Private Full Day Boat Charter around St Thomas and St John

The best part of this charter is the freedom to shape the day around your group. You can visit beaches near St. Thomas and St. John, stop to snorkel, or add lunch at a floating restaurant such as Lime Out or Pizza Pi. Captain RJ has taken groups to good snorkeling spots, including places where turtles were seen.

I like the private boat and the seven-hour length. You are not tied to a fixed group schedule, and up to 12 people can share the boat. I also like that snorkeling gear, floats, fuel, water, ice, and a Bluetooth stereo are included. The main drawback is the price if only two or three people book, since the $1,500 charge is per group rather than per person.

Key points at a glance

• A full private boat for up to 12 people: The fixed $1,500 price works best for families and groups that can share the cost.
• Your captain helps shape the day: You can choose beaches, snorkeling areas, and optional food stops instead of following a rigid route.
• Seven hours on the water: A 9:00 a.m. start gives you most of the day for swimming and exploring before returning to the marina.
• Snorkeling gear and floats are included: You do not need to arrange the basic water equipment separately.
• Turtle snorkeling may be part of the day: Captain RJ has taken a group to spots where they snorkeled with turtles.
• Floating lunch is optional: Lime Out and Pizza Pi can be added if your group wants food on the water.

Seven hours to shape around St. Thomas and St. John

This is not a quick sightseeing cruise with a set list of stops. It is a private boat day built around what your group wants to do. The captain discusses the choices with you, then helps set the route around beaches, snorkeling spots, and possible lunch stops.

That flexibility matters in the US Virgin Islands. One person may want a quiet swim, another may want time in the water with a mask and fins, and someone else may be happiest with a meal and music on the boat. A private charter lets you balance those wishes without asking an entire boatload of strangers to agree.

The tour runs for about seven hours and begins at 9:00 a.m. at Compass Point Marina in Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas. You return to the same marina at the end. Since the day starts in the morning and uses a full block of time, you get more than a brief taste of the coast, though the actual number of stops depends on the plan you make with the captain.

What you can do near St. Thomas and St. John

The central focus is the water around St. Thomas, St. John, and the islands between them. You can visit beaches near both islands and use the boat to reach snorkeling areas that are not convenient to reach from shore.

That last point is the real reason to book a charter rather than simply spend the day at a beach. A boat gives you access to more than one section of the coast. If one place is too busy for your taste, you can discuss another option with the captain. The supplied details do not promise a specific beach or snorkeling site, so you should think of the day as a custom plan rather than a guaranteed checklist.

Snorkeling equipment is included, along with floats. That is useful for a group with mixed interests. Confident swimmers can spend time looking underwater, while others can use the floats for a slower swim or remain on board. Bottled water and a cooler with ice are also provided, which helps keep the day simple.

A particularly appealing possibility is snorkeling with turtles. Captain RJ took one group to spots around St. Thomas where turtles were seen. That does not mean turtles are guaranteed on every departure, but it gives you a good question to ask when the captain talks through the route.

The value of a private boat for up to 12

The $1,500 price is easiest to understand when you divide it among the people in your group. At the full capacity of 12, the cost works out to $125 per person. With six people, it is $250 each. With four, it is $375 each, and with only two people, the private arrangement becomes a much larger expense.

For a family reunion, birthday group, or gathering of friends, the math can work well. You are paying for the boat and captain, not for a seat on a crowded shared tour. You also get control over the pace and the mix of activities, which can be worth more than a small per-person saving.

For a small group, compare the price with your priorities. If you care most about a private setting, flexible stops, and seven hours on the water, the cost may feel fair. If you simply want a short swim and a quick look at the coast, this is probably more time and money than you need.

Fuel is included, so you do not need to treat the advertised price as a starting point with a separate fuel bill waiting later. The package also includes a USCG-certified captain, snorkeling equipment, floats, bottled water, and a cooler with ice. Food is not listed as included. If you add a stop at Lime Out or Pizza Pi, plan on paying for your own meal there.

Why the captain matters on a flexible day

A custom boat day sounds simple, but the captain has an important job. You need help deciding how to use seven hours without wasting time moving between places that do not suit your group.

Captain RJ is the only captain named in the supplied information, and the strongest specific detail connected with the experience is his trip to snorkeling areas where the group saw turtles. He is also described as relaxed and well informed about the best spots around St. Thomas. Those details point to the kind of guidance you want on a flexible charter: practical advice about where to stop, not a long speech delivered while the boat keeps moving.

Still, the exact captain for your departure is not stated as guaranteed. Ask at booking or before departure if having Captain RJ matters to you. The charter includes a USCG-certified captain, which is important for operating the boat and managing the day, but the description does not give the boat size, cabin setup, or details about onboard facilities.

The private format should also make communication easier. You can tell the captain if your group wants more swimming, more beach time, a lunch stop, or a slower ride. The final plan remains subject to conditions and the captain’s judgment, but you are not locked into a large group’s schedule.

Adding Lime Out or Pizza Pi

A meal on the water can give the day a useful break. The charter specifically allows you to add a stop at floating restaurants such as Lime Out or Pizza Pi. These are optional, not part of the listed inclusions, so ask the captain to work one into the plan when you discuss your choices.

The value of this option is convenience. You can spend the morning on the water, stop for food without ending the charter, then return to swimming or sightseeing. It also gives your group a way to build a more relaxed day instead of treating every minute as time for snorkeling.

There is a tradeoff. A restaurant stop uses some of your seven hours, and the exact timing depends on the route and the restaurant. If snorkeling is the priority, tell the captain that before setting the plan. If your group includes people who are not keen swimmers, lunch may make the day more enjoyable for everyone.

Because food is not included, bring the right expectations. The charter supplies water and ice, but the supplied details do not say that meals, snacks, or drinks beyond bottled water are provided.

Meeting at Compass Point Marina

You meet at Compass Point Marina in Estate Bovoni on St. Thomas at 9:00 a.m. The activity ends back at the same meeting point. That simple out-and-back arrangement is useful because you know where the day starts and finishes.

You should allow enough time to reach the marina before the 9:00 start, though the available details do not provide pickup service or transportation from hotels, cruise docks, or the airport. Do not assume that transfers are included. Plan around the marina meeting point itself.

The ticket is mobile, which means you can keep the booking on your phone rather than needing a printed voucher. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Since the charter is commonly booked well ahead, with an average booking window of 47 days, it is sensible to reserve before your preferred vacation date if your schedule is fixed.

What the included equipment means for your group

The equipment list covers the basic needs of a water day. You receive snorkeling equipment, floats, bottled water, fuel, and a cooler with ice. The Bluetooth stereo adds a soundtrack option, though you should keep the volume comfortable for everyone on board.

These inclusions make planning easier, especially for a group of 12. You do not need to arrange separate snorkeling rentals or wonder if fuel will be added later. The cooler gives you a place to keep permitted food or drinks cold, though the details only specifically promise bottled water and ice.

The description does not specify sizes or styles of snorkeling gear, so anyone with a preferred mask or fit may want to bring personal equipment if that is important. It also does not give details about shade, seating, restrooms, or the boat’s storage space. Those are reasonable questions to ask before booking, especially for a full seven-hour outing.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The available information does not describe specific accessibility features, so contact Drift Charters directly if your group needs a particular boarding arrangement or onboard setup.

Weather, cancellations, and planning the risk

This experience requires good weather. If poor conditions cause the charter to be canceled, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy protects you from losing the full cost when the sea or weather makes the trip unsuitable.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded, and changes inside that same window are not accepted. The cut-off is based on local time in the US Virgin Islands.

This matters because a private charter is a major part of a vacation day. Keep an eye on the forecast, but remember that the final call about conditions may depend on the operator. If your schedule allows, place the charter early enough in your trip to leave room for a new date if weather changes the plan.

Who will get the most from this charter

I would recommend this outing to a group that wants control. Families can adjust the pace for different ages. Friends can combine snorkeling, swimming, beach time, music, and lunch. A group of up to 12 can also make the price more reasonable than it first appears.

It is especially suited to people who prefer a private day over a standard group cruise. You can ask for less time at one stop and more at another, and you do not have to follow a fixed sequence of attractions.

I would be more cautious if your group is very small and mainly wants one easy beach stop. At $1,500, the cost per person rises quickly. I would also ask more questions if you need specific boat facilities, since the supplied details do not list shade, restrooms, boat dimensions, or hotel transportation.

Should you book this St. Thomas boat charter?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the $1,500 cost and you want a private, flexible day around St. Thomas and St. John. The strongest reasons are the seven-hour duration, included snorkeling gear and fuel, access to beaches reached by boat, and the option to shape the day around swimming, turtles, and a floating lunch.

Before paying, decide what matters most to your group. Ask about the captain assigned to your date, the boat’s onboard facilities, and how your preferred snorkeling or restaurant stop could fit into the seven-hour schedule. If your group is small or your budget is tight, a shorter shared outing may offer better value.

For a full group that wants its own pace, this is a strong choice. Captain RJ’s turtle-snorkeling experience adds appeal, but the best feature is control: you and your captain can make the day fit your group rather than the other way around.

FAQ

How long is the private boat charter?

The experience lasts about seven hours. It starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends back at the meeting point.

Where does the tour start and finish?

You meet at Compass Point Marina in Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas, USVI. The activity ends back at the same marina.

How many people can join the private charter?

The $1,500 price covers one private group of up to 12 people.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a USCG-certified captain, fuel, bottled water, a cooler with ice, snorkeling equipment, floats, and a Bluetooth stereo system.

Can the group choose where to go?

Yes. The captain discusses the options with your group, and you can choose beaches, snorkeling areas, and optional floating-restaurant stops such as Lime Out or Pizza Pi.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If the charter is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.