US Virgin Islands yacht charter: week prices from St. Thomas

When to charter from St. Thomas

December through April is the USVI high, dry sailing season, according to The Moorings. Boat Concierge recommends booking 9 months ahead for this period and 6 months ahead for quieter months. Ask how your chosen dates affect the boat price and cancellation terms.

June through November is the Atlantic hurricane season identified by NOAA. NOAA reports that all documented major hurricanes affecting the USVI occurred within that season. Let the captain or operator decide whether conditions permit departure, and check NOAA National Weather Service forecasts before your trip.

St. Thomas trade winds generally average 10–20 knots, according to The Moorings, with the weakest winds in September and October. Its rainfall guidance identifies August through December as wetter months, so December's high-season label does not mean rain-free conditions.

• November–January: The Moorings describes northeast winds at 15–20 knots.
• February: The Moorings describes an easterly wind direction.
• June: The Moorings describes southeast winds at 10–15 knots.
• September–October: The Moorings identifies the weakest trade winds.

Week quotes and additional costs

Your week quote should identify the yacht, dates, and whether it is bareboat, skippered, or fully crewed. Boat Concierge advertises fully crewed yacht day charters from $3,000 for a full day; that is a day-charter starting price, not a weekly rate. Use the calculator with your operator's quoted rental and extras, alongside the week charter cost guide.

Crew arrangements change what you need to budget separately. Boat Concierge says its fully crewed charters include captain, chef, meals, drinks, fuel, moorings, snorkel gear, and water toys, with gratuity the main additional cost. It describes captained charters as including a professional captain while guests provide their own food and drinks, with fuel usually separate.

Boat Concierge lists separately billed fuel at $100–$400 per day depending on the boat and distance. It describes captain's gratuity of 15–20% of the charter rate as customary, not a tax. Confirm the basis for any requested tip before using the captain and crew tipping guide.

Boat Concierge says securing a date can require a 50% deposit or full payment. Before paying, request an itemized week quote and the refund terms. For a group split, separate actual trip expenses from any refundable security deposit.

• Ask whether VAT or another charter tax applies and whether it is included.
• For a crewed quote, ask whether an advance provisioning allowance, or APA, is required and how it is reconciled.
• Confirm skipper charges, provisioning, marina berths, moorings, and fuel inclusions.
• Ask about cruising permits and any per-person tourist charges.
• For a BVI visit, Boat Concierge identifies per-person customs and immigration fees, and sometimes national-park fees such as those for The Baths.

Bareboat skills and required paperwork

The Moorings says USVI bareboat charterers should have basic coastal navigation skills and understand charts and position plotting. Treat this as the company's stated experience expectation. Ask its booking team which certificates, sailing résumé, or practical checks it requires for your chosen yacht.

Legal requirements and charter-company approval are separate questions. Confirm applicable operator-document requirements with the relevant boating authority, then obtain the charter company's acceptance of your paperwork before paying. The bareboat sailing certificate guide explains what to check when comparing qualifications.

A bareboat booking is the wrong arrangement if you need someone else to handle navigation and boat operation. The Moorings also offers skippered and fully crewed USVI charters. Compare the responsibilities in the bareboat, skippered, and crewed charter guide before choosing by price alone.

Confirm your St. Thomas departure base

Your St. Thomas booking should name the exact departure marina or pickup point before you arrange transfers. Confirm that the quoted boat departs there and whether it returns to the same location. Ask about boarding instructions and luggage storage.

The Moorings lists bareboat, skippered, and fully crewed options in the USVI. Boat Concierge publishes USVI private-charter prices and describes captained and fully crewed arrangements. Ask each provider which departure location, yacht, and crew arrangement its quote covers.

Plan a week around conditions

Build your week from the confirmed departure base and the operator's proposed itinerary, not from a fixed list of daily stops. Ask for a route showing passage distances, overnight arrangements, and alternatives for weather changes. Leave room for the handover, provisioning, and return requirements in your contract.

A British Virgin Islands visit needs separate planning for border charges and procedures. Boat Concierge identifies customs and immigration fees for BVI day trips, with possible national-park charges at The Baths. Ask whether your week charter permits that crossing and who handles clearance before including it in the route.