TV vs real rates · 2026
How much does a charter cost on Below Deck?
A charter on a Below Deck-class motor yacht costs $20,000 to $150,000 per week in base rate, plus 30–40% APA and a 15–20% crew tip. The all-in bill for a top-of-range Caribbean week: about $228,750. Split among 8 guests, $28,600 each.
01 / 03
Base rate · Caribbean motor
$150,000
Per week, top of published range.
02 / 03
APA · 35%
$52,500
Fuel, food, drinks, port fees. Refunded if unspent.
03 / 03
Crew tip · 17.5%
$26,250
The envelope. 15–20% is standard.
The real math behind a Below Deck week
The boats on Below Deck are large crewed motor yachts, and their market prices are public. In the regions the show films, weekly base rates for crewed motor yachts run $20,000–$150,000 in the Caribbean and the Bahamas, €20,000–€120,000 in the Mediterranean, and $45,000–$150,000 in Tahiti.
The base rate is where the bill starts, not where it ends. Crewed charters add APA — an advance of 30–40% of the base rate that pays for fuel, provisioning and dockage — and the crew tip the show is famous for: 15–20% in the Caribbean and the US, 10–15% in the Mediterranean.
Full stack for a top-of-range Caribbean charter: $150,000 base + $52,500 APA (35%) + $26,250 tip (17.5%) = $228,750. Charter VAT in most of the Caribbean filming grounds is 0%, so nothing else lands on top. The same week in the Mediterranean at €120,000 base picks up 20% VAT in France: €120,000 + €36,000 APA + €24,000 VAT + €15,000 tip = €195,000.
The entry ticket is lower than the show suggests. A $50,000 crewed motor yacht in the Caribbean — same format, fewer cabins — totals $76,250 with APA and tip. Eight guests, $9,531 each.
Below Deck cost vs a standard charter
| Line item | Top of range | Entry crewed motor yacht |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate (Caribbean, per week) | $150,000 | $50,000 |
| APA (35%) | $52,500 | $17,500 |
| Charter VAT (Caribbean 0%) | $0 | $0 |
| Crew tip (17.5%) | $26,250 | $8,750 |
| All-in total | $228,750 | $76,250 |
| Per person, 8 guests | $28,594 | $9,531 |
Want the number for a different boat, region or group? The calculator prices crewed motor yachts across 12 destinations with APA, VAT and tip included.
Calculate a real charterFrequently asked questions
How much does a charter cost on Below Deck?
A week on a Below Deck-class crewed motor yacht costs $20,000–$150,000 in base rate, depending on region and boat size. Add 30–40% APA and a 15–20% crew tip. A $150,000 Caribbean charter totals about $228,750 all-in for the week.
How much do Below Deck guests tip?
The show follows the standard for the Caribbean and the US: 15–20% of the base rate. On a $150,000 weekly base that is $22,500–$30,000, split among the crew at the end of the charter — the cash envelope scene in every episode.
Do Below Deck guests pay for the full week?
Charters filmed for the show are reported to run shorter than a standard 7-day booking, and guests pay for the days they book. The tip still follows the 15–20% convention on what they pay. A standard non-TV booking on a comparable yacht is priced by the full week.
How much is a Below Deck-style charter per person?
Split among 8 guests — a typical charter group — a $228,750 all-in Caribbean week is about $28,600 per person. A $76,250 all-in week on a $50,000 boat runs $9,531 per person. Ten guests bring both numbers down by a fifth.
Can you charter a real yacht like the ones on Below Deck?
Yes. Large crewed motor yachts charter in the same regions the show films: the Caribbean at $20,000–$150,000 per week base, the Bahamas at $20,000–$150,000, the Mediterranean at €20,000–€120,000, Tahiti at $45,000–$150,000. Brokers list them openly — the calculator on this site prices all four regions.