A 50-metre superyacht sailing from Palma de Mallorca to Monaco — 337 nautical miles — will spend between €8,000 and €15,000 on fuel alone, depending on speed and sea state. Add crew, port fees, provisioning, and insurance, and the true cost of that four-day Mediterranean passage can exceed €35,000. Most of that cost is avoidable with proper planning.
This guide breaks down every cost category in a yacht voyage, shows you how to estimate each one before you leave the dock, and explains how to build a voyage budget that actually holds up against reality.
The 6 Cost Categories
| Category | Typical % of Total | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | 40-55% | MGO/VLSFO for main engines and generators |
| Crew | 15-25% | Salaries, overtime, travel, per diems |
| Port & Marina | 10-20% | Berth fees, harbour dues, canal transit |
| Provisioning | 5-10% | Food, beverages, supplies |
| Insurance & Admin | 3-5% | Transit extensions, permits, agent fees |
| Contingency | 5-10% | Weather delays, repairs, medical, diversions |
1. Fuel: The Biggest Line Item
Fuel is the single largest variable cost. It depends on vessel size, speed, and sea state.
| Vessel Length | Burn Rate (cruise) | Litres/NM |
|---|---|---|
| 24-30m | 80-150 L/hr | 4-8 L/nm |
| 30-40m | 150-300 L/hr | 8-15 L/nm |
| 40-55m | 300-500 L/hr | 15-25 L/nm |
| 55-70m | 500-900 L/hr | 25-45 L/nm |
| 70m+ | 900-1,500+ L/hr | 45-80+ L/nm |
Current Mediterranean MGO prices (May 2026): Rotterdam €600-640/MT, Gibraltar €620-660/MT, Palma €640-690/MT, Monaco €660-720/MT. A 50m yacht burning 25 L/nm on a 500nm voyage uses ~10.6 MT, costing €6,800-7,300.
2. Crew Costs
For a typical 50m yacht with 8-10 crew, budget €2,000-4,000 per day all-in. This includes overtime (1.5x base rate for passages exceeding 8 hours), per diems (€30-50/person/day), and travel for crew joining/leaving at different ports.
3. Port and Marina Fees
| Port | Country | Overnight Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Monaco (Port Hercule) | Monaco | €800-1,500 |
| Cannes (Vieux Port) | France | €400-800 |
| Palma de Mallorca | Spain | €200-400 |
| Porto Cervo | Italy | €500-900 |
| Dubrovnik | Croatia | €150-300 |
| Athens (Glyfada) | Greece | €100-250 |
| Gibraltar | UK | €150-300 |
4. Provisioning
For a 5-day Mediterranean passage with 6 guests, budget €3,000-7,500. Owner trips with premium wines run higher. Crew-only passages run €100-200/day.
5. Insurance and Administration
Transit insurance extensions: €500-2,000. Port agent fees: €100-500 per call. Flag state compliance: varies.
6. Contingency
Budget 5-10% of total voyage cost. This is not optional — it is the difference between a professional operation and an amateur one.
Worked Example: Palma to Monaco (337nm)
| Category | Estimate (EUR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel (MGO) | €7,500 | ~6,500L at €1.15/L |
| Crew (4 days) | €10,000 | 8 crew, overtime, per diems |
| Port fees | €1,200 | Palma + Monaco + 1 stop |
| Provisioning | €4,000 | 6 guests, 4 days |
| Insurance/admin | €800 | Transit + agent fees |
| Contingency (7%) | €1,650 | |
| Total | €25,150 | |
| Per NM | €74.63 | |
| Per guest per day | €1,048 |
How to Build a Voyage Budget
- Define the route: ports, distance, speed
- Calculate fuel: burn rate × distance × fuel price + 15% margin
- Add crew: daily rate × voyage days + overtime + per diems
- Research port fees: contact marinas directly
- Estimate provisioning: guest count × duration
- Add insurance/admin: transit endorsements, agent fees
- Add contingency: 5-10% of subtotal
- Present to owner/charterer with clear line items
Tools like SeaWise automate the fuel, distance, and time calculations — the single largest cost category — in minutes rather than hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to run a yacht per nautical mile?
For a 50m superyacht, all-in cost per nm ranges from €50-100. Fuel alone at 12 knots is ~€20-25/nm. Add crew (€15-25/nm), port fees (€3-5/nm averaged), and provisioning (€5-10/nm). Larger vessels (70m+) can exceed €150-200/nm all-in.
What is the cheapest speed to run a yacht at?
The most fuel-efficient speed for a displacement hull is typically 8-10 knots. But the cheapest speed overall depends on crew costs — slower speeds mean more days at sea. For most yachts, 10-12 knots is the optimal balance. Use a voyage calculator like SeaWise to model different speeds for your specific vessel.
How do I budget fuel for a transatlantic crossing?
Las Palmas to Barbados (2,700nm) on a 50m yacht requires ~60,000-80,000L of MGO, costing €45,000-65,000. Plan for at least one en route fuel stop if tank capacity is below 80,000L. Budget 25-30% reserve for ocean passages.
What hidden costs catch captains off guard?
Port cancellation fees (50-100% of berth fee), waste disposal (€200-500), shore power (€50-150/day), crew travel repositioning, and weather delays (€3,000-5,000 per extra day). Build these into your budget from the start.
How do charter budgets handle fuel differently?
In standard MYBA charters, fuel is charged to the charterer at cost. The captain must track consumption and present receipts. Most charters include a fuel advance (30-40% of estimated cost) paid with the APA. Accurate pre-charter estimation is essential.