US Virgin Islands Yacht Charters
Sailing the US Virgin Islands (USVI) archipelago offers you the chance to experience one of the world’s most wonderful cruising grounds, as well as some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.
What’s on this pageHighlights
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Easy travel from the US
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Underwater snorkel trails
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Virgin Islands National Park
Boat Rentals St. Thomas
The US Virgin Islands comprise St. Croix, St. John, Water Island and St. Thomas, where you’ll find our base at Compass Point Marina. The USVI also have many idyllic smaller islets and peaceful cays. While the islanders speak English, the culture is a unique blend of European, American and Caribbean influences.
The USVI has much to offer as a destination, including some of the best powdery white sand beaches and seven expansive national parks for hiking and adventure. Excellent shopping options are available as well, with visits to vibrant Cruz Bay and bustling Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.
From our base, sail to the nearby island of St. John, which has some of the most beautiful and best-protected beaches in the world. The island is a favorite destination thanks to its lush surroundings, national park and clear waters full of turtles and rays.
If you just want to swim and relax, you’ll be spoilt for choice on your Virgin Islands yacht charter. Popular choices to explore by boat include Honeymoon Beach, Caneel Bay, Oppenheimer Beach and Maho Beach in Francis Bay. With abundant coral, Leinster Bay and Waterlemon Cay offer awesome opportunities for snorkeling.
Available charter types
US Virgin Islands Things to do
Explore the National Park on St. John
Take your pick of some of the finest beaches in the USVI and quiet overnight anchorages while sailing the Virgin Islands.
Discover Magen’s Bay on St. Thomas
Head to this immense mile-long, white sand beach; one of the island’s most popular. Make sure you get there early, it’s one of our favorite things to do in the US Virgin Islands.
Visit a beach club at Lovango Cay
Enjoy music, beach games, great food and watch the awesome sunset. More mooring balls are being added here.
Snorkel Waterlemon Cay
Enjoy the warm waters or, if you feel energetic, hike to the Annaberg ruins, a sugar plantation, during your St. Thomas sailing vacation.
Experience pizza with a difference
On Great St. James, at Christmas Cove, which is only accessible by boat, you will find floating restaurant Pizza Pi. Don’t miss it while on your Virgin Islands yacht charter and keep an eye out for turtles and spotted eagle rays.
Discover the Spanish Virgin Islands
Sail to Culebra or Vieques and enjoy those unique and tropical islands. Long, uncrowded beaches, gentle sea breezes, near-empty anchorages, rare flora and fauna, and world-class snorkeling: everything you’ve been hoping for.
Weather insights
When is the best time to go to the US Virgin Islands?
The best time to visit the US Virgin Islands is between December and May, when trade winds are the most steady and temperatures are comfortable, although the USVI have pleasant weather for most of the year.
Temperatures in the USVI are around 75°F to 82°F all year round. August, September and October are the warmest months, with hardly any wind, which makes it feel even hotter. The low season is summer time, when it is less crowded. The hurricane season is between June and October.
What are the sailing conditions in the US Virgin Islands?
The Virgin Islands sailing conditions include easy passages that suit all experience levels, particularly novice sailors. You’ll find gentle and near constant winds most of the year, calm seas at 3 to 4 feet and easy line of sight navigation.
The Virgin Islands wind systems include the trade winds season between November and June and the famous Christmas winds in December and January, which can keep you going for several days.
Sailing US Virgin Islands with Dream Yacht Charter
USVI charters
Sail the US Virgin Islands and enjoy one of the world’s most special sailing destinations. Choose our bareboat yacht charters with cutting-edge catamarans and monohulls.
US Virgin Islands skippered charters
Can’t sail? Hire a skipper and make the most of your vacation by sailing the islands of the USVI. Your skipper will sail you and your guests while you relax.
USVI sailing itinerary
Take a look at our US Virgin Islands sailing vacation suggestions
7-day itinerary US Virgin Islands
7-day itinerary Spanish Virgin Islands
Useful information for Virgin Islands yacht charters
How do I get to the US Virgin Islands from the US?
To get to the US Virgin Islands for your St. Thomas boat charter, fly into Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas. There are direct flights from many US cities, but some are only on weekends. Most flights connect through Miami, Ft Lauderdale or Atlanta.
You can also connect through Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) at San Juan in Puerto Rico, which is the nearest international airport. Several airlines operate flights from SJU to STT, including Seaborne and Cape Air.
What language is spoken in the US Virgin Islands?
The language spoken in the US Virgin Islands is English.
What is the currency for the US Virgin Islands?
The currency in the US Virgin Islands is the US Dollar (USD).
What documents do I need to sail the US Virgin Islands?
US citizens do not need a passport to enter the US Virgin Islands, but will need one for the other Caribbean countries (it must be valid for another six months from date of entry). Visas may be required for citizens from other countries of origin – check with the tourist board to make sure you have the correct documents before you travel.
How do I get around the US Virgin Islands?
You can get around the US Virgin Islands easily with advance planning. The cab fare is $15 per person from the airport to Compass Point Marina and some cab companies charge a fee for your luggage.
We recommended arranging your transfer a few days before arrival. This means you won’t have to share an open-air cab or large van with other travelers.
We recommend the following taxi companies:
- Rachel Brown Taxi & Tours: (340)-771-2986
- A&P Taxi Service: (340)-642-4966
- Big Love’s Taxi: (340) 201-7299
- Mr. Nice Guy Taxi: (786) 296-8767
- Prestige Taxi: (340) 643-7002
If you want to provision your boat, you may want to consider renting a car instead of hiring a taxi – remember we drive on the left. You can leave the car at the marina and the car rental company will pick it up. We recommend Paradise Rental Car™ (340-643-2692) or Discount Car Rental (340-776-4858).
What is the Wi-Fi like in the US Virgin Islands?
There’s no Wi-Fi access at Compass Point Marina and, while some yachts have Wi-Fi onboard, it will not work until within range of a cell tower. Add an international package to your cell phone account with your provider so you can hotspot. There are Wi-Fi hotspots and internet access in some cafes, but you may need to pay.
What regulations are there in the US Virgin Islands?
The USVI banned the import, sale and distribution of all sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene, as they cause harmful bleaching to coral reefs. Anyone found using a non-approved sunscreen will be fined $1,000.
One of the most popular sunscreen brands here in St .Thomas is Bare Republic, which you can buy at our office. Other reef-safe brands include All Good, Babo, Badger, Raw Elements, Manda, Kokua Sun Care, Mama Kuleana, Raw Love, Think Sport, Sea & Summit and Stream2Sea.
Please note, spray sunscreens are strictly forbidden onboard due to discoloration to the boat over time. Avoid Coppertone products or those with self-tanners or bronzers as they will damage the boat.
In the USVI, night sailing is not allowed. We ask you to be settled at a mooring by 5pm. If you are sailing the St. John National Park, please visit the park’s website for information and regulations on mooring, anchoring and fishing. For overnight anchoring or mooring between the hours of 5pm and 7am, there is a self-registration fee. Overnight fees must be paid prior to spending the night at one of the many payment station rafts.
Please note that due to regulations enforced by the BVI authorities it is not allowed to take your charter boat from the US Virgin Islands to the British Virgin Islands (and vice versa).
Where can I find weather forecasts in the US Virgin Islands?
You can find US Virgin Islands weather forecasts on the Windguru website ahead of your sailing vacation.
What provisioning is there in the US Virgin Islands?
There is plenty of choice for reliable and affordable provisioning on St. Thomas, but you must be onboard to accept delivery. Please do not arrange delivery before your arrival at Compass Point Marina. For more information, please see the Base Guide in the Downloads section.
What baggage can I take on my sailing vacation?
Please only take soft bags and not suitcases as they are too cumbersome on board.
What is the electrical current in the US Virgin Islands?
The electrical current in the US Virgin Islands is 110V.
What is the dialing code for the US Virgin Islands?
The dialing code for the US Virgin Islands is +1 340.
Downloads
FAQ
See all our FAQsWhy should I book with Dream Yacht?
Dream Yacht Worldwide is now the world’s leading yacht charter company and offers you:
- A diverse fleet of yachts with a wide variety of models and manufacturers to suit every type of sailor.
- We have +60 exciting destinations and we’re a pioneer in finding new sailing grounds.
- You can be assured of our commitment to customer service excellence.
- You’ll receive a warm and friendly welcome from our base teams who will share regional tips, recommendations and advice.
- We’re also a trusted seller of new and used boats and an innovator in charter management options – sailing is our business.
What licenses do I need to hire a yacht and sail myself?
The skipper of a yacht has primary responsibility for the safety of the crew and yacht at all times. Many destinations require just relevant experience demonstrated by a sailing resume.
To charter in the Mediterranean, it is mandatory that you hold a sailing license recognized by the local port authorities for bareboat charters in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Malta, Montenegro and Turkey. Other destinations that require a license include Madagascar, Seychelles, Thailand, Brazil and Sweden. For Belize, the port authority will issue a certificate of competency and an application is made on arrival.
You must take your proof of competency and original certificate with you on your charter. We advise you to contact our team about your qualifications and destination requirements before booking.
By accepting the yacht contract you are confirming that you and/or members of your crew are capable and competent to sail the yacht in the conditions and cruising area of the charter. We reserve the right not to hand over the yacht if, after inspection, it is the opinion that the charterer is not, or may not be competent to be in charge of the vessel.
What is a skippered yacht charter?
A skippered yacht charter is when you rent one of our boats for you and your guests and a professional skipper sails it for you. No sailing experience is needed.
You will need to choose a yacht with a cabin for your skipper to sleep in as they are responsible for your yacht for the duration of your charter. We will find the skipper for you once you have found your perfect destination and yacht.
You will need to pay for your skipper’s food. You can invite the skipper to dine with you on board or out at a local restaurant.
What is the difference between crewed and by the cabin charters?
Our by the cabin charter charters offer exciting destination tours on a set itinerary crafted by our destination experts. You can book a double cabin and private bathroom and will share the boat with other guests who have booked the other available cabins. You will be looked after by a professional skipper and hostess with itineraries ranging from three to 11 nights. There is a set menu and included meals and drinks vary depending on location.
Can you tell me about your yachts?
Our super premier yachts are less than 12 months old from their first charter date, while premier yachts are less than three years old from their first charter date. Our yachts are well maintained and undergo regular, scheduled technical inspection.
In case of emergency, you can rely on our hotline, at any time, seven days a week. If you experience a technical failure affecting major and important parts of the yacht, we will repair the failure within four hours of receiving your call during working hours (8am to 5pm). If you lose more than four hours (during working hours), we will compensate you for one full day. If the repair takes more than one day, we will provide you with a similar boat or compensate you on a pro-rata basis. If restrictions to this guarantee apply in specific areas, this will be detailed during the charter check-in at the base.
Do I need insurance?
We highly recommend you arrange travel insurance in case you need to cancel for an unexpected reason to cover non-refundable deposits. Please make sure you have personal travel insurance that covers sailing.
We will insure the vessel throughout the charter with first-class insurers against all risks, to provide permission to charter as under contract terms and to cover third-party liability.
The following options are available in limited locations:
- Security Deposit: This varies on the size of the boat and when the boat is returned without damage it is refunded.
- Damage Waiver: The charterer agrees to pay a non-refundable damage waiver at the time of booking, as well as a reduced damage deposit on embarkation that is refundable upon completion of the charter should no damage occur.
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Simply wonderful! Fred + Isabelle were so accommodating and did so much for us. Isabelle’s food was incredible. Thank you so much!
Laura
Exumas CabinGreat class. Very professional and great service!
Thomas
Antigua BareboatJust what we needed to get out of a year of lockdown, see new places and connect with nature. Highly recommended for your next sailing adventure!
Johan
St. Martin BareboatExcellent cruise and wonderful stay on board. Skipper attentive, very pleasant and very professional.
Maxime
Guadeloupe SkipperedI have just returned from another fantastic week of sailing at your base in Pula and would like to thank everyone involved for making this possible at such short notice and without any problems.
Mathias
Guadeloupe BareboatThe marina itself is a perfect base with super facilities! The Lagoon 42 was in good condition and the skipper was fantastic and knew the area very well.
Jonathan
Croatia SkipperedWhat an EXCELLENT experience. We just returned from a week long charter with skipper from Corfu, sailing around the beautiful islands of the Ionian Sea. Paxos, Antipaxos and the old town of Corfu were beautiful and the secluded bays we got to visit thanks to our local skipper Nicholas were simply stunning. Fly and Flops was yesterday – we will only charter with Dream Yacht for the foreseeable future.
David
Greece SkipperedOur group of 10 had a WONDERFUL time in French Polynesia from May 21-28, 2022! The food was fantastic: captain and cook, husband and wife: Henry and Mehee (sp) were amazing and the whole experience on board was a dream! We can’t wait to book another trip through Dream Yacht
Katie
Tahiti Crewed PremiumDream Yacht provided a great sailing experience for my extended family on 2 monohulls from Scrub Island. The boats were in very good condition and perfectly prepared, the staff friendly and helpful. I had worked for a number of charter companies over the years but Dream Yacht is one of the
Charlie
British Virgin Islands BareboatI am in the Maldives right now and having the time of my life. Captain Jack and the crew are professional, safe and fun! The boat is optimal and the food is delicious. The chef even bakes CAKE! The beds are surprisingly comfortable and we sleep 9 hours every night. If you like island hopping, there is no better option than Dream Yacht. We will be booking Tahiti next year.
Cynthia
Maldives CabinThe new boat was in perfect condition and best condition for exploring bays and islands. I could never have imagined that this could be so much fun and enjoyable and we are already looking forward to the next upcoming trip in the Ionian Sea.er.
Vytautas
Scandinavia BareboatBaja is now my favorite place. There was something for everyone: sailing under northerly winds with mostly calm evenings, snorkeling, fishing, secluded sandy beaches, pelican feedings, being greeted by barking sea lions, and exploring the geology of Ispiritu Santo Island. Dream Yacht Base La Paz provided competent professional support with a well-equipped and maintained boat. We were wonderfully cooked by an on-board chef arranged with Dream Yacht, which meant more free time for all of us. An unforgettable vacation and adventure connected with nature.
Taiyoko
Mexico Crewed PremiumAll the staff were fantastic and made our trip a memorable one. Incredibly friendly and welcoming, the food was fantastic. The service throughout the trip was always top notch!
Tommy
Thailand CabinAbsolutely recommendable. Perfect service. Will charter again and recommend Dream Yacht Charter anytime.
Zahradnik
Turkey BareboatI just returned from 3 weeks of fantastic sailing with my family on one of your catamarans in Sardinia. My thanks to our skipper Simone and Daniela, our cook.
Giles
Sardinia SkipperedFor a first cruise as a skipper, the Mediterranean is perfect. The service of Dream Yacht is too!
Thomas
France BareboatWe had an incredible trip and got engaged on our very first night of sailing! We will surely come back one day. We were beginners, we were guided very well and that gave us a lot of confidence.
George
Australia BareboatThe experience on board far exceeded our expectations. Isabelle provided exceptional three course meals. Her creativity and delicious meals were incredible. Thomas was an excellent skipper, he “felt” our needs. Thanks guys!” Spira, bareboat with crew in New Caledonia.
Spira
New Caledonia Crewed PremiumOnce again a fantastic sail with a great crew. Thanks again to a great captain and cook. Was totally fantastic.
Connie
Seychelles CabinA very excellent sailing vacation – especially the crew was fantastic. I would sail with Dream Yacht again and highly recommend them.
Mark
Guadeloupe BareboatI loved the vacation and am not sure this trip can ever be topped. Everything about it was incredible. The captain and crew were great, helpful, friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. We loved it.
Trina
Greece Crewed PremiumWe just returned from one of your Lagoon 52F’s last week in St. Thomas! We had the trip of a lifetime sailing around St. Thomas and St. John!
Megan
US Virgin Islands BareboatWhat’s new?
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