Private Full Day or Half Day Charter – 37′ Midnight Express

Fast boats make island hopping easy. From St. Thomas, One Caribbean Charters takes you across the US and British Virgin Islands aboard a blue-and-white 37-foot Midnight Express powered by three 300-horsepower outboards. I like the privacy and the freedom to shape your day, and I like that snorkeling gear, water, soda, ice, and noodles are included. The main catch is cost: fuel, lunch, gratuity, and a $75-per-person BVI customs fee come extra.

This is a good fit if you want to see several islands without arranging separate ferries and flights. Captain Jervan is praised for a flexible approach to custom plans, while Captain Jashae is noted for good stories and a smooth run to Virgin Gorda. Keep your passport handy, bring cash for customs, and confirm the final passenger charge if your group has more than six people.

Key points to know before booking

• A private speedboat for your group: The Midnight Express carries your party rather than mixing you with strangers.
• Several islands in one day: You can combine The Baths, Norman Island, Jost Van Dyke, St. John, and other US or British Virgin Islands.
• Three 300-horsepower outboards: The boat is built for quick island transfers, giving you more time ashore and in the water.
• BVI customs costs extra: Budget $75 in cash for each person entering the British Virgin Islands.
• The itinerary can bend to your wishes: Captain Jervan is specifically praised for accommodating a custom plan.
• Up to six passengers are included: Larger groups can be accepted, but an extra fee applies above six.

Why this Midnight Express charter is different

A private boat charter solves a basic island problem: the best places are scattered across a wide patch of sea. St. Thomas gives you a strong starting point, but The Baths are on Virgin Gorda, Foxy’s and the Soggy Dollar are on Jost Van Dyke, and Norman Island sits elsewhere in the BVI chain. Getting between them by regular transport can eat up much of your day.

This charter puts the transport, captain, cooler, and snorkel equipment in one package. You decide how to use the hours. You might spend more time at The Baths, stop for a swim, linger over lunch, or skip a stop that does not suit your group.

The boat itself is a major part of the appeal. The 37-foot Midnight Express is blue and white, with three 300-horsepower outboards. That power matters because a fast boat can connect several islands during a four to eight-hour booking. It also makes the journey feel like an outing rather than merely a transfer.

I would not book this simply to sit on a boat for a short ride. I would book it because you want a private day on the water with a captain who can adjust the route. The value rises quickly for a group that plans to visit several places. For one or two people, the $1,950 group price is harder to justify.

Starting at Compass Point Marina at 8:30 am

The day begins at Compass Point Marina in Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas, at 8:30 am. Pickup is offered, but the stated meeting point is the marina, so confirm the exact arrangement before you go.

Your captain meets you there and walks you to the boat. Have your passport ready from the start. You will need it if you are leaving St. Thomas for the British Virgin Islands, and you will need it again when you clear back into the US Virgin Islands.

The first 30 minutes are listed for meeting and boarding. That may sound routine, but it is useful time for settling bags, finding the cooler, fitting snorkeling equipment, and telling the captain what matters most to your group. If The Baths is your top priority, say so early. If you care more about swimming and a relaxed lunch, say that instead.

The boat returns to the same meeting point at the end. Mobile tickets are accepted, and confirmation arrives when you book. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is listed as suitable for most people.

Crossing to Soper’s Hole and clearing into the BVI

Soper’s Hole, at the West End of Tortola, is the usual BVI entry point in this plan. All passengers must show passports for customs and immigration clearance. The listed stop is about 30 minutes, though the real pace depends on the officials and the day.

This is one of the practical advantages of a private charter. You are not trying to fit into a public ferry schedule while carrying beach gear and watching the clock. Still, private travel does not make border formalities disappear. You must bring the correct documents, and the BVI customs fee is not included.

The charge is listed as $75 in cash per person. I would treat that as a required part of the budget, not a minor surprise. For six people, that adds $450 before fuel, lunch, and gratuity. Ask the operator to confirm the current amount before departure, since border charges can change.

The Baths on Virgin Gorda: allow two hours

The Baths are the headline stop for many people. Huge granite boulders form passages, pools, and small caverns along the shore of Virgin Gorda. You follow the rocky route toward the Cathedral Room, a natural pool inside a cave, with rock pools and narrow openings along the way.

The listed time is two hours, which gives you enough room to look around rather than rush through. Wear shoes that can handle uneven rock, and keep your hands free when possible. The exact route can feel awkward if you are carrying a large bag, so pack lightly for this stop.

I like that The Baths provides a change from the boat. You are not simply looking at another beach from the water. You get a short land walk, unusual rock formations, and enclosed pools that make the stop feel distinct from the other islands.

There is also a tradeoff. The Baths is a physical stop, not just a quick photo pause. If anyone in your party has trouble with uneven ground, ask the captain how much of the route is practical for your group. The supplied details say most people can participate, but they do not promise a fully accessible path.

Admission is listed as free, but the wider BVI customs and transport costs still apply. Do not confuse a free attraction with a free stop.

Norman Island and the old treasure-island mood

Norman Island gets its character from its connection to pirate stories and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. The island is often linked with that fictional world, which gives the stop a little extra imagination beyond its beaches and water.

Two hours are set aside here. That is generous enough for swimming, snorkeling, or a slower break, depending on the captain’s route and sea conditions. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with swimming noodles, so you do not need to rent basic water gear separately.

I would use this stop to slow the day down. The Baths can involve walking and rock passages. Norman Island gives you a more open-water pause. You can get back aboard when you want, rather than waiting for a large excursion group to gather.

The itinerary does not specify a particular Norman Island cove or snorkeling site. That is worth remembering. The captain may adjust the exact location based on weather, timing, and your group’s interests. Ask what is best on the day instead of expecting a fixed script.

Jost Van Dyke for a Painkiller or rum punch

Jost Van Dyke is one of the smallest islands in the British Virgin Islands, yet it carries a big reputation for beach bars and easygoing stops. The plan allows about one hour, with Foxy’s and the Soggy Dollar Bar offered as examples.

At Foxy’s, the classic order is a Painkiller. At the Soggy Dollar, you might choose a rum punch. These names tell you what kind of stop this is: a social island break, not a long sightseeing visit.

An hour goes quickly once you account for getting ashore, ordering, and returning to the boat. I would choose one stop rather than trying to force both into the same short visit. If a particular bar is important to you, tell the captain when planning the day.

Drinks and lunch are not included. That is helpful to know before you arrive with a fixed budget. The cooler comes with ice, soda, and bottled water, but you pay separately for restaurant food and alcoholic drinks.

Returning through Cruz Bay and St. John

On the way back, passengers clear US customs in Cruz Bay on St. John. The listed time is 30 minutes. Once again, keep passports within easy reach rather than buried under towels and dry bags.

The US Virgin Islands portion can include historical landmarks and shorelines connected with the islands’ long history, including sites dating back to the 1600s. The plan also allows time for a swim at a well-known beach. The exact beach or landmark is not fixed in the supplied details, so you should discuss the options with the captain.

This part of the day can be useful if you want a little USVI time after visiting the BVI. It also gives you another chance to swim without making the entire outing about border crossings and famous names.

The return through Cruz Bay is not optional paperwork. It is part of coming back from the BVI, so allow patience for the process. The captain handles the route, but each passenger needs a passport and must be ready for clearance.

Half-day or full-day: choosing the right length

The charter can run about four to eight hours. A shorter booking makes sense if your priority is one major destination, a swim, and time on a fast private boat. It can also work well for people who do not want a full day in the sun.

A longer booking gives you the best chance of combining The Baths with Norman Island or Jost Van Dyke. Trying to include every named stop in a short period would make the day feel rushed, especially once you add customs at Soper’s Hole and Cruz Bay.

The supplied plan lists roughly one hour for the US Virgin Islands portion, two hours at The Baths, two hours at Norman Island, and one hour at Jost Van Dyke. Those stops alone add six hours, before the two customs stops and boat travel. That makes a full-day booking the sensible choice for the broad BVI route.

I would decide by choosing your top two priorities. If they are The Baths and a beach or snorkeling stop, a half day might work. If you want Virgin Gorda, Norman Island, Jost Van Dyke, and a USVI swim, book the longer option and accept that the day will have a brisk pace.

What the $1,950 price really buys you

The price is $1,950 per group, with the stated group limit described in two ways: the summary says up to 12, while the included details say up to six passengers and an additional fee above six. Confirm the exact charge for your party before paying.

For six people, the base rate works out to $325 each before fuel, customs, lunch, and gratuity. For a larger group, the per-person value can improve, but the added passenger fee and customs charge also rise.

The strongest value is privacy. You are paying for a boat, captain, and flexible route rather than a seat on a fixed group excursion. A party that wants to visit several islands can get much more control over the day than it would with separate public transport.

The less attractive value is for a small group that only wants one beach. In that case, the private charter may feel expensive. I would compare the total cost after adding fuel, the customary 20 percent captain gratuity, $75 cash per person for BVI customs, and lunch.

Fuel is not included, and no fuel estimate is provided. Ask for that figure before booking so you can compare the real price with other private boat options.

What comes aboard, and what you should bring

You receive bottled water, soda, a cooler with ice, snorkeling equipment, and swimming noodles. Those inclusions cover the basics for a day of swimming and reduce the number of rentals you need to arrange.

Lunch is not included. You can ask how much time is available for a meal at one of the stops, or plan around your own food and drinks. The supplied details do not say that outside food is provided, so confirm any catering plan before departure.

I would bring:

• Your passport, kept dry and easy to reach
• Cash for the BVI customs fee
• Money for lunch, drinks, fuel, and gratuity
• Sun protection and a light cover-up
• Shoes suited to The Baths’ rocky paths
• A small bag rather than bulky luggage

The boat has a cooler, but no luggage policy is given. Ask before bringing large bags or special equipment.

Captain service and the private format

The most praised part of the experience is the captain service. Captain Jervan is singled out for adapting the full-day BVI route to a group’s wishes. That matters because island conditions, customs timing, and your own energy can change the ideal plan.

Captain Jashae is also praised for making the trip memorable through stories and for guiding a smooth run to Virgin Gorda. One party originally reserved a Nortech and received a last-minute upgrade to the Midnight Express, which suggests that the operator may sometimes adjust boats, though you should not count on an upgrade.

The private format means only your group participates. That makes it easier to ask questions, change the order of stops, or spend longer in the water. It also puts more responsibility on you to communicate clearly. Tell the captain what you want before the boat leaves, then stay flexible if weather or border timing requires a change.

The experience has received three top-rated submissions, all praising the boats, captain professionalism, personal service, and local ownership. That is a small sample, so I would treat it as encouraging rather than proof that every departure will be perfect.

Weather, cancellation, and who should book

Good weather is required. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

I would book this for families, couples traveling with friends, and groups that want a private day rather than a packaged sightseeing run. It suits people who value choice, speed, swimming, and several island settings in one outing.

I would think twice if you dislike fast boat travel, do not want to carry a passport, or prefer a fixed price with no extras. The fuel charge, customs fee, lunch, and customary 20 percent gratuity can materially change the final bill.

Should you book the Midnight Express charter?

Book it if you want to see the British Virgin Islands by private boat and your group can share the cost. The strongest plan is a full day built around The Baths plus one or two water-based stops, with time reserved for customs and a meal.

Before booking, confirm four things: the exact passenger limit and added fee above six, the expected fuel cost, the current BVI customs charge, and the captain’s suggested route for your date. If those numbers fit your budget, this is a strong choice for a flexible island day with good equipment and praised personal service.

FAQ

Where does the charter start?

The stated meeting point is Compass Point Marina in Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas, USVI. Pickup is offered, and the listed start time is 8:30 am.

Where does the charter end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at Compass Point Marina.

How long does the charter last?

The experience runs approximately four to eight hours. The available plan includes shorter and longer options, with the longer route allowing more island stops.

How many people can join?

The summary describes groups of up to 12, but the included details say up to six passengers are covered and an additional fee applies above six. Confirm the exact charge and capacity for your party before booking.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. You should have your passport ready when leaving St. Thomas for the BVI and when clearing customs on return through Cruz Bay, St. John.

How much are BVI customs fees?

The stated BVI customs fee is $75 cash per person. This cost is not included in the charter price.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. The charter does provide bottled water, soda, a cooler with ice, snorkeling equipment, and swimming noodles.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Use of snorkeling equipment and swimming noodles is included.

What happens if weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can receive a full refund or select a different date. You can also cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.