Crew gratuity is customary on most crewed charters, but it is always your decision. This guide explains how it works, without pressure.
— The principle
Crew gratuity is discretionary
You decide whether to leave a gratuity, and how much. A gratuity can be customary without being a contractual obligation. Decide after you have experienced the service, never before boarding.
Why percentages differ online
- MYBA crew guidance (2018, publicly available)
- Suggested 5–15% of the contracted gross charter fee for excellent service, while stating gratuity is entirely at the charterer's discretion. This is dated guidance, not a permanent global rule.
- Current broker guidance (reviewed 2026)
- Parts of the large-yacht market often discuss roughly 10–15% of the base charter fee. Customs vary by region, yacht type and charter structure.
- Regional customs
- The Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, US crewed-charter markets and catamaran charters can each follow different conventions.
No single percentage is a mandatory global standard. Ask the desk what is customary for your yacht and cruising area.
Gratuity is not the same as…
| Item | Purpose | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Crew gratuity | Recognises crew service | Optional, at the charterer's discretion |
| APA | Advance for operating expenses (fuel, food, berths) | Agreed in the contract and reconciled |
| Broker commission | Pays for brokerage work | Commercial arrangement, not for crew |
| Crew salary | Crew pay from the owner as employer | The owner's responsibility, never replaced by a tip |
| Service charge | Only if the contract expressly creates one | Never assumed |
| Security deposit | Covers potential damage or liabilities | Returned according to its terms |
Short answer
Tipping the crew is customary on most professionally crewed charters, but it is discretionary. You decide whether to leave a gratuity and how much, after experiencing the service.
Gratuity is usually considered against the base charter fee, handed to the captain at the end of the charter, and shared among the whole crew.
Customary is not mandatory
Something can be normal market practice without being a contractual obligation. Unless your signed agreement expressly creates a service charge, a gratuity is a voluntary recognition of service.
Why guests tip the crew
A crew works long days to anticipate guests' needs, often unseen. A gratuity is a way of recognising that effort. It is not a substitute for wages, which are the owner's responsibility as employer.
Who is on the crew
Captain, officers, engineers, deck crew, interior crew, chef and galley staff. On larger yachts there may be laundry, spa, dive or tender specialists.
- Many crew members you rarely see, such as engineers and laundry crew, contribute just as much to the charter.
How the gratuity is distributed
The captain is generally the appropriate point of contact. On most professional yachts the captain distributes the gratuity among the whole crew, often equally, unless the yacht follows a different process.
Should I tip individual crew members?
It is usually better to give one gratuity through the captain, so crew you did not see are included. If someone went beyond the call, a personal thank-you note or a mention to the captain is always welcome.
Personal gifts
Small personal gifts are a matter of taste. They should never replace or distort the shared gratuity.
When to give it
At the end of the charter, usually on the final evening or at disembarkation, after the APA account has been reconciled. There is no need to commit to an amount before boarding.
Cash or transfer
Cash is traditional but not required. A bank transfer can be arranged through your broker or the yacht's accounting process. Large cash amounts can raise customs declaration and security questions, so plan ahead.
- Confirm any bank details by phone with a known contact. Never act on changed bank details received by email alone.
Currency
The gratuity is normally given in the charter's contract currency or the local currency. Your broker can confirm what suits the crew.
Gratuity is not APA
APA funds operating expenses such as fuel, food, drinks and berths. A gratuity rewards service. An APA top-up request is not a tip.
Go deeperWhat is APA
Using the APA balance
The gratuity should never be taken automatically from unused APA. If you want part of the balance used for gratuity, give an explicit written instruction, and the yacht's accounting process must allow it.
Gratuity is not broker commission
Broker commission pays for brokerage work and is settled commercially. It is separate from, and never shared with, the crew gratuity.
Go deeperBroker commission
What the percentage is calculated on
Where a percentage is used, it is generally considered against the base charter fee. APA, VAT, delivery fees, event berths and third-party services such as aviation, hotels or restaurants are not part of the basis.
Go deeperCharter cost guide
How to decide on an amount
Consider how the crew looked after your guests, the length and intensity of the charter, and the yacht's local custom. Ask your broker what is customary for the specific yacht before deciding.
- There is no need to score the crew like an app. A considered overall judgement is enough.
Weather, safety and technical issues
Bad weather, port closures and a captain's safety decision are not poor service. A captain who refuses an unsafe anchorage or water-toy use is doing their job.
After a technical failure, assess how professionally the crew managed it. Any contractual remedy is a separate matter between the parties.
Exceptional and disappointing service
If service was exceptional, a more generous gratuity is a natural choice. If it was disappointing, raise it with the captain and your broker during the charter, so it can be addressed. A gratuity should never be used to settle a dispute.
Day and short charters
Day and short charters often follow local custom, which may differ from week-long charters. Ask the desk for the convention in that port.
Multi-week charters
On longer charters, some guests give the gratuity at the end of each charter period. Discuss it with the captain or your broker.
Event charters
During the Monaco Grand Prix, the Cannes Film Festival or corporate events, crew often work very long hours. Event staff, caterers and security are separate from the yacht crew and are arranged separately.
Corporate charterers
If a company pays, check internally how a gratuity is approved and recorded. Your own accountant should advise on tax treatment.
Regional differences
The Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, US crewed-charter markets and all-inclusive catamaran charters can follow different customs. Bareboat charters have no crew, and day boats usually follow the local operator's practice.
Other service providers
The yacht gratuity covers the yacht crew only. Chase-boat crew, dive instructors, therapists, security teams, aviation crew and chauffeurs are separate.
Gratuity and the charter agreement
The charter agreement generally does not make gratuity compulsory. Read any special conditions, and ask the desk if a clause is unclear.
Go deeperMYBA Charter Agreement
Planning gratuity in your budget
You may want to set aside funds privately for a possible gratuity. Lund does not show an expected total in quotes.
Go deeperWhat is included·How to charter
Lund's position
Lund will tell you what is customary for the specific yacht and region when asked. Lund will never pressure you, preselect an amount or collect gratuities through a public payment link.
- Crew should never solicit a tip. If you ever feel pressured, tell the desk.
Saying thank you
A handwritten note, a testimonial shared with the crew's permission, or a word to the captain is valued by crews, whatever gratuity you choose.
— Private planner
Plan a gratuity for your own reference
Enter the base charter fee only, excluding APA, VAT, delivery fees and berths. Nothing is preselected and nothing is saved.
Choose a fee and a percentage to see an illustration.
Ask what is customary for my yacht— Yacht Desk · Charter & Brokerage Desk
Ask what is customary for my charter
Lund never collects gratuities through a public payment link and never publishes bank details. Confirm any changed bank details by phone.
Written and reviewed by the Lund Group Yacht Desk and Charter & Brokerage Desk. Percentages are dated market context, not rules. The decision remains the charterer's.
Questions
- Is tipping the yacht crew mandatory?
- No. Crew gratuity is discretionary. You decide whether to leave one and how much.
- Is a crew gratuity expected?
- It is customary on most professionally crewed charters, but customary does not mean obligatory.
- What is the normal yacht crew tip?
- There is no single global figure. MYBA's 2018 public guidance suggested 5–15% of the gross charter fee for excellent service; parts of today's large-yacht market often discuss roughly 10–15%. Customs vary.
- Is 20% the standard?
- No. Some segments discuss higher figures, but 20% is not a default.
- Is it 5%, 10% or 15%?
- Any of these can be appropriate depending on the yacht, region and service. Ask the desk what is customary for your charter.
- Why do websites give different numbers?
- Sources differ by date, region, yacht type and charter structure. Always check the source date.
- Is the tip based on the total bill?
- No. Where a percentage is used, it is generally against the base charter fee.
- Is APA included in the tip calculation?
- No. APA is an expense advance, not a service fee.
- Is VAT included in the tip calculation?
- No. VAT is not part of the basis.
- Are delivery fees or berths included?
- No.
- Who receives the tip?
- The whole crew, usually through the captain.
- Should I give it to the captain?
- Generally yes, unless the yacht or your broker advises another process.
- Is it shared equally?
- Often, but each yacht has its own practice. The captain manages distribution.
- Should I tip individual crew members?
- It is better to give one gratuity through the captain, so unseen crew are included.
- When should I give the tip?
- At the end of the charter, after the APA account is reconciled.
- Should I decide before boarding?
- No. Decide after experiencing the service.
- Is cash required?
- No. A bank transfer can be arranged.
- Can I pay by bank transfer?
- Usually yes, through your broker or the yacht's accounting process. Confirm bank details by phone.
- Can the tip come out of unused APA?
- Only on your explicit instruction, and if the yacht's accounting process allows it. Never automatically.
- Is an APA top-up a tip?
- No. It funds further expenses.
- Is gratuity part of broker commission?
- No. They are entirely separate.
- Does a tip replace crew wages?
- No. Wages are the owner's responsibility.
- Is a service charge the same as a gratuity?
- Only if your contract expressly creates a service charge. It is never assumed.
- Should I tip less because of bad weather?
- Weather is not service. Judge how the crew handled the conditions.
- The captain refused an anchorage. Is that poor service?
- No. Safety decisions are part of the captain's job.
- What if something broke on board?
- Assess how professionally the crew handled it. Contractual remedies are separate.
- What if service was poor?
- Raise it with the captain and your broker during the charter. A gratuity is not a dispute settlement.
- Do I tip on a day charter?
- It depends on local custom. Ask the desk.
- Do customs differ in the Caribbean and the US?
- Yes. Some markets follow different conventions from the Mediterranean.
- Do I tip on a bareboat charter?
- There is no crew to tip on a bareboat charter.
- Does the yacht tip cover chauffeurs or aviation crew?
- No. It covers the yacht crew only.
- Can a company pay the gratuity?
- Yes, subject to the company's own approval and accounting rules.
- Will Lund pressure me to tip?
- Never. Lund explains the custom when asked. The decision is yours.
- Does Lund collect gratuities?
- Lund does not collect gratuities through a public link and never publishes bank details.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Terms, rates and availability are confirmed for each charter.