What is APA in yacht charter, and is it refundable?
APA means Advance Provisioning Allowance: money advanced to fund operating expenses, rather than an automatically earned surcharge. IYC describes an indicative allowance of 25–40% of the base fee, with expenditure accounted for and unused funds returned; the actual agreement determines the requested amount. (iyc.com)
Key points from this page
- Do not choose a yacht because its APA percentage is lower.
For the organizer, four different figures matter:
- Initial advance: the amount requested before boarding.
- Expected expenditure: the captain’s estimate for your planned vacation.
- Top-up exposure: additional funding if expenditure exceeds the advance.
- Final settlement: the account, supporting documentation and resulting refund or balance due.
Our recommended questions are:
- What cruising and provisioning assumptions support the APA percentage?
- Who can authorize expensive discretionary purchases?
- How frequently can we receive a running expense account?
- At what balance will the captain request additional funds?
- Who approves a top-up if the principal is unavailable?
- How and when will unused money be returned?
- Who resolves an expense query after disembarkation?
Do not choose a yacht because its APA percentage is lower. Compare its estimated actual expenditure under the same itinerary and preferences. A smaller advance is not evidence of a cheaper vacation.