St Martin Yacht Charter Specialist
A crewed yacht charter from St Martin works best for travelers who want privacy and flexibility without spending the entire week around one island. You can divide your time between French Saint-Martin, Dutch Sint Maarten, and an extension to St Barths or Anguilla, provided the route is planned realistically.
The harder decision is usually not finding an available yacht. It is deciding which yacht, crew, and route will give your group the experience it actually wants.
A family that wants quiet anchorages, water activities, and early dinners needs a different crew and itinerary from a group that wants restaurant reservations, shopping, and evenings ashore. Two yachts with similar weekly pricing can also feel completely different because of their cabin layouts, deck space, water toys, crew style, and cruising speed.
As your St Martin Yacht Charter Specialist, Rosedale Travel helps you make those decisions before you commit to a charter contract.
Schedule a consultation to start to compare St Martin yacht options and determine how your week should be divided between St Martin, St Barths, and Anguilla.
What Our Customers Say About Us
Why Work With Rosedale Travel for a St Martin Yacht Charter?
A yacht listing can tell you the yacht’s length, number of cabins, and advertised amenities. It cannot tell you whether the crew’s service style will suit your group, whether the cabins provide enough separation for a multi-generational family, or whether the yacht’s layout works well for six adults who want to spend most of the day outside.
Those details matter more once you are aboard than many of the features that receive the most attention in listing photos.
Rosedale Travel helps with:
- Matching the yacht to your group size and cabin requirements
- Comparing sailing catamarans with motor yachts
- Evaluating crew personalities and service styles
- Setting a realistic total budget before booking
- Explaining all-inclusive pricing, APA, taxes, and additional expenses
- Comparing St Barths and Anguilla extensions
- Planning around crossing conditions and seasonal weather
- Reviewing charter inclusions and exclusions
- Coordinating dietary preferences and special requests
- Providing support if the itinerary changes during the charter
Clients often spend weeks comparing yacht photos before deciding whether St Martin itself matches the type of vacation they want. We prefer to settle the destination, pace, and route first, then recommend yachts that can deliver that experience.
Trying to fit St Martin, St Barths, and Anguilla into a standard seven-night charter is possible, but it often leaves too little time in the places the group ends up enjoying most. In many cases, a better itinerary includes St Martin and one carefully chosen extension rather than attempting to cover all three.
Schedule a consultation to start to compare St Martin yacht options and determine how your week should be divided between St Martin, St Barths, and Anguilla.
What Rosedale Travel’s Star Ocean Yachts Relationship Means
Rosedale Travel’s preferred yacht charter partner is Star Ocean Yachts, a full-service yacht brokerage and management company offering yacht charter, sales, and management services. Working through a brokerage rather than a single-fleet operator allows the search to focus on the yacht that fits your group instead of limiting the recommendation to one company’s available inventory.
The practical value is not simply access to more listings. It is obtaining a clearer understanding of:
- How the crew works with families, couples, or groups of friends
- Whether the yacht performs as well as its photographs suggest
- Which amenities are actually onboard for your dates
- Whether the yacht’s layout provides enough privacy
- How previous guests responded to the crew and overall experience
- Whether the yacht is suited to the crossings included in your route
The yacht we recommend may not be the largest, newest, or first one shown in a search result. It should be the yacht most likely to produce the right week for your group.
Meet Kirsten Billhardt
Owner, Rosedale Travel
Tauck Certified Travel Advisor
Contact Kirsten: kirsten@rosedaletravel.com
Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time
Who a St Martin Yacht Charter Is Best For
A St Martin yacht charter works particularly well for travelers who want variety without giving up the privacy of a fully crewed yacht.
It is a strong fit for:
01
Families celebrating an important birthday, anniversary, or graduation
02
Multi-generational groups that need different activities within the same trip
03
Couples who want privacy with the option to dine and spend evenings ashore
04
Friends who want a mixture of social stops and quiet anchorages
05
Travelers who value flexibility more than a fixed daily schedule
06
Guests who enjoy swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and life on the water
07
Groups that want private-chef dining mixed with selected restaurant nights
08
Previous Caribbean charter guests ready for a more varied itinerary
09
Travelers comfortable allowing the captain to adjust plans for weather and sea conditions
Six to ten guests is a practical group size for many yachts based around St Martin, although the right capacity depends on the yacht’s licensed guest limit and cabin configuration. A couple can also charter a larger yacht when the additional space, crew level, and budget make sense.
St Martin is particularly useful for groups with mixed preferences. One traveler may want a quieter day around Tintamarre while another wants dinner ashore in Grand Case or Gustavia. The itinerary can accommodate both, as long as those priorities are discussed before the yacht is selected.
Who Should Consider Another Destination or Vacation Style?
A St Martin yacht charter is not the right answer for every traveler.
You should consider another option when:
- The lowest possible vacation cost is your main priority
- You want nightlife and entertainment every evening
- You prefer a fixed itinerary that will not change
- You want constant sightseeing from morning to night
- Anyone in your group is strongly uncomfortable with open-water crossings
- You expect every anchorage to feel remote and private
- You want every yacht at the same price to offer identical cabins and amenities
- Your group does not enjoy spending extended time on the water
A resort will generally provide a better outcome for travelers who want predictable room categories, several restaurants within walking distance, nightly entertainment, and a lower entry cost.
A cruise or river cruise may work better when the group wants a fixed sightseeing schedule and does not want itinerary decisions to depend on weather or sea conditions.
The British Virgin Islands may be a better charter destination for guests who want shorter cruising distances and a route built around more protected water. St Martin offers greater contrast between destinations, but reaching St Barths involves a more exposed crossing.
It is also important to reset expectations about privacy. Simpson Bay, Orient Bay, and Gustavia are active, developed areas with significant seasonal boat traffic. The quieter parts of the week come from selecting stops such as Tintamarre, Anse Marcel, or a less developed area of Anguilla. They do not define every day of the itinerary.
What a St Martin Crewed Yacht Charter Is Actually Like
A private charter does not follow a cruise-ship schedule unless your group specifically asks for a more structured itinerary.
A typical day may begin with breakfast on deck in a sheltered anchorage. The late morning can include swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, or kayaking before the yacht moves to a lunch stop or the next overnight location.
Lunch may be served onboard by the yacht’s chef or planned ashore. Pinel Island can work as a daytime lunch stop, while the restaurants and lolos of Grand Case give the group a broader range of casual and formal options.
Evenings usually involve a deliberate choice between dinner onboard and dinner ashore.
A private-chef dinner gives the group more control over timing, menu preferences, and privacy. An evening ashore in Grand Case or Gustavia offers access to restaurants that may be an important part of choosing the destination, but it also means working around reservations, tender logistics, and the restaurant’s schedule.
Most groups are better served by mixing the two rather than eating every meal onboard or going ashore every night.
The captain’s first responsibility is the safety and comfort of the yacht and its guests. The route may therefore change based on wind, sea state, berth availability, or local conditions.
The St Barths passage is an open-water crossing. Its timing and comfort depend on the yacht, the weather, and the sea conditions, so it should be treated as a planned extension rather than an unconditional guarantee.
Guests who expect every day to follow a fixed printed itinerary may find this frustrating. Guests who understand that the itinerary can change often appreciate having a quieter anchorage or more comfortable route substituted when conditions require it.
Choosing the Right Yacht for St Martin
Sailing Catamaran vs. Motor Yacht
Sailing Catamaran
A crewed sailing catamaran is often the best fit for groups that want generous outdoor living space, easy access to the water, and a more relaxed pace around St Martin and Anguilla.
Catamarans are especially useful for:
- Families spending significant time in the water
- Groups wanting broad deck and cockpit areas
- Guests who prefer a slower cruising rhythm
- Shorter hops around St Martin and Anguilla
- Travelers looking within the lower and middle charter price categories
Motor Yacht
A motor yacht generally makes more sense when speed between destinations is important or when the group wants to include St Barths without dedicating as much of the day to the passage.
Motor yachts may be better for:
- Groups that prefer faster transfers
- Itineraries including several developed ports
- Guests prioritizing interior volume and service levels
- Travelers considering larger yachts or superyachts
- Groups with a budget that can support higher fuel and operating costs
A motor yacht may reduce passage time, but it does not remove the effect of sea conditions. Faster does not automatically mean more comfortable.
The decision should account for group size, cabin needs, budget, cruising pace, likely itinerary, and sensitivity to movement on the water.
Fully Crewed Charter vs. Bareboat
Rosedale Travel focuses on fully crewed yacht charters.
A fully crewed charter includes a professional captain and, depending on yacht size, a chef and additional crew. The team handles navigation, meals, onboard service, safety, and day-to-day itinerary adjustments.
This is different from a bareboat charter, where guests operate the vessel themselves and take responsibility for navigation, provisioning, and yacht operations.
A bareboat can be appropriate for qualified and experienced sailors who specifically want a self-skippered vacation. It is not the service most Rosedale Travel clients are looking for, particularly when the itinerary may include an open-water crossing to St Barths.
When a bareboat is the better fit, we would rather refer the client to an appropriate specialist than place them in a fully crewed product they do not need.
Why Cabin Layout and Crew Fit Matter
Guest capacity alone does not tell you whether a yacht will work for your group.
Two yachts licensed for eight guests may have very different arrangements. One may provide four relatively equal guest cabins. Another may have one strong primary cabin, two smaller doubles, and a bunk cabin better suited to children.
Before recommending a yacht, we consider:
- Number of couples, adults, and children
- Which guests require equal cabins
- Whether anyone needs a ground-level or easier-access cabin
- Privacy between generations
- Interior and exterior gathering areas
- Crew accommodation and separation
- Dining preferences
- Water access
- Shade and air-conditioning
- The group’s likely daily routine
The same principle applies to amenities. Paddleboards and snorkeling gear are common on crewed Caribbean yachts, but Seabobs, e-foils, diving equipment, personal watercraft, massage services, or yoga instruction should never be assumed. They must be confirmed for the specific yacht or arranged separately when possible.
Talk with Rosedale Travel to determine whether a sailing catamaran or motor yacht better matches your group and proposed route.
St Martin Destination Guidance
Understanding the French and Dutch Sides
The island is divided between French Saint-Martin in the north and Dutch Sint Maarten in the south. Travelers can move between the two sides by road without routine border or passport checks, but the two sides remain separate jurisdictions with different entry requirements and administration.
Most international travelers arrive through Princess Juliana International Airport, known by the airport code SXM, on the Dutch side. Grand Case-L’Espérance Airport, SFG, is the smaller airport on the French side and primarily serves regional connections.
The Dutch side around Simpson Bay and Philipsburg is the busier part of the island. It provides access to the primary international airport, cruise facilities, casinos, nightlife, shopping, and a significant concentration of marinas.
The French side around Marigot and Grand Case generally works better for travelers interested in a slower pace, markets, smaller shops, casual lolos, and restaurant evenings.
A well-planned charter usually uses both sides rather than treating St Martin as a simple embarkation point before leaving for another island.
St Barths
St Barths is the most requested extension from St Martin and one of the main reasons travelers choose St Martin as their charter base.
The distance is approximately 15 to 20 nautical miles, depending on the point of departure. The actual passage time varies significantly by yacht type, cruising speed, wind, and sea conditions, so it should not be promised as a fixed one-hour or two-hour journey.
Gustavia provides the social side of the extension, including restaurants, boutiques, marina activity, and evenings ashore. Colombier offers a quieter contrast and is accessible by boat or hiking trail.
St Barths is best for groups that value:
- Restaurants and shopping
- An active harbor environment
- A more polished social atmosphere
- Combining developed stops with time at anchor
- Allocating enough time for the extension to feel worthwhile
It is less appropriate for guests who expect the entire extension to feel remote or who are uncomfortable with a potentially active open-water passage.
Anguilla
Anguilla is generally the shorter extension, with the distance from St Martin varying from roughly 7 to 15 nautical miles based on the departure and arrival points.
Its appeal is different from St Barths. Anguilla is a better choice for groups prioritizing quieter beaches, a slower pace ashore, and less emphasis on shopping or nightlife.
Road Bay and Shoal Bay are common reference points for charter itineraries, although the final anchorage should be selected by the captain based on conditions and local requirements.
Anguilla often works better for:
- Families wanting a quieter beach day
- Couples prioritizing privacy and relaxation
- Groups less interested in shopping and nightlife
- Travelers who want an international extension with a calmer atmosphere
Tintamarre
Tintamarre is an uninhabited protected island within the Saint-Martin National Nature Reserve. It works well for snorkeling, swimming, and a quieter lunch at anchor.
Mooring and anchoring are regulated to protect the marine environment. The reserve provides designated moorings, while anchoring is restricted by vessel size and seabed conditions. Overnight stays require specific authorization, and captains must follow the reserve’s current rules.
For many groups, Tintamarre provides the quieter day they expected when they first pictured a private Caribbean yacht charter.
Pinel Island
Pinel Island is a small day-use stop near Cul-de-Sac on the French side. It is close enough to include for lunch or part of an afternoon rather than committing an entire charter day to it.
The island has two beach restaurants and access to swimming and snorkeling. It should be planned as a daytime visit because overnight stays are prohibited under the nature reserve’s regulations.
Should You Island-Hop or Stay Around St Martin?
More islands do not automatically produce a better charter.
Staying near St Martin allows more time for:
- Grand Case
- Orient Bay
- Friar’s Bay
- Anse Marcel
- Tintamarre
- Pinel Island
- Flexible restaurant evenings
- Shorter daily cruising periods
Adding St Barths or Anguilla gives the week more contrast, but it also introduces additional crossings, clearance procedures, berth or mooring considerations, and less time around St Martin.
For most seven-night charters, we recommend choosing the extension that matters most to the group. Attempting to divide the week evenly between St Martin, St Barths, and Anguilla can make the itinerary feel rushed.
How Groups Typically Spend Their Charter
Activities should be selected around the group rather than added simply because they are available.
Water and Active Days
Depending on the yacht and route, the week may include:
- Snorkeling around Tintamarre or Pinel Island
- Swimming directly from the yacht
- Paddleboarding and kayaking in protected anchorages
- Using the yacht’s confirmed water toys
- Snorkeling or diving near Colombier during a St Barths extension
- Visiting Maho Beach to see aircraft approaching Princess Juliana Airport
Beach and Social Stops
Possible stops include:
- Orient Bay for a more active beach environment
- Friar’s Bay for a quieter alternative
- Anse Marcel for a more sheltered anchorage
- Gustavia for restaurants and shopping
- Road Bay or Shoal Bay during an Anguilla extension
- Grand Case for dinner ashore
Dining and Time Onboard
A charter can also include:
Private yoga, massage, specialist instructors, and premium water toys are yacht-specific or externally arranged services. They should be requested during planning rather than presented as standard charter inclusions.
- Casual meals at the Grand Case lolos
- Lunch at one of Pinel Island’s restaurants
- A restaurant reservation in Gustavia
- Private-chef dinners onboard
- Sunset cocktails on deck
- Unscheduled time for swimming, reading, or resting
- Yoga or massage arranged in advance when available
How a Typical St Martin Yacht Charter Route Works
Most charters embark from the Simpson Bay area, Marigot, Anse Marcel, or another marina confirmed for the selected yacht.
A practical seven-night route might begin with one or two days around St Martin. The group can spend time near Orient Bay or Friar’s Bay, plan an evening in Grand Case, and include a quieter stop around Tintamarre or Pinel.
The middle of the week can then be built around one primary extension.
A St Barths-focused route may include an evening around Gustavia and time near Colombier before returning to St Martin.
An Anguilla-focused route may use Road Bay or another captain-approved anchorage for a quieter beach-oriented day.
The sequence should remain flexible. A captain may move the St Barths crossing to a different day, change an overnight location, or substitute another anchorage when conditions make the original plan less comfortable.
A proposed itinerary is therefore a planning framework, not a promise that each stop will happen on a specific day.
St Martin Yacht Charter Pricing Expectations
Pricing depends on the yacht, season, number of guests, crew, duration, age of the vessel, and whether the contract is all-inclusive or uses a separate expense allowance.
Realistic source ranges for a week include:
- $15,000 to $25,000: A well-maintained crewed sailing catamaran for approximately four to six guests. This can be a practical first-charter category, particularly when the cost is shared across the group.
- $30,000 to $75,000: A broader selection for approximately six to ten guests, with more choice in yacht size, age, layout, crew, and amenities.
- $100,000 and above: Newer, larger, or more highly staffed yachts with expanded accommodation and amenity options.
These ranges should be used as initial guidance rather than fixed package prices.
All-Inclusive Pricing vs. APA
Many smaller crewed sailing yachts and catamarans in the Caribbean are offered on an all-inclusive basis. The charter rate may include the yacht, crew, meals, standard drinks, fuel for normal cruising, and standard water toys.
Larger motor yachts and superyachts may instead be quoted using a base charter fee plus an Advance Provisioning Allowance, commonly called APA. The APA pays for variable operating expenses such as fuel, food, premium beverages, dockage, and other costs incurred for the charter.
Taxes, local fees, gratuity, and other charges may also apply depending on the yacht and itinerary.
This distinction is important because a $75,000 all-inclusive catamaran and a $75,000 base-rate motor yacht do not represent the same final cost. Caribbean catamarans are frequently structured as all-inclusive, while larger motor yachts and superyachts are more likely to use a plus-expenses model.
St Martin also supports yachts at the upper end of the Caribbean charter market. Some larger vessels may be advertised from approximately $50,000 per week before provisioning, APA, taxes, or other expenses, while the newest and largest options can cost considerably more.
We compare expected total cost rather than presenting a base rate as though it were the final charter budget.
Request a personalized charter estimate based on your group size, travel dates, yacht type, and proposed extensions.
What May Be Included
For an all-inclusive crewed charter, the rate may include:
- Use of the yacht
- Professional captain and crew
- Chef or onboard meal service
- Meals based on the completed preference form
- Standard beverages
- Fuel for normal cruising within the agreed itinerary
- Paddleboards
- Kayaks
- Snorkeling equipment
- Standard onboard water toys
- Linens and basic onboard amenities
The exact inclusions must be confirmed in the yacht’s proposal and charter agreement.
What May Cost Extra
Additional expenses may include:
- Crew gratuity
- APA on plus-expenses charters
- Yacht-specific taxes or VAT
- Premium wines, spirits, or special food requests
- Marina and berthing fees
- Marine reserve or mooring fees
- Customs, immigration, or clearance costs
- St Barths port formalities
- Anguilla customs and immigration formalities
- Fuel outside the yacht’s stated inclusion
- Personal watercraft or premium water toys not included with the yacht
- Diving or specialist instructors
- Restaurant meals ashore
- Private yoga, massage, or wellness providers
- Ground transfers
- Commercial or private aviation
Private aviation is not a standing Rosedale Travel service. When it is relevant to the trip, Rosedale Travel may help coordinate the request through an outside partner.
Passport and Entry Expectations
U.S. travelers need a valid passport for a St Martin yacht charter.
The passport requirements differ between the two sides. The U.S. Department of State states that French Saint-Martin and Saint Barthélemy require a passport with six months’ validity at entry, while Dutch Sint Maarten requires the passport to remain valid for the duration of the stay.
U.S. citizens arriving in Anguilla by a private sea-going vessel must also present a valid passport.
Because most itineraries use both sides of St Martin and may include St Barths or Anguilla, travelers should follow the strictest applicable validity requirement and confirm current entry rules before departure.
Rosedale Travel’s Planning Process
Initial Consultation
01
We begin with a call to understand:
- Travel dates
- Group size
- Guest ages
- Cabin requirements
- Celebration or purpose of the trip
- Preferred pace
- Water activities
- Dining preferences
- Interest in St Barths or Anguilla
- Comfort with open-water passages
- Realistic total budget
We will also tell you when St Martin is not the right destination for the experience you described.
Yacht and Route Proposal
02
After the planning fee is completed when applicable, Rosedale Travel prepares a proposal using its advisor access and charter relationships.
The proposal is not a generic list of every yacht available. It focuses on yachts that fit the group’s cabin requirements, budget, itinerary, preferred service style, and likely onboard routine.
Refinement
03
We compare the options with you and make adjustments based on your feedback.
This may include:
- Changing yacht categories
- Revising the budget
- Comparing a catamaran with a motor yacht
- Removing or adding an extension
- Adjusting cabin requirements
- Reviewing crew profiles
- Confirming specific amenities
- Clarifying estimated additional expenses
Charter Contract and Booking
04
Once the yacht is selected, we help you understand the payment schedule, cancellation terms, expense structure, and other important contract provisions before the booking is completed.
Pre-Departure Planning
05
Before travel, we coordinate preferences and practical details, including:
- Guest information
- Dietary requirements
- Meal preferences
- Beverage preferences
- Celebrations
- Requested activities
- Airport and marina transfers
- Restaurant plans
- Passport reminders
- Proposed itinerary
- Special arrangements
Support During Travel
06
Rosedale Travel remains available when travel plans require assistance or the charter itinerary needs to be adjusted.
Rosedale Travel Planning Fees
We are currently not charging planning fees for yacht charters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we visit both St Barths and Anguilla?
Yes, but including both in a seven-night itinerary can make the week feel rushed.
St Barths is approximately 15 to 20 nautical miles from common St Martin departure points. Anguilla is approximately 7 to 15 nautical miles away, depending on the route.
We generally recommend selecting the extension that matters more to your group and allowing enough time to enjoy it.
Do we need a passport?
Yes.
U.S. travelers need a valid passport for St Martin, St Barths, and Anguilla. Because the French territories apply a six-month passport-validity requirement at entry, travelers should check expiration dates well before departure.
Should we choose a catamaran or motor yacht?
Choose a sailing catamaran when outdoor space, water access, and a relaxed pace matter most.
Consider a motor yacht when the group prioritizes faster transfers, a larger-yacht experience, or an itinerary with more distance between stops.
The decision should also account for cabin layout, total cost, and sea conditions rather than speed alone.
What does a St Martin charter actually cost?
A realistic starting range is approximately $15,000 to $25,000 per week for a smaller crewed sailing catamaran.
The middle of the market commonly falls between $30,000 and $75,000, while larger and newer yachts may cost $100,000 per week or considerably more.
Always confirm whether the price is all-inclusive or represents a base fee before APA, taxes, dockage, gratuity, and other expenses.
Why use an advisor instead of booking directly?
Booking directly may show you what is available. An advisor helps determine which available yacht is right.
The value lies in comparing crew fit, cabin arrangements, amenities, pricing structures, route feasibility, and previous guest feedback before you sign the charter agreement.
Is every Caribbean charter all-inclusive?
No.
Many crewed sailing catamarans are offered on an all-inclusive basis. Larger motor yachts and superyachts may use a base charter fee plus APA and other charges.
The contract for the specific yacht determines what is included.
How far ahead should we book?
For the Caribbean holiday season and the busiest St Barths dates, planning six to twelve months ahead provides a stronger choice of yachts and crews.
Availability may exist closer to departure during shoulder-season periods, but short-notice planning reduces the ability to compare the best-matched options.
Is a larger yacht unnecessary for two guests?
Not necessarily.
A couple may choose a larger yacht for increased space, privacy, crew service, amenities, or a particular cabin. The decision is mainly a question of budget and preferred experience rather than destination rules.
Should we spend more time on the French side or Dutch side?
Most charters use both.
The Dutch side around Simpson Bay provides the main international airport, larger marinas, shopping, casinos, nightlife, and easier access to several embarkation points.
The French side around Marigot and Grand Case offers a slower pace and a strong mix of casual and formal dining.
The right balance depends on whether your group wants more time around restaurants and developed areas or more time around quieter anchorages and beaches.
Plan Your St Martin Yacht Charter
A 30-minute initial consultation costs nothing.
Schedule a consultation with a St Martin Luxury Yacht Charter Specialist to start to compare yacht options and begin planning a charter built around the way your group actually wants to travel.