Half or Full-Day Private Boat Charter from St. John or St. Thomas

The best part of this private boat charter is how quickly an ordinary beach day turns into an island-hopping adventure. You can snorkel with sea turtles at Maho Bay, swim around a sunken sailboat at Christmas Cove, then pull up at Pizza Pi, a floating pizzeria. That mix of sea life, quiet beaches, and lunch on the water is hard to match.

I like the private, flexible plan, especially for families or groups with different energy levels. I also like the captains, including Andrew, Bryan, Steve, and Scott, who do more than steer the boat. They fit snorkel gear, explain local sights, watch swimmers, and adjust the route to your interests.

The main consideration is cost beyond the advertised $795 group price. Fuel is charged separately at $7 per gallon, tips are not included, and food costs extra. If you are coming from a cruise ship, you must also pay for a taxi to American Yacht Harbor, which can add up quickly for a large group.

Key points to know before booking

• Swim with sea turtles at Maho Bay: Calm water and regular turtle sightings make this a favorite stop for families and first-time snorkelers.
• Choose your own route: Half-day trips often visit St. John’s North Shore, while full-day outings can reach Salt Pond Bay, Little Lameshur, Waterlemon Cay, and Lime Out.
• Eat lunch from a floating restaurant: Pizza Pi works well on a half-day outing, while Lime Out is a popular full-day lunch stop.
• Travel privately: Only your group joins the boat, with room for up to eight people.
• Expect an active boat day: Snorkeling equipment, water, ice, and a cooler are supplied, but boat travel can be choppy in places.
• Watch the added costs: Fuel, tips, taxi fares from the cruise port, drinks, and meals are separate from the charter price.

A private catamaran day around St. John

Bonus Time Charters uses a 29 or 32-foot power catamaran for this outing. A power catamaran gives you a stable platform for getting in and out of the water, while the twin-hull design suits short runs between bays and beaches.

This is not a large excursion boat with a fixed script. Your group has the boat to itself, and the captain can shape the day around what you want to do. You might spend more time snorkeling, stop at a beach for a swim, or skip a crowded bay in favor of a quieter cove.

The advertised half-day trip lasts about 3 hours and 30 minutes, although the suggested stop schedule adds up to several hours on the water. Travel time is part of the total outing, so you should not expect a full four hours of snorkeling and beach time. A full-day charter gives you more room to spread out the stops and reach the farther corners of St. John.

The boat comes with water, ice, a cooler, and snorkeling equipment. You can bring your own drinks, including alcohol, but glass bottles are not allowed. Bring food if you want it, or plan to buy lunch at Pizza Pi or Lime Out.

Maho Bay brings the best chance for turtles

Maho Bay is one of the strongest reasons to book this charter. The bay has calm water, and the snorkeling route is known for sea turtles. You may also see colorful fish, rays, and other small sea life in the shallow water.

For families, Maho Bay is a practical first or second stop. Calm conditions make it easier for children and less confident swimmers to enjoy the water. The captain can help fit masks and fins, explain where to swim, and keep an eye on the group.

Do not treat turtle sightings as guaranteed wildlife entertainment. The animals are wild, and conditions can change. Still, the repeated turtle sightings on this route make Maho Bay a sensible choice if seeing turtles is high on your list.

You will want to save some energy for the ride between stops. The boat moves quickly, but the passage can be choppy depending on the wind and sea conditions. A long-sleeved shirt or cover-up is useful for the trip back, when the sun and wind can catch you by surprise.

Waterlemon Cay rewards strong snorkelers

Waterlemon Cay offers a different kind of underwater setting. The site has healthy populations of elkhorn coral, an endangered coral species, and gives you a chance to see a more structured reef environment.

The suggested visit lasts about 30 minutes, making it a compact stop on a full-day route or a possible substitute for another snorkel site. It is best suited to people who are comfortable swimming in open water and following the captain’s instructions.

Conditions matter here. A private charter is valuable because the captain can decide if the water is suitable and can alter the plan if another location offers better visibility or calmer water. You are not locked into one site simply because it appears on a printed schedule.

Scott Bay offers quiet beach time

Scott Bay Beach is one of the more appealing stops if you want a break from constant swimming. It is accessible by boat and sits near the remains of the former Caneel Bay Resort area on St. John.

You can snorkel, float, walk along the sand, or simply rest for the remainder of the stop. The quiet setting is especially useful for a mixed-age group. Children can enjoy the water while older family members take a break, and strong swimmers do not have to spend the whole day on the beach.

Scott Bay also shows the value of arriving by private boat. Road access does not define your day, and the captain can bring you to a beach that may feel less crowded than the better-known public names. Conditions and access can vary, so your captain will have the final say on how long you stay.

The remnants of the old resort add an unusual layer to the stop. You are not just looking at another stretch of sand. You are seeing part of St. John’s changing coastal story while enjoying a quiet place on the water.

Christmas Cove ends the half-day with pizza

Christmas Cove is a clever final stop because it combines snorkeling with a memorable meal. Around Fish Cay, you can look for sea life and a sunken sailboat, then order pizza from Pizza Pi, the floating pizzeria.

Pizza Pi is not included in the charter price. You pay for your food separately, and you should check the operation’s hours and availability when planning your day. The boat’s location and service can affect timing, so keep some flexibility in your schedule.

The setting is the real attraction. You can jump from the charter boat and swim over to the floating restaurant’s lounge area, turning lunch into part of the outing rather than a pause between activities. For children and teens, this can be the moment that makes the day feel special.

Christmas Cove also works well for groups with mixed interests. Strong snorkelers can explore around the cay and wreck, while others can stay aboard or concentrate on lunch. It gives the captain a practical way to finish a half-day route without rushing everyone through another beach stop.

Full-day routes reach farther around St. John

A full-day charter opens up far more of the island. Instead of concentrating on the North Shore, you can head toward Salt Pond Bay, Little Lameshur, Pelican Rock, and Coral Bay.

Salt Pond Bay is known as another place where you might see turtles. Little Lameshur offers a quieter cove and another chance to snorkel away from the busiest areas. Pelican Rock adds a different underwater setting, and the captain can direct you toward the part of the site best suited to the day’s conditions.

Waterlemon Cay fits naturally into a full-day plan because you have time to make the longer run and still visit other sites. A full-day route can include several types of scenery: reef snorkeling, sandy beaches, rocky coves, and open-water views around St. John.

Lime Out in Coral Bay is the signature lunch option for the longer charter. It is a floating taco bar, and stopping there gives the day a distinctly local, on-the-water feel. Food is extra, but the location is part of the appeal.

The full-day option makes the most sense if you want variety. You can spend enough time at each place to actually enjoy it instead of checking off a quick stop. It is also the better choice if your group has a long list of priorities, such as turtles, coral, quiet beaches, lunch at Lime Out, and sightseeing around the island.

The captains make the flexible plan work

A flexible route only has value if the captain can use it well. Andrew is frequently praised for matching the day to the group’s interests, including finding places with a strong chance of turtle sightings and explaining the best route through each snorkeling area.

Bryan is described as a capable all-around host who fits equipment, manages the music, explains the area, and helps people feel at ease in the water. He has also assisted a passenger using a wheelchair, helping that person get into the water comfortably. You should still discuss mobility needs before booking, since the boat and water entry may not suit every situation.

Steve is noted for his clear communication and island stories. On a full-day trip, that matters. A long outing is more enjoyable when the captain explains what you are seeing and checks that the plan still suits the group.

Scott has also led full-day trips, including routes with several snorkeling stops and lunch at Lime Out. The captains are not interchangeable in personality, but the central strength of the charter is consistent: local experience, attention to safety, and a willingness to adjust the day.

The captain keeps track of swimmers and moves the group along when it is time to leave. That sounds basic, but it is important when several people are in the water, especially a group of eight or more if the booking size changes. You should expect to follow directions about where to swim and when to return to the boat.

What the $795 price really buys you

The advertised price is $795 per group of up to eight people. At the full capacity, that works out to about $99 per person before fuel, tips, meals, and transportation. For four people, the base cost is nearly $199 per person, so group size has a major effect on value.

You are paying for privacy, not just transportation. A public boat trip may cost less per person, but it will not give your group the same control over the route, stop lengths, music, pace, or lunch plans.

The price is strongest for families and groups that would otherwise need several separate activities. You get the captain, boat, cooler, ice, water, and snorkeling gear in one package. The private format also lets you build a day around a child’s comfort level or an older parent’s mobility.

Budget carefully for fuel. Fuel is not included and is billed at $7 per gallon based on usage. The amount depends on the route, so a full-day trip that reaches Coral Bay may use more fuel than a shorter outing around the North Shore.

A 20 percent tip is recommended if the captain provides excellent service. Food at Pizza Pi or Lime Out is also separate, as are alcoholic drinks. If you are arriving from a cruise ship, taxi costs to and from American Yacht Harbor can be significant for eight people. One booking noted a ride of about 20 minutes and roughly $15 per person, but your fare may vary.

Cruise passengers need to plan the clock

This charter can work well during a cruise stop, but you must allow for the taxi ride to American Yacht Harbor. The operator does not provide cruise-port pickup, so arrange your own taxi and leave enough time to return to the ship.

Tell the captain your ship’s departure time before leaving the dock. Captains can watch the clock and shape the route around your return, but you are responsible for building in time for the taxi and any port delays.

The afternoon half-day option can be useful for families with teens or groups that do not want an early start. One departure at 1:30 p.m. worked well for a late-rising family. The tradeoff is less time for distant sites and fewer opportunities to linger.

Who will enjoy this charter most

I would choose Bonus Time Charters for a family, birthday group, or small party that wants a private day rather than a fixed sightseeing ride. It is particularly well suited to groups with children and teens because the plan can alternate between snorkeling, beach time, boat rides, and a fun lunch stop.

It also suits strong snorkelers who want to visit several sites in one day. The full-day option gives you time to reach Waterlemon Cay, the southern bays, and Lime Out without squeezing everything into a rushed schedule.

People with mobility concerns should contact the company before booking. The crew has helped passengers with wheelchairs and other limitations, but this is still a boat-based activity with water entry and movement on deck.

You may want to skip it if you dislike open-water boat rides, do not want to pay added fuel and taxi costs, or prefer a simple beach day with no schedule. The boat can encounter chop, and the total cost rises as the route gets longer.

Practical details for a smoother day

Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a towel, and a cover-up for the ride home. Pack drinks in cans or plastic containers, not glass bottles, and use the supplied cooler for cold storage.

Wear a swimsuit under your clothes. You will likely move between the boat, beaches, and snorkeling sites, so simple clothing is easier than a full change of outfit.

Keep your lunch plan flexible. Pizza Pi is the natural half-day finish, while Lime Out fits the longer Coral Bay route. Neither meal is included, and the captain may adjust the stop based on timing and conditions.

The booking includes mobile ticketing and confirmation at the time of purchase. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Should you book Bonus Time Charters?

I would book this charter if you value privacy, want to see more than one bay, and have a group large enough to share the $795 cost. The strongest half-day plan combines Maho Bay for turtles, Scott Bay for quiet beach time, and Christmas Cove for snorkeling and Pizza Pi.

Choose the full day if you want Salt Pond Bay, Little Lameshur, Waterlemon Cay, and Lime Out in one outing. Choose the half day if you are on a cruise schedule, have children who may tire, or mainly want turtles, a beach, and a memorable lunch.

The extra fuel charge and cruise-port taxi are real costs, not minor footnotes. Add them before comparing this with a shared excursion. If the final price works for your group, the private boat, flexible route, attentive captains, and access to quieter St. John coves make this a strong way to spend time in the US Virgin Islands.

FAQ

How much does the private boat charter cost?

The charter costs $795 per group of up to eight people. Fuel, tips, meals, alcoholic drinks, and transportation from a cruise port are not included.

How long is the half-day charter?

The listed duration is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. Travel time is included in the total duration.

Can the itinerary be customized?

Yes. The listed route is a suggested plan, and customized itineraries are welcome. Your captain can shape the day around snorkeling, beaches, sightseeing, and food stops.

What snorkeling locations may be included?

Possible stops include Waterlemon Cay, Maho Bay, Scott Bay, Christmas Cove, Salt Pond Bay, Little Lameshur, and Pelican Rock. The exact route can change based on your preferences and conditions.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, water, ice, and a cooler are included with the charter.

Can I bring my own drinks?

Yes. The charter allows you to bring your own beverages, including alcohol, but glass bottles are not permitted on board.

Are Pizza Pi and Lime Out included?

No. Food purchased at Pizza Pi, Lime Out, or other food stops is paid for separately by your group.

Is fuel included in the price?

No. Fuel is billed according to usage at $7 per gallon.

Can cruise passengers book this activity?

Yes, but cruise passengers must arrange their own taxi to American Yacht Harbor. Cruise-port pickup is not included, so allow time and budget for the taxi ride in both directions.