Private Catamaran Charter in St. Thomas: Voyage 500 Review

Every other snorkel tour on St. Thomas works on a shared schedule. The captain picks the stops, the group votes on pace, and you get the reef window when it opens. A private charter flips that. From the moment you cast off, the Voyage 500 and its crew work only for your group.

You choose where to anchor. If you want to stay at one snorkel spot for an hour instead of twenty minutes, you stay. If you'd rather spend the afternoon at a quiet beach cove than a reef, you go there. The captain knows every corner of the USVI — you direct, they navigate.

For families with younger kids, couples celebrating something, or any group that wants a day that fits around them rather than a tour schedule, this is a fundamentally different kind of day on the water.

The Voyage 500 is a 50-foot sailing catamaran — the same class of vessel used by professional bareboat charter companies in the Caribbean. At 50 feet, it has space for a group of 8 to 12 people without feeling crowded: a shaded cockpit, a bow trampoline net for lounging, and the wide beam of a catamaran that makes it stable even when the trade winds kick up.

Catamarans are gentler rides than monohull sailboats — less heel, less rolling — which matters on a full day on the water. Gear lockers hold the snorkel equipment, and the crew handles all rigging, navigation, and anchoring.

With a private charter, the waters of the USVI are genuinely open. Popular private charter itineraries from St. Thomas include:

• Buck Island (Little Buck Island) — Turtle Cove snorkel, white sand beach, Cartanza Señora wreck
• Christmas Cove off Great St. James — calm anchorage, abundant marine life
• St. John's north shore bays — Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Hawksnest Bay
• Lovango Cay — secluded beach and reef, rarely visited on group tours
• The Bight, Norman Island — good snorkeling caves and clear water
• Your own combination — tell the captain what you want to see

Half Day vs. Full Day

A half-day charter (approximately 4 hours) is enough for two snorkel stops and one beach. A full-day charter (approximately 8 hours) allows you to reach St. John or the out-islands, add a third stop, and have a proper lunch break at anchor. If your group includes non-snorkelers who just want to sail, a full day gives them the experience.

If you're on a tight cruise schedule, the half day is the more practical choice.

The charter price covers:

• The 50-foot Voyage 500 catamaran exclusively for your group
• A licensed captain and crew
• Snorkel gear (masks, snorkels, fins) for everyone
• Flotation devices
• Half-day or full-day as selected at booking

What to bring

Food and drinks are not provided — this is a BYO charter. Pack a cooler with lunch, snacks, and beverages for the full day. The crew can suggest local provisioning spots near the marina.

Also bring:

• Cooler with food and drinks for the duration
• Reef-safe, biodegradable sunscreen (non-aerosol)
• Towels and a change of clothes
• Waterproof camera or phone case
• Sunglasses and a sun hat
• Light jacket for the sail home if it cools down

Not allowed

Glass bottles are not permitted on board. Aerosol spray sunscreens are not allowed near the water. The crew enforces no-touch reef rules at every snorkel stop — no standing on coral, no feeding fish.

The $1,495 rate covers the entire boat — not per person. For a group of six, that works out to roughly $249 per person for a half day, which is comparable to some of the premium shared tours on St. Thomas. For eight people, it's under $190 per person. The more people in your group, the better the value relative to a shared tour — and you get the whole experience to yourselves.

Full-day pricing differs from the half-day rate. Check current availability for exact full-day pricing — rates can vary by season.

This charter suits groups who want full control of the day and don't mind providing their own food and drinks. Ideal for:

• Families who want to set their own pace around kids' energy levels
• Couples or small groups celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon
• Snorkelers who want to spend longer than 20 minutes at each reef
• Groups who've already done shared tours and want a different experience

Not suitable for

Solo travelers or pairs on a budget — the per-person cost only makes sense from a group of five or more. Also not ideal for anyone who prefers a fully catered experience with meals on board (see the all-inclusive sailing snorkel trip if that's what you want). Short port-day visitors with under 4 hours of free time should look at the 2-hour Brewers Bay turtle tour instead.

The Voyage 500 is a sailing catamaran, which means the schedule depends on wind and sea conditions. The captain may adjust your chosen itinerary on the day if conditions at a specific site are poor — this is standard for any charter and the captain will always find an equivalent alternative.

Book as far ahead as possible, especially for weekend dates and high season (December through April). Private charters have fixed capacity and fill up faster than shared tours. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure — useful for weather days.

If your group is arriving by cruise ship, book with the operator's port schedule service to ensure you're back at the dock before your re-boarding time.