Sailing trip costs explained: kitty vs. crewed charter model

‘How much does a sailing trip cost?’

…we hear this question frequently. And indeed, the cost of a sailing trip is often difficult to estimate from the outside. Depending on the boat, the area, the size of the crew and the cost model, expenses can vary considerably.

The topic of “the boat kitty” regularly causes uncertainty: What costs are included, what additional costs are there, and how transparent is the calculation?

In this article, we provide a clear overview:

what costs are generally associated with sailing,
how the classic kitty model works,
and why we have deliberately opted for a crewed charter model.

This gives you a realistic idea of the costs involved in sailing and how they can be organised before you book.

What are the basic costs of sailing?

Anyone thinking about a sailing trip for the first time often underestimates how many different costs come together when sailing. This is mainly because these costs arise on two levels: the operation of the boat and the expenses for living on board.

A sailboat has costs even when it is not underway. Typical ongoing operating costs include, among other things, maintenance and repairs, insurance, berth fees, safety and onboard equipment, and normal wear and tear from salt, sun, and usage.

These costs occur regardless of how many guests are on board. They form the basis for keeping a boat safe, reliable, and seaworthy.

For a catamaran, many of these costs are significantly higher. With two hulls, larger area, and double the systems, diesel consumption, maintenance, spare parts, insurance, and berth fees are generally almost twice as high as for a comparable monohull yacht. This is an important factor that inevitably affects the overall calculation of a trip.

When chartering a boat, all these costs must be paid in advance as charter costs. If you are unable to operate the boat yourself, there will be additional costs to hire a professional skipper, which must also be paid in advance.

In addition to the pure boat operation, sailing also has other costs directly related to life on board and the vacation itself. These include, for example:

Provisioning on board (breakfast, snacks, drinks)
Shopping during the trip
Restaurant and tavern visits
Personal food and drink preferences
Optional activities on land
Final cleaning and consumables

How these costs are organized and settled depends largely on the provider of the sailing trip. In many cases, they are not included in the charter price and are managed collectively through a traditional onboard cash fund (“kitty”). In other models, certain services are already included in the price.

The Boat Kitty: a classic model

To manage the ongoing costs of a sailing trip, a model has been established for many years: the so-called onboard cash fund, or kitty.

In this model, all crew members contribute an agreed amount to a common fund at the beginning of the trip. Expenses incurred during the journey are paid from this fund. At the end of the trip, accounts are settled: surpluses are distributed, deficits are reimbursed.

Which costs are usually paid from the kitty?

Depending on the crew and the trip, the purposes for which the kitty is used can vary. Typically, however, the following items are financed this way:

Diesel for the boat’s operation
Berth fees in harbors and marinas
Provisioning on board
Shopping during the trip
Joint restaurant or tavern visits
Tips

Traditionally, the skipper is also provided for from the kitty funds. Their meals on board as well as restaurant visits are usually shared by the crew. This practice is widespread and considered standard by many crews.

Responsibility and organization

One often underestimated aspect is the organization of the kitty itself. In practice, usually one crew member manages it: collecting money, keeping accounts, paying bills, and ensuring proper settlement at the end.

How well the kitty functions therefore depends greatly on this person. For some, this role is straightforward; for others, it can quickly become a burden. Especially on vacation, responsibility for money, receipts, and settlements adds stress.

If there are ambiguities or inaccuracies, the onboard cash fund can quickly seem opaque to the rest of the crew, even if there is no ill intent.

Where the kitty reaches its limits

Mixed crews can quickly have tension in this important area. Different preferences directly affect shared costs.

A classic example: while some are satisfied with pizza, salad, and water, others regularly want fish, wine, or special delicacies. Since all expenses are paid from the same fund, even those with different priorities share the same costs.

Other typical challenges include:

Different budget expectations
Ongoing discussions about expenses
Uncertainty about the actual total costs
Additional payments at the end of the trip

For guests who want to enjoy their vacation as relaxed as possible without constant discussions, this level of co-decision can be exhausting.

Participation and advantages

At the same time, the kitty has features that make it attractive to many sailors. A central aspect is the participation of the crew members in decisions.

Since all expenses are shared, crews often decide together on:

Engine use versus sailing
Spendin the nights in a harbor or marina (see info box)
Restaurant visits or cooking on board
Comfort versus cost savings

This flexibility corresponds to the classic “sailing crew” concept and works particularly well when all crew members have similar expectations, budgets, and ideas for the vacation.

In such instances, the kitty can be experienced as transparent, fair, and communal, provided that responsibility and organization are clearly defined.

Info: Harbor or marina? An important distinction in sailing

For sailors, a harbor is not automatically a marina, and this has a direct effect on costs.

Public harbors or town quays usually offer simple berths with little infrastructure. Fees in Greece are often around €10–20 per night. However, they generally provide only limited storm protection, and a safe berth is not guaranteed.

Marinas are commercial facilities with electricity, water, sanitary facilities, and service staff. Accordingly, costs are higher: marina fees in Greece, depending on location, season, and boat size, are often €70–150 per night or more, especially for catamarans. In return, marinas offer good storm protection, and a berth is guaranteed if reserved in advance.

A special feature in many regions of Greece is the restaurant pontoon: boats can moor there for free, often get access to electricity and water, with the expectation that the crew dines at the attached tavern. We occasionally use this model, as reservations are also possible.

Whether we use a marina, town quay, or tavern significantly influences trip costs. Therefore, it is advisable to make this decision consciously and coordinate within the crew.

Why we decided against a kitty

The classic kitty is widespread but comes with practical challenges:

Responsibility and constant availability: Whoever manages the fund must always be ready, for example when buying bread or snacks, paying harbor fees, or settling diesel consumption.
Different expectations and inequality: Crew members have different expectations regarding meals, drinks, or restaurant visits, which can cause conflicts and result in some paying more despite being more economical.
Skipper provisioning: Traditionally, the skipper is provided for from the kitty. In practice, this can mean expensive dishes or extra drinks for the skipper are shared by everyone.

These points show that a kitty requires organization, attention, and constant coordination, which is not stress-free for every crew.

The crewed-charter model: fewer decisions, more service

For our trips, we deliberately decided against the classic onboard cash fund for ongoing boat operation—not because a cash fund is “bad,” but because we noticed that many guests want something different on vacation: relief, clarity, and peace of mind.

Therefore, the most important basics are already included in the price upfront. These include, among others:

Diesel for normal boat operation
Berthing fees at town quays and public harbors
Basic operating costs on board as well as costs for the skipper
A simple breakfast
Snacks and drinks such as water, coffee, and tea

These costs are our responsibility, including the decisions associated with them, for example, when and how much to motor, or which harbors to visit. For our guests, this means no discussions, no accounting, and no surprises at the end of the trip.

This approach is not unusual in the industry: similar to sports and activity vacations or other crewed-charters, many basic services are calculated in advance, allowing guests to enjoy the vacation stress-free.

The optional kitty

Even though we don’t have a kitty for boat operations, it can of course make sense to organize additional personal expenses collectively among crew members.

Many crews voluntarily set up a private kitty to jointly cover alcoholic or special drinks and snacks on board, as well as shared dinners at taverns.

Whether and how this is managed is entirely up to the crew. Our cost model does not mandate it, but leaves room for it.

Why we take this approach

Our goal is for our guests to arrive on board and focus on what really matters: time on the water, good sailing, and relaxing days.

By taking responsibility for costs and decisions regarding boat operation, we create a clear framework. Those who want to organize more communal activities can do so; those who just want to sail along can do that as well.

Both options have a place with us.

Info: Marina as an exception

Berth fees at town quays and public harbors are covered in our trips. Marina fees, however, are not part of our cost model.

We only visit marinas in two clearly defined situations:

When the safety of the boat and crew requires it, e.g., in strong storms or extreme weather conditions, and no other shelter is available.
When the crew explicitly wishes to spend time in a marina, e.g., for specific infrastructure or comfort reasons.

In both cases, any resulting marina fees are subsequently charged to the crew, as they are not part of the regular operating costs calculated in advance.

Kitty vs. crewed-charter model

For sailors, there are different approaches to managing costs on board. While the classic kitty is flexible, it presents practical challenges. The crewed-charter model, on the other hand, is similar to activity vacations: basic services are pre-calculated, allowing guests to enjoy their vacation more relaxed.

Aspect	Classic kitty: typical challenges	Crewed-charter model
Responsibility	One crew member must manage the fund, be always available, track expenses (bread, snacks, diesel, harbor fees)	No burden for the crew; central costs such as diesel, berth fees, and basic provisioning are already covered
Predictability/ transparency	Costs difficult to predict, dependent on crew decisions and preferences	Costs defined from the start; guests know exactly what services are included
Organization on site	Purchases and accounting must be done continuously by the crew	Basics such as breakfast, snacks, water, coffee, and tea are already on board; guests can start immediately
Inequality / conflict potential	Different expectations regarding meals, drinks, or restaurant visits can lead to conflicts	Reliable services, clear structure, no unwanted extra costs for individual guests
Skipper provisioning	Traditionally via kitty; expensive wishes or additional drinks affect everyone	Skipper and crew eat from the existing supplies on board and cover their own costs at restaurants
Experience	Part of the time must be spent on organization and coordination	More time for sailing, diving, and relaxing moments as central tasks are taken care of

Who benefits most from the crewed-charter model?

The crewed-charter model is ideal for guests who value planning security, relief, and comfort, and who want to experience their sailing trip stress-free and transparently. It is aimed at vacationers who appreciate relaxed organization without compromising the quality or flexibility of experiences.

What to additionally plan for in your personal vacation budget

In addition to the costs already discussed, there are a few items that can easily be overlooked but should be included in the budget:

Arrival and departure (flight, train, car)
Local transport to and from the boat
Personal food and drinks not included in basic provisioning
Restaurant and tavern visits
Personal insurance (e.g., travel, health, diving, accident)
Other personal expenses (souvenirs, activities)
Deposits for transport (boat, hire car), if applicable

These items are part of a realistic calculation for a sailing vacation and influence the total costs of sailing.

Transparency and planning before departure

A relaxed sailing vacation begins long before departure. By addressing sailing trip costs early, misunderstandings and unpleasant surprises can be avoided.

It is worth asking questions:

To the provider or charter company about which services are included in the price
To the crew about how kitty or additional expenses are managed
To yourself about which extras and personal wishes should be included in the budget

Good planning creates clarity, trust, and the freedom to focus on what really matters during the trip: time on the water, shared experiences, and true relaxation.