Full Day Private Charter on Luxury Catamaran Sailing.

The best part of this St. Thomas charter is control. You are not tied to a fixed group itinerary. Your private party can help choose two or three snorkel stops, then spend the rest of the day swimming, lounging on the trampolines, or swinging in the catamaran’s stern hammock chairs. Sea turtles and reef time are the main draw, but the easy pace matters just as much.

I like the generous inclusions: lunch, snorkel equipment, paddle boards, ice, water, sodas, rum punch, and a 12-pack of light beer are already covered. I also like the setting aboard Second Chance, where you can shift between sunbathing on the bean bags, sitting beneath sail, and watching the islands pass from the front trampolines.

The main consideration is cost. At $250 per person, this makes the most sense for a group that will use the boat for nearly the full 7.5 hours and values privacy. Weather can also affect the day, and gratuity is not included.

Key things to know before you book

• Choose your own water stops: Your group can shape the day around places such as Maho on St. John, Lovango Cay, and Christmas Cove.
• Second Chance has room to spread out: Use the front trampolines and bean bags for sun, or the original hammock chairs at the back for a gentler ride.
• The package covers more than a boat ride: Lunch, fruit, pastries, wraps, chips, drinks, snorkeling equipment, and paddle boards are included.
• It is built for private celebrations: Birthday groups, families, and wedding parties can enjoy the boat without sharing it with strangers.
• The day begins at Red Hook: Meet at Beach Charters VI, Dock B, Slip 19, at 8:30 a.m. and return to the same point.
• Book around the weather: You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and a weather cancellation brings a new date or full refund.

A full morning on Second Chance from Red Hook

Your day starts at 8:30 a.m. at Beach Charters VI, Dock B, Slip 19, at 6501 Red Hook Road. Red Hook is a practical starting point on St. Thomas, with public transportation nearby and marina parking available. A past booking detail notes all-day parking through the marina for an additional $30, so ask about that arrangement before you arrive.

The catamaran is called Second Chance. A sailing catamaran gives you more than one place to sit, which matters on a seven-and-a-half-hour outing. You can stretch out on the forward trampolines, claim a bean bag for sun, or move to the back of the boat when you want shade and a slower ride.

The crew associated with the charter includes hosts Ivy and TL, with Captain Justin also named in the service team. John and Michelle have greeted some groups at departure. Crew assignments can vary, but the clear strength of the operation is its personal approach. This is not a large boat tour where you wait for a crowd to make every decision.

The first food service is a morning fruit and pastry tray. That is a useful touch, especially for an early departure. You can have something light before snorkeling rather than waiting for the midday meal.

Picking the right snorkel stops

A typical day includes two or three snorkeling stops, but the important word is typical. This is a private charter, so your group can help decide where to go. The available examples include Maho on St. John, Lovango Cay, and Christmas Cove, along with other nearby possibilities.

That flexibility is valuable for mixed groups. Strong swimmers may want longer time in the water, while a family with younger children may prefer shorter sessions and more time aboard. If your group has one person who wants to snorkel all day and another who would rather sunbathe, a private boat makes that compromise easier.

Maho on St. John is one of the named options and is known for the chance to see sea turtles. You should not treat wildlife as guaranteed, but turtle watching is a major reason to favor this stop when conditions and the day’s plan allow it. Bring patience and keep your expectations sensible. The sea decides what appears.

Lovango Cay and Christmas Cove give the crew additional choices. The appeal of having several possible locations is that the day does not depend on one single reef. Conditions, interest, and timing can shape the route. You may spend more time at a place your group enjoys, or move on if the water is not right for your party.

The charter provides snorkeling equipment, so you do not need to pack your own mask, fins, or related gear. If you use prescription equipment or have a very particular fit, bringing your own mask can still be sensible, but the included gear removes one major planning chore.

What the snorkeling time is really like

The snorkel stops are not just quick photo breaks. Two or three water sessions across a full day give you repeated chances to see reef life, swim near beaches, and cool off between stretches in the sun.

The boat also carries paddle boards. That gives non-snorkelers another way to enjoy a stop. You can paddle while someone else looks through a mask, or simply remain aboard and use the boat’s seating and hammock chairs.

The private format is especially helpful here. You do not have to match the pace of a boatload of strangers. A group can decide how long to remain in the water, subject to the captain’s judgment and the day’s timing.

Still, this is a sea outing, not a guaranteed wildlife show. Wind and water conditions can change the feel of a stop. If your main goal is one exact reef or a guaranteed turtle sighting, keep your plans flexible.

Lunch, drinks, and the value of the package

Lunch is straightforward and suited to a day on the water. The crew provides freshly sliced turkey, cheese, and vegetable wraps, along with chips. Water and soda are available throughout the day.

The food will not be the reason you book this charter, but it saves you from packing a cooler or arranging a separate meal. The morning fruit and pastry tray also means the boat covers both the early part of the day and lunch.

For adults 18 and older, the drink package includes one gallon of rum punch or Painkiller, depending on your group’s choice, plus a 12-pack of light beer. Ice is included. That is a meaningful value for a private boat, where buying drinks and keeping them cold can otherwise become your responsibility.

Alcohol should fit around the water activities, not replace them. You will want to keep enough energy for the snorkel stops and paddle boards. The crew can provide the drinks, but your group should decide how to enjoy them sensibly.

Gratuity is the one clear extra listed for the package. Plan for that when you set your total budget. You may also need to account for marina parking if you choose that option.

The best seats are on the trampolines and at the stern

Second Chance offers several ways to spend time between stops. The front trampolines are the classic catamaran position, with open views and a gentle sense of motion above the water. Bean bags make that area more comfortable if you want to catch some sun.

The original Beach Charters VI hammock chairs hang off the back of the boat. These are a distinctive feature, and they offer a good place to relax while looking back over the wake. You can also use them when the front of the boat feels too exposed to the sun.

This variety keeps the day from becoming repetitive. You can sit in the shade, stretch out forward, swing at the stern, or get into the water. On a long charter, having several spaces is more important than it sounds.

The smooth ride of a sailing catamaran is another reason the boat works well for a full day. It is still a boat on open water, so anyone prone to motion sickness should prepare carefully. The provided details do not promise a completely motionless ride.

Why a private charter changes the day

The private booking is the central feature, not a footnote. Only your group participates, so the day can suit a birthday, family outing, wedding celebration, or simply a group that wants time together away from a packed excursion boat.

One booking included nine people celebrating a birthday. Another group used the charter as part of a wedding celebration. That tells you what the format does best: it creates room for a shared occasion without requiring every person to enjoy the water in exactly the same way.

A private charter also gives you social space. If some people want to swim while others sit with a drink, the group does not split into separate activities or wait for strangers. You can set a relaxed pace within the limits of the captain’s route and weather decisions.

The tradeoff is price. A per-person rate of $250 can feel high beside a short shared snorkeling trip. But you are paying for a full day, a private catamaran, a flexible route, food, drinks, gear, and water toys. For a larger group that would otherwise book several separate activities, the value becomes easier to see.

For a small group, the arithmetic is less favorable. You will need to decide how important privacy and flexibility are to you. If your group mainly wants one quick snorkel and a beach visit, a shorter shared trip may be enough.

A relaxed fit for families and mixed-age groups

The charter suits groups with different interests. Children can use the water equipment and enjoy the boat, while adults can sit in the hammock chairs or socialize. The included lunch and drinks also reduce the number of details a family has to carry aboard.

The information provided says most people can participate, but it does not give specific accessibility details. If anyone in your group needs special boarding help or has limited mobility, contact Beach Charters VI before booking and ask about the dock and catamaran access.

The 18-and-over rule applies to alcohol consumption. Everyone can still enjoy the boat, food, snorkeling, and paddle boards without drinking.

This is also a good pick for a group that wants a celebration with a little structure but no rigid sightseeing schedule. You have a departure time, a return point, and a captain, but the water stops and the pace can be shaped around your party.

Practical planning for your 8:30 a.m. departure

The tour lasts about seven hours and 30 minutes and ends back at the meeting point. That makes it a major part of your day, not a quick add-on between other St. Thomas plans.

Arrive ready to board at Dock B, Slip 19. Your mobile ticket and booking confirmation should be easy to access. Public transportation is nearby, and parking may be available through the marina for an extra $30, according to the booking information connected with the charter.

Wear swimwear and bring anything you personally need for a long day in the sun. The supplied details confirm water, soda, ice, food, drinks, snorkeling equipment, and paddle boards, but they do not list towels, sunscreen, or personal medication. I would not assume those items are provided.

The charter requires good weather. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. If your plans change, cancel at least 24 hours before the 8:30 a.m. start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

The tour is often booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of 98 days. That is a useful warning for holiday periods, birthdays, and wedding trips. Last-minute space may sometimes appear, but I would not build an important celebration around that possibility.

Should you book this St. Thomas catamaran?

Book it if you want a full day on the water with your own group, several chances to snorkel, and enough room to alternate between activity and rest. The combination of sea turtle possibilities, flexible stops, paddle boards, hammock chairs, lunch, and drinks gives you a complete day rather than a bare boat transfer.

I would especially recommend it for groups of six or more, families with mixed interests, and anyone marking a birthday or wedding occasion. The private setting helps justify the price when the cost is shared and the group plans to use the boat for most of the day.

Think twice if you want a short, low-cost outing or if your schedule cannot handle a weather change. You should also budget for gratuity and possible marina parking.

At a 4.9 rating with 98 percent recommendation, the charter has a strong record, but the right choice still depends on your group. If privacy, comfort, and control matter more to you than finding the cheapest snorkel trip, Second Chance is a sensible St. Thomas splurge.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran charter begin and end?

The charter begins at Beach Charters VI, Dock B, Slip 19, at 6501 Red Hook Road, St. Thomas, USVI. It ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 8:30 a.m. The full outing lasts about seven hours and 30 minutes.

How many snorkeling stops are included?

A typical day includes two or three snorkeling stops. Possible locations include Maho on St. John, Lovango Cay, and Christmas Cove, and your private group can choose locations.

What food and drinks are included?

The package includes a morning fruit and pastry tray, turkey, cheese and vegetable wraps, chips, water, soda, one gallon of rum punch or Painkiller, and a 12-pack of light beer. Alcohol is for people age 18 and older.

Are snorkeling equipment and paddle boards provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, paddle boards, and hammock swings are included.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not accepted. If bad weather cancels the trip, you can receive a full refund or choose another date.