contract terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor yacht | 156 | 106 ft | 152 plus expenses, 3 all-inclusive |
| Sailing catamaran | 34 | 54 ft | 29 all-inclusive, 5 plus expenses |
| Power catamaran | 11 | 67 ft | 5 all-inclusive, 6 plus expenses |
| Sailing monohull | 5 | 69 ft | 1 all-inclusive, 4 plus expenses |
Source: Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026. Active crewed yachts listing a Bahamas cruising area with an unexpired 2026-2027 high-season rate.
Two things separate the Bahamas from the British Virgin Islands, and both of them change the bill rather than the boat. The first is that the Bahamas charters motor yachts where the BVI charters sailing catamarans. The second follows from it: a Bahamas motor yacht is almost never all-inclusive, so the rate you see is a base rate with a provisioning allowance still to come.
Why is the Bahamas fleet mostly motor yachts?
Because of the water. Of the 206 yachts with a bookable 2026-2027 Bahamas week, 156 are motor yachts, 34 are sailing catamarans, 11 are power catamarans and 5 are sailing monohulls (Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026). The median motor yacht in that fleet is 106 feet. The median sailing catamaran is 54.
The Exumas run roughly 130 miles from end to end and the Abacos another 120, with long open stretches between the good anchorages and shallow banks that reward a boat that can pick its moment. A motor yacht crosses in hours what a sailing catamaran crosses in most of a day. In the BVI, where every island is inside a 30-mile cluster, that advantage is worth almost nothing and the fleet reflects it: there, catamarans are 313 of 392 yachts.
What does a crewed catamaran cost in the Bahamas?
A crewed catamaran under 60 feet lists at a median of $26,000 per week in the Bahamas, with the middle half between $22,500 and $32,000 across 30 yachts, and 27 of those 30 quote all-inclusive terms (Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026). That is the closest thing the Bahamas has to the BVI’s standard boat, and it prices within a few thousand dollars of one.
Above 60 feet the catamaran market thins and steepens fast. Thirteen catamarans between 60 and 79 feet list at a $49,500 median, and only 5 of them are all-inclusive. Two more sit above 80 feet at a $92,000 median. Cabin counts tell the same story more usefully than length does.
| Cabins | Sleeps | Yachts | Median week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three | 6 | 15 | $24,000 |
| Four | 8 | 21 | $42,000 |
| Five | 10 | 7 | $42,000 |
Listed base rates, one per yacht, high season. Taxes and the crew gratuity are not included.
The jump from three cabins to four is the biggest single step on this page, and it is not really about the extra cabin. Most three-cabin catamarans in the Bahamas are production boats under 55 feet; most four-cabin ones are 60 feet or longer, and several are power catamarans. If your group fits on a three-cabin boat, that is the cheapest week the Bahamas offers with crew aboard.
What does a motor yacht charter cost in the Bahamas?
A four-cabin motor yacht, the most common Bahamas boat, lists at a median of $60,000 per week in high season across 67 yachts, and $55,000 in low season across 85 (Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026). Length moves that figure further than anything else.
View data table
| Length | Yachts | 25th percentile | Median week | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 to 79 ft | 18 | $41,000 | $45,000 | $55,000 |
| 80 to 99 ft | 39 | $50,000 | $65,000 | $90,000 |
| 100 to 129 ft | 55 | $65,000 | $80,500 | $105,000 |
| 130 ft and above | 38 | $135,000 | $165,000 | $225,000 |
Source: Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026. Listed base rates, one high-season rate per yacht; the advance provisioning allowance, 14 percent in taxes and the crew gratuity all sit outside these figures.
| Length | Yachts | 25th percentile | Median week | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 to 79 ft | 18 | $41,000 | $45,000 | $55,000 |
| 80 to 99 ft | 39 | $50,000 | $65,000 | $90,000 |
| 100 to 129 ft | 55 | $65,000 | $80,500 | $105,000 |
| 130 ft and above | 38 | $135,000 | $165,000 | $225,000 |
Base rates only. Every band above is plus expenses in the vast majority of cases, so an advance provisioning allowance of about 35 percent lands on top, along with 14 percent in taxes and the gratuity.
Season moves motor yacht rates in the Bahamas in a way it does not move catamaran rates. A four-cabin motor yacht runs $60,000 in high season against $55,000 in low, a five-cabin one $110,000 against $100,000. Bahamas catamarans, by contrast, quote the same number all year: $24,000 for a three-cabin boat in both seasons, $42,000 for a four.
Is the Bahamas yacht charter tax 14 percent?
Effectively yes, and it is two charges rather than one. 10 percent VAT under the VAT Act, plus a 4 percent charter tax under the Boat Registration (Yacht) Rules, and since 1 January 2026 the Port Department collects both together (S.I. No. 57 of 2025). The reform changed where the money is paid, not how much it is.
Two things follow that matter to a budget. The 14 percent is charged on the charter fee, so it scales with the boat and not with the trip. And it is never inside a rate. An all-inclusive Bahamas catamaran still adds it; so does a plus-expenses motor yacht. Our full Caribbean and Bahamas charter taxes and fees guide works through the legislation destination by destination.
A worked $60,000 Bahamas week, all in
Take the median four-cabin motor yacht in high season, eight guests, seven nights, on the plus-expenses terms that 152 of the 156 Bahamas motor yachts use. Here is every line.
View data table
| Line | Basis | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee | Median four-cabin motor yacht, high season, 67 yachts | $60,000 |
| Advance provisioning allowance | 35 percent of the base rate; refunded where unspent | $21,000 |
| VAT | 10 percent of the charter fee | $6,000 |
| Charter tax | 4 percent of the charter fee | $2,400 |
| Crew gratuity | Customary 15 to 20 percent of the charter fee | $9,000 to $12,000 |
| Total | Eight guests, seven nights | $98,400 to $101,400 |
Source: Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026; S.I. No. 57 of 2025; MYBA; CYBA Inclusive Agreement, Clause 2.B.
| Line | Basis | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee | Median four-cabin motor yacht, high season, 67 yachts | $60,000 |
| Advance provisioning allowance | 35 percent of the base rate, the Bahamas average; refunded where unspent | $21,000 |
| VAT | 10 percent of the charter fee | $6,000 |
| Charter tax | 4 percent of the charter fee | $2,400 |
| Crew gratuity | Customary 15 to 20 percent of the charter fee, at your discretion | $9,000 to $12,000 |
| Total | Eight guests, seven nights | $98,400 to $101,400 |
Rate from Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026. Tax rates per S.I. No. 57 of 2025; APA mechanics per MYBA; gratuity band per the CYBA Inclusive Agreement, Clause 2.B. The APA is a float against actual expenses, not a fee, and unspent balance is returned at the end of the charter.
That is roughly $1,757 to $1,811 per guest per night, all in. Run the same arithmetic on the all-inclusive catamaran side and it looks very different: a $26,000 catamaran week adds $3,640 in taxes and $3,900 to $5,200 in gratuity for a total of $33,540 to $34,840, with no APA at all.
All-inclusive or plus expenses in the Bahamas?
Your hull decides it for you. 152 of the 156 Bahamas motor yachts quote plus expenses, and 27 of the 30 catamarans under 60 feet quote all-inclusive (Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026). There is very little middle ground.
On all-inclusive terms the rate covers the yacht, the crew, all meals and drinks, fuel, water and the toys, and the only things left are the 14 percent and the gratuity. On plus expenses you fund an advance provisioning allowance, typically 30 to 35 percent of the base rate, which the captain draws against for fuel, food, drinks, dockage and park fees, and returns whatever is left at the end of the week (MYBA). It is a float, not a charge, but it is money you have to have available.
An advance provisioning allowance runs in four steps, and knowing the order removes most of the confusion:
- You fund it before departure, usually with the balance of the charter fee, at 30 to 35 percent of the base rate.
- The captain draws against it through the week for fuel, provisioning, drinks, dockage and any park fees.
- You see the running total on request at any point; a good captain volunteers it mid-week.
- Whatever is left comes back to you at the end of the charter, against receipts.
The practical difference is predictability rather than total. A heavy-fuel week on a 120-foot motor yacht can spend the whole allowance; a quiet one returns a third of it. Our comparison of all-inclusive charter pricing covers what each contract type actually absorbs.
Do the Exumas cost more than Nassau or the Abacos?
The yacht does not change price by island, but the government charges do. The one that reaches a guest’s bill is the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, where moorings start at $27.27 per night by vessel size with $12.73 per extra guest per day and 10 percent VAT on top, and park entrance moves to $15 per adult from 1 July 2026 (Bahamas National Trust).
On an eight-guest week with three nights inside the park, that is roughly $300 to $400 in park charges, which rides inside the rate or the APA in the vast majority of cases. Nassau and the Abacos have no equivalent. So the Exumas are marginally the dearer itinerary, by an amount that will not decide anything.
What does differ is fuel. An Abacos week is compact and sheltered; an Exumas week that runs from Nassau to Georgetown and back is not, and on plus-expenses terms that difference lands in the APA reconciliation rather than in the rate. Our Exuma Cays charter guide covers the route itself, and our Bahamas charter guide covers the wider picture across all three cruising grounds.
What lands on a Bahamas charter invoice
The 14 percent is two charges, not one: 10 percent VAT plus a 4 percent charter tax, collected together since January 2026, and never inside any charter rate. Exuma park fees ($12.73 per extra guest per day) ride inside the rate or the APA in the vast majority of cases. Budget a customary 15 to 20 percent crew gratuity.
| Line item | Typical amount | Who sets it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) | None mandatory on all-inclusive catamarans (about 2 percent of rates state around 5 percent). Plus-expenses charters add an APA, typically 30 to 35 percent of the base rate, intended to cover every running fee except government taxes, refunded where unspent | The charter contract; mechanics per MYBA | MYBA, Information for Charter Yacht Captains and Crew |
| Charter taxes (VAT + charter tax) | 14 percent of the charter fee: 10 percent VAT plus a 4 percent charter tax, collected together by the Port Department (S.I. No. 57 of 2025 rewrote Rule 6 so both are paid together from January 1, 2026; the percentages come from the VAT Act and the earlier Rule 6) | Government of The Bahamas (VAT Act Ch. 370A; Boat Registration (Yacht) Rules) | S.I. No. 57 of 2025 |
| Cruising permit (per vessel) and passenger tax | Paid by the yacht: $500 to $3,000 for 12 months by length (thresholds at 50 and 100 ft), or $150 to $600 for 30 days, inside the rate or the APA. If you enter aboard from Florida, a $30 passenger tax per non-resident passenger beyond three, ages 6 and up (regulation 91(5), 2025; Customs’ clearance page still shows $20), not charged again on departure | Bahamas Customs (Customs Management Regulations, reg. 91) | Bahamas Customs, Pleasure Vessel Clearance (tiers effective April 1, 2026) |
| Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park fees | Moorings from $27.27 per night by vessel size plus $12.73 per extra guest per day, 10 percent VAT added; park entrance $15 per adult from July 1, 2026 | Bahamas National Trust | BNT, Exuma Park fees |
| Crew gratuity | Customarily 15 to 20 percent of the charter fee in the Caribbean crewed fleet, the band CYBA’s Inclusive Agreement (Clause 2.B) calls the customary rate; MYBA’s published suggestion is 5 to 15 percent, always at your discretion | Custom, written into the CYBA form; guidance published by MYBA | CYBA Inclusive Agreement, Clause 2.B (2020) |
Fees verified September 2026.
For a shorter trip, our yacht charter cost per day breakdown covers Nassau half-day and full-day rates, which follow a different pricing logic entirely.
Getting a real Bahamas number
Every figure on this page is an asking rate. The number that matters to you is a quote on a specific yacht for specific dates, with the APA and the 14 percent already in it. That is the version we send. Start a yacht search at Vital Charters with your group size and dates and we will come back with Bahamas options priced all in, not priced from.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a week-long yacht charter in the Bahamas in 2026?
A crewed catamaran under 60 feet lists at a median of $26,000 per week and a four-cabin motor yacht at $60,000 in high season, across 206 yachts with a bookable 2026-2027 Bahamas rate (Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026). Add 14 percent in government taxes to either, plus a customary 15 to 20 percent crew gratuity, and on most motor yachts an advance provisioning allowance averaging 35 percent of the base rate.
Is the Bahamas yacht charter tax really 14 percent?
Effectively yes, but it is two charges: 10 percent VAT under the VAT Act plus a 4 percent charter tax under the Boat Registration (Yacht) Rules, collected together by the Port Department since 1 January 2026 (S.I. No. 57 of 2025). It is charged on the charter fee and is never inside a rate, so it applies to all-inclusive catamarans and plus-expenses motor yachts alike.
Are Bahamas yacht charters all-inclusive?
Catamarans usually are and motor yachts usually are not. Of the 30 crewed catamarans under 60 feet with a bookable Bahamas week, 27 quote all-inclusive terms; of the 156 motor yachts, 152 quote plus expenses (Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026). A plus-expenses charter adds an advance provisioning allowance, typically 30 to 35 percent of the base rate, which is a float against actual costs and is refunded where unspent.
What does a luxury crewed yacht charter cost in the Exumas?
The same as anywhere else in the Bahamas, because the fleet moves between the islands. A 100 to 129 foot motor yacht lists at a median of $80,500 per week and a 130 foot yacht at $165,000 (Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026). What the Exumas add is park charges: moorings from $27.27 a night plus $12.73 per extra guest per day, with park entrance moving to $15 per adult from 1 July 2026 (Bahamas National Trust). On an eight-guest week that is a few hundred dollars, absorbed by the rate or the APA in the vast majority of cases.
Is a Bahamas charter cheaper in the off-season?
On a motor yacht, modestly. A four-cabin motor yacht lists at $60,000 in high season and $55,000 in low, and a five-cabin one at $110,000 against $100,000 (Vital Charters rate analysis, September 2026). On a catamaran, not at all: Bahamas catamarans quote the same rate in both seasons, $24,000 for a three-cabin boat and $42,000 for a four.
How many people fit on a Bahamas charter yacht?
Most crewed yachts here sleep 8 to 12. A four-cabin boat, whether catamaran or motor yacht, takes eight guests and is the most common configuration in the Bahamas fleet. Three-cabin catamarans take six and are the cheapest crewed option at a $24,000 median week. Above five cabins you are into 130-foot motor yachts at a $165,000 median.
A Bahamas number with the 14 percent already in it.
Tell us your group size and dates and we’ll send Bahamas options priced all in: the rate, the allowance, both taxes and the gratuity, on one line.
