Understanding The Advanced Provisioning Allowance (APA)

What is an Advanced Provisioning Allowance?

Advanced provisioning allowance (APA) is the extra fee you pay in advance to cover the cost of provisions and operational expenses for your charter. The APA is paid on top of the charter fee.

What does it cover?

The APA covers everything from your food and fuel to port and customs fees. It also covers any specific requirements or requests you might have while on board.

How is the APA calculated?

The APA is calculated as a percentage of the charter fee. Expect to pay between 30 – 40% of your charter fee.

Note: this amount can vary depending on multiple factors, i.e., high fuel consumption, large distances to cover, or large orders of alcohol.

Who is in charge of the APA?

The Captain oversees all the purchases made before and during your charter. He is responsible for ensuring the crew stays within budget and will provide receipts and expense accounts upon request. At the end of your charter, a day prior to disembarkation or on the day of disembarkation the Captain will provide you with an itemised breakdown of all expenditures. Once you have gone over the accounts you will be asked to sign this off.

Does the APA cover ALL of my expenses onboard?

As the name would suggest, the APA is an advance on expenses. This ensures the crew is able to provision the yacht prior to your arrival. This allowance is based on an estimation. For example, if plans change and you cruise further than estimated, this may incur extra costs. If your alcohol order includes fine wines this may also go over the estimated APA.

What if we run out of APA?

Should your outgoings exceed the initial payment, you can top up the APA in cash while you are on board. Or you can do a bank transfer to your broker. The Captain will keep you updated throughout the trip, and if there are any outstanding costs, you’ll need to settle these before disembarking.

What if we have APA leftover?

If any credit remains on the APA account at the end of the charter, the Captain will issue a refund.

Please do not forget the APA is there to simplify your experience so you do not have to constantly think about spending.