We all have. They slide into our Instagram feeds, uninvited, usually on a gloomy Tuesday. A blur of impossible blue water, a champagne flute catching the sunset, and the gleaming white fiberglass of a yacht so perfect it looks like a 3D render. You see the smiles, the tans, the tiny, secluded coves you can't possibly get to by land.
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| MAJERA yacht |
And in the location tag, you see it: "Hvar, Croatia" or "Adriatic Sea."
I'm obsessed with these images. Not just for the obvious "wow, I wish I were there" reasons. I'm obsessed with the logistics. My brain gets stuck on the "how." What does it really take to make that "perfect" week happen? What's the machinery—both human and financial—working behind the scenes to create that effortless-looking moment?
Well, I decided to pull the thread. I found one of the most stunning new yachts available for charter in the Adriatic, a boat that’s all over the charter sites: the MAJERA.
She’s an 88-foot masterpiece from a shipyard called Sirena Yachts, brand new for 2024. And I went deep. I wanted to know everything. What’s she like? What's the crew like? What do you do all day? And the one question that "polite" people don't ask: What does that week of perfection actually, truly cost?
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| MAJERA yacht |
The answer is... complicated.
There's the price you see... and then there's the price you pay. And they are not the same thing. Not even close.
So, grab a coffee. Let's pull back the curtain on the world of elite luxury chartering. We're going to build the "perfect week" on the MAJERA, and we're going to keep a running tally. By the end of this, you'll know the exact number. And, more importantly, you'll understand why it is what it is.
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| MAJERA yacht |
Part 1: The "Star of the Show" – What is the MAJERA?
First, let's get one thing straight. Calling the MAJERA a "boat" is like calling a Bugatti a "car." It's technically true, but it misses the entire point.
She’s a Sirena 88. For those who don't geek out on this stuff, Sirena is a Turkish shipyard that has been making huge waves. They're known for building yachts that have the volume and feel of much, much larger superyachts. This 88-foot (26.8-meter) yacht has the deck space and interior volume that would shame a 100-footer from a few years ago.
She's brand new. I'm talking "fresh out of the wrapper" 2024. This isn't some tired old charter boat; it's the latest and greatest.
The design is a two-part harmony from all-stars. The exterior lines? Drawn by Germán Frers. This guy is a living legend. He designs some of the fastest, most beautiful, and most seaworthy sailing and motor yachts on the planet. His name means it's not just pretty; it's a serious, capable vessel.
The interior? Cor D. Rover. A top-tier Dutch designer known for spaces that are modern, clean, and full of light, but also warm and impossibly comfortable.
But here’s the MAJERA's real party trick. It's something you can't see from a photo, but it's the why behind its brilliance.
Most yachts have to make a choice:
Be a "Planing" hull: Pointy, sleek, and fast. Great for zipping from Mykonos to Santorini. The trade-off? They burn a catastrophic amount of fuel and are less comfortable in open water.
Be a "Displacement" hull: Big, heavy, and slow. Think of a long-range explorer yacht. It sips fuel, can cross oceans, and is super stable. The trade-off? Your top speed is... a light jog.
The Sirena 88, with its "dual-mode hull," just says "Why not both?"
This means MAJERA can cruise economically and quietly at 9-10 knots, giving her an incredible 2,400+ nautical mile range (that's like going from Miami to New York and back). But, if you're in a hurry to get to that dinner reservation in Dubrovnik? The twin MAN V12 engines can push her up to 25 knots.
It's this "best of both worlds" engineering that puts her in a class of her own.
Okay, so the boat is special. But a floating piece of art is useless without the experience. Let's walk through a hypothetical day.
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| MAJERA yacht |
Part 2: The "Vlog" - A Day in the Life on MAJERA
Your charter doesn't start when you step on board. It starts weeks before, with a document called a "Preference Sheet."
This is a multi-page questionnaire that asks everything. What time do you wake up? What kind of coffee do you drink? (Drip? Espresso? Single-origin pour-over?) What temperature do you like your cabin? What newspapers do you read? Do you like your cocktails shaken, stirred, sweet, or smoky? What's your favorite snack? What's your least favorite food? Allergies? Dietary goals?
This sheet is the bible for your crew. And MAJERA has a crew of four.
Let's pause. A 4-person, full-time, professional crew for 10-11 guests. This is the secret. You aren't just renting a boat; you are hiring a private, floating, 5-star hotel staff.
The Captain: Your guide, your navigator, your ultimate problem-solver.
The Chef: (On MAJERA, it's a chap named Eric). This isn't a "cook." This is a restaurant-grade chef who, according to his bio, has 20 years of experience and will custom-design every single meal for you.
The Steward/Stewardess: (A woman named Hedda). She's the master of service. Your drink is never empty, your cabin is always spotless, the table is set like a magazine cover... she's the one who makes the magic "just happen."
The Deckhand: Your water-sports guru, the guy who keeps the yacht sparkling, and the one who handles the lines and anchors.
MAJERA yacht
Okay, let's start the day. 8:00 AM. Hvar, Croatia.
You wake up. Not in a small, dark cabin. You're in the main-deck master suite. This is a feature virtually unheard of on an 88-foot yacht. It's a full-beam stateroom with floor-to-ceiling windows. You don't just have a porthole; you have a panoramic view of the secluded bay the Captain anchored in last night.
You don't hear a thing. The yacht's stabilizers (both at-anchor and underway) mean the boat is rock-solid. The sound insulation means you don't hear generators, water, or even the crew. It's just... silence and the blue sea.
You step out of your king-sized bed, through a private door, and onto... your private foredeck lounge. This area is just for the master suite. And it has its own plunge pool/jacuzzi. You have a dip before you've even had coffee.
8:45 AM.
You walk out to the aft deck. The table is already set. The linens are crisp. Your specific coffee is waiting. The chef has prepared a spread: fresh fruits, local pastries, eggs to order, whatever you wrote on that sheet. You and your friends (the yacht sleeps 11 in 5 luxury cabins, by the way) eat breakfast while overlooking the Pakleni Islands. The Captain comes over, "Good morning. The forecast is beautiful. I thought we'd cruise to Vis island today, maybe stop at the Green Cave? We should be there by 11."
You just nod and say, "Sounds perfect."
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| MAJERA yacht |
11:30 AM. Vis Island.
The yacht anchors in a bay so clear you can see the bottom 30 feet down. The deckhand is already in the water, setting up the "toys." The back of the yacht, the "tender garage," folds down. The door lifts up. This isn't just a swim platform; it's a "Beach Club."
The crew unloads the garage. And it's a garage:
An iAqua sea scooter (like an underwater jet ski).
Two stand-up paddleboards.
A kayak.
Two giant inflatable swimming platforms.
A towable Jobe tube for laughs.
Snorkeling gear for everyone.
You swim, you play, you explore. The stewardess brings out a tray of fresh-squeezed juice (and maybe something stronger) to you in the water on a floating platter. This is that "Instagram moment."
1:30 PM. Lunch.
You dry off and head up. Way up. You're going to the flybridge.
On the MAJERA, this isn't a "flybridge." It's a 55-square-meter rooftop terrace. It's enormous. There's a full bar, a huge dining table, sun loungers, and a retractable hardtop to give you sun or shade. The chef has prepared a light, Mediterranean lunch: grilled sea bass, tomato and burrata salads, fresh-baked bread, and a crisp rosé. You eat this meal with a 360-degree view of the Adriatic.
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM. The Afternoon.
This is your time. Nap in your air-conditioned cabin. Read a book on the foredeck. Ask the deckhand to take you wakeboarding behind the tender. Or, just do absolutely nothing at all. This is the real luxury. The "tyranny of choice" is gone.
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| MAJERA yacht |
7:30 PM. Sunset Cocktails.
Everyone's showered and changed for dinner. You gather on the main aft deck. The stewardess has your preferred drink ready without you asking. The chef sends out a series of complex, beautiful canapés. The sun dips behind an island, painting the sky purple and orange.
8:30 PM. Dinner.
Tonight is the "formal" dinner. You move inside to the main saloon, a stunning, light-filled room with panoramic windows. The dining table is set for 10. The chef proceeds to serve a five-course tasting menu that would earn a Michelin star on land. Each course is paired with a specific Croatian wine the stewardess explains.
10:30 PM.
Full, happy, and maybe a little tipsy, you and your guests move to the flybridge bar for a nightcap. Or, you head to the main saloon to watch a movie on the big-screen TV. Or, you just sit on the beach club, your feet inches from the water, and stare at the stars. There is no one else around.
You go to bed, and the crew does a full clean-up. When you wake up, the boat will be spotless, and you'll be in a new, impossibly beautiful location.
That is the experience. It's a 7-day bubble of absolute, frictionless perfection.
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| MAJERA yacht |
Part 3: The Big Reveal - Let's Talk Numbers
Okay. You've waited long enough. What does that 7-day bubble cost?
I’m going to build the real bill, line by line.
LINE 1: The Base Charter Fee
This is the "sticker price" you see online. It's the cost to rent the yacht and hire the crew. It's quoted per week.
Low Season (May, October): €77,500
High Season (July, August): €87,500
Let's split the difference and say you're booking in June. We'll use a high-season rate to be safe, as she's brand new and in-demand.
Base Fee: €87,500
You see that number and you think, "Okay, €87,500. For 10 people, that's €8,750 each. Like a very, very nice cruise or a week at a high-end all-inclusive."
I'm sorry, but we are just getting started.
You see, in the yachting world, that base fee gets you the boat and the crew. And that's it.
All other expenses—everything you consume—is extra. This is known as a "Plus Expenses" charter, and it’s the standard.
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| MAJERA yacht |
How do you pay for those?
LINE 2: The A.P.A. (Advanced Provisioning Allowance)
This is the big one. The APA is not a "fee." It is essentially a debit account—your wallet for the week. You wire this money to the Captain before your charter, and he uses it to "provision" the yacht and pay for all your expenses.
What does it cover?
Food: Every single thing the chef buys.
Drink: All your water, sodas, juices, coffee, wine, champagne, and spirits.
Fuel: This is a biggie. The yacht itself burns fuel (at 16 knots, the MAJERA's MAN V12s consume about 600 liters/hour). The tender burns fuel. The jet skis and sea scooters burn fuel.
Port & Dockage Fees: Want to park in a prime spot in Hvar's harbor for a night? That can be thousands of Euros. Anchoring is free, but docking is not.
Incidentals: Laundry, special requests, national park entries, etc.
The industry standard for an APA is 30-40% of the base fee. For MAJERA, brokers advise 35%.
So, let's do the math: 35% of €87,500 is €30,625.
You wire this on top of the base fee. The Captain keeps a perfect, itemized list of every single expense. If you're running low, he'll ask you to top it up. If there's money left over at the end (ha!), he hands it back to you in cash.
Let's be clear: You are paying for every single bottle of water. You want 10 cases of Dom Perignon? That's fine! It just comes out of your €30,625.
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| MAJERA yacht |
Running Total: €87,500 (Base) + €30,625 (APA) = €118,125
We're not done.
LINE 3: The V.A.T. (Value Added Tax)
Oh, you thought you could escape taxes? The government wants its cut.
The VAT is charged on your charter fee and varies by country. Since MAJERA is based in Croatia, you have to pay Croatian tourism VAT. The current rate for a crewed charter like this is 13%.
That's 13% of the base fee, not the APA.
So, 13% of €87,500 is €11,375.
This is a non-negotiable, mandatory government tax.
Running Total: €118,125 + €11,375 (VAT) = €129,500
We have one last item. And it's the one that makes people the most nervous.
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| MAJERA yacht |
LINE 4: The Crew Gratuity (Tip)
The 4-person crew—the Captain, Chef Eric, Stewardess Hedda, and the Deckhand—have just worked 16-hour days for 7 straight days to give you that "frictionless" experience.
While you were swimming, they were cleaning. While you were eating, they were prepping the next meal. While you were sleeping, they were planning the next day's route and cleaning the entire yacht.
Tipping is, of course, "discretionary." But in the same way that tipping at a 5-star restaurant is "discretionary." It is 100% expected, and not doing it is a massive faux pas.
The industry standard, recommended by the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association (MYBA), is 10-20% of the base charter fee.
Let's assume the service was excellent, but not god-tier. We'll go with a 12% tip.
That's 12% of €87,500. Which comes to €10,500.
This is typically handed to the Captain in cash at the end of the charter, and he distributes it among the crew.
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| MAJERA yacht |
Part 4: The Final Number
Let's add it all up. Your "perfect week" in Croatia on the brand-new MAJERA in high season.
Base Fee: €87,500
APA (35%): €30,625
VAT (13%): €11,375
Crew Tip (12%): €10,500
GRAND TOTAL: €140,000
One hundred and forty thousand Euros. For one week.
That is the real number.
The "€87,500 a week" you see on the website is the down payment, not the final price. The all-in cost is closer to €140,000, or about €20,000 per day.
For 10 guests, that's €14,000 per person.
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| MAJERA yacht |
Part 5: The Verdict - Is It Actually Worth It?
This is the part where my brain short-circuits. Is any vacation worth €140,000 a week?
For 99.999% of the world, including me, the answer is a resounding "No." It's an astronomical sum of money that is almost impossible to justify. It's the price of a small house.
But I've realized we're looking at it all wrong.
People who charter yachts like MAJERA are not "paying for a vacation." They're not comparing this to a cruise or an all-inclusive resort.
They are buying something far more valuable: Time.
They are, for seven days, purchasing a bubble. A bubble where every single friction point of normal life has been surgically removed.
You don't think about "What's for dinner?"
You don't think about "Who's driving?"
You don't think about "Are we out of coffee?"
You don't wait in line.
You don't sit in traffic.
You don't make your own bed.
You don't carry your own bags.
You don't see another tourist.
MAJERA yacht
You are buying a 7-day period where the only question you have to answer is, "Would you like another drink?" or "Do you want to swim now or in 10 minutes?"
You're not paying for a boat. You're paying for the 4-person professional crew who dedicate 100% of their energy to your comfort. You are paying for the ultimate in privacy, freedom, and personalized service.
For the tiny fraction of people who can afford it, they're not buying a vacation. They're buying a week of a perfected life.
And for that, €140,000... might just be the market price.