St. Thomas & St. John: Private Catamaran Sail with Lunch

Summary

Sailing the us virgin islands by private catamaran with local crew, food and snorkeling

You’ll step barefoot onto a private catamaran in St. Thomas or St. John, greeted by friendly crew and fresh breakfast pastries before sailing to hidden beaches and snorkeling spots. Enjoy a full lunch made onboard, an open bar all day, and plenty of time to swim or just listen to reggae drifting over turquoise water. It’s relaxed, personal, and leaves you wanting one more hour at sea.

What’s the experience like?

“You ever try mango with salt?” That’s what our captain, Mark, asked as we stepped barefoot onto the Sweet Pea in Red Hook, St. Thomas. I was still shaking off that sticky sunscreen feeling and honestly just relieved the crew didn’t mind my clumsy bag situation. There was already coffee brewing somewhere below deck — smelled like cinnamon? The morning air felt soft, not too hot yet, and you could hear someone laughing on another boat nearby. We set off slow, gliding past Cruz Bay’s pastel houses while Mark pointed out which islands belonged to who (I still can’t keep them straight).

I didn’t expect to feel so… unhurried. Our guide Li handed out snorkels and grinned at my hesitation — “Don’t worry, turtles here are friendlier than most people.” She was right; we floated over reefs off St. John that shimmered all blue-green and quiet except for the occasional splash when someone found a starfish. Lunch came out of nowhere: grilled fish, fruit so ripe it dripped down my arm, bread warm enough to steam up my sunglasses. Someone put on music through the Bluetooth speaker (old reggae) and it just fit.

We stopped at a beach I’d never heard of — no one else around except a pelican doing its own thing. Kids built sand castles with toys from the boat while adults drifted between sun and shade or just napped on noodles in the water. There was an open bar but honestly I stuck to cold soda after trying one rum punch too early (Mark winked — “Island time now”). The day blurred in the best way: salt on skin, laughter echoing off water, sunburn sneaking up despite all good intentions.

I keep thinking about that first bite of mango with sea salt and how it tasted like summer should taste — sweet but not too easy. If you’re looking for a private boat charter around St. Thomas and St. John that feels more like being invited along than signing up for a tour… well, this is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Private luxury full-day sailing tour

• Depart from St. Thomas or St. John
• Enjoy breakfast fruit platter and pastry
• Sail to snorkeling spots
• Visit secluded beaches
• Have a full lunch onboard
• Enjoy open bar all day
• Relax and enjoy the crew's service
• Return to departure point

Top questions

Is food included on this private catamaran tour?

Yes, breakfast pastries and a full lunch are freshly prepared onboard.

Where does the boat depart from?

The catamaran departs from Red Hook in St. Thomas or Cruz Bay in St. John.

Are drinks provided during the sail?

Yes, there is an open bar all day along with soda and bottled water.

Is snorkeling gear included?

Yes, use of snorkeling equipment is included for all guests.

How many people can join this private charter?

The maximum group size is 12 guests per booking.

Can children join this day trip?

Yes, kids are welcome and beach sand toys are available onboard.

Are service animals allowed?

Service animals are allowed on board.

Is pickup included for cruise ship passengers?

The crew can accommodate times for cruise ship passengers; check when booking.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from either Red Hook or Cruz Bay depending on your island, breakfast fruit platter with pastries in the morning, freshly prepared lunch onboard using local ingredients, an open bar plus sodas and bottled water all day long, use of snorkeling equipment (so you don’t need to pack your own), paddle boards and pool noodles for floating around at anchorages, plus sand toys if you’ve got kids along—and fuel charges are already covered so you won’t get any surprises later.