Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Jost Van Dyke, Mattes, CC BY 2.0 de · Soggy Dollar, User:Mattes, CC BY 2.0 de · The Baths, P. Hughes, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cane Garden Bay, Balou46, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bitter End & Saba Rock, kansasphoto, CC BY 2.0 · Norman Island & the Willy T, Matt & Nayoung, CC BY 2.0 · Cooper Island, giggel, CC BY 3.0.

What captains bid, by group size

The middle of real bids on Virgin Islands day charters. Group size moves the price less than you'd think: you pay for the boat, not the seat, so the per-person cost falls as the group grows.

1–6 guests

Center console or small powerboat

Full day$1,550–2,000

Half day$1,000–1,500

7–12 guests

Power catamaran

Full day$1,600–2,150

Half day$1,350–1,900

13+ guests

Large catamaran or motor yacht

Full day$1,750–2,150

Half day$1,900–2,200

20+ guests

Crewed yacht or large catamaran

Full dayCustom quote

Half dayCustom quote

What captains bid, by trip length

Half day (about 4 hours)

$1,000–1,500

One or two nearby stops: a snorkel, a beach, a bar. Christmas Cove, St. John's north shore or Lime Out.

Full day (about 8 hours)

$1,550–2,000

The classic island-hop and the most requested trip: Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island, The Baths, with time to relax.

Sunset cruise (about 2 hours)

Ask for bids

A short evening run with drinks, popular for couples, birthdays and anniversaries. Fewer trips, so post yours to see prices.

What's included, and what moves the price

Knowing what a bid covers is the difference between a fair price and a surprise at the dock.

Usually included

⚓The boat and a licensed local captain

⛽Fuel for a standard day within the islands

🤿Basic snorkel gear and safety equipment

🧊Ice, cooler, and often water and soft drinks

Often extra

🛂BVI customs, immigration and national-park fees

🍽️Food, alcohol and restaurant stops

💵Captain and crew gratuity (15–20% is customary)

⛽Fuel surcharge on long open-water crossings

Heading into the BVI? Budget a little extra.

Any trip into the British Virgin Islands (Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, The Baths, Norman Island) needs a valid passport for every guest and adds roughly $50–$100 per person in customs, immigration and park fees on top of the charter. USVI-only days (St. Thomas, St. John, Christmas Cove) need no passport and skip those fees.

When to book for the best price

💸 Best value

📅Shoulder season and late summer / early fall

🗓️Midweek trips (Tuesday to Thursday)

👥Filling the boat: price is per charter, not per person

📈 Premium pricing

❄️High season (roughly December to April)

🎉Holidays, spring break and weekends

⏳Last minute: the best boats book out early

Charter pricing FAQ

The questions we hear most about what a Virgin Islands charter really costs.

How much does a boat charter cost in the USVI & BVI?

Most private full-day charters in the Virgin Islands are bid at about $1,550–2,000, and half days at about $1,000–1,500. Those are the middle of hundreds of real bids local captains have sent on CharterBid. Group size barely changes it, because you pay for the boat, not the seat. Large catamarans and crewed yachts for big groups cost more.

What's included in the price?

A standard day charter usually includes the boat, captain, fuel, and basic snorkel gear. Food, drinks, and BVI customs and park fees are often extra, and a 15–20% gratuity is customary and not included. Always confirm exactly what's covered in each captain's bid.

How much are BVI customs and entry fees?

Budget roughly $50–$100 or more per person for BVI customs, immigration, and national-park fees on top of the charter price. Every guest needs a valid passport on any trip that crosses into the British Virgin Islands.

Do I pay for the captain's fuel?

Fuel is normally included in a standard day charter. Long open-water runs, for example St. Thomas to St. Croix or out to Anegada, may add a fuel surcharge, so ask up front.

When is it cheapest to charter?

Shoulder season and midweek trips (Tuesday to Thursday) are usually the best value. High season (roughly December to April), holidays and spring break command premium pricing, and the best boats book out early.

How do I get an exact price for my trip?

Post your trip on CharterBid. It's free and takes a minute. Local captains send real bids for your date, group and route, usually starting within about 2 hours, and you compare them side by side with no obligation.

Want the exact price for your trip?

The numbers here are the middle of real bids. Post your trip on CharterBid, free and with no obligation, and local captains bid on your date, group and route.

Plan it on the chart ↑

Boat charters in the US & British Virgin Islands: a quick guide

The Virgin Islands are one of the easiest places in the Caribbean to charter a boat for the day. Dozens of islands and cays sit within a few miles of each other, so a single day on the water can cover snorkeling reefs, white-sand beaches, and the famous beach bars of the British Virgin Islands, all from a departure in St. Thomas or St. John.

USVI vs. BVI day charters

USVI-only charters stay within US waters: no passport, no customs stop. Trips into the BVI (Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Norman Island, Virgin Gorda) add a customs clearance and per-person entry fees, but unlock the Soggy Dollar, the Willy T, The Baths, and the calm anchorages of the Sir Francis Drake Channel.

Choosing a boat

Center consoles are the workhorses for groups of six or fewer and the fastest way to cover ground. Power catamarans give bigger groups shade, a head, and a stable platform for swimming. For twenty or more guests, a crewed motor yacht or sailing catamaran is the usual fit; expect a custom quote.

How CharterBid pricing works

CharterBid is a reverse marketplace: you post your date, group size, and where you'd like to go, and local captains bid on the trip. The prices on this page come from hundreds of those real bids, so they reflect what charters in the Virgin Islands actually go for, not a list price. Posting a trip is free with no obligation to book.