Private Full-Day Catamaran Sailing Charter in St Maarten

The best part of this private catamaran charter is the freedom to see St Maarten from the water, where quiet beaches, rocky coves, and parts of the coast remain out of reach by road. The usual route includes La Samanna, Creole Rock, and Tintamarre Island, with time for snorkeling, swimming, lunch, and a long sail back to Simpson Bay.

I like the full open bar and barbecue lunch, since you do not need to keep arranging food and drinks for a large group. I also like the private format and the range of gear, including paddle boards, snorkels, and trolling rods. The main consideration is price: $2,800 is good value for a full boat of up to 15, but costly if only a few people share it.

Key points to know before you book

• Tintamarre Island brings the day’s biggest change of scene: Swim near turtles, eat lunch, and spend time on a striking beach.
• Creole Rock is the main snorkeling stop: It is described as St Maarten’s top site for fish.
• The boat is private for your group: You are not sharing the catamaran with strangers.
• Food and drinks are built into the day: Expect Gouda, fresh baguette, snacks, bottled water, coffee, tea, soda, and a hot barbecue lunch.
• The $2,800 price works best with a full group: At 15 people, it comes to about $187 per person before any separate personal costs.
• The day needs good weather: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Eight hours around St Maarten by private catamaran

This is an all-day sailing outing, not a quick harbor cruise. You meet at 88 Welfare Road in Simpson Bay at 9:00 am and return to the same place after roughly eight hours. That gives the crew time to cover a broad stretch of the island, stop for water activities, serve lunch, and still leave room for the pleasure of sailing.

The route described for the day circles St Maarten and St Martin. That matters because the coastline changes as you go. You see beaches and shorelines that road-based sightseeing cannot reach, and you get a different sense of the island’s shape as the catamaran moves between open water and sheltered bays.

Since this is a private trip, the pace can be adjusted to your group’s interests. You can spend more time swimming, make good use of the paddle board, fish from the stern, or simply settle into sun or shade. The trip is still shaped by weather, sea conditions, and the time needed to get around the island, so flexibility does not mean every stop can be extended without limit.

The catamarans are described as extremely stable and handled by experienced, licensed captains. That should help if you are concerned about motion on the water, though no boat can promise that everyone will feel perfectly comfortable. If you are prone to seasickness, bring whatever personal remedy you normally use and choose a shaded place when the boat is underway.

Leaving Simpson Bay for the island’s western coast

Simpson Bay is a practical starting point. It is easy to reach, and the tour returns there, so you do not have to arrange a separate pickup from another part of the island. The meeting point is near public transportation, but the provided information does not include a shuttle service, so plan your own way to 88 Welfare Road.

Once aboard, the day begins with the simple pleasure of getting away from the road. A catamaran gives you room to move between sun and shade, and that choice becomes important over eight hours. You can watch the coast while under sail, take a drink from the open bar, or settle in with coffee and tea before the swimming stops begin.

The crew can personalize the outing to your preferences. That is especially useful for mixed groups. One person may want to snorkel, another may prefer a quiet seat in the shade, and children may be more interested in swimming or paddle boarding. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and service animals require prior approval.

La Samanna, a scenic early stop

La Samanna is one of the named stops on the popular around-the-island route. From the water, this part of the coast gives you a chance to see the island’s western side without dealing with roads, traffic, or beach parking. The stop is part of the visual appeal of the trip, as much as a chance to get in the water.

The exact amount of time at La Samanna is not specified, so your captain will set the pace according to conditions and the rest of the route. That is worth keeping in mind if you are hoping for a long beach visit at every stop. This is a sailing day with several highlights, not a series of fixed shore excursions.

I like having a scenic stop early in the route because it breaks up the sailing and helps the group settle into the day. You can take in the coastline, enjoy the water, and save your energy for the more active snorkeling and swimming later.

Creole Rock and St Maarten’s main snorkeling stop

Creole Rock is presented as the island’s number one snorkeling site for fish. That makes it one of the most important stops for anyone booking this trip mainly for underwater time. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, so you do not need to pack your own mask, snorkel, or fins unless you strongly prefer familiar gear.

The value here is convenience. The crew supplies the equipment, takes you to a known snorkeling area, and lets you return to the boat without organizing a separate reef excursion. You can also use the stand up paddle board, giving you a second way to enjoy the water when you want a break from snorkeling.

Keep your expectations sensible. Water clarity, fish activity, and comfort in the sea can change with weather and conditions. The tour promises access to the site and equipment, not a guaranteed number of fish or a particular visibility level. If snorkeling is your priority, tell the crew early so they can help protect enough time for it.

Fishing rods for trolling are also supplied. This is a nice extra for a group with different interests, though the information does not promise a catch. Think of it as another option while underway rather than the main purpose of the charter.

Tintamarre Island, turtles, beach time, and lunch

Tintamarre Island is the centerpiece of the route. The stop combines several things that make a full-day boat trip worthwhile: swimming, the chance to see turtles, a Caribbean barbecue lunch, and time on an appealing beach. You also get a strong sense of how different St Maarten looks when viewed from smaller offshore islands.

The turtle swim is a highlight, but wildlife is never fully predictable. You may see turtles in the water, yet the crew cannot control their movement or guarantee a close encounter. Follow the crew’s guidance and give the animals room. That makes the experience better for everyone and keeps the focus on observing rather than chasing.

Lunch is served as part of the outing, with hot barbecue and salads. Earlier food includes Gouda cheese, fresh baguette, and snacks, so the meal plan is more substantial than a simple sandwich stop. Bottled water, coffee, tea, soda, and alcoholic drinks are also included.

The open bar includes beer, rum, rum punch, vodka, gin, and whisky. That is generous, but pacing matters on a sunny boat day. Drink water as well, especially if you plan to swim, snorkel, or use the paddle board. The crew provides unlimited drinks, but you are responsible for staying comfortable and safe.

Tintamarre’s beach gives you time away from the boat. Still, do not expect a long, fully independent beach excursion with facilities described in detail. The attraction is the setting, the swim, and the chance to enjoy lunch as part of the sailing route.

The sail back to Simpson Bay

After Tintamarre Island, the catamaran sails back toward Simpson Bay. This return leg is not just transportation between activities. It gives you time to dry off, enjoy the coast from a new angle, and let the day slow down after lunch and swimming.

A long return sail can be the most relaxing part of the trip. You are no longer wondering what comes next. You can use the shade, have a final drink, chat with your group, or watch the changing view of St Maarten and St Martin from the water.

The route is intended to show sections of the island that are visible only from offshore. That is the main difference between this charter and a standard beach day. You are not simply being taken to one resort beach and brought back. The boat links several coastal sights into one broad day.

Food, drinks, and equipment that affect the value

The inclusions are unusually strong for a private charter. You receive:

• A hot barbecue lunch with salads
• Gouda cheese, fresh baguette, and snacks
• Bottled water, coffee, tea, soda, and alcoholic drinks
• Snorkeling equipment
• Stand up paddle board
• Fishing rods for trolling

For a group of 15, these details can make the $2,800 price easier to justify. You are paying for the boat, crew, fuel, food, drinks, equipment, and privacy in one package. At full capacity, the cost works out to about $187 per person. At 10 people, it is $280 per person, and with only six people, it rises to about $467 each.

That calculation is the key to the booking decision. If you are organizing a family reunion, birthday, wedding party, or large group of friends, the charter can offer good value because everyone shares the same private space and meal plan. If you have only two or three people, a smaller shared excursion may be a better financial choice.

There is one detail worth checking before you pay: the stated capacity is up to 15 people, while one family account describes a group of 22 enjoying a full-day excursion. Do not assume a 22-person group will be accepted on this exact booking. Confirm the permitted capacity directly with Adventure Sports Sailing before making plans.

Who will enjoy this private sailing day

I would recommend this charter to a group that wants one flexible day on the water rather than several separate activities. Families can split their time between swimming, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and relaxing. Adults can enjoy the open bar and sailing, while children have room to move and multiple water activities to try.

It also suits groups that value privacy. You are not adjusting your day around strangers, and the crew can respond to your group’s interests. Louise and Tonya are specifically praised for being accommodating, while the captain and mate are described as friendly and helpful. That personal service matters on a long outing, since the crew shapes the mood as much as the boat does.

The trip may be less suitable if you want a tightly timed sightseeing schedule, a short activity, or guaranteed wildlife viewing. It also may not suit someone who dislikes spending most of a day at sea. This is an eight-hour commitment, and the best parts come from giving the day time to unfold.

Wheelchairs can reach the boat, but cannot be used aboard. The operator has managed this successfully several times, though you should discuss your needs in advance. Service animals are allowed with prior approval. Most people can participate, but children need an accompanying adult.

Weather, cancellation, and planning details

Good weather is required. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted and are not refunded.

Confirmation is provided within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Since this is a private boat with a high total price, I would wait for confirmation before finalizing dependent plans.

Bring practical sun protection, even though sun and shade are both available aboard. A swimsuit, cover-up, hat, and a dry change of clothes make sense for a day that includes swimming and snorkeling. The tour supplies food, drinks, and water gear, so you can keep your personal packing light.

Is the $2,800 charter worth booking?

Book it if you can fill much of the boat and want a private, full-day route that combines sailing, snorkeling, Tintamarre Island, lunch, drinks, and free time. The strongest value comes from the combination of privacy and inclusions. You do not have to pay separately for a meal, open bar, snorkeling gear, or paddle board.

I would be more cautious if your group is small or if you mainly want one snorkeling stop. In that case, the price per person rises quickly, and a shorter shared outing may make more sense.

For the right group, this is a well-rounded way to see St Maarten from offshore. You get the coastline, Creole Rock, Tintamarre’s turtles and beach, a barbecue lunch, and a calm sail back to Simpson Bay, all with your own people and an accommodating crew.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran tour start and finish?

The tour starts at 88 Welfare Road in Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, at 9:00 am. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the sailing charter last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours and runs as a full-day outing.

What food and drinks are included?

The tour includes Gouda cheese, fresh baguette, snacks, bottled water, coffee, tea, soda, and a hot barbecue lunch with salads. The open bar includes beer, rum, rum punch, vodka, gin, and whisky.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, a stand up paddle board, and fishing rods for trolling are supplied.

Can the tour be canceled because of weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Can I cancel my booking for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted or refunded.