You booked a yacht in Monaco for a week in Sardinia. The broker's invoice arrives: "Delivery fee: €8,000." Nobody mentioned it beforehand. What is it? The cost for the yacht to sail from Monaco to Sardinia to meet you. Fuel, captain salary during repositioning, insurance. Who pays? Sometimes you; sometimes the broker builds it into the price. This guide explains delivery fees, when they're your responsibility, and how to negotiate.
Table of Contents
- What is delivery fee vs. repositioning
- Costs that make up delivery fee
- Who pays: what your contract says
- Fee table by distance
- FAQ
What is delivery fee vs. repositioning
Delivery fee = yacht sails from its base port to meet you. You pay for the yacht's movement.
Repositioning = yacht moves between consecutive charters. Normally the broker absorbs this in the price.
In practice, delivery fee is repositioning when you're the only charterer involved.
Costs that make up delivery fee
To navigate 100 nautical miles (Monaco to Sardinia, ~15 hours):
| Item | €/hour | Hours | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel (8 liters/h × €1.20/liter) | €9.60 | 15 | €144 |
| Captain salary (navigation, non-leisure) | €150 | 15 | €2,250 |
| Insurance during reposition | — | — | €800 |
| Intermediate port (refueling) | — | — | €500 |
| Broker margin | — | — | €2–4k |
| Total delivery fee | — | — | €6–8k |
For long distance (Monaco to Greece, ~400 nm, 3 days):
| Item | Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | 3 days × 8h/day × €9.60/h | €230 |
| Captain | 3 days × 8h/day × €150/h | €3,600 |
| Insurance | 3 days | €2,400 |
| Intermediate ports | 2 stops | €1,500 |
| Broker margin | — | €5–8k |
| Total | — | €12–15k |
Longer distances (500+ nm) run €20–30k.
Who pays: what your contract says
Scenario 1: Delivery included in charter price
"Monaco–Sardinia charter: €200k, delivery included."
You pay nothing extra. The broker factored delivery fee into the price. Common for standard routes.
Scenario 2: Delivery charged separately
"Monaco–Sardinia charter: €200k + delivery fee €8k."
You pay the €8k additionally. Common when repositioning is long or unusual.
Scenario 3: Shared delivery
You charter weeks 1–4. Next charterer, weeks 5–8. Repositioning falls in between.
- Weeks 1–4 (you): yacht sails Monaco to Sardinia (you pay Monaco → Sardinia delivery).
- Weeks 5–8 (next charterer): yacht continues Sardinia to Greece (they pay Sardinia → Greece delivery).
Golden rule: Read the contract. "Delivery included" vs. "delivery additional" is €5–15k difference.
Fee table by distance
| Route | Nautical miles | Hours | Delivery fee (June 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monaco → Sardinia/Costa Smeralda | ~100 | 15 | €6–8k |
| Monaco → Amalfi Coast | ~120 | 18 | €8–10k |
| Monaco → French Riviera (Antibes) | ~30 | 5 | €3–5k |
| Sardinia → Greece (Rhodes) | ~350 | 50 | €15–20k |
| Riviera → Barcelona | ~250 | 36 | €12–15k |
| Spain → Algarve (Portugal) | ~200 | 30 | €10–12k |
| Full Mediterranean (Monaco–Antalya) | ~1,000+ | 150+ | €40–60k |
FAQ
1. Is delivery fee negotiable?
Yes. If a broker is desperate to close a charter, they may absorb delivery or discount it. Negotiate, especially in low season (September–October).
2. What if I cancel after confirming delivery?
You pay delivery even if you cancel. The yacht is already en route. Maritime law: you cancel, you absorb costs until the yacht can stop.
3. Can I ask the broker not to do delivery? I'll pick up the yacht in Monaco myself?
You can ask, but most brokers require charter-ready delivery ("yacht available at destination"). Insurance mandates this. If you insist on picking up elsewhere, negotiate a discount equal to delivery (~€8k).
4. Is delivery fee a broker profit margin?
Partly. Broker advertises "€200k charter" but charges "€8k delivery," and pockets the difference. Standard practice. Competitive brokers sometimes offer free delivery to retain clients.
5. What if the yacht is damaged during delivery?
Insurance covers it. Deductible is the owner's responsibility, not yours. You're not liable for damage during repositioning.
6. Is fuel in delivery fee calculated precisely or is it a lump sum?
It's estimated. If actual consumption is lower, broker keeps the surplus. If higher, you don't pay extra (covered by contract). It's usually a flat rate.
7. If I book in a nearby port, do I avoid delivery?
Yes. Charter in Monaco (home port)? Zero delivery. Charter in a nearby port? Minimal delivery (€3–5k). Charter far away? Full delivery. It's worth negotiating embarkation location vs. delivery cost.
8. Does delivery time count as charter days?
No. You only pay for charter once the yacht arrives ready to cruise. Delivery days don't count. If delivery is 1 day before your charter, that day is not your time.
9. Is delivery included in advertised "from €150k/week" pricing?
Rarely. Brokers advertise base charter only. Delivery, APA, gratuity come after. Always ask: "What is the total all-in price?"
10. What if I want a custom embarkation port (not the home base)?
Arrange it with your broker. Yacht can depart Monaco and meet you in Barcelona (larger delivery). Costs are real (fuel, captain). Delivery fee increases, but you save travel days. Sometimes worthwhile to negotiate.
11. Can you avoid delivery by booking early?
Not entirely, but you can reduce it. If you accept home-port dates (instead of imposing yours), broker offers a discount. Example: "Available week 2–9 in Monaco?" = lower cost; "I want week 1 in Sardinia" = full delivery cost. Flexibility earns discounts.
12. Who is liable if the yacht breaks down during delivery?
The owner (via insurance). You're not responsible for damage in transit. The captain is a professional; insurance covers incidents. Risk is minimal. You simply pay delivery, not repair costs.
13. Are there "repositioning taxes" or environmental fees?
Some ports charge entry fees (€10–50 depending on yacht size and location). The owner/manager pays these, not you directly. They may be embedded in the broker's "additional fees." Ask for transparency.
Real-world example: the math of repositioning
Scenario: You charter a 60m yacht September 1–7 in Sardinia. The yacht's previous charter ended August 31 in Monaco.
- Distance Monaco → Sardinia: ~100 nm.
- Sailing time: ~15 hours.
- Broker's delivery fee quote: €7,500.
What's included: - Captain and crew sailing time: ~€2,250. - Fuel: ~€150. - Insurance during reposition: ~€800. - Broker margin: ~€4,300.
Negotiation: You contact broker. "Delivery seems high. Can you reduce to €5,500?" Broker says no (firm cost). But if you flexibly accept August 31 embarkation (one day earlier, avoiding delivery), you save €7,500. Trade-off: you use one charter day earlier.
This illustrates why flexibility = savings.
Cost strategy: when to negotiate delivery
Best timing to request delivery discount:
- Off-season (October–April): brokers have idle capacity; they can absorb fees.
- Last-minute (under 2 weeks): yacht is unbooked; broker prefers discounted charter to no charter.
- Long-term booking (12+ months ahead): brokers often package delivery into the overall price.
- Group bookings: multiple weeks on same yacht earn delivery leverage. First week full price; subsequent weeks may have reduced or free delivery.
Conclusion
Delivery fee is the legitimate cost to reposition the yacht to you. €6–8k for short routes; €20–30k for long ones. Check your contract: included or separate? Always ask to avoid a €15k surprise on your invoice. It's not pure broker profit—fuel and captain salary are real costs—but you can reduce it by choosing a nearby embarkation port or negotiating with your broker.
See also: Yacht Charter by Size: 30m, 40m, 50m, Yacht vs. Superyacht, What's Included in a Charter Week. Explore yachts at voguer.yachts.
