Turn your yacht into a source of income, without giving up control.
Palm Lifestyle's charter management program markets your yacht to a worldwide client base, handles bookings and crew, and helps offset your running costs — while you decide how much of the year it works and how much stays yours.
Why owners put their yacht into charter management
Offset running costs
Insurance, crew salaries, mooring, and maintenance don't stop when the yacht isn't in use. Charter revenue helps cover a meaningful share of those costs across the year.
Reach clients you couldn't reach alone
Your yacht is marketed to the same worldwide charter client base used across our brokerage — not just a local listing, but active outreach to brokers and clients actively booking.
Stay hands-off, or as involved as you like
Bookings, guest communication, and day-to-day crew management are handled for you. You keep ownership and decision-making — you just don't have to run the operation yourself.
How yacht charter management works
Yacht assessment
We review your yacht's size, condition, and current use to confirm it's a fit for charter and estimate realistic demand for its size and region.
Program enrollment & marketing
Your yacht is listed and actively marketed to our charter client base and broker network, with your personal-use weeks agreed upfront.
Bookings & guest management
We handle enquiries, contracts (typically under MYBA terms), guest communication, and crew coordination for each charter.
Revenue & maintenance reporting
You receive regular reporting on bookings, revenue, and maintenance so you always know the yacht's status and financial performance.
What's included in charter management
Worldwide marketing & broker network
Your yacht reaches charter clients and brokers beyond a single regional listing site.
Crew placement & management
Sourcing, contracting, and overseeing a qualified crew for the yacht's size and itinerary.
Maintenance & refit coordination
Scheduling upkeep and refits around the charter calendar, so the yacht stays in charter-ready condition.
Contracts & compliance
Charter agreements under standard MYBA terms, with guidance on flag and VAT considerations relevant to where the yacht operates.
Booking & guest management
Handling enquiries, itinerary planning, and guest communication for every charter, start to finish.
Revenue & performance reporting
Regular visibility into bookings, revenue, and costs, so you always know how the program is performing.
Yacht Charter Management — A Guide for Owners
Yacht charter management is the practice of placing a privately owned yacht into a commercial charter program, so it can be booked by paying guests when the owner isn't using it. A management company like Palm Lifestyle handles the marketing, bookings, crew, and day-to-day operations, while the owner retains full ownership of the vessel and typically reserves a number of weeks each year for personal use.
How Charter Revenue Works
When a yacht is chartered, the booking generates gross charter revenue, most commonly structured under a standard MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) contract. Running costs — insurance, crew salaries, fuel, mooring, and maintenance — continue whether or not the yacht is chartered; charter income is applied against those costs, and the balance depends heavily on the yacht's size, region, and how many weeks it's actively marketed. Exact figures vary by yacht, so a specific estimate is best discussed directly with the management team.
What Owners Typically Retain Control Over
- Personal-use weeks — agreed upfront, so the owner's own use of the yacht is protected before the charter calendar is built around it.
- Approval on major decisions — refits, crew changes, and significant maintenance are typically discussed with the owner rather than decided unilaterally.
- Program terms — the length and terms of the management agreement are set by the owner and the management company together, not fixed indefinitely.
Is My Yacht a Good Fit for Charter Management?
Charter demand generally favors well-maintained motor and sailing yachts from around 20 meters upward, in regions with active charter markets — the Mediterranean, the Gulf, and other popular cruising grounds. A yacht assessment is the first step in confirming fit and setting realistic expectations for demand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yacht Charter Management
What is yacht charter management?
Yacht charter management is a service where a company markets, books, and operates a privately owned yacht for charter guests on the owner's behalf, while the owner retains ownership and typically reserves personal-use weeks.
How much money can I make chartering out my yacht?
Charter revenue varies widely by yacht size, region, condition, and how many weeks it's actively marketed. It's best viewed as a way to offset a portion of running costs rather than a guaranteed profit — a yacht assessment gives a realistic estimate for your specific vessel.
Do I lose control of my yacht if I put it into a charter program?
No. You retain ownership throughout, and personal-use weeks, major maintenance decisions, and the terms of the management agreement are agreed with you rather than decided unilaterally.
What does a yacht charter management company actually do?
It handles marketing to charter clients and brokers, booking and guest communication, crew placement and oversight, maintenance and refit coordination, contracts (typically under MYBA terms), and revenue and performance reporting.
What size yachts qualify for charter management?
Charter demand generally favors well-maintained yachts from around 20 meters upward, though this varies by region and the specific charter market.
Can I still use my own yacht if it's in a charter program?
Yes. Personal-use weeks are agreed upfront as part of the management arrangement, before the charter calendar is built around the remaining availability.
What are the running costs I should expect as an owner?
Typical running costs include insurance, crew salaries, fuel, mooring or marina fees, and ongoing maintenance. These continue regardless of charter activity; charter income is applied against them rather than replacing them entirely.
Are there tax or VAT considerations when chartering my yacht?
Yes — flag, VAT, and tax treatment depend on where the yacht is registered and operates. This is discussed as part of onboarding so the program is structured correctly from the start; it's worth confirming specifics with your own tax advisor as well.
How do I get started with Palm Lifestyle's charter management program?
Contact the team to arrange a yacht assessment — we'll review your vessel, discuss personal-use weeks and expectations, and confirm whether charter management is a good fit before any agreement is signed.
Which regions does Palm Lifestyle manage charter yachts in?
The program covers yachts based in the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia) and the Mediterranean, with marketing reach extending to charter clients worldwide.
What owners say
"Our running costs stopped feeling like a one-way expense once the yacht started earning during the weeks we weren't using it."
— Owner, 32m motor yacht"We kept our own summer weeks and never had to deal with a single booking enquiry ourselves."
— Owner, 40m motor yacht"The reporting made it easy to actually see what the program was doing for us financially."
— Owner, sailing yachtReady to explore charter management for your yacht?
Tell us about your yacht and how you use it — we'll assess the fit and come back with a realistic view of what a charter management program could look like.
Your yacht
Step 1 of 2 — a few details about your yacht.
Please fill in the yacht name and length.
Your details
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Request received
Choose how you'd like to continue — a member of the team will follow up either way, usually within a few hours.
