How much does it cost to rent a superyacht? Try $1.4 million every week

The 255-foot superyacht Malia was sold in 2023 for a price of $120 million.

But it may well be yours for a fraction of the price: $930,000 every week.

Many major yacht charter operators typically charge additional fees – for fuel, food, drinks, port fees, shore activities and special requests – of a further 35% of the bottom price.

For cruises in Europe, there’s also a VAT of around 20% of the fundamental fee, although this could vary depending on the country. Gratuities for the crew also range between 10% and 20% of the charter fee.

In total, a one-week cruise on the French Riviera on the Malia costs a whopping $1,441,500.

For this price, Malia offers its guests breathtaking tours of the Mediterranean, from Monaco to the Italian Riviera, island hopping from Sardinia and the Maddalena Islands with stops in famous French hubs similar to Saint-Tropez.

Up to 12 guests can sleep within the yacht's eight cabins, including a master VIP suite, all with luxurious en-suite bathrooms.

“The bedrooms are like hotel rooms. You don't feel like you're on a yacht,” says Sacha Williams, director of charter marketing at Northrop & Johnson, Malia's broker. “It's like being in a floating hotel.”

The important deck encompasses a salon with bar and dining area illuminated by floor-to-ceiling windows, in addition to an upper deck lounge with a formidable glass chandelier and extensive audio-visual system.

The decks are connected by an elevator.

Like a hotel, the yacht has a gym and a spa, the latter with a massage room, sauna and Turkish hammam bath.

“It's becoming increasingly popular on a yacht of this size to have a hammam, steam room or sauna,” said Williams. “Wellness is definitely a strong trend on all yachts now. The onboard spa therapist offers all kinds of treatments, not just massages and facials, but anything beauty-related. You could spend a whole day in this room.”

There can also be a glass-edged infinity pool on the important deck and a glass-bottomed hot tub on the sun deck, in addition to an open-air cinema.

Travelers may pay seven figures for every week on this yacht, but few stay your entire time.

Malia has additional leisure boats, including several dinghies for guests to take ashore.

You may enjoy a deep sea fishing trip on Malia's 46-foot extreme sport fishing boat. In addition, the crew can take guests as much as six feet underwater in a Seabreacher shark-shaped submersible that may accommodate a pilot and a passenger.

“The fishing boat is pretty unique, especially in the Mediterranean, because you see them more in the Caribbean and the Bahamas, where sport fishing is not a big deal. But imagine how cool it would be to just go out with the kids for an afternoon and catch some fish,” Williams said.

Crew members may teach guests how you can use motorized Fliteboard surfboards and explore the underwater world on Seabobs. Those who need to loosen up can sit back within the sun with a spin.

Malia's “toy” inventory also includes jet and water skis and paddleboards, PedalboardsWakeboards, kayaks and an inflatable climbing frame with catwalk.

“This particular owner is all about having fun. He wanted to make sure that every possible guest wish was fulfilled,” said Williams. “You don't see any Fliteboard on every yacht … they’re in great demand.”

Part of the charter price is used to pay for the 21-person crew, which incorporates a captain, technical and hospitality teams, and a number of other chefs. Some crew members also act as personal trainers and have musical skills to entertain within the evenings.

“Some of the crew, like the engineering team, may never see the guests,” said Williams. “There are people who work through the night to ensure the safety of the guests. Some are more involved in navigation and planning, organizing berths in ports. The more experienced interior crew also handle the accounting, because a lot of money is spent to make sure everyone has a great time.”

“The best way I can describe them is like swans,” Williams said. “They just glide around.”

Malia's itineraries are “super detailed,” Williams said. The yacht's broker and captain agree on an itinerary that takes into consideration guests' preferences, sea conditions and weather forecasts.

But the captain may accommodate requests to vary the schedule throughout the charter – for instance, if guests like a selected location and wish to remain longer, Williams said:

“That’s the beauty of chartering a yacht.”

Malia's guests come primarily from North America, Europe and the Middle East, Williams said.

They normally built their fortunes in area of interest areas, she said. “I've always been surprised at how some North American clients have made so much fortune selling seemingly mundane things. But I guess the size of the country means you can be very successful selling things as simple as eggs or screws,” she said.

“Sometimes you see that the client – the person who pays the bill – charters Malia for a few weeks and invites different groups during that time. One week they are with their friends, then the friends move on and then their family joins them, then their parents.”

But many guests also book the yacht for family holidays and celebrations, she says.

“Perhaps they are celebrating a birthday or an anniversary or just a family reunion. On a yacht the size of Malia, grandparents, parents and children can come together.”