What it really costs to bring your dog aboard.

The weekly rate you see on a charter listing is only the beginning. Bringing a dog aboard adds a handful of predictable costs, and knowing them before you book keeps the surprises off the final invoice.

Most dog-friendly yachts ask for a refundable pet or damage deposit — typically somewhere between €1,500 and €10,000, depending on the vessel. It is held against any cleaning or repairs and returned after the charter when all is well, exactly like the deposit on any fine rental.

Separately, expect a non-refundable post-charter deep clean, usually in the region of €300 to €800. It covers the thorough valet the crew carry out once a dog has been aboard, and it is one of the reasons owners are willing to say yes in the first place.

Some yachts also apply a modest per-night pet surcharge, often €75 to €200. Where it exists it is usually folded into the quote, so ask for it to be itemised rather than assumed.

Size shapes eligibility as much as cost. Many yachts set a weight limit around 23kg (50lb), though some will happily take dogs up to roughly 36kg (80lb). If your dog sits near the line, confirm it early, because it narrows the fleet.

Then there is the destination itself. Some cruising grounds are refreshingly simple — the US Virgin Islands charge around a $25 import permit, the Bahamas around $11.20 — while others are deliberately hard, with places such as Jamaica and St Vincent requiring long quarantine that rules them out for a holiday. The permit is small money; the planning is the real cost.

None of this is prohibitive. Set against the price of the charter it is marginal — the point is simply to plan for it, so the budget is honest from the outset. Tell us the yacht you have in mind and we will itemise every extra against it before you commit.