Private Full-Day Luxury Sailing Catamaran Charter in Sint Maarten

The best part of this private catamaran charter is the freedom to spend a full day at sea without sharing the boat with strangers. Captain Mike handles the route and local stories while Elmira keeps the drinks, snacks, and homemade lunch moving. Long Bay snorkeling and the Little Bay stop give you a good mix of water time and beach time.

I like two things right away: the boat is private for your group of up to eight, and lunch is more than a basic sandwich, with charcoal-grilled chicken, salads, garlic dip, French bread, and a vegetarian burger option. The main consideration is cost. At $1,700 per group, it makes the most sense for a full group, and you still need to arrange your own transport to the marina and pay the service charge separately.

Key Points

• Private boat for up to eight: You get the catamaran to yourselves, with Captain Mike and Elmira managing the day around your group.
• A full seven hours on the water: The schedule allows time for cruising, snorkeling, swimming, paddleboarding, lunch, and quiet beach breaks.
• Lunch cooked aboard: Expect a charcoal BBQ with chicken, salads, pasta salad, garlic dip, bread, and Beyond Burgers for vegetarians.
• Open bar from coffee to rum punch: Coffee and croissants begin the day, followed by beer, mimosas, rum punch, spirits, sodas, juice, and mixed drinks.
• Stops can change with weather: Long Bay, Little Bay, and Tintamarre are planned possibilities, but the captain may keep you along the Dutch coast if wind or sea conditions call for it.
• Strong service record: The experience has a 5.0 rating from 402 reviews, with 100 percent recommending it, and service is clearly a major part of the appeal.

A Private Day Begins at AzianaBobby’s Marina

Your day starts at AzianaBobby’s Marina at number 22 Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard in Philipsburg. The meeting point is off a main road and near public transportation, which makes it easier to find than an isolated beach launch. Private transportation is not included, so you will need to reach the marina on your own.

The first step is a safety briefing. You will receive instructions about the catamaran, life jackets, the bathroom, and general boat use. That short introduction matters, especially if your group includes children or people who do not spend much time on boats.

The boat is reserved for your party alone. Up to eight people can share the $1,700 price, making the arithmetic much better for a full group. At eight people, the base cost works out to $212.50 per person for about seven hours, before the service charge. For two people, the same charter becomes a much more expensive private splurge.

Coffee and croissants are served early, so you do not need to arrive hungry. The open bar is available throughout the day, but the morning offering also gives non-drinkers and early risers something simple before the first stop.

Cruising the Coast With Captain Mike

Once the boat leaves the marina, Captain Mike cruises along the coastline and shares historical information about St. Maarten, along with practical tips about the route and sea life. This is not just a transfer from one swimming spot to another. The cruise gives you a sense of the island from the water, with time to settle into the pace of the day.

The private setup makes a difference here. On a shared boat, the route and timing have to suit a large mix of people. On this charter, your group can spend more time swimming, pause for a beach break, or simply stay aboard and enjoy the ride, within the limits of the weather and the captain’s judgment.

The island’s two-country character is part of what makes a coastal cruise interesting, and the captain’s commentary helps connect the shoreline to local places and stories. Expect a relaxed style rather than a formal lecture. The emphasis is on useful information, scenery, and keeping the day comfortable.

Long Bay Snorkeling and a Beach Break

The first main stop is Long Bay. Before anyone enters the water, you receive a quick briefing on the snorkeling equipment and what sea life you might see. Turtles are specifically part of the conversation, though no wildlife sighting can be promised.

At Long Bay, you can choose your own pace. Use the included snorkeling equipment, swim, try the paddleboard, or relax on the beach. That mix makes the stop work well for groups with different interests. One person can explore the water while another stays dry, and nobody has to treat every stop as a required activity.

The catamaran crew prepares lunch while you are off the boat or enjoying the water. This is a useful touch because it turns the stop into a proper midday break instead of a rushed swim followed by a cold packed meal.

Bring your own towel. You should also pack non-spray sunscreen, as that is specifically requested for the boat. Sunscreen is not included, and a long day on the water makes sun protection more important than it may seem during the first hour.

A Charcoal BBQ Lunch on the Catamaran

Lunch is one of the strongest reasons to choose this charter over a simpler sailing trip. The meal includes marinated chicken breast cooked on a charcoal BBQ, mixed salad, gluten-free pasta salad, homemade garlic dip, French bread, and Beyond Burgers for vegetarians.

That menu gives the meal a more personal feel than the usual island excursion spread. You get a hot main course, several sides, and a vegetarian option that is planned in advance rather than treated as an afterthought. The gluten-free pasta salad is also helpful, though you should still discuss any serious dietary needs when booking.

The timing is straightforward. After snorkeling, swimming, paddleboarding, or relaxing on shore, you return to the boat and lunch is served. Reviews repeatedly praise the homemade food, with particular attention to the fresh preparation and generous hosting from Elmira.

There is no need to rush through the meal. A seven-hour charter gives lunch room to function as part of the day, not just a brief refueling stop. You can sit back, eat, and return to the water when you are ready.

Little Bay’s Shipwreck and Underwater Sights

The itinerary includes another snorkeling stop, followed by a visit to Little Bay. The bay is noted for several unusual sights: a submarine, a shipwreck, a helicopter, and marine life. Those objects add interest for snorkelers who enjoy looking beyond a standard reef stop.

The captain provides more information about the area and what you may see underwater. The exact experience depends on visibility, weather, and sea conditions, but Little Bay gives the day a different feel from Long Bay. If the first stop is your broad introduction to snorkeling and beach time, Little Bay adds a more specific underwater focus.

Between stops, the crew serves fresh melon, snacks, and drinks. The bar includes mimosas, rum punch, beer, sodas, rum, vodka, water, juices, and mixed drinks. The open bar is a real part of the value, especially for adults who want a celebratory day without keeping track of each beverage.

Use good judgment with alcohol and swimming. The boat offers plenty, but you are still spending the day around open water, snorkeling gear, paddleboards, and a moving vessel.

Tintamarre Depends on the Weather

Tintamarre Island is another possible destination. It is known as a quieter stop for swimming, snorkeling, and beach time, and it fits the main promise of the charter: getting away from the more crowded island activities.

The important phrase is possible destination. The route can change due to weather, wind, or sea conditions. One group found that the wind did not allow a trip to Pinel and Tintamarre, so the boat stayed mainly along the Dutch coast instead. That is not a flaw in the operation. It is a reminder that a private boat day still depends on the sea.

This flexibility is useful because the captain can choose a safer and more comfortable route instead of forcing a particular stop. You should book this for the quality of the day on the water, not as a guarantee that every named island will be visited.

If Tintamarre is reachable, it adds a more remote-feeling pause to the trip. If it is not, you may spend more time along St. Maarten’s coastline or at another suitable stop. The captain’s route knowledge and the crew’s ability to keep the day enjoyable matter more than checking every place off a list.

Elmira’s Hands-On Hosting

The service is a major part of this experience. Elmira is frequently described as attentive without making the day feel stiff. She offers drinks and snacks, prepares lunch, and keeps an eye on what the group needs while Captain Mike manages the boat and commentary.

The hosting style seems especially useful for families and mixed-age groups. One family described an eight-year-old enjoying the chance to steer with Captain Mike, while younger children focused on the friendly service and the day aboard the boat. The available information does not promise that every child will steer, so treat that as a possible personal moment rather than a standard feature.

Another group had a boat issue before departure and was moved to another catamaran so the outing could continue. That shows practical problem-solving, but it also points to a useful travel truth: boats need maintenance, and occasional changes can happen. The important question is how the operator handles the problem.

The repeated praise centers on being looked after from start to finish. If you enjoy a hands-off day where the crew manages food, drinks, equipment, and route details, this service style should suit you well. If you prefer a bare-bones sailing trip with little hosting, you may find the level of attention more than you need.

What the $1,700 Price Really Buys

The $1,700 group price is high for a boat excursion, but it includes more than the boat itself. You receive a private catamaran for up to eight people, a captain, hosted service, snorkeling equipment, paddleboard access, lunch, snacks, coffee, and a broad open bar for roughly seven hours.

For eight people, the cost is easier to justify because you are spreading the price across the group. For six people, it comes to about $283.33 per person before the service charge. For a couple, the price is a luxury purchase rather than a value outing.

I would compare this with the cost of several separate activities. A shared snorkeling cruise may cost less, but it usually gives you less control over the day and less privacy. A private charter also lets your group stay together, which matters if some people want to swim while others prefer the beach or the boat.

The service charge or gratuity is not included. Add that to your budget before booking. Transport to and from the marina is also your responsibility, so the total cost is higher than the advertised charter price.

Who Will Enjoy This Charter Most

This is a strong choice for a family celebration, a group of friends, or a couple willing to pay for a private day. It suits people who want a relaxed schedule, a full meal, easy access to drinks, and several ways to enjoy the sea without organizing each part themselves.

It is also a good fit for mixed groups. Snorkelers can use the equipment, confident swimmers can enjoy the water, paddleboarders have another activity, and less active members can stay aboard or relax on the beach.

You should think twice if you want guaranteed stops at Tintamarre or another named island. Weather can change the plan. You should also reconsider if you dislike open-bar social energy, want a very active sailing experience, or are traveling with a group too small to make the private price comfortable.

Most travelers can participate, and the activity is described as disability-friendly. Service animals are allowed, and the marina is near public transportation. Still, boat access and movement around a catamaran can vary by individual need, so confirm any specific mobility requirements before booking.

Booking Details and Cancellation

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the activity returns to the same marina where it starts. Bring towels and non-spray sunscreen. Alcohol is included, but the service charge is not.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

Should You Book This St. Maarten Sailing Day?

Book it if you have a group of six to eight people and want one polished day that combines sailing, snorkeling, beach time, lunch, and drinks. Captain Mike and Elmira add the personal touch, while the private format keeps the schedule calm and flexible.

I would not book it solely for a promised visit to Tintamarre or a specific wildlife sighting. Weather may change the route, and sea life is never guaranteed. Book it for the full package: a private boat, a well-stocked lunch, attentive hosting, and the freedom to spend seven hours enjoying St. Maarten from the water.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran charter start?

The tour starts at AzianaBobby’s Marina, number 22 Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten.

Where does the activity end?

The charter ends back at the same marina where it begins.

How long does the charter last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours.

How many people can join the private charter?

The $1,700 price covers one private group of up to eight people.

Is transportation to the marina included?

No. Private transportation is not included, so you must arrange your own way to AzianaBobby’s Marina.

What food is served?

Lunch includes charcoal-grilled marinated chicken breast, mixed salad, gluten-free pasta salad, homemade garlic dip, French bread, and Beyond Burgers for vegetarians. Coffee, croissants, fresh melon, and snacks are also provided.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The open bar includes beer, mimosas, rum punch, rum, vodka, mixed drinks, sodas, water, and juices.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included. Paddleboarding, swimming, and relaxing on the beach are also part of the planned stops.

Can the route change?

Yes. Destinations may vary due to weather. Tintamarre and other planned stops are not guaranteed, and the captain may choose a different route when conditions require it.