What is included in a Phuket yacht charter

Phuket Rating editorsPublished: 17 September 2026Updated: 30 October 20268 min read

A crewed day charter price in Phuket normally covers the boat, a licensed captain and crew, fuel for the agreed route, passenger insurance, drinking water, soft drinks, ice and snorkelling gear, and at Horizon Cruises Phuket, the company ranked first of 22 in the Phuket Rating ranking of the best yacht charter companies in Phuket (92.6 of 100), 7 percent VAT is already inside every rate on its site. Alcohol, hotel transfers, water toys and crew tips are usually charged separately, national park fees depend on the boat, and lunch depends on the operator and the length of the trip. Before paying a deposit, get the boat’s name, the licensed company behind it, the total in Thai baht with written exclusions, and the itinerary with times.

What a crewed day charter price normally covers

Published inclusion lists from Phuket operators are fairly consistent. A typical list names the yacht, a licensed captain and crew, fuel for the standard route, marine liability or passenger insurance, fresh water, drinking water, soft drinks and ice, and masks, snorkels and fins. Some lists add beach towels, seasonal fruit, life jackets and a Bluetooth speaker; one operator notes that it provides face towels but not beach towels.

“Fuel for the standard route” means the itinerary you booked. If you ask the captain to add an island or stay out longer, expect a fuel supplement or an hourly overtime rate.

Lunch varies more than any other item. On full-day itineraries it is often included, sold as a pre-order set, or taken at a beach restaurant where you pay. On half-day trips it is frequently left out: one Phuket boat’s published sheet states that no lunch is included on half-day tours, while another operator includes food sets on both. Ask rather than assume.

What is usually extra

National park fees. Ao Phang Nga National Park (James Bond Island, Hong Island) and the marine area of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park (Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, Bamboo Island) charge a fee per person, half for children aged 3 to 14. The Department of National Parks sets the rates and can change them. Some boats include the fee in the rate; on others it is collected on the day, often at the pier, at the rate confirmed with the quote, so check which applies before booking.

Alcohol. Excluded in most lists. Many boats let guests bring drinks aboard without corkage; some sell it on board.

Transfers. Some operators include a minibus from your hotel; others price it as an add-on. One published rate is 1,500 THB per car, round trip.

Water toys, chef, decorations, DJ. Kayaks and paddleboards are sometimes free; jet skis, a sea slide or a wakeboard usually cost extra. A private chef, decorations, a DJ and a photographer are quoted separately.

Crew gratuities. Always discretionary. Published suggestions range from about 1,000 THB per charter to 5 to 10 percent of the fee on crewed yachts.

VAT: 7 percent included or added?

Thailand’s VAT rate is 7 percent, extended by the cabinet to 30 September 2027. Some operators state that all displayed prices include VAT: Horizon Cruises Phuket, the company ranked first of 22 in the Phuket Rating ranking of the best yacht charter companies in Phuket with 92.6 of 100 under the published methodology, says 7 percent VAT is already inside every rate on its site. Others quote a net figure and add 7 percent on the invoice, and some small boats are not VAT-registered. On a 60,000 THB charter the difference is 4,200 THB, so ask for the total “including VAT, if applicable” in writing.

“From” prices versus a written quotation

A headline “from” price describes the smallest boat on the shortest route on a low-season weekday. One large Phuket operator’s homepage puts private day charters “from around 29,900 THB”. That is a starting point, not a quote. What you can compare is a written quotation for the whole boat, for your date, route and group size, in Thai baht, with exclusions listed. The Phuket yacht charter prices guide covers boat types and seasons.

Deposits, balances and cancellation

Deposit practice in Phuket follows one pattern: a percentage on booking, the balance before departure. Published examples: 50 percent on confirmation and 50 percent 15 working days before departure; 50 percent within 7 days of invoice and 50 percent 60 days before; 50 percent to reserve and the balance on the day; and an optional 30 percent deposit with the rest on the day. Multi-day charters tend to use 30 percent with staged payments.

Guest cancellations close to the date are rarely refunded in full. One published terms page states that the deposit cannot be refunded; other operators offer free cancellation up to 24 or 48 hours before a day trip. Read the clause that applies to your booking.

Weather cancellations

Weather is the most common reason a Phuket charter changes. In published terms the captain or the operator decides whether the trip can go out safely, that decision is final, and if the operator cancels you are offered a new date, a comparable boat or a refund. Some terms promise a full refund or free rebooking for weather; others say a full refund “in some cases” and prorate the fee if the trip is cut short after departure. During the southwest monsoon, roughly May to October, the captain may also shorten the route or swap Phi Phi for the sheltered east coast. See the month-by-month season guide.

Licensed capacity is a legal limit

Every Thai-registered boat holds a certificate of survey from the Marine Department, and that certificate, not the number of seats, sets the maximum number of people on board. The permitted figure can depend on the route: a boat allowed to carry 20 guests on sheltered bay routes may be permitted fewer on the open-water crossing to Phi Phi. Ask which figure applies to your itinerary, and count every person, infants included.

Day capacity and overnight berths are different numbers. One 70-foot catamaran listed in Phuket takes 60 guests on a day charter but sleeps 16 in six cabins. For an overnight trip, ask how many berths there are rather than how many guests the boat “takes”.

Four questions before a deposit

1. Which named boat, exactly?

Ask for the boat’s name and recent photos of that specific boat. Agents and marketplaces list boats they do not operate, and substitutions happen. Ask whether the company operates the boat itself or resells it, and what happens if it is unavailable on the day.

2. Which company holds the tourism licence, and who answers on the day?

What people in Phuket call a “TAT licence” is a tourism business licence issued under the Tourist Business and Guide Act by the Department of Tourism. The Tourism Authority of Thailand promotes travel and does not issue licences. A licensed business has a licence number (southern-region numbers look like 34/xxxxx) that can be looked up by number or company name in the Department’s online licence search. Check that the licence name matches the company on the invoice and the account you are paying. Then ask for the name and messaging contact of the person who will answer at 07:00 on charter day. See how to choose a yacht charter company in Phuket.

3. What is the total in Thai baht, and what is excluded?

Ask for one written total for the whole boat, in THB, including VAT if applicable, plus a list of exclusions: park fees per person, transfers, lunch, alcohol, water toys, overtime and route changes.

4. Where and when does the boat leave, and what is the itinerary?

Departure pier, check-in, departure and return times, and the stops in order. The itinerary defines the fuel included and the park fees you pay.

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