John BoullinYacht charter broker, DMA Yachting
The standard structure: 50% of the charter fee is due when you sign the charter agreement, and the remaining 50%, together with the APA and Spanish VAT, is due about six weeks before you step aboard. For far-in-advance bookings a 25/25/50 split is sometimes possible with the owner’s agreement.
The contract itself is a standard industry charter agreement that sets out the yacht, dates, fee, and cancellation terms. It looks more formal than it is; your broker walks you through it, and nothing in it is negotiable-by-surprise after signing.
Payment is by bank transfer, which is the industry standard for amounts this size. Every deadline is laid out in the agreement before you sign, so the money side holds no surprises. Wondering about cards? See can I pay with a credit card?