Crewed catamarans in the Virgin Islands are commonly sold all-inclusive; Yacht Warriors gives an indicative broker range of about $25,000 to $100,000 a week for them. Larger motor yachts commonly use plus-expenses terms, from about $50,000 a week before an APA. On top, add a discretionary crew gratuity, customarily 15% to 20% in the Caribbean, and any taxes and fees your contract bills separately.
At a glance
| Crewed catamarans | Commonly all-inclusive in the Virgin Islands; about $25,000–$100,000 a week (Yacht Warriors, indicative broker range) |
| Larger motor yachts | Commonly plus expenses, from about $50,000 a week before APA (Yacht Warriors) |
| Gratuity | Discretionary; 15%–20% is customary in the Caribbean |
| Taxes and fees | May be invoiced separately; check the contract |
| The one thing to check | The guest count and dates a quoted rate is for, and what it includes |
Two ways yachts are priced
In the Virgin Islands, crewed catamarans are commonly sold all-inclusive: one weekly price covers the yacht, crew, meals, a standard bar and fuel for normal cruising, with listed exclusions. Larger motor yachts commonly use plus-expenses terms, as in Europe: the rate covers the yacht and crew, and an APA is paid on top.
| Type | Weekly rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Crewed sailing or power catamaran | $25,000–$100,000 | All-inclusive |
| Motor yacht | from about $50,000 | Plus expenses (APA on top) |
Source: Yacht Warriors' crewed charter pricing page, read 29 October 2026. Treat these as an indicative broker range, not the lowest or highest price in the market.
Advertised rates from the BVI Yacht Show
Boatbookings' report of the 2025 BVI Yacht Show lists 2026 advertised weekly rates for these yachts, each of which takes up to 8 guests in 4 cabins:
| Yacht | Type | Advertised weekly rate (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Fountaine Pajot Saba 50 sailing catamaran | $21,900–$30,900 |
| Stella Mare | Lagoon 55 sailing catamaran | $37,400–$40,000 |
| Siete Mares | Lagoon Seventy 8 power catamaran | $70,000–$80,000 |
| Aeolus 77 | Lagoon Seventy7 sailing catamaran | $84,000–$90,000 |
The report does not say whether each range runs by season or by number of guests, or whether each rate is all-inclusive. A yacht that sleeps 8 is not necessarily quoted for 8: some catamarans price by guest count. Ask for the rate for your dates and your group.
What drives the price
- Size and age. On the show list, the 77 ft catamaran is advertised at roughly three times the 50 ft one.
- Season. Christmas and New Year cost the most and often have minimum stays.
- Number of guests. Some all-inclusive catamarans price by guest count.
- Route. One-way trips or longer routes, such as the Grenadines, may add repositioning or fuel costs.
What is included and what is extra
On an all-inclusive charter, The Moorings and Yacht Warriors list crew, meals, a standard bar and fuel among the inclusions. Cruising permits, entry fees and fuel beyond normal cruising are included only where the contract says so.
Usually extra:
- Crew gratuity: discretionary; 15% to 20% is customary in the Caribbean (Yacht Warriors; The Moorings; Denison Yachting).
- Taxes on the charter fee, where the contract invoices them separately.
- Marina nights, premium wines and spirits, and special requests.
- Meals ashore, excursions, flights and transfers.
On plus-expenses motor yachts, the APA is an advance against running costs, reconciled at the end. See what APA is.
Illustration: an all-inclusive catamaran week
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Charter fee (all-inclusive) | $40,000 |
| Optional gratuity at 15%–20% | $6,000–$8,000 |
| Charter fee plus optional tip | $46,000–$48,000 |
That is about $5,750 to $6,000 for each of eight guests. It is not a complete trip budget: add flights, transfers, marina nights, premium drinks, and any taxes or fees the contract bills separately. If the yacht were plus expenses instead, an APA would be added on top.
What to ask your broker
- Is this rate all-inclusive or plus expenses, and what exactly does the bar include?
- Is the rate for my dates and my number of guests?
- Are taxes, cruising permits and entry fees included or invoiced separately?
- Is there a holiday-week minimum or surcharge for my dates?
- What fuel use does the all-inclusive rate cover?
- Does my route cross between the BVI and the US Virgin Islands, and what does that involve?
When this is not the right choice
- Your dates fall in hurricane season and a disrupted week is not acceptable. See the best time to charter in the Caribbean.
- You want towns and restaurants ashore every night. The Virgin Islands are mainly beaches, snorkelling and quiet anchorages.
- You want a large motor yacht with a big crew. Pricing then follows plus-expenses terms and costs more than these catamaran figures.
Yacht Almanac does not sell charters. One of our partner brokers can confirm each yacht's inclusions and its rate for your dates.
Questions people ask
Are Caribbean yacht charters all-inclusive?
Crewed catamarans in the Virgin Islands commonly are, with listed exclusions. Larger motor yachts commonly use plus-expenses terms with an APA. Always ask which basis a quote uses.
How much do you tip a yacht crew in the Caribbean?
It is at your discretion. 15% to 20% of the charter fee is customary, according to Yacht Warriors, The Moorings and Denison Yachting, usually given to the captain at the end.
What did the lowest-priced yacht at the BVI Yacht Show cost?
In Boatbookings' report of the 2025 show, the lowest 2026 advertised rate listed was a Saba 50 catamaran from $21,900 a week. The report does not say for how many guests, so ask for the rate for your group and dates.
Is a Caribbean charter cheaper than the Mediterranean?
Not always by headline rate. All-inclusive catamarans have fewer extras, so the final bill is easier to predict. Compare like with like, including taxes, APA and gratuity.
Sources
- Yacht Warriors, Crewed yacht charter pricing explained, read 29 Oct 2026
- Boatbookings, Winners from the 2025 BVI Yacht Show (2026 advertised weekly rates), read 29 Oct 2026
- The Moorings, What's included in a crewed charter, read 29 Oct 2026
- Denison Yachting, How to tip your yacht charter crew (17 November 2020), read 29 Oct 2026
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