Yacht Shipping Overseas: Cruisers to 60′ Motor Yachts
What a 34′ express cruiser and a 60′ motor yacht cost to ship by RoRo, flat rack, yacht carrier or breakbulk, priced by region from our cost model, with the survey, cradle and lift prep and the duty in six markets.
On this page
Size, weight and the methods that fit
Two boats set the range. A Sea Ray Sundancer 350 Coupe is 11.1 m long, 3.5 m wide and 8,400 kg; it can ride a RoRo roll trailer, a flat rack or a yacht carrier. A Princess-class 60 is 18.3 m, 4.9 m wide and 32,000 kg, beyond any rack, so it goes on a yacht carrier or as breakbulk.
On a yacht carrier the boat is lifted aboard in its own cradle and sea-fastened on deck, and the owner's crew can often be present at loading. Breakbulk uses the same lift on a general cargo ship whose schedule is set by its other cargo.
- 34′ cruiser: RoRo or flat rack where offered, yacht carrier on Caribbean and Mediterranean loops.
- 60′ yacht: yacht carrier first, breakbulk where no carrier calls.
- Both need a cradle built to the builder's drawings and a pre-shipment survey.
Price by region
The rows diverge by size more than by region. The 34′ sits in the low tens of thousands everywhere; the 60′ starts at $33,500 in the Caribbean and passes $60,600 toward the Gulf.
Each cell is the lowest-priced method for that reference boat to the region's featured destinations, from a U.S. East or Gulf Coast port: the range runs from the published "from" price to the typical high. Port-to-port; the importer's side is separate.4,5,6,7,2,3,8,9,10
| Reference boat | Mexico & Central America | Caribbean | Mediterranean Europe | UAE & Gulf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34′ express cruiserSea Ray Sundancer 350 Coupe | $10,100–17,100RoRo on its trailer or a roll trailerLowest in MexicoModel estimate | $10,800–18,600RoRo on its trailer or a roll trailerLowest in Dominican RepublicModel estimate | $12,000–22,00040′ flat rackLowest in ItalyModel estimate | $13,200–25,50040′ flat rackModel estimate |
| 60′ motor yachtPrincess F55 / 60 class | $41,300–57,400Yacht carrierLowest in MexicoModel estimate | $33,500–52,600Yacht carrierLowest in BahamasModel estimate | $48,000–67,100Yacht carrierLowest in ItalyModel estimate | $60,600–86,000Yacht carrierModel estimate |
Every method on one lane
Italy has every method for the 34′ and both for the 60′. For the smaller boat the flat rack undercuts RoRo; for the larger, the yacht carrier and breakbulk overlap, and the carrier's fixed dates usually decide it.
Italy: port-to-port price by method4,5,6,7,2,3,8
| Reference boat | 40′ flat rack | RoRo on its trailer or a roll trailer | Breakbulk | Yacht carrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34′ express cruiserSea Ray Sundancer 350 Coupe | $12,000–22,000lowest | $13,100–23,100 | $20,000–36,200 | $22,800–33,300 |
| 60′ motor yachtPrincess F55 / 60 class | Not a method for this size | Not a method for this size | $53,600–91,900 | $48,000–67,100lowest |
Preparing it for the ship
- 1
Pre-shipment survey
A marine surveyor records condition with photographs, which the carrier and insurer both rely on; any existing damage is noted before the lift.
- 2
Cradle and sling plan
The cradle follows the builder's drawings; sling positions avoid shafts, stabilizer fins and thrusters, and spreader bars keep the straps off the hull.
- 3
Lower and secure topside gear
The radar arch lowers or comes off, antennas and outriggers are removed, and the tender is lashed in its chocks or shipped beside the yacht.
- 4
Fuel, water and systems
Fuel goes down to the carrier's limit, often about a quarter tank; fresh water and holding tanks are emptied, and shore-power and battery switches are off.
Where they ship and what it costs
Motor yachts bought in Florida go to the Italian, Spanish and Croatian coasts for the summer season, to Dubai's marinas, and back to the Bahamas and Mexico's Caribbean and Pacific resorts. Gulf sailings run fewer times a year than the Atlantic loop.
60′ motor yacht: lowest-priced method by destination
- Italy5,6,7,4,2,3,8,11,12,13$48,000–67,100by Yacht carrierDuty 1.7% · 0% U.S.-built (Regulation (EU) 2026/1455)Country guidePrice this route
- Spain5,6,7,4,2,3,8,11,14,13$48,000–67,100by Yacht carrierDuty 1.7% · 0% U.S.-built (Regulation (EU) 2026/1455)Country guidePrice this route
- Croatia5,6,7,4,2,3,8,11,15,13$48,000–67,100by Yacht carrierDuty 1.7% · 0% U.S.-built (Regulation (EU) 2026/1455)Country guidePrice this route
- United Arab Emirates5,6,7,4,9,10,16$60,600–86,000by Yacht carrierDuty 5%Country guidePrice this route
- Bahamas5,6,7,4,17,18,19$33,500–52,600by Yacht carrierDuty 0%Country guidePrice this route
- Mexico5,6,7,4,2,20,21,22,23$41,300–57,400by Yacht carrierDuty 15% · 0% U.S.-built (USMCA)Country guidePrice this route
Duty and import taxes
On a $1,200,000 CIF yacht the import bill is large: $288,888 in Italy, $276,684 in Spain before another $144,000 of registration tax if it goes on the Spanish register, $123,000 in the UAE. That is why many owners keep the yacht under temporary admission, which the EU allows for 18 months for a non-EU resident.
Duty and import taxes on a $1,200,000 CIF value
| Country | Tariff line | Standard duty | U.S.-built | Taxes after duty | Total, standard | Total, U.S.-built | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy11,12,13 | 8903.93 / 8903.3x / 8903.2x | 1.7% | 0%Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 | VAT 22% | $288,888 (24.1%) | $264,000 (22%) | Read on the official tariff |
| Spain11,14,13 | 8903.93 / 8903.3x / 8903.2x | 1.7% | 0%Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 | VAT 21% | $276,684 (23.1%) | $252,000 (21%) | Read on the official tariff |
| Croatia11,15,13 | 8903.93 / 8903.3x / 8903.2x | 1.7% | 0%Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 | VAT 25% | $325,500 (27.1%) | $300,000 (25%) | Read on the official tariff |
| United Arab Emirates16 | 8903 | 5% | no preference | VAT 5% | $123,000 (10.3%) | — | Read on the official tariff |
| Bahamas17,18,19 | 8903 | 0% | no preference | Processing fee 1% (max $1,500) · Environmental levy · VAT 10% | $122,200 (10.2%) | — | Read on the official tariff |
| Mexico20,21,22,23 | 8903.93.99 / 8903.33.99 | 15% | 0%USMCA | Customs processing (DTA) 0.8% · IVA 16% | $411,936 (34.3%) | $203,136 (16.9%) | Read on the official tariff |
Prices on this page come from our boat and machinery cost model, reviewed October 26, 2026, the same figures as the rate hubs and the calculator. They are port-to-port and per unit; duty and the importer's side are shown separately.
Sources
- 1. Manufacturer boat specifications (LOA, beam, weight, bridge clearance), Boat builders' published specifications (Manufacturer), accessed October 26, 2026
- 2. Yacht transport sailing schedule and pricing guidance, Sevenstar Yacht Transport (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 3. Yacht and powerboat shipping, Peters & May (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 4. Seaway Export lane rate card (destination pages), Seaway Export (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 5. RoRo bunker adjustment factor and high & heavy surcharges, Wallenius Wilhelmsen (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 6. RoRo surcharges and high & heavy acceptance, Höegh Autoliners (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 7. Vessel-operating common carriers: published tariffs, Federal Maritime Commission (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 8. Float-on/float-off yacht transport, DYT Yacht Transport (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 9. Middle East and Red Sea situation: land bridge and booking status, Maersk (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
- 10. Customer Advisory 25-2026: Middle East situation update (UAE), CMA CGM (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 11. TARIC: EU customs tariff, chapter 89, European Commission (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 12. Import VAT and pleasure craft (unità da diporto), Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 13. Guidance on pleasure craft: temporary admission for 18 months (Delegated Regulation 2015/2446, art. 217(e)), European Commission (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 14. Impuesto especial sobre determinados medios de transporte, Agencia Tributaria (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 15. Import of vessels and VAT, Croatian Customs Administration (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 16. GCC Common Customs Tariff and VAT on imports, UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 17. Frequently imported items: processing fee, environmental levy and VAT base, Bahamas Customs Department (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
- 18. Pleasure vessels: cruising permit fees by length, Bahamas Customs Department (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 19. Pleasure vessel import and cruising permits, Bahamas Customs Department (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 20. Tarifa de la LIGIE: fracciones 8903 y 8429, Secretaría de Economía (SNICE) (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 21. U.S. free trade agreements: tariff schedules, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 22. Permiso de importación temporal de embarcaciones: 10 years, $51 + IVA (or $45 online), Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 23. Temporary import of boats: new requirements from January 1, 2025 (RGCE rule 4.2.11), Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Yacht carrier or breakbulk: which is better?
A yacht carrier, where one sails: it is built for yachts, keeps fixed loading windows and usually lets the owner's crew attend. Breakbulk fills gaps on routes yacht carriers do not run.
Can a 34′ cruiser go RoRo?
Yes, on a roll trailer, where the RoRo line calls. To Mexico that is $10,100–17,100, the cheapest option there; the Bahamas has no RoRo call, so a flat rack or yacht carrier it is.
Can I avoid import duty on a yacht?
While it stays a visiting yacht under temporary admission, often yes: 18 months in the EU for a non-resident, up to 10 years under Mexico's temporary import permit. Our cruise-in or import guide compares the rules by country.
How much fuel can stay aboard?
What the carrier specifies, commonly around a quarter of capacity: enough to motor on and off at each end, not enough to add risk or weight to the lift.
Should I insure the yacht separately?
Yes. Carrier liability is capped far below a yacht's value; cargo insurance for the voyage, or a transit extension on the hull policy, covers the gap.
Ready for an exact quote?
Tell us what you're shipping and where it's going — we respond with a locked-in rate within 1 business day.