Caribbean Blue Charters – Full Day Boat Charter – 35′ Marlin Power Boat

The best thing about this St. Thomas charter is the freedom to make the day your own. Your captain can steer you toward Lovango Cay, Maho Bay, secluded beaches, turtle spots, or the floating Lime Out taco bar instead of locking you into a fixed route. I like the private boat and the chance to reach beaches you cannot visit from land. I also like that snorkel gear, floats, music, ice, and hotel pickup are included.

The main catch is the final price. The $875 group rate does not include fuel, the captain fee, or gratuity, so ask for the full estimated cost before booking. The charter is also advertised for up to six people, making it a better value for a full group than for only one or two.

Key points at a glance

• Custom route: Shape the day around beaches, snorkeling, sea turtles, lunch, or quiet coves.
• 35-foot Marlin power boat: Plenty of room for a private group of up to six under the stated capacity.
• Strong captains: Nate receives repeated praise, while Kyle, Brendan, Anthony, and Spence are also named as capable guides.
• Useful onboard extras: Snorkel equipment, floats, music, and a full-size cooler with ice are included.
• Boat-only beaches: Stops around St. John and nearby cays can reach places that are hard or impossible to access from shore.
• Extra charges matter: Fuel, the captain fee, and gratuity are added to the $875 base price.

A private boat day instead of a fixed sightseeing tour

This is a seven-hour-and-30-minute private charter from Oasis Cove Marina in St. Thomas. You are not joining a large group or following a rigid sightseeing schedule. Your own party rides together, and the captain adjusts the day to match your interests.

That flexibility is the heart of the experience. You can ask for several snorkel stops, spend more time at a quiet beach, look for sea turtles, stop for lunch, or simply cruise between islands and swim when the water looks inviting. Captains Nate, Kyle, Brendan, Anthony, and Spence are named in the feedback, with Nate appearing especially often.

I like this setup for families and mixed groups. One person may want to snorkel, another may prefer a beach, and someone else may be hoping for a relaxed boat ride with music. A private captain can balance those wishes far better than a fixed group excursion.

The tradeoff is that a custom day requires some decisions. You do not get a printed schedule that tells you exactly where you will be at each hour. If you want a specific place, tell the captain early. If you prefer to hand over the planning, captains can also suggest a route.

Leaving Oasis Cove Marina in St. Thomas

The meeting point is Oasis Cove Marina at 6186 Estate Frydenhoj, Route 32, St. Thomas. The listed operating hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Sunday, and the activity ends back at the marina.

Hotel pickup is included, which makes the morning easier if you are staying in the St. Thomas area. The details supplied for the experience do not specify pickup times or every pickup location, so confirm those arrangements when you book.

The boat is a 35-foot Marlin power boat. That is a useful size for a full day on the water. You get more room than on a small center-console boat, while still having the speed to move between St. Thomas, St. John, and nearby cays during a single outing.

The stated capacity is up to six people. That is the number I would use when planning and pricing the charter. Some feedback refers to groups larger than six, but the official capacity provided for this experience is six, so larger parties should ask the operator before paying.

How the custom itinerary works

At the start, you can explain what matters most to your group. Say clearly if snorkeling is the priority, if you want calm beach time, or if you hope to eat lunch on the water. You can also let the captain choose the stops based on conditions and your group’s energy.

A full day gives you room to visit several places without turning every stop into a rushed photo break. One family used the charter for five snorkel locations around St. John and St. Thomas, including Lovango, Whistling Cay, Flanagan Island, Booby Rock, and the ledges near Little St. James. Their favorite sightings included a nurse shark, barracuda, and a sea turtle.

That does not mean every departure follows the same route or produces the same wildlife sightings. Sea life and water conditions vary. It does show what the flexible format can provide when your group wants an active day and the captain can adjust the plan.

For a quieter outing, ask for fewer stops and more time at a beach. For a serious snorkeling day, tell the captain you are comfortable with several water stops. One family described itself as an especially active snorkeling group, while other parties focused more on beaches and swimming.

Lovango Cay, Maho Bay, and the best swimming stops

Lovango Cay and Maho Bay are listed among the possible destinations. The exact order depends on the captain’s plan and the day’s conditions, but both fit the charter’s main purpose: swimming, snorkeling, and seeing the Virgin Islands from the water.

Maho Bay is particularly appealing if sea turtles are high on your list. Several outings included turtle sightings, and one family booked the charter with that goal in mind. Your captain can help choose a suitable area, but no wildlife sighting can be guaranteed.

Lovango offers another kind of appeal. You can make it part of a broader island-hopping day, pairing a snorkel stop with a quieter beach or another nearby cay. The benefit of a private boat is that you are not tied to the schedule of a public ferry or beach transfer.

The supplied information also lists The Baths among possible locations, but it clearly describes this as a USVI-only charter. Because The Baths are commonly associated with Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, confirm the exact route and destination before booking if that stop is essential to your plans. Do not assume every place named in the general description is included on every departure.

Snorkeling with turtles, rays, and reef fish

Snorkel equipment is included, so you do not need to bring your own mask and fins unless you prefer your personal gear. Floats are also provided, which gives less confident swimmers another way to enjoy the water.

The strongest wildlife detail comes from the named stops. Groups reported seeing sea turtles, a nurse shark, barracuda, and plenty of fish. Those sightings make the charter especially attractive to families who want more than a simple ride past the coast.

Still, this is not a guaranteed wildlife program. The captain can take you to favored areas, but animals move, visibility changes, and weather affects the water. A good approach is to treat turtles and other sightings as a welcome bonus while judging the trip by the whole day of swimming, beaches, and boat time.

If someone in your group feels uneasy in the water, tell the captain. One account specifically noted that the captain helped calm a nervous member of the party. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not provide detailed medical or mobility guidance, so ask the operator about any special needs before booking.

Lime Out and lunch on the water

Lime Out, a floating taco bar, is one of the most distinctive possible stops. It is accessible by boat, so it fits naturally into a charter day and gives you a break from swimming.

The lunch stop is optional rather than a guaranteed part of the route. If you want to eat there, mention it when discussing your plan. A meal also takes time away from snorkeling, so decide which matters more to your group.

This is a good example of why the private format works well. You can build a day around food and scenery, or skip lunch and use that time for another bay. The charter is not trying to force every possible attraction into one schedule.

What the onboard setup adds

The full-size cooler with ice is a practical inclusion. On a long boat day, cold storage matters, especially for drinks and food. The listing does not state what food or beverages are supplied, so plan accordingly and ask what you may bring.

Music is included, giving the boat day a relaxed vacation feel. The experience also provides floats and snorkel gear, so the included features are aimed at actual time in the water rather than just sightseeing.

The boat itself is described as comfortable, clean, and well suited to a full day on the water. Captain Nate is repeatedly praised by name for his friendly manner, flexibility, and ability to select stops. Kyle is also singled out for taking photos and videos during one private outing, though you should not assume that every captain offers the same service.

Is $875 a good value?

The base price is $875 per group of up to six. At the full stated capacity, that works out to about $146 per person before the added charges. For two people, the same base rate becomes much harder to justify.

The value comes from privacy and time. You are paying for a dedicated boat, captain, fuel-powered island hopping, snorkel equipment, cooler with ice, floats, music, and hotel pickup. A public excursion may cost less per person, but it will not give your group the same control over the route.

The extra charges need careful attention. Fuel, the captain fee, and gratuity are not included. One party specifically noted that these costs were not initially clear and advised calculating the tip from the full price, not just the captain fee. That is useful advice. Ask for a written estimate of the base rate, fuel, captain fee, and expected gratuity before you commit.

For six people who plan to spend the day swimming and snorkeling, the math can work well. For a couple seeking a short scenic cruise, it is probably more boat than you need.

Who will get the most from this charter?

I would choose this for a group that wants control over the day. It suits families, birthday groups, repeat visitors who have already seen the main beaches, and active snorkelers who want several water stops.

It is also a smart choice when your group has different priorities. The captain can combine a beach, a snorkel site, a lunch stop, and scenic cruising instead of making everyone accept one narrow theme.

This may not be the best fit if you want a cheap, fixed-price outing or if you dislike extra fees added after the advertised group rate. It is also less suitable if your group cannot agree on how to use the day. Private charters reward clear communication.

Nate receives the most consistent praise, but captains can vary. If a particular captain is important to you, request that person and confirm availability. The experience names Nate, Kyle, Brendan, Anthony, and Spence, but it does not promise a specific captain for every booking.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is listed as available daily. The charter requires good weather. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

Since this is a boat day, check the forecast and keep some flexibility in your vacation plan. A weather-related change is easier to manage when you have not scheduled a flight or another fixed activity immediately afterward.

Should you book Caribbean Blue Charters?

Book it if you want a private, flexible day on the water and your group can share the cost. The strongest reasons are the custom route, the chance to reach boat-only beaches, the included water gear, and captains who can shape the day around your interests.

Before paying, confirm the total with fuel, the captain fee, and gratuity included in the estimate. Also confirm the maximum group size, pickup details, your preferred captain if you have one, and whether any named destination is actually part of the USVI route.

For six people who want snorkeling, turtles, secluded beaches, and a relaxed lunch stop at Lime Out, this can be one of the most rewarding full-day options from St. Thomas. For a smaller group on a tight budget, compare the final all-in price with a shared boat tour first.

FAQ

Where does the boat charter start and end?

The charter starts and ends at Oasis Cove Marina, 6186 Estate Frydenhoj, Route 32, St. Thomas, USVI.

How long does the charter last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours and 30 minutes.

How many people can join?

The stated capacity is up to six people per group.

What is included in the charter?

The experience includes hotel pickup, a cooler with ice, snorkeling equipment, floats, and music.

Are fuel and the captain included in the $875 price?

No. Fuel charges and the captain fee are additional. Captain gratuity is also not included.

Can the itinerary be customized?

Yes. You can shape the day around beaches, swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and other interests. Possible areas include Lovango Cay, Maho Bay, and other locations around the US Virgin Islands.

What happens if the weather is poor?

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