Booking a yacht in Marbella should not feel like signing a mortgage. Our deposit rules are deliberately simple: 30% to confirm the date, 70% seven days before departure, and a full refund if the captain calls it off for weather. Everything below explains the small print in plain English so you can budget honestly before you message us on WhatsApp — and so there are no surprises when the balance reminder lands in your inbox. If you are still comparing options, our main charter guide covers the fleet and routes first.
The 30% booking deposit, explained
The booking deposit on every Marbella yacht charter we run is 30% of the total charter price. It is paid the moment you confirm the date and boat — usually within an hour of the WhatsApp conversation — and it does one thing: it locks the slot. Until the deposit lands, the date stays open to other guests, which matters in July and August when Saturdays book three weeks out. The deposit is taken by SEPA bank transfer, card link, Revolut or Wise. Cash is only accepted for in-person last-minute walk-ups at Puerto Banús.
On a Tier A boat like the Astondoa 40 at €749 for two hours, that is €224.70 to confirm. On a Tier B booking like the Mangusta 80 at €4,719 for four hours, the deposit is €1,415.70. Every figure on our site is already inclusive of Spanish IVA at 21%, so the percentage applies to the headline price, not a net figure plus tax.
When the balance is due
The remaining 70% is due seven calendar days before departure. We send a single reminder with the same payment link or IBAN you used for the deposit, and most guests settle it within a day. If you book inside that seven-day window — common for last-minute August trips or weekend changes of plan — the full amount is paid in one go on confirmation, usually within 24 hours.
Why seven days? It is the cut-off where we commit fuel, provisioning, skipper rota and dock fees for your specific date. Paying late genuinely risks the slot during peak weekends, because the waiting list for boats like the Azimut 39 and Pershing 46 fills the same morning a date frees up.
Is there a separate damage deposit?
For Tier A boats — Astondoa 40 and Azimut 39 — there is no extra damage deposit. Comprehensive hull and third-party insurance is already included in the price you see, alongside fuel, the licensed skipper, soft drinks, beer, white wine, cava and light snacks. You pay the headline number and nothing else.
On larger yachts — the Mangusta 80, Ferretti 94, Canados 86, Maiora 26m and Azimut 58 Flybridge — we may ask for a refundable security hold of €1,000 to €3,000 against a card. It is a pre-authorisation, not a charge: the funds are ring-fenced on your card but never actually leave your account unless there is a documented incident. The hold is released within 48 hours of return once the boat is checked in.
Deposit amounts by boat tier
| Tier | Example boats | Charter price | 30% deposit | Security hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A — 2h slot | Astondoa 40, Azimut 39 | €749 | €224.70 | None |
| A — 8h day | Astondoa 40, Azimut 39 | €2,299 | €689.70 | None |
| B — 4h minimum | Mangusta 80 (white/grey) | €4,719 | €1,415.70 | €1,000-€2,000 |
| Premium 24m+ | Ferretti 94, Canados 86, Maiora 26m | On request | 30% of quote | €2,000-€3,000 |
The Tier B Mangusta 80 price includes a free jet ski tow, which is unusual at this price point on the Costa del Sol. For premium 24m+ bookings, message us via the contact page for a fixed quote — we do not list hourly rates we cannot honour.
Cancellation and refund timeline
The refund window mirrors the way slots resell. The earlier you cancel, the easier it is for us to fill the date, so the more we can give back:
- 14+ days before departure: 100% of the deposit refunded.
- 7-13 days before: 50% of the deposit refunded.
- Inside 7 days: deposit is non-refundable — the boat is off the market.
- Weather cancellation by the captain: 100% refund or free reschedule.
The weather rule matters. If forecast winds top 20 knots or the sea state hits 4+, our captain calls the trip — not you. You can take a full refund within five working days or move the booking to any open date in the next twelve months. Detail on how we read the Levante and Poniente winds is in our Marbella weather guide.
Transfers, changes and group splits
Plans change. If you need to move your date and give us seven or more days notice, we transfer 100% of the deposit to a new booking within twelve months, subject to availability and any price difference for peak dates — an April midweek deposit moving to an August Saturday will need topping up to the peak rate. Same-week transfers are case-by-case and depend on whether we can resell the original slot.
For group bookings where one guest drops out, the deposit stays with the lead booker. We do not split deposits across multiple cards on a single charter — collect from your group in advance, then one person pays us. It saves chasing IBANs at 11pm the night before.
Payment methods and invoicing
We accept SEPA bank transfer in euros (instant or standard), card via Stripe link, Revolut, Wise and cash in person at Puerto Banús. We do not take cryptocurrency or PayPal — the fees and chargeback risk do not work for this price point. Every payment generates a Spanish invoice with IVA broken out at 21%, emailed within 24 hours. Companies booking for client entertainment can request the invoice in their CIF, which is useful for Spanish VAT recovery.
If you are flying in and want the deposit on a corporate card but the balance on a personal one, just tell us — we can switch the link between payments. Full breakdown of what is and is not included is in the inclusions guide.
Booking flow on WhatsApp, step by step
From first message to confirmed slot is usually under an hour:
- Message us with date, group size and rough budget.
- We reply with two or three suitable boats and a fixed all-in price.
- You pick the boat — we send a payment link for the 30% deposit.
- Deposit lands, slot is locked, you receive a written confirmation with the meeting point at Puerto Banús.
- Seven days before, we send the balance reminder.
- On the day, you meet the skipper at the dock, no further paperwork.
That is the whole flow. No PDF contracts, no broker chains, no scope creep on the price. If anything in the deposit rules is unclear before you book, ask first on WhatsApp — we would rather answer a question now than refund a misunderstood booking later. For a fuller picture of routes and timing, the half-day routes piece shows where the deposit actually takes you.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the booking deposit for a Marbella yacht charter?
Our booking deposit is 30% of the total charter price, paid by bank transfer or card link once you confirm the date and boat on WhatsApp. The deposit secures the slot — without it, the date stays open to other guests. The remaining 70% is due 7 days before departure. For last-minute bookings inside 7 days, the full amount is paid in one go, usually within 24 hours of agreeing the booking.
Is there a separate damage or security deposit on top of the price?
On Tier A boats (Astondoa 40, Azimut 39) there is no extra damage deposit — comprehensive insurance and Spanish IVA are already baked into the €749-€2,299 price. On larger yachts like the Mangusta 80, Ferretti 94 or Canados 86, we may ask for a refundable security hold of €1,000-€3,000 against a card, released within 48 hours of return if the boat comes back in the same condition it left.
When is the balance due before departure?
The balance — 70% of the charter price — is due 7 calendar days before your departure date. We send a reminder with the same payment link or IBAN you used for the deposit. If you book inside that 7-day window, the full price is settled on confirmation. Paying late risks losing the slot during peak July-August weekends when waiting lists fill the same day.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Cancel 14+ days before departure and the deposit is fully refunded. Between 7 and 13 days, 50% of the deposit is refundable. Inside 7 days, the deposit is non-refundable because the boat is off the market. If the captain cancels for weather (winds above 20 kts, sea state 4+), you get a 100% refund or a free reschedule — your choice, no questions asked.
What payment methods do you accept for the deposit?
We accept SEPA bank transfer (EUR, instant or standard), card payment via a secure Stripe link, Revolut and Wise transfers, and cash in person at Puerto Banús for last-minute walk-ups. We do not take cryptocurrency or PayPal. Every payment generates a Spanish invoice with IVA broken out, which we email within 24 hours of receipt.
Do I get the security hold back if the boat is fine?
Yes. On the boats where a security hold applies, the pre-authorisation is released back to your card within 48 hours of return, provided the boat is undamaged, fuel tanks are as agreed (we cover fuel on every charter), and no excessive cleaning is needed. The hold is never charged unless there is a documented incident — and even then, insurance usually covers it.
Are deposits transferable to another date?
Yes, in most cases. If you need to move your date and give us 7+ days notice, we transfer 100% of the deposit to a new booking within 12 months, subject to availability and any price difference for peak dates. Same-week transfers are case-by-case and depend on whether we can resell the original slot. Just message us on WhatsApp as soon as plans change.
Is VAT (IVA) included in the deposit and final price?
Yes. Every price you see on this site — from the €749 two-hour Astondoa 40 slot to the €4,719 Mangusta 80 — includes Spanish IVA at 21%. The deposit is 30% of that all-in figure, not 30% plus tax later. You will not get a surprise tax invoice at the dock. Your final receipt itemises the net charter cost and the IVA portion for accounting.