How Much Does It Cost to Charter a Boat in Croatia? (2025 Prices) | FleetoHub
Fleetohub Editorial Team··Updated 16 June 2026
How Much Does It Cost to Charter a Boat in Croatia? (2025 Prices)
Most charter booking sites show you one number: the base boat rate. That's the figure before the skipper, the transit log, the marina fees, the tourist tax, and the fuel bill arrive. By the time you add those up, the real cost is typically 30–50% higher than the headline price.
Croatia is the world's most popular sailing destination, accounting for approximately 40% of global yacht charters, with more than 3,000 active charter boats in its fleet, according to charter.hr's Croatia Yacht Charter Market Report, 2025. That means the market is competitive — and the pricing is anything but transparent.
This guide gives you the full cost: base boat rates by type and season, the skipper fee, and every mandatory extra you'll need to budget for before you book.
Key Takeaways
A mid-size bareboat sailboat (38–45ft) in Croatia costs €1,800–€6,000/week depending on season
Adding a skipper costs €180–€220/day — around €1,300–€1,540/week on top of the base rate
In 2025, Croatia's high-season occupancy fell to 65% — the best buyer's market in three years (Booking Manager, 2025)
A skippered 44ft catamaran in August, split 6 ways, costs roughly €1,600/person for the boat (excluding food)
What Does a Croatia Boat Charter Cost? (Quick Answer)
A mid-size sailing yacht in Croatia — the most commonly booked option — runs approximately €1,800–€6,000/week for a bareboat charter, depending on boat age, size, and season. In 2025, the average catamaran peak-season price was €10,202/week, down nearly 5% from 2024, according to the charter.hr Croatia Charter Market Report. Croatia's fleet oversupply has made 2025 prices more competitive than they've been since 2019.
Here's the base boat rate range by vessel size for the 2025 season, before any skipper or extras:
In 2025, Croatia holds approximately 40% of the global yacht charter market and operates a fleet of over 3,000 active charter boats, making it the most competitive charter destination in the world. A mid-size sailboat bareboat costs €1,800–€6,000/week depending on season. Average catamaran peak-season pricing fell to €10,202/week in 2025 — down 5% from 2024 — the first price correction in three years. (charter.hr, Croatia Yacht Charter Market Report, 2025.)
How Do Bareboat and Skippered Prices Compare?
In 2025, adding a professional skipper to a Croatia charter costs €180–€220/day — roughly €1,260–€1,540/week on top of the base boat rate, according to My Croatia Yacht Charter's 2025 pricing guide. For a group of six splitting the cost, that's €210–€257/person/week — a modest premium for having a qualified sailor in charge of the vessel.
Charter Type
Who sails
License required
Weekly extra
Best for
Bareboat
You
Yes (ICC / RYA Day Skipper)
—
Qualified sailors
Skippered
Professional skipper
No (guests)
+€1,260–€1,540
First-timers, mixed groups
Crewed (sail)
Skipper + chef
No
Included in rate from €7,200
Full-service, special occasions
Skippered charters now account for approximately 21% of all Croatia charter departures, up year-on-year as more first-time guests discover that hiring a skipper removes the licence requirement entirely, according to Booking Manager's State of the Yacht Charter Market 2025.
Typical weekly charter cost by boat type and charter style, Croatia high season (July–August) 2025. Source: My Croatia Yacht Charter; Yacht Charter Croatia.
In 2025, adding a professional skipper to a Croatia charter costs €180–€220/day — approximately €1,260–€1,540/week. Skippered charters represent 21% of all Croatia charter departures, a share that has grown year-on-year as first-time renters discover that a skipper removes the licence requirement entirely. For a group of 6, the skipper fee adds roughly €210–€257/person/week. (Booking Manager, State of the Yacht Charter Market 2025; My Croatia Yacht Charter, 2025.)
What Hidden Costs Should You Budget For?
Most charters in Croatia add €500–€1,200 in mandatory charges before you've provisioned a single meal. These aren't hidden as in dishonest — they're standard across every reputable operator — but they're rarely listed on the booking page alongside the headline rate. Budget for them upfront.
Cost item
Typical range
Notes
Transit log (vinjeta)
€150–€300
Mandatory Croatian government registration fee; covers the vessel's right to sail in national waters
Final cleaning
€180–€350
Often bundled with the transit log; always confirm what's included
Tourist tax
€1.50/person/night
Paid at base check-in; for 6 guests × 7 nights = €63
Marina fees
€50–€250/night
Varies by boat size, marina, season; anchoring in bays is free
Security deposit
€1,000–€3,000
Refundable; returned after checkout inspection; damage waiver available as an alternative
Fuel
€100–€300/week (sail)
Depends on itinerary; motoring in and out of marinas is the main usage
What is a transit log, exactly? The transit log (locally called the vinjeta) is a mandatory Croatian government document that registers your vessel to sail in national waters for that charter period. It is not optional, not included in most base rates, and not the same as the boat's registration. First-time renters are often surprised by this charge at check-in. Ask your charter company to confirm the exact cost for your specific boat before you pay — it varies by vessel size and operator.
One practical way to cut marina costs: plan 3–4 nights at anchor in bay areas (common on the outer islands near Split and in Dalmatia generally) and 2–3 nights at marinas. Anchoring is free; a bay mooring buoy typically costs €15–€25. That strategy keeps marina fees under €200 for a mid-size boat in an average week.
In Croatia, mandatory charter extras — including the transit log (€150–€300), final cleaning (€180–€350), tourist tax (€1.50/person/night), marina fees (€50–€250/night), and fuel — typically add €500–€1,200 to the base charter rate before provisioning. In 2025, the Croatian tourist tax is €1.50 per person per night, collected at charter base check-in. These costs are unavoidable and non-negotiable. (SkipperCity, Croatia Cost Guide, 2025.)
When Is the Cheapest Time to Charter in Croatia?
Low season in Croatia — April, May, and October — offers the same coastline for 40–60% less than peak July–August. For a mid-size 38–45ft sailboat, the difference between early May and high July is roughly €1,700–€2,500/week on the base rate alone. Early June and mid-September are the "sweet spot" months: warmer than spring, 20–30% cheaper than peak, and less crowded in marinas.
2025 is the best buyer's market Croatia has seen in three years. In 2025, Croatia's high-season charter occupancy fell from 95% in 2022 to 65%, according to Booking Manager's State of the Yacht Charter Market 2025. That drop is driven by fleet oversupply — more boats chasing the same number of renters. The average per-person weekly charter price fell to €500 in 2025, down from €536 in 2024. If you've been waiting for Croatia charter prices to soften, the 2025–2026 window is the right time to book.
Typical weekly base rate for a mid-size bareboat sailboat (38–45ft) by month, Croatia 2025. Source: My Croatia Yacht Charter; Yacht Charter Croatia.
In 2025, Croatia's high-season charter occupancy dropped to 65% — down from 95% in 2022 — due to fleet oversupply. This is the most favourable buyer's market the Croatian charter sector has seen in three years. The average per-person weekly charter price fell to €500 in peak 2025, from €536 in 2024. Low season (April–May, October) offers identical sailing grounds for 40–60% less than peak July–August rates. (Booking Manager, State of the Yacht Charter Market 2025; charter.hr Market Report, 2025.)
What Does a Full Week in Croatia Actually Cost?
Here are two worked examples with every line item included — the figures a booking confirmation should show you before you commit.
Budget charter: 5 people, bareboat, small 38ft monohull, early June
Cost item
Amount
Base boat rate (mid-season)
€2,500
Transit log + final cleaning
€350
Tourist tax (5 guests × 7 nights × €1.50)
€52.50
Marina fees (3 nights × €60)
€180
Fuel
€150
Security deposit (refundable)
€1,500
Total (excluding deposit)
€3,232
Per person (5 guests)
€646
Add €100–€150/person/week for provisioning (self-catered) and €30–€50/person/day for eating in harbours.
Mid-range charter: 6 people, skippered 44ft catamaran, August
Cost item
Amount
Base boat rate (high season)
€7,200
Skipper (7 days × €200/day)
€1,400
Transit log + final cleaning
€300
Tourist tax (6 guests × 7 nights × €1.50)
€63
Marina fees (6 nights × €70)
€420
Fuel
€200
Security deposit (refundable)
€2,000
Total (excluding deposit)
€9,583
Per person (6 guests)
€1,597
Note: food, drinks, flights, transfers, and activities are all additional. Budget a further €1,000–€1,500/person for a fully rounded week.
The mid-range example shows what a typical first-time charter group actually pays. Split six ways, €1,597/person for the boat is comparable to a premium package holiday — except you're sleeping on a 44ft catamaran with a professional skipper and choosing your own anchorage each night.
In 2025, a skippered 44ft catamaran in Croatia's peak season (July–August) costs approximately €9,583/week all-in for a group of 6, including base boat rate, skipper, transit log, marina fees, tourist tax, and fuel — but before food, drinks, and activities. That works out to around €1,597/person/week for the vessel. A small bareboat sailboat in early June runs approximately €3,232 for a group of 5, or €646/person. (Computed from My Croatia Yacht Charter, 2025; SkipperCity, 2025.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the charter price include marina fees in Croatia?
No. Marina fees are almost never included in the base charter rate. Expect to pay €50–€250/night for a 40–50ft boat at popular marinas in split or Dubrovnik, depending on season and location. Anchoring in bays is free. Many experienced charter guests alternate: 3–4 nights at anchor, 2–3 nights in marinas, to keep total mooring costs under €300 for the week.
What is a transit log and do I have to pay it in Croatia?
Yes — the transit log (vinjeta) is a mandatory Croatian government document covering your vessel's right to sail in national waters. It costs €150–€300 depending on boat size and operator, and it's almost always collected at charter base check-in. It's not optional and it's not included in most headline rates. Always confirm the exact cost with your charter company before finalising the booking.
Is it cheaper to charter in Croatia or Greece in 2025?
Croatia and Greece are broadly comparable for similar boat sizes. Croatia has seen more price softening in 2025 due to fleet oversupply — high-season occupancy dropped to 65% — which makes last-minute deals more available than in Greece. For bookings made 6–9 months out, prices are similar. Greece's 13% charter VAT can add to the base cost in ways that Croatian pricing structure doesn't always match. For a detailed comparison, see how much a sailing charter costs in Greece.
How much does a deposit cost on a Croatia charter?
A refundable security deposit of €1,000–€3,000 is standard, depending on boat size and the charter company. It's held against damage and returned after the handover inspection at checkout. Most companies also offer a non-refundable damage waiver (typically €150–€250) as an alternative to the full deposit — worth asking about if you'd rather not tie up capital.
What does food cost per person per week on a Croatia charter?
A self-catered provisioning budget of €100–€150/person/week covers on-board meals. If you also eat out in harbours and local restaurants (which most guests do), add €30–€50/person/day. A realistic all-in estimate for a mid-range skippered charter — boat, food, eating out, and a few activities — runs €2,000–€2,800/person/week for a comfortable experience.
Start Looking at Real Croatia Charter Prices
Croatia's 2025 charter market is the most price-competitive it's been since 2019. Occupancy is down, operators are flexible, and the sailing is exactly as good as it's always been: 1,244 islands, clear Adriatic water, and some of the most reliable summer weather in the Mediterranean.
A mid-size skippered yacht for a week in early June or mid-September — the sweet-spot months — costs roughly €5,000–€7,000 all-in before food. Split six ways, that's under €1,200/person for the boat.
Prices in this article reflect 2025 season rates collected from charter operators and market reports. Prices vary by operator, boat age, and booking channel. Verify current rates directly with your charter company before booking.
