Private St Thomas Luxury Catamaran Trip for Groups up to 24 Guest

The best St Thomas days happen offshore. This private sailing trip pairs two late-model Lagoon catamarans with a flexible seven-hour route around the US Virgin Islands, making it a strong choice for families, cruise groups, and celebrations that want their own boat time. I especially like the spacious open-air layout and the fact that captain and first-mate fees, drinks, and snorkeling gear are included.

I also like the easy departure from Yacht Haven Grande, within walking distance of the WICO cruise dock. The main consideration is price: $4,995 covers a group of up to 15, while the two-boat setup can accommodate as many as 24, so larger parties should confirm the exact rate and boat arrangement before booking.

Key points at a glance

• Two Lagoon catamarans: SY Pau Hana and SY Kai Lana provide the sailing platform, with room for up to 24 people across both vessels.
• Seven hours on the water: The route can include St Thomas harbors, nearby cays, sandy beaches, and snorkeling locations.
• Private charter: Only your group participates, giving you more control over the mood, music, swimming time, and pace.
• Captain-led island time: Captains including JW and Anne Marie have been praised for safety, humor, island knowledge, and good snorkeling choices.
• Drinks are included: Water, ice, soda, beer, and Argo’s Signature Rum Punch are supplied. The rum punch and beer are for those 18 and older.
• Bring lunch money or a meal: Lunch is not included, although a previous outing included a well-liked lunch stop.

Setting sail from Yacht Haven Grande

Your day begins at 9:00 a.m. from 83PH+CV9 in Charlotte Amalie, at Yacht Haven Grande in Havensight. That location matters if you are arriving by cruise ship. The marina is within easy walking distance of the WICO cruise ship dock, so you do not need to arrange a separate taxi from the pier.

I would still allow time to find the exact meeting point. Yacht Haven Grande is a marina complex, and a relaxed arrival is better than rushing aboard with sunscreen, towels, and a cooler full of expectations. The charter ends back at the same meeting point.

Cruise ship passengers should check the ship’s stated local time. The charter departs on St Thomas time, and ship schedules can create confusion when a vessel and the island use different time references.

Once aboard, the appeal becomes clear. These are late-model Lagoon multi-deck sailing yachts, not bare-bones excursion boats. You can sit forward in the sun and catch the breeze, or move to the large shaded cockpit with open-air seating. That split works well for mixed groups. Sun lovers get their bow perch, while children, older relatives, and anyone protecting their shoulders can stay under cover.

A private full bathroom is another useful touch. On a seven-hour outing, that is not a minor convenience. It means you are not depending on a marina stop every time nature calls.

The two-catamaran setup and what it means for your group

The charter uses SY Pau Hana and SY Kai Lana, two luxury Lagoon catamarans that operate as a tandem experience for larger parties. The stated capacity is up to 24 people, while the listed price of $4,995 applies to a group of up to 15.

That pricing structure deserves a close look. For 15 people, the cost works out to roughly $333 per person. Split among a smaller group, the per-person cost rises quickly. For a reunion, birthday, wedding party, or cruise group that values privacy, the number can make sense. For two or four people, I would compare it with a shared sailing trip before committing.

The boats offer more room than a typical small powerboat, and the catamaran design gives your group several places to spread out. Still, private does not mean everyone sits alone. With a full group, people will share seating and move around the same two vessels. If you are booking for more than 15, ask how the two boats will be assigned and how the total price changes.

Some published trip feedback refers to a catamaran called Pisces, while the current description names SY Pau Hana and SY Kai Lana. That may reflect a boat change or another vessel in the company fleet. If the exact boat matters to you, confirm the assigned yacht when you book.

A flexible route through the US Virgin Islands

There is no fixed list of named stops in the supplied trip details. That is useful in one way: the captain can shape the day around weather, sea conditions, your group’s interests, and available snorkeling locations. The general plan is to visit islands, harbors, surrounding cays, and white sandy beaches around St Thomas.

Expect the first part of the outing to focus on getting away from the marina and settling into the boat. You can listen to music through the Bluetooth sound system, take in the harbor views, or find your preferred spot in the cockpit or at the bow. Your captain and mate handle the sailing, navigation, and onboard service while you get comfortable.

The route may then move toward a beach or sheltered water where you can swim and use the supplied snorkeling equipment. Previous outings included several snorkeling locations, and one trip with Captain JW was praised for good site choices and calm conditions. Captain Anne Marie also took a group to several well-liked snorkeling spots, including a cruise group with teenagers and a seven-year-old.

That family detail is useful. It suggests the experience can work for mixed ages, but you should remember that snorkeling is optional. You can stay aboard, sit in the shade, or enjoy the water at your own pace. The trip information says most people can participate, and service animals are allowed.

The exact underwater setting will depend on the captain’s route and the day’s weather. Do not book this as a guaranteed visit to one named reef or beach. Book it for access to a private boat and the chance to see several good locations selected during the day.

The beach portion can be the most relaxed part of the outing. White sand, open water, and a quieter stretch of coast give your group time to swim, listen to music, or simply stop moving for a while. Since the route is not rigidly listed, you should ask the captain what conditions allow on your departure date.

Snorkeling, swimming, and time in the water

Snorkeling gear is included, which saves you from packing fins, masks, and snorkels for everyone in your group. That is especially helpful for cruise passengers who have limited luggage space.

The strongest praise in the available feedback centers on the water time. Captain Anne Marie was singled out for taking groups to several snorkeling spots, while Captain JW was credited with finding appealing locations and keeping the day well explained. The crew’s role matters here. A captain who understands local conditions can choose a better stop than a rigid itinerary can.

You should not treat included equipment as a guarantee that every mask will fit every face perfectly. If you already own a favorite mask or snorkel, bringing it may improve your comfort. The supplied information does not specify the sizes or brands of equipment.

The trip also works for people who would rather not snorkel for seven hours. The boats have enough room to lounge, and the shaded cockpit gives you a comfortable place to watch the action. For a group with different energy levels, that flexibility is one of the charter’s best features.

Captains JW and Anne Marie shape the day

A private boat is only as good as the people running it. Here, the most praised crew members are Captain JW, Captain Anne Marie, and mate Kahlia.

JW was praised for keeping the group informed, choosing good snorkeling locations, and helping make the day feel easy. That kind of commentary is valuable on a charter because you want to understand where you are going, not just be transported from one swim stop to another.

Anne Marie received especially warm praise for safety, direction, humor, stories, and music. One family group said she kept the stories coming and made the day work for both teenagers and a seven-year-old. Another outing with Anne Marie and Kahlia was praised for their island knowledge, good humor, and service.

Those details point to a lively style rather than a silent, formal sailing lesson. If you want a captain who talks with the group, shares island context, and keeps the mood moving, this sounds like a good fit. If you want a quiet sailing day with little narration, you can use the private setting to request a calmer pace.

The crew also handles the captain and first-mate fees as part of the listed price. You do not need to add those costs to the base fare, though the information does not specify a gratuity policy.

Drinks, music, and the missing lunch

The all-inclusive element covers several basics: water, ice, soda, beer, and Argo’s Signature Rum Punch. Beer and rum punch are for people 18 and older. Having drinks already aboard makes the day simpler, especially when your group is split between swimming, sunbathing, and sitting under the canopy.

The Bluetooth sound system lets you play your own music. That is a small feature with a big effect on a private charter. Your group can create its own soundtrack instead of adjusting to a boat-wide playlist.

Lunch is not included. This is the clearest extra cost to plan for. One previous group praised a lunch stop, and the company referred to lunch stops in its response, but you should not assume food is automatically part of your booking. Ask what food options are available for your route, or arrange your own meal plan before departure.

I would also ask how food is handled aboard the particular yacht. The supplied details confirm drinks and ice, but they do not specify a catered menu, refrigerator space, plates, or a cooler policy. Those questions are worth settling before a full day at sea.

Is $4,995 a fair price?

The answer depends almost entirely on group size and what privacy is worth to you. At the listed $4,995 for up to 15 people, the trip costs about $333 per person if every space is filled. A group of 10 would pay about $500 per person, and a group of six would pay about $833 per person.

That is a large spend, but it buys a private seven-hour charter rather than a seat on a shared boat. You get the crew, the catamarans, drinks, snorkeling gear, a bathroom, and control over your group’s music and rhythm. For a milestone event or a large family gathering, the convenience can justify the price.

The value is weaker for a small party that mainly wants a quick snorkel stop. In that case, a shorter or shared excursion may leave more money for lunch, taxis, and other island activities.

For groups approaching 24, do not assume the advertised $4,995 applies to everyone. The product title refers to groups up to 24, but the price summary says up to 15. Request the full quote in writing, along with the number of boats and how your group will be distributed.

Who will enjoy this charter most?

I would recommend it most strongly for:

• Families with children and adults who need different places to sit
• Cruise ship groups wanting a private outing close to the dock
• Birthday, wedding, reunion, and corporate groups
• Friends who want their own music and a flexible snorkeling day
• People who value shade, a bathroom, and room to move around

I would think twice if you are traveling alone, as a couple, or with a very small group. The fixed private price is hard to justify unless the charter itself is the main event.

I would also be cautious if your priority is a specific named beach or reef. The route is described broadly, not as a guaranteed sequence of stops. Ask what is likely on your date, while accepting that weather and sea conditions can change the plan.

Practical details before you book

Confirmation is provided at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not refunded or accepted.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. Cutoff times follow local St Thomas time.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The boats are near public transportation, though the most useful arrival point for cruise passengers is the walk from the WICO dock at Havensight.

Before paying, I would confirm four points: the final price for your group size, which yacht or yachts will operate, whether lunch can be arranged, and the expected snorkeling and beach route for your date.

Should you book the St Thomas private catamaran?

Book it if your group can share the cost and wants a full private day rather than a short boat ride. The strongest reasons are the generous catamaran space, flexible route, included drinks and snorkeling gear, easy cruise-port access, and crew members such as JW and Anne Marie who have earned praise for safety, stories, humor, and site selection.

Skip it if the price feels strained, your group is small, or you need a guaranteed named stop. For everyone else, this is a polished way to see more of St Thomas from the water without being tied to another group’s schedule. Just settle the larger-group price and lunch arrangements first.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran trip begin?

The trip begins at 83PH+CV9 in Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, at Yacht Haven Grande in Havensight.

What time does the trip start?

The listed start time is 9:00 a.m. All charters depart on local St Thomas time.

How long does the experience last?

The sailing trip lasts approximately seven hours.

Where does the trip end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point at Yacht Haven Grande.

How many people can join?

The two-catamaran setup can accommodate up to 24 people. The listed price of $4,995 applies to a group of up to 15, so larger groups should confirm the final arrangement and cost.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Water, ice, soda, beer, and Argo’s Signature Rum Punch are included. Beer and rum punch are for people 18 and older.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the price.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included for use during the trip.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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 start time are not accepted for a refund.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.