Half-Day Private Charter from St John

The best part of this private power-catamaran charter is control. You are not tied to a fixed group route. Tell your captain if you want quiet beaches, reef time, sea turtles, or a run to Jost van Dyke, then shape the day around your group. Captains including Abbie, Joe, Luke, and Scotty have taken families to favorite snorkel spots, private-by-boat beaches, and floating food stops.

I like the 33-foot CatZilla, which gives you more room than a small open boat, and I like the personal service. Captains have helped multigenerational groups, adjusted routes for rough water, and found turtles when that was the main goal. The catch is cost: $1,200 for up to six is a serious outlay, and fuel is charged separately at the end.

Key points to know before you book

• A genuinely private boat: Your group has the catamaran and captain to itself, with a stated maximum of six people.
• You help choose the route: Spend the time around St John, snorkel several spots, visit a beach, or ask about Jost van Dyke.
• CatZilla offers a useful middle ground: The 33-foot power cat has space for a relaxed half-day without the scale of a large excursion boat.
• Captains make the difference: Abbie, Joe, Luke, Scotty, Eric, Jeremy, and others have been praised for good judgment, patience, and route flexibility.
• Snorkel gear and water are included: Food, drinks, and any fuel surcharge are not.
• Plan around the clock: Four hours passes quickly, especially if you want both snorkeling and a trip to another island.

A private start from Cruz Bay

This excursion begins in Cruz Bay, the natural launch point for a day on the water from St John. You board a 33-foot power catamaran and meet the local captain who will run the boat and help set the plan.

That first conversation matters. A private charter works best when you arrive with a short wish list rather than a rigid script. You might say that turtles matter most, that you want a calm swimming stop, or that your family would rather see beaches than spend the whole time with masks in the water. The captain can then weigh those wishes against the day’s conditions and the time available.

The boat is called CatZilla in the supplied details and in several customer accounts. It is a power catamaran, not a sailboat, so this is built around moving efficiently between bays and islands. That suits a four-hour outing. You spend less time waiting for a sail to fill and more time deciding where to stop.

The private setup is especially useful for mixed groups. One person can snorkel while another prefers to stay aboard. Parents can ask for a shorter swim stop, and older family members do not have to match the pace of a large boatload. A family with a 75-year-old passenger and young children found the captain attentive to those different needs, which is the sort of practical help that can make or break a boat day.

How four hours usually feels on the water

The published plan is simple: spend about four hours exploring the waters around St John, with the option to visit nearby Jost van Dyke or use the supplied snorkeling equipment. There is no fixed list of stops, and that is the point.

You might begin with a cruise along the palm-fringed coast before stopping at a reef or sheltered bay. You might spend a large portion of the charter in the water, then finish at a beach or floating restaurant. Some outings have included several snorkeling locations, while others have focused on a trip to Jost van Dyke.

Four hours sounds generous on land. At sea, it is enough for a focused half-day, but not enough for every possibility. A route to Jost van Dyke takes travel time. A snorkeling-centered route gives you more time in the water. If you want both a cross-island run and several long swims, tell the captain at the start so expectations are clear.

The captains have shown useful flexibility. Katie, the company contact, has adjusted departure times for a last-minute change, and captains have shaped routes around requests for turtles, reefs, beaches, and food. That does not mean every requested stop will be possible. It means you have a better chance of getting a day suited to your group than you would on a preset excursion.

Snorkeling, turtles, and quiet shore stops

Snorkeling is one of the strongest reasons to choose this charter. Equipment is included, so you do not need to pack fins, masks, or snorkels for everyone in your party. Bottled water is also supplied.

The exact marine life cannot be promised, but the recorded outings include sea turtles, large starfish, colorful fish, and coral. Captains Jeremy and Eric were specifically asked to find turtles and did so. Joe took groups to quieter spots away from the main beaches, while other captains selected reefs near St John and small islands offshore.

That kind of local route choice is valuable. A famous beach is not automatically the best place to see fish. A captain who knows the area can look for a suitable combination of water conditions, visibility, and crowd levels. Still, remember that snorkeling depends on weather and the sea. The captain can choose a good site, but cannot guarantee wildlife or perfect water.

The boat also makes it easier to mix swimming with shore time. One captain took a group to a beach reachable only by boat and brought passengers close enough to shore to walk in with towels without soaking them. That detail may sound minor, but it matters when you are carrying phones, dry clothes, or snacks.

If snorkeling is your priority, say so early. Ask for more than one location if conditions allow, and avoid filling the whole four hours with a long island crossing. If your group includes first-time snorkelers, children, or anyone uneasy in open water, explain that as well.

Choosing St John or Jost van Dyke

You can stay close to St John or ask about Jost van Dyke, a British Virgin Islands destination nearby. The appeal of Jost is the feeling of a small international boat outing, with a change of scenery and the chance to stop at a well-known waterfront bar such as Soggy Dollar.

Several outings to Jost van Dyke included Captain Luke, who was described as kind, professional, and attentive on the run to Soggy Dollar. A trip there can make the half-day feel like more than a local harbor cruise.

There are tradeoffs. Jost van Dyke is not simply another bay around St John. A border crossing can use valuable time, and a current valid passport is required on the day of travel. The tour information also makes clear that missing the activity because your cruise ship arrives late or fails to arrive does not qualify for a refund. That is worth taking seriously if you are visiting on a tight ship schedule.

Ask the captain or booking contact how much time a Jost route leaves for swimming. If your main goal is snorkeling, staying around St John may give you more water time. If you want the international stop and a famous beach-bar setting, Jost may be the better use of your four hours.

What the captains add to the day

A private boat is only as good as its captain. Here, the strongest pattern is personal attention rather than scripted narration.

Captain Abbie has handled families, snorkeling requests, and trips involving customs for Jost van Dyke. Captain Joe has taken groups to favored snorkel spots, selected bays with good conditions, and shared local background while circling St John. Captain Luke has been praised for a calm, courteous approach and for handling rougher seas smoothly.

Captain Scotty has run outings that combined snorkeling, beaches, and painkiller drinks. Captain Jeremy found turtles for a family with children. Captain Eric took a group around St John and to a beach that could only be reached by boat. These details give you a useful sense of the service: you are not just hiring a driver. You are hiring someone to judge the water, pace the stops, and turn a broad request into a workable half-day.

That said, captain assignments are not guaranteed from the information provided. You may get Abbie, Joe, Luke, Scotty, or another Love City Excursions captain. The sensible approach is to share your priorities with the operator rather than booking around a particular name.

Price, fuel, and what your money buys

The listed price is $1,200 per group, up to six people. At full capacity, that works out to $200 per person before the fuel surcharge. For four people, it is $300 each. For two, it becomes a very expensive way to reach the water.

The value improves when you have a full group and care about privacy. You are paying for the boat, captain, route control, and the ability to avoid a large shared excursion. A private charter can also be a practical choice for a family with different swimming abilities, since the captain can adjust the pace instead of following a group schedule.

The price does not include fuel. A fuel surcharge is calculated by usage and paid at the end of the charter. The supplier requires it, and the amount is not stated in the available details, so ask for an estimate before departure. This is the main budget issue beyond the headline price.

Food and drinks are also extra. Some groups have stopped at places such as Lime Out or the pizza boat off St Thomas, but those purchases are separate from the charter. You receive bottled water, not a full meal or open bar. Painkiller drinks appear in some outings, but they should not be treated as an included feature.

Who will get the most from CatZilla

I would consider this charter for a group of friends or a family of four to six people who want a private day and have clear ideas about how to spend it. It also suits repeat visitors to St John who have already seen the main beaches and now want a captain to guide them toward less accessible shorelines and snorkeling areas.

It is a good fit for mixed-age groups. The captain can help balance a child’s short attention span, an older passenger’s comfort, and a strong swimmer’s wish for more water time. The private setting also means nobody has to apologize for needing a break.

It is less compelling for a couple or solo visitor at the full group price. It may also disappoint you if you expect a fully packaged luxury cruise with lunch, drinks, and fuel included. Those costs sit outside the advertised rate.

Cruise passengers need extra care with timing. The excursion will not refund a missed departure caused by a late or absent ship. If you are coming from a cruise, leave a solid buffer and confirm where you will meet the boat. A current passport is essential if your plans include Jost van Dyke, and the tour requirements state that a passport is required on the day of travel.

Booking and cancellation details to keep in mind

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The activity is offered as a mobile ticket, and only your private group participates.

Most people can take part, but the supplied information does not give detailed mobility guidance for boarding or moving around the boat. If anyone in your party has mobility concerns, ask the operator before paying.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancel later than that, or make changes inside the 24-hour window, and the payment is not refunded. That rule makes early planning important, especially during a cruise visit or a weather-sensitive vacation.

Should you book this St John charter?

I would book it if your group can fill most of the six-person capacity and values freedom more than a low per-person price. The strongest reasons are the private boat, flexible route, supplied snorkel gear, and captains who have proved good at finding turtles, quiet beaches, and workable stops for families.

Choose a St John-focused route if snorkeling and swimming are your priority. Choose Jost van Dyke if the passport requirement and border crossing fit your schedule and you want a change of island with time for a waterfront stop.

Before you commit, ask about the expected fuel surcharge, confirm the meeting details, and tell the operator your top two wishes. With those points settled, this is a polished way to spend a half-day on the water, especially when a shared boat would force your group into someone else’s plan.

FAQ

How long is the private charter?

The charter lasts approximately four hours.

Where does the activity depart from?

The charter departs from Cruz Bay on St John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

How many people can join the private boat?

The listed capacity is up to six people per group.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and bottled water are included.

Can the charter visit Jost van Dyke?

Yes. Jost van Dyke is one possible destination, although you can also choose snorkeling, beaches, or a route around St John.

Is fuel included in the $1,200 price?

No. A fuel surcharge based on usage is paid at the end of the charter. Food and drinks are also not included.