Caribbean Yacht Charter Destinations

In the Caribbean the charter fee covers the yacht, a professional crew of at least two — a captain and a private chef — all food and beverages chosen around your preferences, fuel, insurance for the vessel and crew, and the water toys. Outside it sit crew gratuity, flights and transfers to the yacht, premium spirits and heavy drinking, anything you spend ashore, optional dockage unless the contract says otherwise, and watersports the yacht does not carry, such as diving or sport fishing.

The Caribbean runs on all-inclusive rates: one figure covers the boat, the crew, the food and the fuel. Mediterranean yachts, and some larger motor yachts anywhere, quote the boat and crew only, then add running costs as APA — an advance provisioning allowance of roughly 30% of the charter fee covering food, fuel and similar. Two quotes that look alike are therefore not comparable until you know which model each one uses.

In the Caribbean most yachts have a minimum of four nights. In the Mediterranean during high season most yachts run a full week, typically Friday to Friday, Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday. Minimums are open to negotiation depending on the yacht’s availability, so tell us your dates and we will ask.

Between 15 and 20% of the charter fee, entirely at your discretion. The crew start preparing around your preferences well before you arrive and are on hand throughout. Most accept cash, cheque, PayPal, Venmo or a wire transfer.

Mostly not, but there are two exceptions worth planning for. Charters in Bahamian waters carry VAT on the charter fee, and Belize adds 10% to the rate. Elsewhere in the Caribbean there is generally no charter tax, though you will still pay park and cruising permits — the British Virgin Islands charge per person per day for the national park, for instance. All of it is set out in the contract before you pay anything, and we will tell you what a given week actually comes to rather than the advertised rate alone.

The British and US Virgin Islands give you short hops between anchorages and the busiest sailing scene. The Bahamas and the Exumas are for shallow turquoise water and sandbars. Belize is the quietest of them, with the second-largest barrier reef in the world and three of the Caribbean’s four atolls. St Martin and St Barts suit guests who want restaurants and nightlife alongside the sailing. Tell us what the week should feel like and we will match it.

It depends on the yacht. Every boat on our site shows its maximum, and most take between four and ten guests. Group make-up matters as much as the number — four couples and eight friends need different cabin layouts from the same eight berths, and children change which crews we suggest.