Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI → White Bay (Soggy Dollar), Jost Van Dyke
Bids $1,800–1,900
Budget: Open / Flexible
Live Charter Requests
Boat charters in St. John, USVI
Two-thirds of St. John is National Park, which means some of the most protected, pristine water in the Caribbean. Charters depart from Cruz Bay, Coral Bay, or across the channel from Red Hook.
Get bids for your St. John trip →A St. John day by boat is a slow one: three to five snorkel and beach stops along the north shore or round to Coral Bay, with the BVI 20–30 minutes away if you want it.
On VIslandGuide: St. John island guide · ferries · taxis · beaches today
Where you meet the boat
Docks and marinas on St. John from the place register we share with VIslandGuide. Say where you are staying in your request; each captain names the pickup in their bid.
- Cruz Bay Ferry Terminalferry dock
What a private St. John charter costs
The middle of real bids captains sent on St. John trips on CharterBid. The per-person figure adds the tip and shares it across the group.
| Group | Full day (boat) | All-in per person | Half day (boat) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 guests | $1,600–2,000 | about $558 | $1,400–1,800 |
| 8 guests | $1,600–1,950 | about $264 | $1,400–1,800 |
| 12 guests | $1,600–1,950 | about $176 | $1,400–1,800 |
All-in = the middle bid for a full day + a 15–20% tip, shared by the group. Price any route on the USVI & BVI planner; every route side by side on the price index.
Recent St. John trips and what captains bid
Real St. John trips posted on CharterBid, open and recently closed, with the bids local captains sent. Names and contact details stay private.
St. John → Jost Van Dyke - Sandy Spit - Cooper Island
Bids $1,350–1,900
Budget: Open / Flexible
Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI → The Baths and Jost Van Dyke
Bids $2,500–2,600
Budget: Under $3,000
Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI → Jost Van Dyke
Bids $1,500–1,600
Budget: Under $2,000
Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI → BVI
Bid $1,975
Budget: Under $2,000
Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI → Virgin Gorda
Bids $1,900–2,900
Budget: Open / Flexible
Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI → BVI
Bid $2,000
Budget: Open / Flexible
Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI → Unique BVI destinations
Bid $1,650
Budget: Open / Flexible
Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI → Jost Van Dyke
Bids $1,350–1,899
Budget: Open / Flexible
Popular stops in St. John
Spots people ask captains for most. Tap one to see the stop or start a trip there.
North Shore, St. John
Trunk Bay
The underwater snorkel trail, iconic for a reason.
See the stop →North Shore, St. John
Maho Bay
Sea turtles in shallow water, probably the best family snorkel in the USVI.
See the stop →Leinster Bay, St. John
Waterlemon Cay
A tiny cay ringed with reef off Leinster Bay, for confident snorkelers.
See the stop →Coral Bay, St. John
Lime Out
The floating taco bar. Swim up for margaritas and tacos in Coral Bay.
See the stop →Cruz Bay, St. John
Honeymoon Beach
Closest beach to Cruz Bay: calm water, pop-up bar, easy first stop.
See the stop →East End, St. John
Hurricane Hole
Protected anchorage and mangrove snorkeling on the east side.
Start a trip here →Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Trunk Bay, Navin75, CC BY-SA 2.0.
St. John charter questions
How much does a private boat charter in St. John cost?
On St. John trips, captains on CharterBid usually bid about $1,600–2,000 for a private full day and about $1,400–1,800 for a half day, for the boat and captain, for a small group. Group size changes it less than you might think, because you pay for the boat, not the seat. A 15–20% tip comes on top, and a trip from the USVI into the BVI adds entry fees of $75–$90 per person. Your own trip's bids may land higher or lower.
Where do St. John boat charters leave from?
Most leave from Cruz Bay on the west end or Coral Bay on the east end. Many St. Thomas boats also pick up in Cruz Bay, a short run across Pillsbury Sound from Red Hook. Say where you are staying when you post your trip and captains will tell you where they can meet you.
Do I need a passport for a St. John boat trip?
Not for US citizens on a trip that stays in US waters, such as the north shore bays, Coral Bay or Christmas Cove. Any stop in the British Virgin Islands (Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island, the Baths) needs a valid passport for every guest, children included.
Can I go from St. John to the BVI for the day?
Yes. Jost Van Dyke is about 20–30 minutes from Cruz Bay in a fast boat, and you clear BVI customs at Great Harbour before beach-hopping. Every guest needs a passport, and BVI entry fees are paid per person on the day.
What does a St. John day charter usually include?
A standard day charter usually covers the boat, captain, fuel and basic snorkel gear. Food and drinks ashore, any BVI fees and the crew tip are usually extra. Each captain's bid says what it covers, so you can compare like for like.
Plan your St. John charter
Post your trip on CharterBid and let verified St. John operators bid. Free to post, bids usually arrive within hours.