BVI Yacht Charter Booking & Travel Guide Guide

Planning a BVI yacht charter starts with a few basic decisions: when you want to travel, how many guests are coming and what type of charter experience you want.

Virgin Charter Yachts offers bareboat power catamarans for experienced boaters as well as luxury fully crewed yacht charters with a professional captain and chef.

If you’re considering a bareboat charter, we’ll help you compare yacht sizes, layouts and features and review your boating experience to make sure the yacht you’re considering is appropriate for your experience level.

For a fully crewed charter, tell us your dates, number of guests, approximate budget and what matters most to your group. We can then recommend yachts based not only on the boat itself, but also on cabin layout, captain and chef, crew experience, amenities, water toys and the style of vacation you’re looking for.

Virgin Charter Yachts has been operating in the British Virgin Islands since 1996, and our team is based at Nanny Cay Marina on Tortola. Whether you’re booking one of the yachts we directly manage or using us as your broker for a crewed yacht elsewhere in the BVI and Caribbean, our goal is to help you find the right fit rather than simply the largest or most expensive yacht.

Explore BVI Bareboat Power Catamarans 

Explore BVI Luxury Crewed Yachts 

BVI yacht charter pricing can vary considerably depending on the yacht, time of year, number of guests and type of charter. Understanding what affects the price can help you compare yachts more accurately—and sometimes a yacht with a higher weekly rate can actually offer better value for your group.

Bareboat Powercat Pricing

For a bareboat charter, the advertised charter rate primarily covers the yacht and its standard onboard equipment, including the dinghy and outboard. Additional vacation expenses generally include provisioning, fuel used during your charter, cruising permits and applicable fees, optional dockage, activities and any additional equipment you choose to rent.

If you would like the experience of a bareboat charter but don’t have the required boating experience—or simply don’t want to captain the yacht yourself—you can also hire a professional captain.

Luxury Crewed Yacht Pricing

Fully crewed yacht charters use a different pricing model. Most crewed yachts in the BVI are offered on an all-inclusive basis, with the professional crew, accommodations, meals prepared by your chef, beverages, standard ship’s bar, normal cruising fuel and use of the yacht’s onboard water toys included in the charter rate.

Exactly what is included varies by yacht, and there may be additional expenses for premium wines and spirits, unusually extensive cruising, dockage, shore-based activities or other special requests.

Crew gratuity is also additional. In the Caribbean, a gratuity of approximately 15–20% of the charter rate is customary for excellent service.

Why Cabin Count Matters

One factor guests sometimes overlook when comparing yacht prices is the layout.

Two yachts of approximately the same length can have very different guest capacities. Yachts offering five or six private double guest cabins are considerably less common than three- or four-cabin layouts and will often command higher charter rates.

However, these yachts can also offer exceptional value for larger groups. Five couples sharing a yacht, for example, can divide the cost five ways. A higher-priced five-cabin yacht can therefore cost less per couple than a lower-priced yacht that only accommodates three couples comfortably.

This applies to both bareboat powercats and luxury crewed yachts. When comparing options, consider the cost per cabin or per couple, rather than simply comparing the weekly charter rates.

For groups of couples considering a crewed yacht, the number of ensuite guest cabins is particularly important. Most adult couples expect a private cabin and private head, so a yacht advertised for eight or ten guests isn’t necessarily equally well suited to four or five couples.

Season and Travel Dates Matter Too

BVI yacht charter rates change throughout the year. Christmas and New Year’s are typically the most expensive weeks, followed by the winter high season. Other periods can offer considerably better value, and bareboat specials may be available during lower-demand dates.

If your dates are flexible, even shifting your vacation by a week or two can sometimes provide additional yacht choices or a better charter rate.

For a detailed explanation of charter rates, what’s included, additional expenses, crew gratuities and realistic total vacation budgets, read our BVI Yacht Charter Costs: Complete Guide.

The advertised charter rate is only one part of your total vacation budget, and what is included depends significantly on whether you choose a bareboat powercat or a fully crewed yacht.

Bareboat Charter Expenses

With a bareboat charter, your yacht and its standard equipment are included in the charter rate, but you should also budget for expenses such as fuel, provisioning, beverages, cruising permits and applicable government fees, optional dockage, shore-based activities and any additional water toys or equipment you choose to rent.

If you hire a professional captain, the captain’s daily rate and gratuity are additional. Guests are also responsible for the captain’s meals while aboard.

Your individual charter agreement and quote will identify the required fees and charges that apply to your yacht and charter dates.

Crewed Yacht Charter Expenses

Most fully crewed BVI yachts are offered on an all-inclusive basis. The charter rate generally includes the professional crew, accommodations, meals prepared aboard, beverages and a standard ship’s bar, normal cruising fuel and use of the yacht’s onboard water toys.

However, inclusions vary by yacht. Premium wines and spirits, unusually extensive cruising, dockage, shore-based activities, transfers and certain special requests may be additional.

Crew gratuity is not included in the charter rate. In the Caribbean, a gratuity of approximately 15–20% of the charter rate is customary for excellent service.

Don’t Compare Charter Rates Without Comparing What’s Included

A lower advertised charter rate doesn’t necessarily mean a lower overall vacation cost. This is particularly important when comparing a bareboat charter with a captain to an all-inclusive crewed yacht.

For example, provisioning, beverages, fuel, a captain and other expenses added to a bareboat charter can narrow the difference between the two options. Likewise, the number of private guest cabins can dramatically change the cost per couple.

For a complete explanation of these expenses and how to compare the true cost of different charter options, see our BVI Yacht Charter Costs: Complete Guide.

Yacht availability in the BVI varies considerably by season, yacht size and layout. While there are many yachts available for charter, the number of options becomes much smaller when you have specific requirements such as five or six double cabins, a particular yacht model, a preferred crew or exact travel dates.

For bareboat powercats, our fleet availability is shown by individual yacht and charter dates. If you have flexibility with either your dates or yacht selection, our team can often suggest comparable options when your first choice is unavailable.

For luxury crewed charters, availability involves both the yacht and its professional crew. Many of the best yachts develop a strong following of repeat guests, and popular crews can book well in advance.

How Far Ahead Should You Book?

There is no single rule, but we recommend planning earlier when:

• You are traveling over Christmas, New Year, Presidents’ Day, spring break or another popular holiday period.
• Your group requires five or six private double cabins.
• You have a particular yacht or crew you want to charter.
• Your travel dates cannot be changed.
• You are coordinating a larger group traveling from different locations.

If your dates are flexible, there can also be advantages to booking closer to your travel dates. Occasionally yachts have gaps in their calendars or bareboat specials become available. However, waiting for a lower price means accepting a smaller selection of yachts.

Our team is happy to check your dates and help determine which yachts and layouts make the most sense for your group.

Once you have selected your yacht and confirmed that your preferred dates are available, the next step is completing the charter agreement and initial payment.

For bareboat charters, Virgin Charter Yachts uses a scheduled payment structure: 25% due at booking, 25% due 6 months prior your charter start date, 50% due 120 days prior to your charter start date.  Your individual charter agreement will specify the payment amounts, due dates, cancellation terms and other conditions applicable to your reservation.

Fully crewed yacht charters use industry-standard CYBA charter agreements and payment schedules: 50% due at time of booking and 50% due 45 days prior to charter. 

Because cancellation and payment policies are important, we recommend reviewing your charter agreement carefully before signing. We also strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that provides appropriate protection for trip cancellation, interruption, medical emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances.

Have a question before booking? Our team is happy to explain the payment schedule and charter terms before you commit to a yacht.

Virgin Charter Yachts is located at Nanny Cay Marina on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Getting here is easier than many first-time visitors expect, and there are several good options depending on where you are traveling from.

Most of our U.S. guests choose between flying directly to Tortola’s Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS), connecting through another Caribbean airport, or flying to St. Thomas (STT) in the U.S. Virgin Islands and continuing to Tortola by ferry or private water taxi.

There isn’t one best route for every guest. Your departure city, airfare, arrival time, group size and whether you prefer flying or taking a ferry can all affect which option makes the most sense.

Travelers from the United States have several options for reaching Tortola. Depending on your departure city and travel dates, you may be able to fly directly to Tortola (EIS) or connect through a Caribbean gateway such as San Juan (SJU).

Another popular option is flying into St. Thomas (STT) and continuing to Tortola by ferry or private water taxi.

Canadian travelers will generally connect through a U.S. or Caribbean gateway before continuing to Tortola.

Flight schedules and routes change seasonally, so we recommend searching both EIS and STT when comparing airfare. Sometimes the most convenient itinerary is not the least expensive one, particularly after accounting for ferry tickets, taxis, overnight accommodations or additional connections.

For groups traveling together, a private water taxi or charter flight may also be worth considering.

Travelers from Europe typically reach the British Virgin Islands by connecting through a major U.S. or Caribbean gateway before continuing to Tortola.

Depending on your departure city, good routing options may include connections through airports such as Miami, Antigua, San Juan, St. Thomas or other Caribbean hubs with onward service to the Virgin Islands.

When comparing itineraries, consider the entire journey rather than airfare alone. A route with fewer connections or an arrival directly into Tortola may be worth the difference in price, particularly at the beginning of a yacht vacation.

Our team regularly works with international charter guests and is happy to help you evaluate the logistics of getting from your arrival airport to Nanny Cay.

If you travel through St. Thomas (STT), there are two primary ways to continue to Tortola: public ferry or private water taxi.

Public ferries operate between the USVI and the British Virgin Islands. Depending on the ferry service and schedule, you may arrive at Road Town or another BVI port of entry. You will clear BVI immigration and customs upon arrival and can then take a taxi to our base at Nanny Cay Marina.

A private water taxi can be a particularly convenient option for families and larger groups. Rather than planning your arrival around the public ferry schedule, a private water taxi provides greater flexibility and a more direct transfer from St. Thomas to the BVI. While it costs more than the public ferry, the difference can become more reasonable when divided among a larger group.

Ferry schedules and availability can change by season and day of the week, so we recommend confirming your transportation plans before purchasing flights that depend on a same-day connection.

Virgin Charter Yachts is happy to recommend public ferry options, private water taxi companies and transportation to Nanny Cay based on your flight schedule and group size.

Virgin Charter Yachts operates from Nanny Cay Marina on the south side of Tortola. Once you arrive in the BVI, our team can help coordinate your taxi or transfer to the marina.

For bareboat guests, Nanny Cay is where you will meet our team, complete your yacht and chart briefings and prepare to begin your charter. The marina also offers restaurants, shops, provisioning options and other services that make it convenient to prepare for your week aboard.

If you are arriving early or spending a night on Tortola before your charter, our team is happy to help with local recommendations.

The British Virgin Islands is a separate jurisdiction from the United States and U.S. Virgin Islands. International visitors must meet the current BVI entry requirements and clear immigration and customs when entering the Territory.

All guests should travel with a valid passport and any other documentation required for their nationality. Because entry requirements can change, we recommend confirming current requirements before traveling.

Before arriving in the BVI, travelers are required to complete the BVI Online Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) Card. The form is completed online and is free of charge. We recommend completing it before your travel day so you have everything ready when you arrive.

Complete the official BVI Online ED Card here:

BVI Online ED Card

If you fly directly into Tortola (EIS), you will clear BVI immigration and customs at the airport. If you arrive by ferry or private water taxi from St. Thomas, you will clear BVI immigration and customs at your BVI port of entry.

Virgin Charter Yachts’ bareboat fleet is restricted to the British Virgin Islands and is not permitted to travel into the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Most fully crewed yachts that charter in the BVI also operate exclusively within the British Virgin Islands. While there are some crewed yachts that are able to charter between the BVI and USVI, the selection is considerably smaller.

If visiting both the BVI and USVI during your yacht charter is a priority, please let us know before we begin selecting yachts for you. Requiring a yacht that can legally operate between both territories will significantly limit the available inventory, and we can focus our search specifically on yachts that meet those requirements.

For most guests spending a week aboard, we recommend keeping the entire charter within the BVI. There is more than enough to experience—from Norman Island, Peter Island and Cooper Island to Virgin Gorda, the North Sound, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke—without spending valuable charter time completing customs and immigration procedures between two jurisdictions.

Your BVI bareboat charter begins at Virgin Charter Yachts’ base at Nanny Cay Marina on Tortola.

When you arrive, our team will help you get settled aboard and complete the paperwork, yacht orientation and briefings required before departure. The exact timing will depend on your charter start and when you arrive in the BVI.

If you’re arriving the evening before your charter, a Sleep Aboard can be an especially convenient way to begin your vacation.

Sleep Aboard

If the yacht’s schedule permits, you may be able to arrange a Sleep Aboard beginning at 5:00 PM on the evening before your charter.

A Sleep Aboard is designed for convenience. Instead of booking a hotel for one night, unpacking and then repacking the following morning, you can come directly to Nanny Cay, move onto your yacht, unpack and get settled for the week.

A Sleep Aboard does not give you an earlier charter start the following day. Your official charter begins at the standard 12:00 noon start time, just as it would without a Sleep Aboard.

Our team may still need access to the yacht the following morning to complete final preparations, and your required yacht and chart briefings will take place before departure.

For many guests, the biggest advantage is simply waking up on the yacht on the first morning of their vacation with their luggage already unpacked and everything organized, rather than checking out of a hotel and transferring to the marina.

Sleep Aboards are subject to yacht availability and must be arranged in advance. Ask our team about availability and current pricing when booking.

Late Arrivals

If you will be arriving at Nanny Cay later in the evening, let our team know in advance.

We can provide arrival instructions and help coordinate transportation to the marina. Depending on your arrival time and charter arrangements, you may settle aboard for the evening and complete the required paperwork and briefings the following morning.

There are restaurants and other amenities at Nanny Cay, and our team is always happy to provide recommendations.

Your Chart Briefing

Before departing Nanny Cay, you will receive a BVI chart briefing covering the cruising area, navigation considerations, hazards, current restrictions and locations that are off-limits to VCY bareboats.

We’ll also review mooring requirements and other important information for safely cruising the BVI.

This is also a great time to ask itinerary questions. Our team knows the islands well and can help with suggestions based on weather, your group’s interests and how much time you want to spend underway each day.

Current information provided during your chart briefing should always take precedence over older cruising guides or information you may have found online.

Your Yacht Briefing

You’ll also receive a detailed orientation to your specific powercat before leaving Nanny Cay.

A member of our team will walk you through the yacht’s systems and equipment, including engines, generator, electrical systems, air conditioning, freshwater systems, heads, galley equipment, dinghy and other onboard systems.

This is your opportunity to ask questions and make sure you’re comfortable with the operation of the yacht before departure.

Your First-Day Checkout Captain

Every VCY bareboat charter includes a checkout captain on the first day.

Your checkout captain will leave Nanny Cay aboard the yacht with you and travel with your group to Norman Island. Along the way, you’ll have an experienced captain aboard while you become familiar with the powercat, helm and handling characteristics.

You’ll demonstrate close-quarter maneuvering in the marina and, once you reach Norman Island, you and your crew will demonstrate your ability to safely pick up a mooring ball.

It’s also an excellent opportunity to ask questions about operating the yacht while you have an experienced captain aboard.

Once the checkout is complete at Norman Island, the captain will arrange their own transportation back to Nanny Cay. You don’t need to return them to the base, and the checkout doesn’t interrupt the first day of your vacation.

For many guests, this is a very comfortable way to transition from the briefing at the dock to actually operating the yacht in the BVI.

How far in advance should I book a BVI yacht charter?

There is no single rule. Popular holiday weeks, fixed travel dates, larger five- and six-cabin yachts and sought-after crewed yachts can book well in advance.

If your dates are flexible, good options can also become available closer to departure. The earlier you book, however, the more yacht choices you will generally have.

What is the easiest way to get to Tortola?

There are several good options. U.S. travelers can fly directly from Miami to Tortola (EIS), connect through San Juan, or fly into St. Thomas (STT) and continue to Tortola by public ferry or private water taxi.

The best option depends on your departure city, airfare, flight schedule and group size.

Read our Complete Getting to the BVI Guide 

Should I fly into Tortola or St. Thomas?

Flying directly into Tortola eliminates the ferry or water-taxi transfer and brings you directly into the BVI.

St. Thomas often offers more nonstop flight options from U.S. cities and may provide better airfare or schedules. From STT, you’ll need to continue to Tortola by ferry or private water taxi.

For larger groups, a private water taxi can become a particularly convenient option.

Can Virgin Charter Yachts help with transfers?

Yes. Our team is happy to provide recommendations for taxis, public ferries and private water taxis based on your travel plans.

We can also help arrange your taxi from Tortola’s airport to Nanny Cay.

Can I sleep aboard the yacht the night before my charter?

Yes, when the yacht’s schedule allows. A Sleep Aboard begins at 5:00 PM the evening before your charter and allows you to move aboard, unpack and spend your first night on the yacht rather than staying in a hotel.

A Sleep Aboard does not provide an earlier departure the following day. Your charter still begins at the standard 12:00 noon start time, after the required briefings and final yacht preparations are complete.

What happens if my flight arrives late?

Let us know as soon as you know your arrival plans.

Depending on your arrival time and charter arrangements, you may be able to settle aboard that evening and complete paperwork and briefings the following morning. Our team can provide specific arrival instructions and help coordinate transportation to Nanny Cay.

Do I need travel insurance?

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance for a yacht charter, particularly coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, medical emergencies and other unforeseen circumstances.

Review the policy carefully to make sure the coverage is appropriate for your trip and charter agreement.

Do I need to complete a BVI entry form?

Yes. Travelers entering the British Virgin Islands are required to complete the BVI Online Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) Card.

Complete the BVI Online ED Card 

Can I take my VCY bareboat into the USVI?

No. VCY bareboats are restricted to the British Virgin Islands and are not permitted to travel into the USVI.

Most crewed yachts we book also charter exclusively within the BVI. If traveling between the BVI and USVI is essential to your vacation, tell us when you inquire. The number of yachts able to charter legally in both territories is much smaller, so this requirement will significantly reduce the available inventory.

What happens before I leave Nanny Cay?

Bareboat guests complete a chart briefing and detailed yacht orientation before departure.

VCY also includes a first-day checkout captain who travels aboard with you from Nanny Cay to Norman Island. This gives you an opportunity to become comfortable with the powercat, demonstrate close-quarter maneuvering and mooring-ball pickup, and ask questions before continuing the charter independently.