Expenses

For general planning purposes, here is a list of typical expenses all in USD. Many of these expenses depend on the sailing destination and the number of people we have on the boat. We’ll assume 3 couples (Tim and Donna plus two guest couples) on the boat for this overview.

Charter Expense

  • Cabin Fee—$2000 per double cabin per week

    Shared Expenses

  • Provisions—About $1500 for the boat per week (so about $500 per couple per week). This charge is highly variable based on the sailing destination and the dining preferences of the crew (i.e. cooking on-board vs. eating out at restaurants).

  • Docking/Mooring fees—ranges from about $35 to $300 for the boat per night (depending on the sailing destination and the type of mooring). The Mediterranean is MUCH more expensive than the Caribbean. In the BVI, we can expect about $55 for the boat per night, so about $130 per couple per week.

  • Fuel—full tanks of fuel are INCLUDED in most destinations we sail (which is generally more than enough for a week-long charter). The exception is for Mediterranean destinations. In the Med, we have to purchase full tanks of fuel in advance (about $1400 for the boat for a week). So about $470 per couple per week. (For two-week trips outside the Med, we may have to purchase some additional fuel depending on our fuel consumption…particularly if we run the AC a lot.)

  • Boat Insurance—somewhat variable based on sailing destination and size of boat. About $875 for the boat for a week, so about $290 per couple per week.

  • Local Taxes, Permits, and Fees—highly variable. Expect about $50 per couple per week.

  • Ice, trash removal—typically paid in cash to small boats that approach us at moorings. Highly variable. Expect about $60 for the boat per week, so about $20 per couple per week.

    Optional‍ ‍

  • Boat Toys (kayaks and paddleboards)—available, but expensive to rent. About $200 per kayak or paddleboard for the week.

    Dining Out

  • Depending on crew preference, we may eat many dinners at restaurants along the way. We typically just split these expenses evenly among the diners.

    Estimated Total for a Double-Cabin for One Week in the BVIs: $2990

    This estimate INCLUDES: one double-cabin, breakfasts, some lunches, open bar on the boat, fruit and snacks, one dinner on the boat, mooring/docking fees, fuel, insurance, local taxes and fees, and ice/trash removal.

    (This estimate does NOT INCLUDE on-shore dining or boat toys.)

    Reserving your Cabin

    To hold a cabin, please contact us. We’ll ask you to put down a simple:

  • $300 deposit to hold your cabin on the boat. After that, we’ll ask you to pay:

  • $700 6-months before sailing, and;

  • $1000 90-days before sailing.

    (That’s $2000 total before sailing).

    (These deposits are generally non-refundable. However, in the event of a compelling reason for a cancellation like illness, we’re reasonable and will work with you.)

    Following the charter, we’ll do a final reconciliation for all shared expenses (estimate: $990 per couple).

    Tracking Expenses

    We’re all here to have fun! So we want to keep expense tracking as simple and easy as possible. Our typical approach is this. We put a large EXPENSE envelope containing a pad of paper and a pen in the navigation station (which is like the main desk of the ship). Whenever you purchase something for the boat or pay for dinner for the group, for example, just take the receipt (PLEASE write your name on it!) or write yourself a little receipt (…something simple like “4/18 Tim Ice $10”) and put it in the envelope. After we get home, we’ll add up all of the expenses from the envelope and divide them equally among the group for a final reconciliation. (Double bonus points…if we’re in a country where we are paying for some things in local currency AND paying for other things in US dollars, PLEASE indicate what currency your expense is in!)

    Sometimes, at dinners, one couple might be systemically drinking or eating a little less than other couples, in which case, we may all agree to give that couple a credit (maybe twenty-thirty bucks per meal or something that seems about right).

    If anyone in the group wants to track shared expenses in much more detail than this (down to the individual appetizer, for example)…you are welcome to do so! We’ll nominate you to be the official quartermaster for the trip and give you the keys to the expense envelope and all of the awesome power that comes with that!