how much does yacht week actually cost

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Revealing The True Cost of Yacht Week Croatia

• August 11, 2023
• 8 minute read

Dreaming of setting sail in the Mediterranean, swimming in sparkling blue waters, and dancing in outdoor clubs on private islands? The Yacht Week Croatia is an iconic, super fun event that draws thousands of people each year – but the Yacht Week cost can be overwhelming for some before they understand their options. 

The Yacht Week Croatia (the original Yacht Week route!) is on many, many people’s bucket lists. When I sailed with The Yacht Week Croatia, we had guests from as far away as the U.S. and Australia flying to Croatia to attend the event. If you’re dreaming about spending a week on the water, but aren’t sure how to start budgeting, I’m here to help you plan your Croatia Yacht Week adventure. 

We set sail with The Yacht Week in Croatia in July 2023 – and despite the amount of research I did in advance, very few articles or budget breakdowns mentioned the true extent of the Yacht Week Cost. The Yacht Week boat fee is JUST the start – there are lots of hidden fees ! So how much does The Yacht Week cost, really? Let’s get into it with my detailed budget breakdown. 

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When is Yacht Week Croatia? 

The Yacht Week happens every summer – it’s the most iconic (and the original) rent-a-yacht-and-party experience in the Mediterranean. The Yacht Week runs what they call several different “routes,” meaning they sail in a couple different locations (more on that below). However, Yacht Week Croatia is the “original route” – and the one many people pick for that very reason. Each year, Yacht Week runs seven day routes from May to August . 

There are other Yacht Week routes. Nowadays, Yacht Week runs routes in Greece, Turkey, and even Tahiti! You can find a full list of their destinations here . However, the original route? That’s Yacht Week Croatia.  

How much does Yacht Week cost?

Most people know The Yacht Week costs a pretty penny – but just how much does it cost? 

The Yacht Week cost depends on several factors:

• Do you want a cabin on a boat, or will you rent out an entire boat with your group?
• If you do plan to rent out your own boat, how many people will be in your group to help split the cost? 
• Do you want a host, or will you handle your own food? 
• Do you want a simple boat, or will you upgrade to a luxury option (a bigger boat with air conditioning)?

Our group attended The Yacht Week in mid-July 2023 and opted to rent a single monohull with no A/C – the simplest, most affordable option. However, we did add a host to our boat to help prepare meals and tidy the boat, which added a small extra cost. It ended up costing us 10,500 USD for the entire boat with a host. 

The great part about The Yacht Week is that you have multiple price tiers to fit a variety of budgets. Let’s dive into the breakdown. 

The Core Yacht Week Cost (the Yacht Fee)

First things first: you’ll need to pick your boat. The Yacht Week offers four boat options:

• Classic Monohull
• Premium Monohull 
• Classic Catamaran 
• Premium Catamaran 

Each option comes with a skipper, entrance to Yacht Week parties, towels and linen, and boat cleaning at the end of the week post check-out. 

Though the costs change each year, generally, the classic Monohull is the most affordable option. When we sailed in 2023, the boat was 10,500 Euros total for the week. That’s the starting price, though a premium catamaran will cost quite a bit more (though it also fits more people!). 

You can see how small the classic monohull looks above, but don’t be surprised — it fits more than you might expect!

If you’re unhappy with these options, Yacht Week has a luxury option that allows you to pick your own boat – many of which are often more expensive. We won’t talk about that option here, as it changes a little each year, both price-wise and option-wise. 

Adding a Host to Your Yacht Week Experience

Above, we talked about the “Host” option for Yacht Week. What exactly is a host?

A host is your chef for the week – and she also helps keep the boat tidy and assists on deck when needed. The host will cook:

• All breakfast meals on board
• All lunch meals on board
• Two dinners on board

If you’re booking a single cabin on your Yacht Week boat, you may find the host is often, if not always, included in the price. 

However, if you’re booking your own boat to split with your friends, you’ll have the option to add your own host. The price of the host will depend on the amount of people you’re bringing on your boat. For six people, we ended up paying around 100 USD extra for the host each. 

Keep in mind your host and skipper will need their own cabin, so you’ll have fewer options to split the cost. Normally, the host will split a cabin with the skipper – taking 2 people off the total number of people to fill the boat.

Hidden Fees: Yacht Week Croatia 

There’s a significant amount of hidden fees many Yacht Week attendees don’t fully understand until they book their trip. Paying for the boat is only a portion of your full cost! Let’s dive into the parts of The Yacht Week they don’t discuss. 

• Refundable yacht deposit/ security deposit: One person will pay this amount upon check-in. This deposit covers damage to the vessel. Assuming there is no damage, you’ll get the deposit back at the end of the week. You’ll pay $2,500 Euros, and you will almost always pay by credit card. 
• The Cash Kitty : The biggest fee no one talks about? The Cash Kitty. The Cash Kitty is a name assigned to a group of miscellaneous fees collected at the start of your trip. These include port fees, yacht fuel, shore power, water, ice, and water taxis – among other things. The cash kitty will vary for each boat , because shore fees and fuel needs will be different for each boat. You can use this nifty calculator on their website (hidden way down at the bottom) to learn about your estimated fees. For a monohull on the Croatia Original Route, fees run around 1950 Euros total – or 200 Euros per person. For a catamaran, those fees run around 2500 Euros total – or 245 Euros per person. The breakdown assumes, of course, you’re filling the boat. If you don’t plan to fill the boat, each person will need to pay more. At the end of the trip, if your skipper has leftover money, they will hand it back to you. On our boat, we had no leftover money. 
• Tip : You’ll need to tip your crew at the end of the trip, too! Your tip should be around 10% to 20% of your total booking price . That means for a classic monohull, a 20% tip would be around 2,000 USD . You will need to tip your crew in cash. 
• Food & drink : If you’re booking your own boat, you’ll need to worry about food and drinks, too – no matter if you have a host or not. Not every spot you dock will have easy access to restaurants or food (though most major ports will, of course). That’s why you should go grocery shopping in advance. For an entire week’s worth of food and drink for six guests, a host and a skipper, we paid around 850 Euros. However, we also opted out of one dinner and therefore had less food. A word of advice about the food situation: the best grocery store you’ll find? It’s near the dock, about a 10 minute walk away. None of the other ports had as large or well-stocked stores. So stock up early, if you can – because there aren’t always food options everywhere you go. That’s also why I recommend a host: she’s familiar with the boats and storage space. There isn’t a ton of room in the fridge, so it’s usually a tough fit.  
• Host & Skipper Food Fees : During your charter, you’ll need to cover any costs for your host and skipper to have food. It’s tradition to invite them to dinner with you and cover their costs. If you don’t want to do that, you’ll need to give them cash to eat dinner. 
• Transport to/from the marina : You’ll need to get to and from the marina, which will be assigned to you closer to the date of departure. Don’t fret – if you can’t afford a taxi, there’s an excellent bus that runs often between Trogir, the airport, and Split for two Euros. 
• Additional speakers and/or cooler : I know the Yacht Week website says the boats come with speakers, but that’s normally not true. If you want to blast music, you’ll need to rent a speaker. The speaker will cost 250 Euros to 300 Euros, depending on size. The smaller cooler will cost 70 Euros, the bigger one, 90 euros. If you’re visiting in peak summer, opt for the bigger cooler for sure. Keep in mind these are provided by a third party and prices fluctuate year by year. Pro tip: You can’t actually play loud music at most ports past 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. And some days, you’ll be at port for the entire day.So keep that in mind! 
• Misc. Costs : Be sure to bring some spending money for miscellaneous expenses. That means dinners on shore, for the most part, and drinks when you’re out and about. This should cost around 100 – 200 Euros at most, depending on how much you drink and how much you eat. 

When you take the security deposit out of the equation, we brought around 500 to 1,000 Euros extra per person to cover the above fees – and spent all of it, too. 

How many people do you need for Yacht Week?

You can travel with as little people as you want – or as many (to an extent). 

If you want to go solo, you can book a bed in a cabin on a yacht. Alternatively, you can look on “Crew Finder” and other Facebook groups for groups looking to add people to their yachts. 

However, if you want to rent out your own boat, you can fill it up. The maximum depends on your boat and whether you opt for a host. Generally speaking, it’s a maximum of 6 to 12 people. You can bring less, of course, but everyone will have to pay more to cover the total cost. 

Do you need A/C?

Ah yes, the golden question. Do you need air conditioning when you’re booking Yacht Week? Let’s be honest: Yacht Week costs can add up, and it may seem a little pricey. 

Before getting on the boat, I read as many blog posts and forums as I could – and everyone recommended air conditioning. I was really worried because we booked a boat without air conditioning. 

We traveled in mid-July, and it was really hot. We’re talking 38 degrees Celcius our first two days. Did we make it? Yeah, it ended up being totally fine . Many boats have lots of space to sleep outside. You can bring cushions and camp under the stars. 

Half our boat opted to sleep outside, the other half, inside. Either way, everyone was surprised – it ended up being much easier to sleep than we expected. Later in the week, when it cooled off, most people ended up sleeping inside with no problems. 

So do you need A/C? It’s up to you. 

Remember: The reality is different, and not everything you read online is true. People we met with A/C on their boats told us the A/C had been broken…and was broken the entire trip and the entire season.

These are boats, after all. Things break, and they don’t always get fixed. If you book a boat with A/C, remember, there’s a chance it may be broken. In addition, remember you can only use the A/C when plugged into shore power (which was only 4 days on our route). 

Final Musings 

Yacht Week Croatia can be affordable – if you’re willing to skip out on some of the luxuries. One mentality shift? Think of it like camping! To optimize your Yacht Week Croatia costs, make sure to think about alllll the hidden fees and costs in advance. There’s nothing worse than being surprised with costs. Happy Sailing!! 

Samantha Tatro is a Czech-American third culture kid who grew up living and traveling abroad. Many years later, after living in California and working as a journalist, she decided to take the leap and move abroad again…this time to Prague, Czech Republic. Samantha started Undiscovered Path Home to help couples and solo female travelers find the courage to visit countries – and locations – off the beaten path. Her work has appeared in Bon Appetit, NBC News , The Adecco Group , and more .

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14 comments

Wow! This looks like an incredible adventure. My husband and I have been talking about spending a week on a catamaran around the Caribbean. This is definitely convincing me!

Thank you! Honestly, it’s so worth it (I even have sea sickness and loved it!)

Great tips and love the photos!

Thank you!!

Yacht Week sounds like so much fun! I love the idea of thinking of it a bit like camping if you can’t afford to splurge on all the luxuries. It’s good to know that it is an experience that most people can enjoy, even if you’re working with a smaller budget. Thanks for the comprehensive guide!

I had no idea about this. It looks very fun! 🙂

I would love to do this! Have not been to Croatia but have done flotilla sails in Greece, Caribbean and BVI. It is not cheap, but well worth it, I found. Thanks for the insights about this event.

That sounds amazing — it’s never cheap but it’s such a unique experience!

Have always wanted to do yacht week! Thanks for the info!

Oh this looks amazing! I’ve not sailed for years other than from a to b. I think I need to start considering more ways to travel around than the usual plane, train or car.

This looks like so much fun! I’ve always wanted to go on a yacht in Crotia. Looks like a great way to explore the area. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Thank you for reading!! 100% bucket list!

This sounds like so much fun! I will definitely have to try it with the hubby one day!

It’s such a unique experience!

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Matador Original Series

Everything you need to know before going to yacht week in croatia.

S o, you saw the videos of people floating through Croatia having the time of their lives; rounded up half a dozen of your best, fairly affluent acquaintances; and booked a charter for The Yacht Week . Congratulations. You’re in for a blur of good times, clubs, and parties on giant inflatable flamingos.

For the unfamiliar, The Yacht Week is a weeklong flotilla of motor-assisted sailboats meandering through the Adriatic with young people living like it’s spring break. But the booze is better, the scenery more spectacular, and the people hail from all over the world — not just all over the SEC.

If you booked this trip with your buds on a whim, chances are a lot of questions still remain: How much money will I spend on Yacht Week? What should I bring to Yacht Week? Will there be waaaay more guys than girls like my friend who went back in 2014 said it would? Don’t worry, we have all the answers from personal experience, from both male and female perspectives (a gender-neutral experience Yacht Week is not). Here’s everything you need to know, from how much to budget to what to bring and how much to tip the staff during The Yacht Week in Croatia.

Photo: Julia Fay Photography

Here’s how much you will spend on Yacht Week.

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear: It’s called Yacht Week. Not affordable-bass-fishing-cruiser-week. Or rowboat week. YACHT week. And that means it’s gonna get expensive. For ease-of-reading purposes, we’ll break it down list style, assuming an eight-person crew with an even male-to-female ratio on the cheapest boat possible. Fewer people or more males and this number goes up.

Yacht, skipper, and parties: $9310 or $1163.75 each. This covers your boat; the person driving it; and admission to all the swanky, we’re-cooler-than-you Yacht Week parties at clubs you only saw on Rich Kids of Instagram.

Host: $750 or $93.75 each.

Gas, mooring fees, water taxis, and other boat-related expenses: $225 per person. Your skipper will gather this at the beginning for a cash “kitty” that he or she will use to pay for gas, water taxi transfers from the marinas, mooring fees, and other miscellaneous expenses. They’re required to keep receipts for all of it, too, and will refund anything that’s not used at the end.

Skipper and host tip: $160-$200 (80-$100 each, per person). This, of course, is dependent on how well you think they did. But $80-$100 from each of you, to each one of them, is customary.

Groceries and onboard alcohol: $200 per person. Your host will take you to the nearest grocery store on departure day and pick out everything you’ll need for them to make food. And for you to drink on board. It might be the longest receipt you ever get that isn’t from CVS.

Other meals and drinks during the trip: $450. Your host cooks you breakfast and one other meal a day. You’re on your own for the rest. And admission to those swanky parties might be free, but the drinks most certainly are not.

IF YOU’RE MALE: You’ll be paying for every drink you consume and may want to look into getting table service at those parties so you’re not goofball #67 trying to talk to girls on the dance floor. Your host can make table reservations, and table minimums are around $2000 for your group. Or you can spend the week nursing $6 beers. Whatever your budget allows.

IF YOU’RE FEMALE: You might pay for one drink a night. Tables are not at all necessary as you can find your way to a table without obligation to do much other than pour yourself a drink. If you’re not comfortable with that, well drinks run about $11. Again, budget accordingly.

Airfare: $1100-$1400. Split is not a cheap place to fly, especially during summer. If you see a flight under $1000, book it immediately.

Additional lodging: $200. Plan to fly in the day before, so on the minuscule chance your flight gets delayed, you have some cushion. You’ll also probably need to stay overnight somewhere on the way back as there are no nonstops flights from Split to the US. You’ll likely end up spending your last night in some European hub like Madrid or London.

Floaties: $50. You’ll need one of these.

Additional taxis and Ubers: $120. This would be rides to and from the airport, around the towns you stop in, or back to the boat in the morning from wherever you end up.

Total cash outlay: $3700-$4,000. Not the most expensive vacation of your life, but not the cheapest either. And if you have fewer people, or more guys than girls, or a boat with crazy stuff like AC and private bedrooms, it can cost over $5000. This is just the bare minimum.

The host might be “optional,” but you need one like you need water.

You might think, “I cook for myself all the time! I’m not wasting $750 for someone to make my morning coffee!” Ok, tough guy. Spend an entire afternoon taking rosé to the head on a unicorn floatie then try to cook anything more complicated than toast. It ain’t happening. We had a group of guys docked next to us who didn’t have a host and had been eating nothing but chips for the past two days. If you wanna live like that, by all means, skip the host.

However, if you’d like to have a lovely fruit platter, coffee, French toast waiting for you every morning/afternoon when you wake up, and dinner waiting for you every night, this will be the best $750 you ever spend. Your host also makes food that’s somewhat nutritious with salads, proteins, and carbs mixed pretty well. When you’re beating your immune system to death with Jager shots, proper nutrition makes a big difference.

It is, in fact, possible to shower and do #2 on board.

A lot of blogs and advice posts we saw for Yacht Week said you basically could never shower on board or do #2 in your bathroom. This is highly misleading. Yes, if everyone on board showered during days you’re not at a proper marina, you’d run out of water real fast. But if you space it out and mostly shower when you can easily get water refills, showering onboard is totally possible.

As is — as the ladies on my boat so euphemistically put it — “glittering.” The marine heads onboard might require some effort to flush, but so long as everyone flushes fully and DOES NOT PUT TOILET PAPER DOWN THE TOILET, you won’t have any problem using the bathroom for both liquids and solids.

That said, when you’re at a marina, use those facilities as much as you can. They’re better and keep the boat cleaner.

Bring your nicest clothes. And maybe an iron.

You didn’t fork over all that money for Yacht Week parties to show up dressed in flip-flops and shorts, did you? The parties on Yacht Week are some of the best you’ll ever go to. There’s a private garden party in a hilltop castle. There’s a white party at Carpe Diem , one of the most famous clubs in the world. There’s a party at a massive outdoor nightclub somewhere outside Bol and a closing party at a combination nightclub/swimming stadium in Split. Miraculously, people show up looking like they haven’t been living on half a mattress for five days.

So look the part and bring stuff you’d wear if you were going out in Vegas or South Beach. And an iron. The close quarters will have you looking like a wrinkle bomb went off in your suitcase, and that look will defeat the purpose of packing anything nice.

There will be dudes. A LOT of dudes.

Ever gone out in a military town? That’s more or less the odds you’re looking at during Yacht Week. Sure, the organizers TRY to regulate an even male-to-female ratio by charging exorbitant fees if your group skews male. And their promotional material might say they manage that strictly, but money talks and people pay. So the first comment you’ll get on any picture you post will be something along the lines of, “Wow. That’s a lot of dudes.”

If you’re a single girl, great news! You won’t pay for a thing all week. There’ll be men with sexy accents from all over the world competing for your attention, and you can spend the night in air-conditioned comfort any night you choose if your boat is less-than-stellar.

If you’re a single guy, this doesn’t mean you won’t have the week of your life. It means don’t go expecting to break your six-month dry spell. That’s what Thailand is for. Go expecting to hang out on boats in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, meet interesting people, and drink with reckless abandon, and you’ll have a great time. Any ladies you meet will just be a bonus.

There will also be WiFi, and it’s not bad.

It is truly amazing that in 2018 you can be out in the middle of the Adriatic Sea and still be perfectly connected to all of the interwebs. After all, this is a flotilla full of millennials, so going on vacation isn’t so much about getting away but letting everyone else KNOW you’re getting away. The onboard WiFi is fantastic when it works but will shut off sometimes and can get blocked when you’re tied up to other boats. It works best when you’re sailing in the open sea, so if you’re a remote worker, plan to work then.

Croatia is safe. No Liam Neeson rescue will be necessary.

As we headed into the trip, the ladies in our crew were a bit anxious about safety at night and in the clubs (a la Taken ). However, the majority of the nights, our skipper and host escorted our crew to the water taxis — and handled the payment from the aforementioned kitty — as well as to the parties, which were private, Yacht Week-only events at rented-out clubs. The hosts and staff on site were welcoming and fun (and really good with names), and after the first night or two, you walk into the party and immediately recognize a handful of faces. There were fellow partygoers at nearly every water taxi and plenty of TYW crew there to keep a mindful eye on the inebriated masses. As with any club, keep an eye on your drink, but still feel free to let loose.

You won’t do any actual sailing.

If you were planning on impressing all of Croatia with the tacking skills you learned in sixth grade at summer camp, it’ll have to wait for another time. Though Yacht Week does have a regatta on the final day, and promotional materials say this is a chance to “show off your sailing skills,” there is no actual sailing involved. You’ll use the yacht’s motor for all movement, all week, and usually, it’s on autopilot. So don’t freak out if you go above deck and see your skipper enjoying breakfast while the steering wheels move independently. Your boat, as far as we know, is not haunted.

You’re going to get sick. Period.

In case you didn’t major in human health, alcohol and minimal sleep don’t exactly boost your immune system. Neither does living in close quarters with people, sharing drinks, water bottles, and spit with strangers from other countries. Take all the Emergen-C you like, if you leave Yacht Week without a hacking cough, you should be studied by the CDC. Your flight back from Split will be like a cross between a Sunday flight from Vegas and a fifth-grade classroom in December. Accept the illness as the last price you pay for glory.

Do not shit where you eat. But if you do…

Given the close quarters during Yacht Week, you might think this is a literal statement, but you know what we mean here. If you’ve got a mixed crew, find someone on another boat to swap fluids with.

Easy to say, harder to do. If we’ve learned anything from reality TV, it’s that when you put boys and girls together in a confined space and add alcohol, bad decisions get made. Should you find yourself in this situation, don’t be awkward about it, lay out your expectations for the rest of the trip, and move on. Any drama becomes everyone’s drama, so do whatever you have to do to keep it to a minimum.

Budget 3x the amount of alcohol you think you’ll need.

Remember how you stocked your last fraternity formal? Ok, now imagine you’re doing that for a week.

And 5x the water.

It might seem excessive, but given the sun, booze, and general mayhem of Yacht Week, plan to drink a gallon of water a day. That’s roughly four liters if you’re trying to make quick conversions at the grocery store — 28 liters per person, give or take. We had a grocery cart and a half full of water bottles for our six-person crew and ran out on day six. You can always resupply when you stop in town, but it’s much easier to buy it all upfront. Now is not the time to try and minimize your plastic footprint.

Invest in a car-charger adapter.

On standard boats, oftentimes the only power outlets are the 12-volt, car-cigarette-lighter-style variety, which doesn’t do you a whole lot of good when all you brought was a standard European adapter. Head to BrandsMart or look online for a 12V adapter and have two or three on board. They’re invaluable for stuff like laptops, phone chargers, air pumps for floaties, irons, and other electronic equipment. Just don’t bring hair dryers; they suck up too much electricity for those outlets to handle.

You may not have AC, so bring some fans.

If you’ve opted for the cheaper yacht, get prepared to sweat. Most of the smaller boats don’t come with air conditioning, and though most do have small fans in the room, they’re not exactly “cooling.” If you can, snag a room with a skylight as those let cool air in, especially when the boat is moving. Otherwise, take frequent, refreshing dips in the Adriatic or consider swapping nights sleeping above deck with your roommate. Two people in a tiny cabin and no A/C can get reeeeeeeal cozy. If you’ve got portable, rechargeable fans, bring those along.

If you’ve got any girls in your group, bring mirrors.

As we said, the inside of the boat can get really muggy and downright uncomfortable. Below deck, especially before bed, it can be too steamy to handle — and the bathrooms become a claustrophobic sauna. So getting ready for one of six very dressy nights is a sweaty struggle. Do yourself a solid and bring a portable standing mirror, so you can get ready above deck with a breeze (and preferably also a drink). Our crew split two mirrors among five girls, but we could’ve been ready much faster (and enjoyed the sunset more) if we had brought one per girl.

Buy shampoo, soap, and other toiletries there.

If you’re trying to just take a carry-on bag to Yacht Week, remember you’ll be able to hit the grocery store before your trip and don’t need to pack full-sized shampoo, soap, and other toiletries.

Split is the worst airport on the planet. But still get there early.

OK, maybe not the whole planet. There’s probably one in rural Mongolia that’s worse. But rural Mongolia also doesn’t process 3000 passengers at a time on a summer Saturday, most of whom have splitting hangovers and a nasty wet cough. Lines literally run out the door to check in the day after Yacht Week, and the gates are smaller than you’d find at a tiny regional airport. It can take two hours minimum from the time you walk in to the time you clear immigration and get to your gate, so plan accordingly.

But if you don’t cut it close, you’re in for a long afternoon. Want to kill time at the bar? There’s a single beer tap with some bottles on the far end of the terminal, with exactly one seat and some trash cans you can flip over to sit on. Lounge? There is one just past security, but it’s only open to elite fliers of European airlines, and its amenities don’t extend much past coffee and Croatian newspapers. There’s also a snack stand and coffee shop with sandwiches you may recognize from school lunch.

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How Much Does Yacht Week Really Cost?

The cost of yacht week varies substantially depending on your choices of all the different options. So ask yourself these important questions.

• Are you getting a boat with AC? 
• Are you employing a host? 
• How many people are you splitting the cost with? 
• Do you want a private cabin? 

Overall, yacht week can cost anything between €3510 -€4700+ ($3700- $5000+) . The upper limit refers to choosing all the luxury options like AC, a private cabin, and having fewer people on your boat to split the cost between.

We will look at a breakdown of prices for yacht week, including the different tiers and what they include and don’t include. In addition, the extra costs involved over and above the yacht package price. 

I’ll also answer whether you really do need AC for yacht week (is it worth the extra cash?) and how many people you need to split the cost of a yacht.

So let’s get into this!

To give you an idea of the pricing,  the yacht itself costs between €650 and €2480  ($685-$2620), depending on the boat you choose and the dates you decide to go.

And whether you split the cost of an entire yacht or book as a cabin duo on someone else’s boat. These costs are gleaned from using the Original Route in Croatia as an example. They also vary according to different routes. 

There are three ‘tiers’ that you can choose from classic, premium and luxury.

The  classic option costs €700-€900  ($740-$950) and includes:

• Free date changes. 

The  premium option costs around €1100-€1840  ($1160-$1940) per person and is in the middle of the range. It includes:

• Host(ess) who buys food and cooks it for you
• Free date changes

The luxury option is the premier option. This  costs around €1450- €2510  ($1530- $2650) and includes:

• Air Conditioning
• Host(ess) who buys the food and cooks it for you
• Free Date Changes

All premium and luxury packages include a host who does all the shopping for food ingredients and whips up the below meals:

• 6 (six) breakfasts
• 6 (six) lunches
• 2 (two) dinners
• Mineral water

This  costs an extra €1025  ($1080) on Build Your Own (BYO) packages. These are packages where you add all the services you want individually and pay for the total.

If you want to add preselected drinks to your BYO package, the  additional cost starts at €850  ($900). Regardless of which package you choose, the following are included in the fee for all tiers of yacht week:

• Skipper’s wages
• Yacht accommodation for 7 days
• Access to all exclusive events
• International DJs
• Professional photographers
• Stereo speakers onboard
• Final yacht cleaning
• Bath towels & bed linen
• Festival VIP tickets
• Food basics for breakfast and lunch to be prepared by yourself if you choose the classic ‘tier.’

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Yacht Week (@theyachtweek)

Not included in yacht fee ( Hidden / Extra Costs)

1. Refundable yacht deposit/ security deposit, which is paid for in case of damage to the yacht. If there is no damage to the vessel, this deposit will be returned to you at the end of the week. The amount varies between €250 and €350 ($265 and $370) per person. This can be paid in cash on arrival.

2. Transport to and from the airport (remember to bring cash for taxis as they may not accept cards).

3. Flights to and from Croatia

4. Food and drinks for yourself if you select the BYO package, which doesn’t automatically include food.

The premium and luxury tiers include food purchased and cooked by your host. Still, if you choose the classic tier, you will need to prepare your own food. And buy groceries for dinner and any extras apart from the basics provided for breakfast and lunch.

Food and drink for the host(ess) and the skipper when you are away from the yacht.

Eating out and alcohol will be extra. Budget the same amount you would typically for a holiday, considering how often you will feast on the yacht and how often you will eat out.

5. Yacht fuel, water and shore power. In addition, there are the Port Fees and security post. You can pay for these on arrival at each island. These vary depending on the date, location, and the size of your yacht.

6. Water taxis to transport you and your squad to/from the yacht on days/nights when you go shoreside. 

7. Tips for your skipper and host(ess). You’ll want to factor in the fantastic service you’ll be treated to.

Extra costs for the Original Route with 1 0 people on board.

On a Monohull:

• Water Taxis: €400/$420
• Fuel: €400/$420
• Water: €50/ $52,70
• Port Fees: €600/$632,60
• Total: €1450/$1530

On a Catamaran:

• Fuel: €550/ $580
• Port Fees: €800/ $844
• Total: €1800/ $1900

For more essential tips on preparing for yacht week, read our article how do I prepare for yacht week? Where we outline what to pack and what a typical yacht week itinerary might look like.

How many people do you need for yacht week ?

Depending on the yacht, the maximum number of people you can have on your boat is 10 (ten) to 12 (twelve).  

You can either gather enough people to split the cost between yourselves (usually between eight and twelve people). Or you can book a cabin with a friend (two of you to fill a cabin) on someone else’s yacht.

In which case, you are placed on a yacht that needs extra people to split the cost. This you can do through the yacht week website using the ‘crew finder.’ 

You can also use the crew finder to find more people for your yacht to fill up any spaces to help split the cost further. However, it is usually more cost-effective to go with the first option of getting an entire yacht and splitting the cost with friends.

Do you need AC for yacht week ?

Air Conditioning may be costly, but it’s pretty much  the consensus that it is essential to have AC for yacht week- especially if you are going in the heat of summer.  

The cabins are small and compact with very little fresh air. Get AC if you want any hope of sleeping and don’t want to be trapped with the scent of sweat permeating the air!

F i nal Thoughts

Overall, yacht week can be extremely pricey if you let it but can also be affordable if you are willing to cut back on the luxuries. 

The difficulty in the decision comes in choosing whether to get AC. Which is only part of the luxury tier and not part of the classic or premium tier, but you can fix this problem by choosing more budget options for other aspects of the trip.

Still unsure if yacht week is for you or if the cost suits your purse? Then, why not look at these two articles comparing Yacht Week with  Bucketlust  and  Sail Week ? They are competing companies with similar offerings so that you can make an informed choice.

Written by:

I’m a travel enthusiast seeking unique adventures off-the-beaten-path. With my camera, I capture genuine moments and prioritize authenticity in both writing and photography.

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Table of Contents:

Yacht Week Croatia is a unique sailing adventure that offers stunning landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and unforgettable parties. The yacht itself costs between €650 and €2480 (685-2620), depending on the boat you choose and the dates you decide to go. The festival takes place in five hand-picked destinations around the world, with 46 boats doing the same route as us, the Yacht Week Croatia Black Route. Full yacht bookings do not include food or a host.

A typical day at Yacht Week Croatia involves wake-up, head upstairs, drink iced coffee on the deck, and pay for various expenses such as port fees, water, fuel, and water taxis. The cost of the entire boat with a host is 10,500 USD, with multiple price tiers available. The layout of a monohull and catamaran is variable, ranging from 420 to 2400 per person. Tipping is also included in the price range.

The cost breakdown for Yacht Week Croatia includes a yacht of 17,113, Yacht Week wristbands, and a total of 17,113. The host fee is 750 or 93.75 each, while gas, mooring fees, water taxis, and other boat-related expenses are 225 per person. The skipper will gather this at the event.

Sorry, hosts are sold out for this week, so the cost breakdown is not available.

📹 The ULTIMATE Travel Guide: Yacht Week Croatia

Yacht Week Croatia Travel Guide, Yacht Week Croatia Tour, Yacht Week Croatia Travel So you’ve heard that the yacht week is …

Does yacht Week include food?

Drinks are not included in any bookings. Food is included on certain cabin bookings only.

Cabin Bookings: Classic Catamaran, Premium Monohull and Premium Catamaran.

Food and a host are included in the booking total. Your host will reach out 2 weeks before you set sail, go through any dietary restrictions you may have and create a meal plan with the crew.

They will go to the supermarket before you board the yacht to get all the provisions and across the week your host will prepare 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 2 dinners.

Before you board your yacht, you will need to go to the supermarket to get your alcohol, drinks and anything else you may need.

Is yacht week in Croatia worth it?

Yacht week was absolutely amazing and the best way to see Croatia in our opinion. We tacked on a few days in Split and Trojir but overall couldn’t be more grateful we saw so many islands. The yacht week Croatia was absolutely amazing!

The original, the biggest and the best floating festival around. Join a like-minded crowd for exclusive parties, circle rafts and adventure.

As the place where it all began, this route isn’t just an option; it’s the definitive Yacht Week experience that beckons to all. Discover hidden coves, savour the finest local cuisine, and dance until the break of day.

✅ Exclusive Yacht Week parties✅ Floating DJ booth✅ Raft nights✅ Famous Croatian islands✅ Croatia’s biggest & best venues.

Am I too old for yacht Week?

Yacht Week FAQ. What is the average age on the routes and is there an age restriction? What is the average age on the routes and is there an age restriction? The average age of our events is 27, however, we have a range of guests varying from 20 to late 30s and beyond.

What is the average age on the routes and is there an age restriction?

The average age of our events is 27, however, we have a range of guests varying from 20 to late 30s and beyond.

What is the average age for yacht week?

27 Yacht Week FAQ. What is the average age on the routes and is there an age restriction? What is the average age on the routes and is there an age restriction? The average age of our events is 27, however, we have a range of guests varying from 20 to late 30s and beyond.

What is the average age of people at yacht Week?

Borrow a Cup of Sugar. Despite my frequent references to partying and ridiculous behavior, this isn’t MTV’s Spring Break. The average age of a Yacht Week’er is around 20-to-30-something and most people are young professionals.

Everyone is here to make memories that last a lifetime. That includes new relationships and friendships, not just hookups.

I met some awesome couples there together and know people who have gotten together after meeting on The Yacht Week. While I didn’t meet the Mer-man of my dreams, my favorite part of this trip was hopping from boat to boat making friends with people from every corner of the world.

Everyone stays in touch too. It’s like a little secret society..

How much to tip for yacht week?

Let your destination be your guide. Tipping rules change by destination. As a general rule, a 10% to 15% tip is customary when chartering in the Mediterranean, while a 15% to 20% tip is more common in the Caribbean.

Your tip should be proportional to the service you received. Ultimately, it’s up to you on how much to tip. Most guests, though, base it on the quality of service. But remember: Most crew members are working 16- to 18-hour days, and a tip rewards them for all that hard work and service. If you have questions about how much to tip, consult with your charter broker – brokers can help you understand what’s customary.

Is Yacht Week for singles?

Solo Bunk Cabins are available on Premium Monohulls only. You’ll always be paired with someone of the same gender, ensuring a great experience with a like minded solo traveler. 2 weeks before you set sail, you will meet the crew you will be sailing with, so you can start to make plans for the trip of a lifetime!

Please note, there are very limited spots and they are filling up quickly!

If the spots are filled, join the waitlist, and we’ll reach out if more become available.

Is Yacht Week Greece worth it?

For me, The Yacht Week Greece is the most well-balanced route of them all. You get the gorgeous sailing experience, incredible island destinations, delicious Greek food and fun parties. You definitely have one of the liveliest nightlife and party scenes compared to other routes.

Rated on a scale of 1 (low) – 5 (high). Nightlife: 4. You’re guaranteed to have some really fun nights on the Greece route. Bottle service is available at nearly every party and is great because you can save money on drinks with a big group.There are a LOT of organized parties on this route so bottle service costs can rack up quickly.

Day Parties: 4. One of the best day parties of all of the routes is the White Party onErmioni island. There are lots of day party options along the route and plenty of opportunities to sail out and tie up to other boats for a little sipping and swimming.

What happens on yacht Week?

Each day will vary, depending on the itinerary. You normally spend your day chilling on the yacht sailing from one port to another with a stop in a bay to cook lunch and have a swim. There will be a Yacht Week party or event each day too, perhaps an activity once you arrive at the next island.

How it works. You’ve heard us say it’s the best week of your life, and you’ve chosen your dream destination. But how does it all come together? How do you select the perfect yacht? And what’s the deal with a host? Here’s the lowdown on exactly how you book your week at sea.

Choose from our yacht categories or pick your own!

Choose your crew; sail with a group or join a shared yacht.

How many people do you need for yacht Week?

Full yacht Spend an unforgettable week on a yacht with your very own skipper and up to 12 friends. Can’t fill a whole yacht? Use our handy Crew Finder to connect with other travellers.

📹 Our 1 Week Luxury Yacht Vacation in Croatia for an Insane Price

For any business inquiries please contact me at: [email protected] Follow me on Facebook: …

Related Articles:

• How Much Do You Actually Pay For Yacht Week?
• How Expensive Is A Big Yacht?
• How Expensive Is It To Own A Yacht?
• How Much Money To Take To Yacht Week?
• How To Prepare For Yacht Week?
• How To Survive Yacht Week?

Debbie Green

I am a school teacher who was bitten by the travel bug many decades ago. My husband Billy has come along for the ride and now shares my dream to travel the world with our three children.The kids Pollyanna, 13, Cooper, 12 and Tommy 9 are in love with plane trips (thank goodness) and discovering new places, experiences and of course Disneyland.

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Home > Croatia > Yacht Week Croatia Review – The Straight Facts

Yacht Week Croatia Review – The Straight Facts

The Yacht Week Croatia Review: Know Before Your Go

Perhaps you've heard to rumours, the stories, and the legends about the Yacht Week. It sounds awesome. But so did the Taco Bell Cheese Roll-Up burrito . It is all hype, or is it the real deal? This Yacht Week Croatia review has the answers.

In the interest of educating the masses, I sacrificed myself. From Aug 9-17 ten buddies and I embarked on the Yacht Week Croatia in search of the truth.

We found it.

My Yacht Week Croatia review summary is that it's awesome…  b ut   i t's not for everyone.  And there are definitely some things you should know in advance. Here are some key figures to shed light into the inner workings of the mayhem and help you prepare for your own experience:

And for those of you who don’t know what the Yacht Week is, watch this video:

The Yacht Week Croatia Review by the Numbers:

Number of nationalities represented at Yacht Week.Somewhat surprisingly there was nobody from Russia, the Middle East (not even Israel), or Asia. Nevertheless, the chance to cavort with and befriend people like you from around the world was definitely a highlight of the Yacht Week.

Number of nationalities representing 80% of the yacht weekers: American, Australian, Brazilian, Spanish, and German. In other words, while the Yacht Week Croatia draws a worldwide clientele, it's not THAT diverse.

Nationalities we had on our boat, “The Love Boat”: German, Swedish, Swiss, Canadian, Portuguese, South African, and Namibian. This definitely played to our advantage in drawing the attention of other boats.

Estimated age of the average yacht weeker. The youngest were 22 and oldest closing on forty, but most were in the late 20s to early 30s range.

Average age of the skippers, who are supposed to keep everything in control. No wonder chaos ensued.

This may be crude, but no Yacht Week Croatia review would be complete without sharing how much sex goes on. Fifteen is the number of girls the eight single guys in our crew “got intimate” with during the week. Just under two girls per guy might not seem like a lot, but most of our crew settled on “Yacht Week girlfriends”, meaning they hooked up with the same girl each night. If getting laid is one of your objectives at Yacht Week Croatia, you're in luck. It is very easy.

Percentage of yacht weekers who were female. At least. If anything, there were more girls than guys. Everyone—guys and girls—seemed to agree it was an ideal ratio.

Estimated total number of hours we were actually at sea. And some of that was early in the morning while we were sleeping. The vast majority of our time was spent anchored or at harbor. The Yacht Week is not about boating; it's all about partying.

Hours we actually had the sails up. We only put our sails up twice in the whole trip.

Estimated average sleep quality score, out of 100 during the trip. The cabins get unbearably hot at night. This forces you to sleep on deck, which is not designed for sleeping. And sleeping outside leads to an inevitable early wake up as soon as the sun comes up. I’d recommend following the skippers’ lead: bring a hammock and something to cover your eyes.

Number of full meals we ate per day. With the exception of one egg salad, that meal was always pasta. Other than that, for sustenance we snacked on fruit, cereal, pizza, sausages, bread, and booze.

Boats doing the same route as us, the Yacht Week Croatia Black Route. At the same time, 46 other boats were doing the Red Route, which is the same route but in the other direction. That’s a lot of boats and a lot of partiers.

$850 (4900 kuna)

Total spent on groceries at the Getro by the marina before sailing off for the first time. We ate it all and then some.

$35 (200 kuna)

Amount we were extorted into paying for the 250 meter taxi ride to bring our haul of groceries from the Getro supermarket to the Marina Kastela. Bring some dollies or carts from the marina so you can push the stuff back yourselves and avoid being ripped off.

$10, $1, $0.5

Approximate cost of a bottle of vodka, a can of beer, and a kilogram of bananas respectively at the supermarket by the marina where we started our trip.

$30, $2.50, $3

Cost of the same vodka, beer, and bananas at the harbor by Hvar where we spent two nights. Buy as much as you can at the begging in order to save money.

$260 (1500 kuna)

Amount each of the eleven in our crew contributed to the pot, which was used to pay for joint expenses like groceries, gas, and harbor fees.

$4.50 (25 kuna)

Typical cost of a can of beer at the Yacht Week parties. If you’re a cheap-ass like me, be sure to pre-drink, or make a party mix that you can stash nearby.

$350-$900 (2000 to 5000 kuna)

Cost of getting tables at the parties. Don’t get tables. The parties are free-for-alls and you won’t be spending much time at your table anyways. If you want drinks, buy them individually or take advantage of other people’s tables.

Number of skippers (the guys we paid to captain our boats for us) who said Yacht Week Croatia is their favorite. Without exception, they said they thought the Yacht Weeks in Greece and the US Virgin Islands were better. That’s not to say Croatia is bad at all – it’s awesome – but food for thought for those considering signing up and deciding where to go.

Number of times in my life I will do the Yacht Week. It was an even better time than I expected, but it's the polar opposite of the type of traveling I prefer (blending in) and I’m not sure my body could survive another. Plus, it’s expensive and there are plenty of other experiences and parties to be had in life. I recommend everyone do it once at least. And if you’re crazy, you’ll be back for more.

Disclosure: Whenever possible, we use links that earn us a cut if you pay for stuff we recommend. It costs you nothing, so we'd be crazy not to. Read our affiliate policy .

10 thoughts on “Yacht Week Croatia Review – The Straight Facts”

Just did The Yacht Week Croatia. Wish I read this before going there to be a little bit more prepared. Really liked your article and all the numbers – especially the cost for taxi and food supply. Actually, all the numbers were quite accurate and interesting!

SUPER HELPFUL, thank you!

Glad to hear it, Alexandra! Enjoy the summer

All the guys and girls are so shredded and ripped. Does this mean that the less attractive bodies don’t get a fair chance to get laid ?

Hi Kamlesh. I'd say it's no different from the non Yacht-week world.

Thanks for sharing! Was searching info for the yacht week and found this article helpful.

You're welcome. This post is getting old, so hopefully some of the info in it remains reasonably accurate.

Hi, two things:

1.Im planning to travel in July, should I opt for an AC yacht or non AC one? is the heat really unbearable? 2. A bit embarrassing but I am a snob in these How well equipped are the toilets of the yacht like?

THANK YOU FOR THESE GREAT TIPS. The company emailed my friends and I that our boat is no longer available. Im hearing the ac yacht is not worth it. Some nights the boat ran out of fuel and they didnt have ac until later that morning. What is your opinion?

What do you think? (Leave a Comment.) Cancel reply