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

But it can be yours for a fraction of the cost: $930,000 a week.

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

For cruises in Europe, there is also a VAT of around 20% of the basic fee, although this can 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 such as Saint-Tropez.

Up to 12 guests can sleep in 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 main deck features a salon with bar and dining area illuminated by floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as an upper deck lounge with an impressive 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 is also a glass-edged infinity pool on the main deck and a glass-bottomed hot tub on the sun deck, as well as an open-air cinema.

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

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

You can also enjoy a deep sea fishing trip on Malia’s 46-foot extreme sport fishing boat. In addition, the crew can take guests up to six feet underwater in a Seabreacher shark-shaped submersible that can 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 can also teach guests how to use motorized Fliteboard surfboards and explore the underwater world on Seabobs. Those who want to relax can kick back in the sun with a spin.

Malia’s “toy” inventory also includes jet and water skis, as well as paddleboards, pedal boards, wakeboards, kayaks and an inflatable climbing frame with a catwalk.

“This particular owner is all about having fun. He wanted to make sure that all of his guests’ needs were met,” said Williams. “You don’t see a Fliteboard on every yacht… they are in high demand.”

Part of the charter price is used to pay for the 21-person crew, which includes a captain, technical and hospitality teams, and several chefs. Some crew members also act as personal trainers and have musical skills to entertain in 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 account guests’ preferences, sea conditions and weather forecasts.

But the captain can also accommodate requests to change the schedule during the charter – for example, if guests like a particular location and want to stay 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 usually built their fortunes in niche 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.”