BVI yacht charter: what a week costs

When to charter in the BVI

The official Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to NOAA. That covers June, July, August, September, October and November, so include the operator’s storm cancellation and rescheduling terms in your comparison.

December through May falls outside the official hurricane season, but that does not mean storms cannot occur. NOAA records tropical and subtropical cyclones outside the official season. Check NOAA National Weather Service forecasts before departure, and leave the decision about safe conditions to the captain or operator.

High, mid and low season are the pricing labels in the table above, not a substitute for a weather forecast. Ask the charter company which label applies to your departure date and what wind conditions to prepare for. Confirm whether weather-related base closures or changes to the cruising area affect your booking.

Week prices and added costs

Bareboat sail catamaran medians range from $10,900 per week in low season to $13,775 per week in high season, as checked on Oct 14, 2026. The table above covers published bareboat prices; request a separate quote for a skipper or a crewed charter rather than treating those medians as crewed totals.

MyBVICharter says BVI charters carry no VAT, but a cruising tax of $4–$16 per person per day applies depending on the yacht’s base. It also reports a $10 per person environmental levy and additional national park and mooring fees. Ask whether these charges are collected with your booking or paid separately.

MyBVICharter says all-inclusive catamaran prices include the yacht’s running costs. On charters using an Advance Provisioning Allowance, or APA, fuel and provisioning instead come from that separate budget. Ask for the APA amount, what it pays for and how the final account is settled.

Use the calculator to keep the charter fee separate from skipper charges, fuel, food, marina stays and crew gratuities. Confirm each inclusion before dividing the total among your guests. The weekly charter cost guide explains the budget categories, while the crew tipping guide helps you check gratuity arrangements.

• High season: median $13,775 per week; range $8,100–$17,500 per week, from 10 published prices at 1 company.
• Mid season: median $11,600 per week; range $7,200–$14,000 per week, from 5 published prices at 1 company.
• Low season: median $10,900 per week; range $6,400–$13,125 per week, from 5 published prices at 1 company.

Bareboat paperwork and park permits

Before booking bareboat, confirm the BVI authority’s requirements and the charter company’s acceptance criteria separately. Ask the authority which documents apply to your charter. Ask the company which sailing certificate, experience record and supporting documents it will accept for the yacht you want.

Get the company’s acceptance in writing before committing to a bareboat booking. A certificate question and an experience-assessment question are not interchangeable. Use the bareboat sailing certificate guide to organize those checks, and compare responsibilities in the bareboat, skippered and crewed charter guide.

Park mooring buoys involve separate paperwork from permission to skipper the yacht. BVI News reported in 2022 that boats using park mooring buoys at designated reef areas require marine conservation permits. Ask your operator whether it arranges that permit and which park charges remain payable by your group.

Departure bases and operator quotes

Your yacht’s base can affect BVI cruising charges, so confirm the departure marina and the boat’s base location before comparing quotes. MyBVICharter reports that the per-person cruising tax varies by yacht base. Ask each company to identify the actual handover marina, return marina and any transfer arrangements.

A USVI-based departure needs a separate check on entry costs for BVI waters. VIPCA reports that USVI-based charter boats may face an entry permit fee of up to $24,000 per boat. Do not treat that as an automatic guest charge; ask the operator whether its quote includes any applicable entry permit and whether the itinerary depends on clearance.

For BVI charter enquiries, request the named departure base and an itemized quote directly from the company. Compare the same charter format and inclusions rather than the headline alone. Keep a BVI-based quote separate from a USVI-based itinerary until the entry charges are clear.

Planning a charter week

Plan your week around an operator-approved itinerary rather than fixed daily mileage. Ask the company to suggest an initial stop after handover, intermediate overnight stops and a return leg that fits its check-in requirements. Have it provide chart-based distances and explain which legs may change with the forecast.

For each proposed stop, check whether the plan uses a marina, a mooring or an anchorage, and ask what you will pay. Confirm whether any park mooring buoys require the marine conservation permit. The captain or operator should adjust the route when conditions make the planned stops unsuitable.