Most people would rather look at photos of bays than read charter conditions. I understand that very well. Still, as a skipper who has stood at many check-in desks, I can tell you that knowing the basics of your contract makes your holiday calmer from the first payment to the final handover.
This page is not a full legal document and does not replace the official terms you receive with each offer. Instead, it explains the main points in normal language so that you know what to expect. You should always read the specific terms attached to your booking confirmation, and you are welcome to ask questions before you sign anything.
Why Read Charter Conditions Before You Book
A yacht charter is not like booking a hotel room that you can cancel the day before arrival. The boat is reserved for you weeks or months in advance, maintenance is planned around your dates and crew, and the charter operator commits resources based on your booking. That is why payments, cancellations and responsibilities are clearer and sometimes stricter than in other types of travel.
Understanding these rules helps you plan your payments, the right insurance and the right timing. It also helps you compare offers fairly – not just by price, but by what happens if something changes. For cost-related questions, see also Charter Prices and Yacht Charter Cost Croatia.
Who Is Involved in Your Charter Contract
When you book through SkipperCity, there are usually three parties involved:
- You, the charterer – the person or group renting the yacht.
- The charter operator or fleet – the company that owns or manages the yacht in Croatia.
- SkipperCity – your broker and advisor, helping you find the right boat and coordinating communication.
Your main charter contract is normally signed with the charter operator, because they physically provide the yacht and are responsible for its technical condition. SkipperCity supports you with selecting offers, reading conditions and staying in touch with the base. Our own skipper or cook, if you add one to a bareboat, is booked with us; on crewed and luxury yachts the charter company’s own crew comes with the boat.
Booking Process, Payments and Deadlines
Croatian charter contracts follow a common pattern: the boat is held free under option until a deadline the charter company sets, a first instalment, typically 50 % (or the whole amount when the charter is close), is due when you sign, and the balance typically 4–6 weeks before the charter. The security deposit is blocked at check-in and released after check-out. The exact figures and the cancellation scale are in the charter company's own contract, which is the binding document.
Exact numbers vary between fleets, but most Croatian charters follow a similar pattern:
- You choose a yacht and receive an offer with price, extras and payment terms.
- To confirm the booking, you pay a first instalment – typically 50% of the charter fee, or all of it when the charter is close.
- The balance is due several weeks before embarkation, often 4–6 weeks in advance.
- The charter company’s extras, such as equipment, are paid in advance or on arrival, depending on the operator; our skipper or cook is paid in advance with the boat.
Payment schedules and accepted methods (bank transfer, card, sometimes cash for extras) are always listed in your offer and booking confirmation – the instalments follow the charter company’s own terms and are shown at checkout, and paying by card adds a 5% surcharge. If you need to coordinate payments between several crew members, it is better to plan this early. Our pages on How to Book a Boat and Charter Prices give more context around this.
Cancellations, Changes and Refunds
Life happens. Flights change, crew members drop out or personal situations shift. Each charter operator has its own detailed cancellation and change policy, but the logic is usually similar:
- Once your booking is confirmed, the first instalment is usually non-refundable.
- If you cancel closer to departure, a larger part or the whole charter fee may be kept, unless the boat is rebooked.
- Changes of date or boat are treated as cancellations followed by a new booking, unless the operator states otherwise.
This is where travel insurance and sometimes special cancellation insurance can help. We strongly recommend reading your chosen operator’s conditions together with our guide on Insurance and Deposit before you send the first payment.
A typical cancellation scale
| You cancel | Usually retained | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| More than 60 days before | Up to 50 % | Often just the first instalment |
| 30 – 60 days before | About 50 % | Less if the fleet re-lets the boat |
| Under 30 days, or a no-show | 100 % | The full charter fee |
| The fleet cancels (boat unavailable) | Full refund or a replacement boat | An equivalent or better yacht is the normal remedy |
Indicative, NOT your contract — every charter company publishes its own scale and yours governs; the checkout summary shows the cancellation fee for your boat, and booked through us our terms also keep a 5 % administration fee from any refund. Two practical points: most fleets reduce the charge if the week is re-let, and charter cancellation insurance (typically 3–5 % of the charter fee) is what actually protects you. Ask us for the specific fleet's terms before you pay.
Security Deposit, Insurance and Damage Handling
Almost all bareboat and skippered charters require a security deposit. This is blocked on your card or paid in cash at check-in and released when the yacht is returned without new damage. The deposit level depends on the yacht value and insurance.
Many fleets offer so-called deposit insurance or damage waiver. This reduces the amount at risk in exchange for an upfront fee. The exact conditions vary, which is why our Insurance and Deposit page explains the general logic, while your contract states the precise rules for your boat.
If damage happens during your charter, you should inform the base as soon as it is safe to do so. Small scratches are noted at check-out; larger incidents may involve insurers or the coast guard. Conditions describe who is responsible for what and how costs are calculated.
Check-In, Check-Out and Boat Handover
Charter conditions usually define the official embarkation and disembarkation times. Typical patterns in Croatia are:
- Check-in and boat handover on Saturday afternoon.
- Return to base on Friday afternoon or evening, with overnight stay on board.
- Final check-out and disembarkation on Saturday morning.
During check-in, the base team will show you the yacht, review inventory and note any existing damage. You should also test key systems such as engine, bow thruster, anchor windlass and instruments. At the end of the week the same process happens in reverse. Your job is to bring the yacht back on time, with full fuel and in reasonably clean condition, unless a different arrangement is agreed. Weather-related timing is covered in the sections on Weather Conditions Croatia and Adriatic Sea and Weather.
Responsibilities of the Charterer and Skipper
By signing the contract, you agree to operate the yacht carefully and according to local regulations. Key responsibilities typically include:
- Using the yacht only for private leisure, not for commercial purposes or regattas (unless agreed).
- Following navigation rules, speed limits and local harbour instructions.
- Not sub-chartering or lending the yacht to other skippers without permission.
- Informing the base immediately about any damage, malfunction or incident.
- Returning the yacht to the agreed base on time.
The skipper, whether you or a hired professional, is responsible for safety decisions on board. Our pages on Skippers Licenses and Certificates and Bareboat Charter explain more about qualifications and expectations.
Weather, Technical Issues and Force Majeure
Sometimes conditions outside everyone’s control affect your charter: strong winds, storms, technical failures or events classed as force majeure. Charter conditions describe how such situations are handled – for example, what happens if a yacht cannot be delivered exactly as planned or if repairs are needed during your week.
In practice, good fleets do their best to minimise disruption: they may repair, provide a replacement boat where possible or offer alternative dates. Exact rights and limitations are described in the contract. From your side, it is important to follow weather forecasts, avoid risky decisions and treat the boat with care. Our guides on Adriatic Sea and Weather and Weather Conditions Croatia give a good overview of typical patterns.
What Is Usually Not Included in the Contract
Your charter contract focuses on the yacht itself. Some things sit outside of it and are arranged separately:
- Flights, hotels, transfers and parking.
- Personal travel insurance and medical coverage.
- APA and running costs for fully crewed luxury yachts – explained in What is APA.
- Optional extras like stand-up paddle boards, fishing gear or early check-in, unless explicitly listed.
Make sure you understand which extras you have already ordered and which can still be added later. Our team can help you align expectations inside your crew so there are no surprises when it is time to pay the final bill.
Included, and not included, in a bareboat contract
| Item | In the charter fee? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The yacht and its standard inventory | Yes | Sails, dinghy, safety equipment |
| Hull and third-party insurance | Yes | With a deductible — that is the deposit |
| Berth at the home marina | Yes | The first and last night at base |
| Transit log | No | 200 – 450 €, mandatory, paid at base |
| Final cleaning | No | 120 – 300 €, inside the transit log or a separate line |
| Tourist tax | No | 8 – 12 € per person per week |
| Fuel | No | Returned full, as received |
| Berths away from base | No | As you go, 45 – 180 € a night |
| Skipper or cook | No | From 2.100 € a week each from us, bareboats only |
| Cancellation insurance | No | Optional, 3 – 5 % of the fee |
This is the standard Croatian split. When you compare two offers, compare them at the bottom of this list rather than the top — that is where they actually differ.
Simple Summary & Next Steps
Charter conditions exist to protect both you and the fleet. If you read them calmly before booking, most of the rules feel logical: clear payment schedule, clear cancellation terms, straightforward deposit and insurance rules, and practical responsibilities for using an expensive yacht in a shared sea.
Once you are comfortable with these basics, you can return to the fun parts of planning: choosing between Catamarans, Sailboats, Motor Yachts or Luxury Yachts, exploring routes under Destinations and checking current Charter Offers.
If anything in your specific offer or contract feels unclear, send it to us before you sign. We will walk you through the key points and, if needed, clarify details with the charter operator so that you board your yacht in Croatia with full confidence.