The Virgin Islands

The U.S. and British Virgin Islands are a terrific place for first-time charterers—bareboat and fully crewed alike.

Bareboats probably outnumber fully crewed yachts in the Virgin Islands most days of the year, although some of the most luxurious megayachts in the world do visit the Virgins annually. You can find virtually every kind of charter yacht in the Virgins, power or sail, monohull or catamaran, at pretty much every price point. The islands are close together, which means easy cruising, and the tropical environment is delightful for beachcombers, swimmers, and scuba divers alike.

The downside is that the Virgins can feel a little bit busy and crowded because there are quite a lot of charter boats there during the high season from December through February.  If you’re on a big yacht, for instance, you won’t have a lot of space to anchor and may have to dock at marinas instead.

Still, for first-time charterers, the Virgins are almost always an excellent option because they offer so much to do.

The Virgin Islands are a tropical place where you can always find something to do, be it lounging in the sunshine or spending your money. The shopping, especially for jewelry, really is quite good, and there are plenty of handmade, non-mass-produced crafts to be found if you wait to look for them on the islands less-frequented by cruise ships, such as Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke.

Snorkeling and swimming all around the Virgins is dynamite, with clear waters and lots of marine life. There are also plenty of terrific, hidden-away beach bars where you can pull up a stool and hang out with other cruisers and local residents.

One favorite for cruisers is Soper’s Hole on Tortola. A handful of colorful shops sit right next to a well-kept dinghy dock, and the rum-infused Painkillers served at Pusser’s are exactly what the body craves after a day of sunshine and water sports.

There are plenty of similar places all over the Virgins for you to discover during a typical charter itinerary there.

Following is just one of many possible charter yacht itineraries in the Virgin Islands. Don’t be surprised if you see the names of islands that are new to you; charter yachts are small enough to get into places that bigger cruise ships cannot access.
 
Day One: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, and Hurricane Hole, St. John.
Day Two: Trunk Bay, St. John, and Cane Garden Bay, Tortola.
Day Three: Soper’s Hole, Tortola, and Norman Island.
Day Four: Peter Island.
Day Five: The Baths, Virgin Gorda.
Day Six: North Sound, Virgin Gorda, and The Bitter End Yacht Club.
Day Seven: Jost Van Dyke.
Day Eight: Back to St. Thomas for your flight home.

For a look at additional cruise itineraries, including charter yacht itineraries in other parts of the world, you can read Have the Whole Boat: The Insider’s Guide to Private Yacht Charter Vacations, from which this information is adapted.