What a crewed superyacht week in the Balearics includes

A crewed superyacht charter in the Balearics works differently from a hotel stay or a day on the water. For a week, the yacht, her captain and a full professional crew are yours, and the islands become a series of private anchorages, long lunches and evening arrivals in port. Knowing how the week is organised, from the contract to the chef's shopping list, makes it far easier to compare yachts and to arrive relaxed. This guide explains what a crewed superyacht week includes, in general terms, so you know what to ask before you sign.

The crew who run your week

On a superyacht the crew is the experience. Numbers vary with the size of the yacht, but the roles follow a familiar pattern, and the crew live on board for the whole charter.

• Captain: overall responsibility for the yacht, the guests and navigation, and the person who shapes each day's route around the wind and the anchoring rules.
• Deck crew: tender runs ashore, water toys, anchoring and mooring, and the upkeep of every exterior surface.
• Interior crew: stewards and stewardesses who look after cabins, table service, drinks and laundry, much like a small private hotel.
• Chef: menus written for your group alone, planned from your preference sheet and refreshed with produce bought ashore.
• Engineers: on larger yachts, they keep power, fresh water, air conditioning and, where fitted, stabilisers working quietly in the background.

Good crews read a group quickly. Breakfast can move later, lunch can become a long table in a cove, and a guest who wants quiet is left in peace. Tell the captain early in the week what is working well and what you would change.

The charter agreement: MYBA terms in general

Many crewed superyacht charters in the Mediterranean are contracted on the MYBA charter agreement, the standard contract published by MYBA, The Worldwide Yachting Association, an international professional organisation for the superyacht industry. It is designed to protect both the owner and the charterer, and it sets out the essentials: dates, embarkation and disembarkation ports, cruising area, number of guests and the payment schedule.

On MYBA terms, the charter fee covers the yacht and her crew. Running costs such as fuel, food, drinks and berths are paid separately, usually through the APA. A deposit, often half of the charter fee, is commonly paid on signing, with the balance and the APA due some weeks before you board; the exact dates are written into your contract. Some yachts are offered on other terms, such as all-inclusive rates, so always check what the fee includes. VAT is added as well: Spain's standard rate is 21%, and your quote should show how it applies. On a commercial charter, most yachts can carry no more than 12 guests, because larger numbers bring passenger ship rules, so mention a bigger group at the start.

The APA explained

The Advance Provisioning Allowance, or APA, is a sum paid on top of the charter fee before the charter begins. It funds the costs that depend on how you spend the week: fuel for the yacht, tender and water toys, food and drinks, marina berths and mooring fees, and agreed extras such as excursions or transport ashore. As a general industry guide, brokers commonly quote it at around 25-40% of the charter fee, usually towards the higher end on motor yachts, which use more fuel than sailing yachts; the exact figure is set in each yacht's charter contract.

The captain holds and manages the APA, keeps a record of every purchase with receipts, and can show you the running total whenever you ask. If spending runs ahead of plan, the captain will tell you and suggest a top-up or a change of pace, such as more nights at anchor instead of in a marina. At the end of the week you receive a full account, and any unused balance is returned. Crew gratuity is separate and at your discretion; it is customarily handed to the captain on the last day to be shared among the crew.

Provisioning and the preference sheet

A few weeks before the charter you receive a preference sheet, a detailed questionnaire that becomes the crew's brief. Complete it carefully and return it in good time, ideally at least two weeks ahead, so the chef can plan menus and source ingredients. It usually covers:

• Dietary needs, allergies and any medical information the crew should know
• Favourite dishes, wines, spirits, coffee and breakfast habits
• Dining style: formal dinners, relaxed lunches on deck or evenings ashore
• Activities and water toys, from paddleboards to snorkelling and diving
• Cabin arrangements, celebrations, music and small personal touches

The chef provisions before you board, then buys fresh produce, fish and bread ashore as the week unfolds. Particular wines and special requests are easier to secure when they are listed early, and the cost of everything is drawn from the APA.

How a Balearic superyacht itinerary takes shape

Palma is the main yachting hub of the Balearics, and many weeks begin and end there. The captain proposes a route around the forecast and your wishes, then adjusts it day by day. A plan might take in the south-west coast and Sa Dragonera, the Cabrera archipelago, the north coast towards Formentor, or a crossing to Ibiza and Formentera when the weather suits. Cabrera is a national park: navigation needs a permit and anchoring is on reserved buoys, with stays limited to two nights in July and August. The park's buoys are sized for yachts up to 35 metres; larger yachts need a special authorisation, so ask early whether Cabrera suits your yacht.

The Balearic Islands also protect their Posidonia seagrass meadows by Decree 25/2018, which prohibits anchoring on Posidonia as a general rule. Your captain will choose sand patches or regulated buoy fields, and on a larger yacht may anchor further off and take you in by tender. It is one reason an experienced professional captain matters so much in these waters.

Questions to ask before you sign

Ask on which terms the yacht is offered and what the charter fee includes, how the APA is calculated, where the yacht embarks and whether delivery fees apply, how many crew are aboard, which water toys are included, how VAT is applied and whether the yacht is licensed for commercial charter in Spain. Clear answers in writing make yachts easy to compare.

Serman Yacht Charter arranges crewed charters on superyachts, motor yachts, sport yachts and sailing catamarans from Palma, always with a professional captain at the helm. Prices are on request and depend on the yacht, the season and your itinerary. Send us your dates and group size by WhatsApp, email or the form, and we will come back with suitable yachts and a clear written quote.