Charter A Private Yacht To USVI [Caribbean Vacation]

Charter Broker Laura Jagielski shares a sample itinerary of what an 8 day charter vacation in USVI looks like.

With the US Virgin Islands reopening their doors and welcoming charter guests with open arms on Monday, June 1, 2020; the USVI’s are ready to share America’s Caribbean with you.  Passports are not required for US Citizens and there are many nonstop flights from the mainland into St. Thomas’ Cyril E. King Airport.

With so many beaches, hiking trails, beach restaurants, beach bars, shops, snorkeling and diving sites, this is just one example of what your crewed charter yacht vacation can look like.  Charter guests can completely customize their itinerary with me (your charter broker) and your captain, based on your groups’ needs and interests.  

USVI Sample Charter Itinerary

Day 1: Embark from Yacht Haven Grande Marina and set sail for Buck Island National Wildlife Refugee.  The island is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs, the small shipwreck of Cartanza and provides a safe haven for birds and is densely populated with endangered sea turtles.   Enjoy lunch onboard and spend the afternoon swimming and snorkeling at Turtle Cove, while watching the turtles in their natural habitat.  Enjoy a relaxing cruise over to Christmas Cove on Great St. James Island.  Christmas Cove is a great snorkeling spot and wonderful to watch sunset from.  So grab an appetizer from your chef, your sundowner of choice and finish your first day with this epic view of the sun disappearing behind St. Thomas.

Day 2: Before leaving Christmas Cove, if you didn’t snorkel the day before, jump in and snorkel around the reef.  There are always tons of marine life in this quiet cove.  For the divers in the group, your charter yacht can sail around to The Stragglers and Dog Rocks, which offer reef and large boulders to explore.  Otherwise sail over to St. John, the smallest of the 3 US Virgin Islands. With over two-thirds of the island designated as a national park, guests can easily spend days exploring this unspoiled island.   Spend some time in Love City, also known as Cruz Bay, where you’ll find a multitude of restaurants, bars, local shops with locally made spices, ice cream, jewelry and a brewery!  Guests looking to spend the day shopping and wandering around Cruz Bay can do so.  Anyone looking to stretch their legs, can stop in the National Park Visitor Center Building and make your way to the Lind Point Trail, which is an easy hike to the beautiful beaches, Salomon and Honeymoon.   

Day 3: Sail along the south side of St. John and make your way over to Genti Bay.  Swim or dinghy ashore and check out the beautifully intact Reef Bay Sugar Mill Ruins.   Guests can hike the Reef Bay Trail up to see a group of petroglyphs, believed to be Taíno carvings (Pre-Columbian time) and then follow the Lameshure Trail, finishing at the peaceful Lameshure Beach.  Take a much-deserved soak in the turquoise waters, while you wait for your captain to pick you up and dingy your group back to the boat for a delicious lunch prepared by your 5-star chef.   After an afternoon of watersports or lounging, the Captain will pick up anchor and set sail for Coral Bay.  Spend the night in this cute town where there are several local bars and restaurants to check out.

Day 4: Check out the surrounding bays, like Round Bay where guests can enjoy Hansen Beach and visit  the swim up Margarita and Taco Bar, named, Lime Out VI!  Have a leisurely sail around the northeast side of St. Thomas stopping at Haulover and Brown Bay Beaches.  Once your yacht drops anchor at Waterlemon Bay (your anchorage for the night) enjoy snorkeling around Waterlemon Cay before finishing the day with sundowners and/or a grabbing a quick nap in a hammock or sunbed while your chef prepares another phenomenal dinner.

Day 5: Spend the morning and early afternoon at Leinster Bay, a protected anchorage that’s great for Stand-Up Paddle Boards, water skiing, and even trying your hand at electric foil boards!  Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins are the nicest and best-kept ruins on the entire island, with informational placards throughout, as well as offering breathtaking views of the US and British Islands.  This is a photo op not to miss and makes the perfect back drop for your family or group picture.  Guests can either swim ashore or dinghy in and enjoy the leisurely walk on the Leinster Bay Trail to the ruins.  Spend the afternoon sailing between the uninhabited islands of Lovango and Thatch Island, stopping along the way for secret snorkeling spots.

Day 6: No trip to the US Virgin Islands is complete without a stop at the famous Magen’s Bay Beach.  The beach is made up of white, powder-soft sand and stretches almost 1 mile and is one of the world’s best beaches.  Guests won’t want to leave as they spend the afternoon soaking in the beautiful waters or enjoying the plethora of watersport toys from the yacht.  Magen’s Point Bar and Grill arguably makes some of the best PainKiller Cocktails in the entire Virgin Islands.  Guests can beach hop along the northside of St. Thomas, stopping at Hull Bay, Neltjeberg, Santa Maria and more, before dropping anchor for the night. 

Day 7: Enjoy a beautiful sail along the northwestern side of St. Thomas, making your way to the southside of the island; be sure to sit on the bow seats or on your yacht’s flybridge to keep an eye out for pods of dolphins.  Guests will enjoy stopping off Brewers Bay, where you can snorkel, look for sea turtles and just chill.  Finish the week at Water Island where guests can enjoy Honeymoon Beach or rent a golf cart to explore the island even farther.  Fort Segarra was built in 1944 for World War II; by 1948 it still wasn’t completed and remains a partially underground fort that you can explore.  Honeymoon Beach is great to walk on, swim or grab a drink/snack from Dinghy’s Beach Bar & Grill.  Local artists will often perform at Dinghy’s during the day, featuring reggae-like Caribbean music.   

Day 8: Wake up with another fabulous breakfast prepared by your chef and grab another swim or mimosa before packing and saying your goodbyes.  The yacht will return to Yacht Haven Grande Marina, where the airport is just a quick 10 minute taxi ride.  Guests who don’t have flights until later in the afternoon can spend time in the capital, Charlotte Amalie, wandering into the many shops, bars and restaurants, before grabbing a taxi to catch their flight. 

Captain Richard, of Sailing Catamaran Rapscallion, will be running charters in the USVI this Summer and is eager to share with his guests everything that the USVI has to offer. 

“We’re all excited to welcome our guests this summer to rediscover the amazing U.S. Virgin Islands.  During our period of quarantine and social distancing, our industry has spent it’s time as constructively as possible, maintaining our vessels in top condition and taking extra time to seek out the best sites. 

Over the last 20 years, we’ve come to believe that the BVI was the only option for our charter guests.  Not true.  The islands, waters, and coves of the USVI are full of beauty and natural splendor.  US Virgin Islanders are so welcoming.  The crews and their beautiful charter yachts are refreshed and ready to show their guests an experience like no other!”

Ready to explore all of your charter options? Contact our Laura to get started.