How Much Does a Caribbean Catamaran Charter Cost? Complete Pricing Breakdown

How Much Does a Caribbean Catamaran Charter Cost? Complete Pricing Breakdown

The honest answer is: a Caribbean catamaran charter for eight people, fully crewed, in peak season costs about USD 24,000 to 45,000 a week. Bareboat the same boat in shoulder season for a couple, and you can land at USD 7,500 to 11,500. The wide range matters because every line item — boat size and age, crew configuration, season, charter ground, optional add-ons — shifts the total by 10 to 30%. This guide breaks down every cost line so you can build a realistic budget for your specific charter week.

The five major cost lines

Every Caribbean catamaran charter has five main cost components: the base charter rate (the boat), crew (if any), provisioning (food, drinks, fuel), berths and moorings, and taxes and customs fees. Understanding how each line scales with your choices is the difference between a budgetable week and a surprise final invoice.

1. The base charter rate

The biggest single line. Driven by boat length, age, charter ground, and season. A 45-foot catamaran (Lagoon 45, Bali Catspace, Saona 47) in BVI shoulder season runs USD 6,500 to 9,000 a week. The same boat in BVI peak: USD 11,000 to 14,000. A 50-foot premium catamaran (Lagoon 50, Bali 5.4, Sunreef 50): add 35 to 60% on top of the 45-foot rate.

Ground variation: BVI and Bahamas pricing is similar. St. Martin runs slightly higher because of newer fleet age. Grenada is 10 to 15% lower because of softer demand and longer-distance fleets. Read our Grenada, BVI, and Bahamas guides for ground-specific pricing.

2. Crew (only if crewed)

Skipper-only: USD 250 to 320 per day. Skipper plus hostess: USD 380 to 480 per day. Skipper, hostess, and chef: USD 600 to 750 per day. A 7-day fully-crewed charter adds USD 4,200 to 5,250 for the crew package.

Tipping is standard but not fixed. Charter custom is 10 to 20% of the base charter rate, typically split between crew. For a USD 12,000 charter with 3-person crew, expect USD 1,200 to 2,400 in tips at week’s end.

3. Provisioning

If self-catering: USD 35 to 50 per person per day for groceries, plus USD 200 to 600 for restaurant lunches and dinners across the week. A couple charter for 7 days: USD 700 to 1,200 grocery plus USD 600 to 1,800 in restaurants — total USD 1,300 to 3,000.

If chef-catered (crewed only): USD 75 to 110 per person per day inclusive of all meals on board, drinks excluded. A family of four for 7 days: USD 2,100 to 3,080.

Drinks: the major variable. A week’s wine cellar for eight runs USD 600 to 2,500 depending on whether you stock house wines or actual French Burgundies. The duty-free advantage in St. Martin and the BVI keeps these costs down compared to provisioning at home.

4. Berths, moorings, and fuel

Mooring balls in BVI National Parks: USD 30 to 40 per night. Marina berths in Tortola, Spanish Town, Soper’s Hole: USD 75 to 145 per night for a 45-footer. Bahamas similar (USD 35 to 80 per night marinas, mooring buoys USD 30). St. Martin marina berths in Simpson Bay: USD 120 to 180 (more in peak).

Fuel: a typical 7-day charter burns 100 to 180 gallons of diesel. At Caribbean prices (USD 5.50 to 7.50 per gallon depending on island), fuel runs USD 550 to 1,350 a week.

Total for berths/moorings/fuel: USD 600 to 1,500 a week depending on how many marina nights you take vs anchoring out.

5. Taxes, customs, and park fees

BVI cruising permit: USD 15 to 25 per night per boat (size-dependent). National parks fees: USD 30 to 45 per person for the week. Customs/clearance: USD 30 to 90 per island clearance.

Bahamas cruising permit: USD 150 for boats under 35 feet, USD 300 for larger. Land and Sea Park fees additional (USD 25 per night).

Grenada/Grenadines: customs USD 50 to 90 per clearance, Tobago Cays park fee USD 25 per person per night.

Total: USD 200 to 700 across a week, depending on how many island clearances and park nights are in your itinerary.

Putting it together: three sample budgets

Sample 1: Couple’s BVI bareboat in shoulder season (May)

45-foot Lagoon, 4 cabins, 2 of you using just the master. May trades, all anchorage nights at moorings.

• Boat: USD 7,500
• Mooring balls (5 nights): USD 175
• Marina berth (2 nights): USD 220
• Fuel: USD 750
• Groceries: USD 700
• Restaurants (5 dinners): USD 600
• Park fees and customs: USD 200
• Wine cellar: USD 400

Total: USD 10,545 — about USD 5,275 per person

Sample 2: Family of six, BVI peak season, captained

50-foot Bali Catspace, 4 cabins, 6 guests, captain only (no chef).

• Boat: USD 16,500
• Captain (7 days): USD 2,000
• Captain food allowance: USD 280
• Mooring balls / marina mix: USD 750
• Fuel: USD 1,000
• Provisioning self-catered: USD 1,800
• Restaurants: USD 1,500
• Park fees and customs: USD 350
• Wine and drinks: USD 800
• Tips (15% of boat): USD 2,475

Total: USD 27,455 — about USD 4,575 per person

Sample 3: Eight-guest fully crewed peak Bahamas

50-foot Lagoon, 4 cabins, 8 guests, full crew (skipper, hostess, chef).

• Boat: USD 18,000
• Full crew (7 days): USD 4,800
• Crew food allowance: USD 700
• Marina berths and moorings: USD 1,200
• Fuel: USD 1,300
• Provisioning chef-catered: USD 5,600
• Park fees and customs: USD 600
• Wine cellar premium: USD 1,800
• Tips (15% of boat): USD 2,700

Total: USD 36,700 — about USD 4,590 per person

What you can control to lower the total

Boat age: a 5-year-old Lagoon 46 costs 20 to 30% less than a 2024 Lagoon 46. Often the difference is sail wear and bedding age, not seaworthiness.

Season: shoulder season (May, June, November) saves 25 to 35% versus peak. Same boat, similar weather, much lower bill.

Self-provisioning instead of crewed chef: a couple chartering bareboat saves USD 4,500 to 6,000 over a fully crewed week and gets to choose every meal themselves.

Fewer marina nights: anchor out 6 of 7 nights instead of 4 of 7 — saves USD 200 to 400. Most popular anchorages have free National Parks Trust mooring balls.

What’s typically NOT included

Things that often surprise first-time charterers: snorkeling/scuba equipment rental (USD 25 to 50 per person), watersports (kayaks, paddleboards) on some boats but not all, Wi-Fi (sometimes USD 25 to 50 per day), provisioning delivery fees (USD 50 to 100), boat damage waiver / security deposit (USD 1,500 to 5,000 refundable).

How to get a real quote

Pricing varies by exact boat, exact dates, exact crew configuration. Generic ranges like the ones above are a good budget starting point but a real charter quote will refine within 5 to 10%. Request a personalised quote with your preferred dates, group size, and route — we’ll match the right boat and provide a complete cost breakdown within 24 hours.

For destination-specific pricing, see our best-time-to-charter guide for season-by-season cost shifts. Browse the Caribbean fleet to compare boat models and per-week pricing.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the cheapest possible Caribbean catamaran charter?

A 38- to 42-foot bareboat catamaran in shoulder season (May or November) for two adults sharing a single cabin: USD 4,500 to 6,500 base, plus USD 800 to 1,400 in provisioning, fuel, fees. Total around USD 5,500 to 8,000 — roughly USD 2,750 to 4,000 per person.

Are taxes included in the headline charter rate?

Usually no. The headline weekly rate is “boat plus standard equipment.” VAT (where applicable), cruising permits, and park fees are billed on top. Standard practice is to send a final invoice that includes all line items at end of week.

How big a deposit is required at booking?

50% at booking is the industry standard for charters more than 90 days out. Final 50% due 60 to 90 days before charter start. For charters within 90 days, full payment usually required at booking.

What about damage deposits?

USD 1,500 to 5,000 refundable security deposit, held at boat handover (or covered by an upfront damage waiver fee of USD 250 to 600). Returned 7 to 14 days after charter end if no damage. Damage above the deposit is billed to the credit card on file.

Should I tip a bareboat captain like a crewed crew?

Yes — even with bareboat captain-only, tipping 10 to 15% of the captain’s daily rate is standard custom. For a USD 280-per-day captain over 7 days (USD 1,960 in fees), the tip is USD 200 to 300.

About this guide

This guide was prepared by the Catamaran Charter Caribbean editorial team — charter brokers who have been quoting and booking Caribbean weeks since 2007. Pricing is based on direct partnership rates with The Moorings, Sunsail, Dream Yacht Charter, and Catlante, current as of the date below. Last reviewed: May 2026.

If pricing has shifted, write us at www.catamaran-charter-caribbean.com/contact — we update pricing data quarterly.