Luxury Catamaran Private Charter in St. Maarten/St. Martin

The best part of this St. Maarten outing is that your group gets the whole 42-foot Lagoon 42 catamaran for a full day on the water. You sail, swim, eat, and stop for planes at Maho Beach, while the captain and crew handle the boat. I like the thoughtful service, from a cool scented towel and handmade chocolate at boarding to the open bar and freshly prepared food. I also like that the day includes useful extras such as paddleboards, snorkeling gear, towels, and reef-safe sunscreen.

The main drawback is the price: $598.75 per person is a serious spend, even with group discounts. The route also depends on weather and sea conditions, so you should view the listed stops as a strong plan rather than a fixed promise.

Key points to know

• A private 2022 Lagoon 42: Your group gets a spacious sailing catamaran instead of sharing the day with strangers.
• Three hours at Happy Bay: This is the longest stop, with time for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and relaxing.
• Baie Longue near La Samanna: You get another three-hour water stop beside one of St. Martin’s most exclusive resort areas.
• All-day food and drinks: Lunch, snacks, cocktails, wine, beer, prosecco, mocktails, soft drinks, and juices are included.
• A polished crewed experience: Andre, Denise, Diana, Tony, and Carla are among the Renegades team members connected with the service.
• A full seven-and-a-half-hour day: The boat leaves Port de Plaisance at 8:00 a.m. and returns to the same yacht club.

Starting at Port de Plaisance in Cole Bay

Your day starts at Renegades, at 155 Union Road in Cole Bay, on the Dutch side of St. Maarten. The meeting point is Port de Plaisance Yacht Club, and the scheduled start is 8:00 a.m. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to arrange your own way to the marina.

The opening moments set the tone. You step aboard Freedom, remove your sandals, and settle onto the teak deck. The welcome includes a cool scented towel and a handmade chocolate, followed by a sparkling mimosa and a late-morning snack of apple and cheese.

That small ritual matters. A private charter can feel either relaxed or awkward at the start, depending on how the crew manages the first half hour. Here, the plan is designed to get you comfortable before the boat reaches its first beach.

Freedom is a 2022 Lagoon 42, a sailing catamaran with plenty of deck space and lounge areas. You are not simply hiring transportation from one beach to another. The boat itself is the main setting for the day, so people who enjoy sun, sea air, food, and an easy pace will get more from this than anyone focused only on checking off beaches.

Sailing to Happy Bay on the French side

The first major stop is Happy Bay, on the French side of the island. The sail takes place during the morning, with mimosas and a late-morning snack available as the boat heads across the water.

Happy Bay is scheduled for three hours, giving you enough time to make the stop feel like more than a quick photo break. The setting is described as surrounded by natural beauty, and the plan is to anchor so you can enjoy the water and beach at your own pace.

This is where the included equipment becomes useful. You have snorkeling gear, two paddleboards, a floating lily pad mat, towels, and reef-safe sunscreen. You can swim, paddle, float, or simply stay on the boat with a drink. The catamaran’s design gives you several ways to spend the time, which is helpful for a mixed group. One person can snorkel while another rests in the shade, and nobody has to follow a tight shore excursion schedule.

The wording around Happy Bay suggests a quieter beach stop, but you should not expect a completely private beach. The charter is private for your group, not necessarily exclusive ownership of the beach or anchorage. Conditions can also affect how long the boat can stay and how comfortable swimming will be.

Three hours at Baie Longue and La Samanna

After Happy Bay, the route continues toward Baie Longue, home to high-end villas and the Belmond La Samanna resort. This is another scheduled three-hour stop, so the middle of the day is built around water time rather than constant sailing.

Baie Longue gives the day a different feel from Happy Bay. The area is known for soaring cliffs, clear water, and a more polished resort setting. You can swim, snorkel, use the paddleboards, or relax aboard Freedom while lunch is prepared and served.

The lunch offering is more substantial than a basic boat snack. It includes barbecued skewers, fresh salads, homemade cookies, and locally made ice cream. Earlier, you have an apple and cheese board. Later, happy-hour food includes homemade beet and garlic hummus with raw vegetables, pita chips, and rice crackers.

This steady food service is one reason the price can make sense for the right group. You are paying for the boat, crew, fuel, food, drinks, equipment, and the privacy of having only your own party aboard. A cheaper shared cruise may cover the basic sailing time, but it may not give you the same control over how you use the day.

Still, do not book this expecting a formal restaurant meal or a luxury resort lunch onshore. The experience is casual and boat-based. You eat on board, spend time in swimwear, and move between lounging and water activities. That is a strength for some people and a poor fit for others.

Maho Beach and the famous plane approach

The final sightseeing stop is Maho Beach, with about 30 minutes set aside for watching aircraft land just overhead. It is one of St. Maarten’s best-known sights, and the short stop adds a lively finish after several hours of swimming and lounging.

Maho is a useful contrast to the earlier beaches. Happy Bay and Baie Longue are about water time and scenery. Maho is about the spectacle of the airport approach. You get a front-row view from the sea, rather than needing to organize a separate trip to the beach.

Thirty minutes is enough for a look and some photographs, but not enough for a long beach stay. That is sensible because the highlight here is the planes, not a full afternoon of swimming. If your main reason for booking is Maho Beach, you may want a separate land visit with more time. If you want Maho as one part of a full sailing day, the short stop works well.

Returning through Simpson Bay Bridge

From Maho, Freedom heads back toward Port de Plaisance through the Simpson Bay Bridge. The return is part of the attraction, with the chance to wave to people watching from shore before docking at the yacht club.

The full program lasts about 7 hours and 30 minutes. With a 8:00 a.m. start, you should plan for a substantial part of the day, not a quick morning cruise. That timing gives you a useful mix of sailing, beach stops, lunch, drinks, and a final landmark visit.

Because the boat returns to the starting point, you do not need to arrange a second pickup at the end. You do need to get yourself to Cole Bay in the morning. The experience is near public transportation, but hotel transportation is not part of the package.

Food, drinks, and the value of an all-inclusive day

The premium bar is open all day. It includes craft cocktails and mocktails made fresh, standard mixed drinks, beer, wine, prosecco, soft drinks, juices, and infused water. Alcohol service is for people aged 18 and older.

This is more than a minor benefit. A day in the sun can become expensive when every drink, bottle of water, snack, and equipment rental carries a separate fee. Here, those costs are folded into the price. You can settle into the day without keeping track of small purchases.

The food also helps the experience feel complete. The apple and cheese board gives you something early, lunch covers the main meal, and the hummus platter works as a later snack. Cookies and local ice cream provide a sweet finish.

You should still be clear about what all-inclusive means here. Gratuity is not included, and hotel transport is not included. The package covers the onboard service listed above, not every possible cost connected with your day in St. Maarten.

What the crew adds to the day

A private boat is only as good as its crew. The Renegades team includes captain and crew service, and names connected with the operation include Andre, Denise, Diana, Tony, and Carla.

The strongest pattern in the available comments is praise for the hosts, food, drinks, and care from beginning to end. Specific guests called out Andre and Denise as excellent hosts, while another group enjoyed its day with Andre and Tony. Carla is also described as responsive before departure, which matters when you are arranging an expensive private outing.

That personal service is a major part of the price. You are not only paying for a newer catamaran. You are paying for people who prepare food, pour drinks, keep the day moving, handle the boat, and help you use the equipment safely.

A private charter also gives your group more breathing room than a standard shared cruise. The exact passenger capacity is not provided, so you should ask Renegades how many people your booking can accommodate before paying. The important point is that only your group participates, rather than being placed with unrelated passengers.

Who will get the most from this charter

I would recommend this experience to a group that wants a full day on the water and is comfortable sharing the cost among several people. It works especially well for families, couples traveling together, birthday groups, and friends who want a private setting with food and drinks handled for them.

It is also a good choice for people who dislike the usual add-on charges. Towels, reef-safe sunscreen, snorkeling gear, two paddleboards, the floating mat, lunch, and the bar are included. That makes budgeting easier.

You may want to choose another outing if you mainly want a low-cost sightseeing cruise, a short sail, or a land-based tour. The $598.75 per-person price is hard to justify for a solo visitor or a small party that will not use the boat for the full day. Group discounts may help, but you should confirm the final cost for your party.

This is not aimed at a rushed itinerary. The schedule includes long stops, and much of the pleasure comes from having time to float, eat, talk, and watch the sea. If you need constant activity, three hours at each main beach may feel slow.

Practical details before you book

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The route can also change because of weather and sea conditions, so the order or length of stops may not remain exactly as planned.

Confirmation is provided when you book. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, but no hotel pickup or drop-off is provided.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local St. Maarten time.

Book about 40 days ahead if your dates are fixed. That advance pattern suggests you should not leave this kind of private charter until the last minute, particularly if your visit falls during a busy holiday period.

Should you book Freedom for your St. Maarten day?

Book it if you want the boat to be the destination, not just the ride between beaches. The combination of a 2022 Lagoon 42, a private group setting, long swim stops, a full bar, barbecue lunch, water equipment, and a crewed service creates a polished day with few surprise costs.

I would hesitate only if the price is outside your comfort zone or if you want a tightly scheduled sightseeing tour. For the right group, the cost becomes easier to defend because you are sharing a complete seven-and-a-half-hour experience rather than buying a basic boat transfer.

Ask about group discounts, confirm the passenger limit, and keep your schedule flexible for weather. If those points work for you, Freedom offers one of the more comfortable ways to see both the Dutch and French sides of St. Maarten from the water.

FAQ

Where does the private catamaran charter start?

It starts at Renegades, located at 155 Union Road in Cole Bay, Sint Maarten, at Port de Plaisance Yacht Club.

What time does the experience begin?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 a.m.

How long does the charter last?

The experience lasts about 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Is the catamaran private?

Yes. This is a private activity, and only your group participates.

What beaches and places are included?

The planned route includes Happy Bay, Baie Longue near the Belmond La Samanna resort, and Maho Beach. The boat also passes through Simpson Bay Bridge on the return.

Is food included?

Yes. Included food includes a late-morning apple and cheese board, barbecue skewers, fresh salads, homemade cookies, locally made ice cream, and a beet and garlic hummus platter with crudités, pita chips, and rice crackers.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The open bar includes craft cocktails, mocktails, mixed drinks, beer, wine, prosecco, soft drinks, juices, and infused water. The minimum age for alcohol consumption is 18.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The itinerary may change because of weather and sea conditions. If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.