How much should you tip a private yacht charter crew?
Treat gratuity as a discretionary budget decision, not an unavoidable tax. Northrop & Johnson’s charter guide describes 10–15% of the base charter fee as customary while emphasizing the charterer’s discretion; its December 2025 first-timer article gives a broader 10–20% guide depending on region and service. These are supplier conventions, not a universal tariff. (northropandjohnson.com)
- Recommended practice:
On a $150,000 base fee, an illustrative 10% gratuity is $15,000; 15% is $22,500. Neither calculation uses the entire holiday bill as its base.
Before departure, ask the broker:
- What convention applies to this yacht and cruising region?
- How should a gratuity be paid and distributed?
- Can it be transferred rather than carried as cash?
- If APA money is used, how will the charterer’s authorization be recorded?
Recommended practice: approve a planning allowance, then make the actual decision after the service has been delivered. Keep the APA reconciliation and gratuity decision distinct so that an expense refund does not disappear into an unapproved tip.