Luxury Catamaran Private Charter in St. Maarten/St. Martin

A private day aboard Freedom, a 42-foot Lagoon 42, gives you a polished way to see both the Dutch and French sides of St. Maarten without sharing the boat with strangers. You sail from Cole Bay to quiet beaches, swim stops, and famous Maho Beach, with the crew handling the food, drinks, anchoring, and route.

I like the true all-inclusive setup, which covers lunch, premium drinks, towels, reef-safe sunscreen, snorkeling gear, paddleboards, and a floating mat. I also like the small touches: a cool scented towel, handmade chocolate, sparkling mimosas, and a spotless teak deck.

The main consideration is price: at $598.75 per person, this is a major splurge unless your group values privacy, attentive service, and a full day on the water. The route can also change with weather and sea conditions.

Key Points to Know Before You Book

• Freedom is a new 2022 Lagoon 42, with wide lounge areas, a teak deck, a restroom, and room to move around.
• Your group has the entire catamaran, along with a captain and crew focused only on your party.
• Happy Bay and Baie Longue provide about six hours of beach and water time, with room for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and relaxing.
• Food is more than basic boat snacks, with an apple and cheese board, hummus, barbecue skewers, salads, cookies, and locally made ice cream.
• The bar stays open all day, serving prosecco, wine, beer, cocktails, mocktails, soft drinks, juices, and infused water.
• Maho Beach adds a lively finish, with a front-row look at aircraft approaching overhead.

Setting Sail from Port de Plaisance

Your day begins at 8:00 a.m. at Renegades, located at Port de Plaisance Yacht Club in Cole Bay on the Dutch side of the island. The activity ends at the same place, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup point.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You will need to reach the marina on your own, and the meeting location is near public transportation. Build in enough time to find the yacht club and get settled before departure.

Freedom is a 2022 Lagoon 42, a sailing catamaran designed with broad outdoor areas rather than a cramped single-deck layout. The teak deck, lounge spaces, onboard restroom, and stable catamaran design matter on a seven-and-a-half-hour outing. You can move between sitting, eating, swimming, and sunning without feeling stuck in one spot.

The tone is set early. You step aboard, remove your sandals, receive a cool scented towel, and get a handmade chocolate before settling in with a mimosa. Those details do not change the route, but they do show the kind of service this charter is trying to provide.

The private format is especially useful for families, couples traveling together, or a group celebrating a birthday. You are not adjusting your day around strangers’ food preferences, swimming habits, or music choices. The crew can focus on your group, with people such as Andre, Denise, Diana, Tony, and Carla named in the service team’s responses and guest comments. The exact crew may vary by sailing.

A Morning Sail Toward Happy Bay

The first major stop is Happy Bay on the French side of St. Martin. The sail there is meant to be part of the experience, not dead time. You can sip a mimosa, enjoy the late-morning snack, and watch the shoreline change as the boat heads across the turquoise water.

The snack is an apple and cheese charcuterie board. It is a sensible choice for a morning on the water, filling enough to take the edge off without replacing lunch. The premium bar is also open, with prosecco, wine, beer, standard mixed drinks, fresh cocktails, mocktails, juices, soft drinks, and infused water.

Happy Bay gets roughly three hours. That long stop is one of the strongest parts of the schedule because you are not racing ashore for a quick photograph. You have time to swim, use the snorkeling equipment, paddleboard, or stretch out on the floating lily pad mat.

The setting is described as a more secluded beach surrounded by natural beauty. Since this is a boat-based visit, your time at Happy Bay depends on sea and weather conditions. The proposed route may change, so do not treat every stop as guaranteed in precisely the order shown.

A three-hour anchor stop also means you should be comfortable with an unhurried pace. If you want constant sightseeing and a packed schedule, this may feel slow. If your ideal day includes a swim, a drink, a snack, and plenty of time doing very little, it works well.

Lunch, Water Time, and Baie Longue

The boat then continues toward Baie Longue, home to the Belmond La Samanna resort and an area known for large villas, cliffs, and clear water. You are not simply passing by on a sightseeing cruise. The schedule allows another three hours for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing from the boat.

Lunch is served onboard and includes barbecued skewers, fresh salads, and additional accompaniments. Homemade cookies and locally made ice cream follow. That is a useful advantage on a long charter. You do not lose part of your day going ashore to find food, and you can eat when the crew serves it rather than stopping at a restaurant.

The menu also helps explain the cost. This is not a basic bareboat rental where you bring a cooler and organize everything yourself. Food preparation, serving, cleanup, fuel, and the crew are built into the package. The same applies to towels, sunscreen, and water equipment.

The two paddleboards and floating mat give you choices beyond simply sitting on the bow. Snorkeling equipment is included, but the activity does not promise a particular marine life sighting or a guided snorkeling lesson. Think of the gear as a convenient way to use the water around the anchorage.

Baie Longue is also the more polished and exclusive-feeling section of the route, with the resort and villas along the shore. That may appeal to you if you want a beautiful setting with a touch of Caribbean luxury. If you prefer a rougher, less developed beach atmosphere, Happy Bay will likely be the better fit.

The boat carries reef-safe sunscreen and towels, which saves you from packing some bulky items. Still, bring your own swimsuit, hat, sunglasses, and any personal medication you need. Sunscreen is provided, but sun protection remains your responsibility during several hours outside.

The Food and Drink Package

Food is a central part of this charter, not an afterthought. You start with a late-morning apple and cheese board, move to hummus with crudités, pita chips, and rice crackers, and then get a barbecue lunch with salads, cookies, and local ice cream.

The hummus platter is listed as homemade beet and garlic hummus. That gives the snack a little more character than a standard bag of chips. It also works well for a group with different appetites because you can graze between swims.

The bar is open throughout the day. You can order craft cocktails and mocktails shaken fresh, along with mixed drinks, beer, wine, prosecco, soft drinks, juices, and infused water. The package includes alcoholic drinks, but you must be at least 18 years old to consume alcohol.

I would treat the alcohol package as an option, not a reason to overdo it. Seven hours on bright water can make drinks feel stronger, and you will enjoy the swimming and boat ride more if you pace yourself with water and food.

Several people who sailed with Renegades singled out both the food and drinks, along with the fact that the inclusions were clear. For a private charter at this price, that clarity matters. Towels, sunscreen, fuel, gear, food, and drinks are not being added one small charge at a time.

Maho Beach and the Flight Path Finish

The final sightseeing stop is Maho Beach, one of St. Maarten’s most recognizable places. Aircraft approach Princess Juliana International Airport over the beach, sometimes passing surprisingly low above the shoreline.

The scheduled visit lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough time to watch the action from the water and take in the unusual setting, but it is not a long beach visit. Flight timing is outside the charter’s control, so you should not book this day expecting a particular aircraft type or a guaranteed dramatic landing during your exact half-hour.

Still, Maho gives the day a different flavor. Happy Bay and Baie Longue are about calm water and beach time. Maho is about spectacle and island character. It is a good final stop before the quiet ride back.

After Maho, the catamaran returns through the Simpson Bay Bridge to Port de Plaisance Yacht Club. The bridge passage gives you a final look at the busy marina area, and you return to the same meeting point where the day began.

Is $598.75 Per Person a Fair Price?

The price is high. At $598.75 per person, this is not a casual add-on for most island holidays. The value depends on how much you would otherwise spend arranging a private boat, captain, food, drinks, fuel, equipment, and beach stops separately.

You are paying for several things at once:

• A private catamaran for your group
• A captain and crew
• Seven and a half hours on the water
• Fuel
• Barbecue lunch and snacks
• An open premium bar
• Towels and reef-safe sunscreen
• Snorkeling gear
• Two paddleboards and a floating mat
• A restroom onboard
• A planned route covering both sides of the island

The strongest value comes when you are splitting the cost among a group that truly wants a private boat day. The private format lets you avoid the compromises of a shared cruise, and the crew takes care of details that can otherwise consume your holiday.

The weaker value comes if you mainly want a short boat ride, a quick swim, or a cheap way to reach one beach. You would be paying for a full-service experience when you may only use part of it.

The activity is often booked about 40 days ahead. That suggests you should reserve well before your visit if your dates are fixed, especially if you are planning a birthday, family gathering, or group holiday.

Who Will Enjoy This Charter Most?

I would recommend this for people who want the boat itself to be the main event. You should enjoy slow sailing, swimming from an anchored catamaran, long lunches, and attentive service.

It is a strong fit for:

• Families and friends who want a private day together
• Couples marking a special occasion
• People who value food and drinks being handled for them
• Visitors who want both French and Dutch island scenery
• Anyone who prefers a relaxed schedule over a string of short stops
• Groups that plan to use the paddleboards, snorkeling gear, and floating mat

It may be less suitable if you are trying to keep costs low, dislike spending much of the day on a boat, or want an active land tour. It may also disappoint if your priority is a long visit at Maho Beach rather than a short look at the aircraft route.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The booking information also notes access to public transportation. Specific mobility needs are not described, so contact Renegades before booking if you need detailed boarding assistance.

Weather, Timing, and Practical Details

The route is weather dependent. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. Even when the trip runs, the order of stops may change with wind and sea conditions.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 8:00 a.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund, and the policy uses local time.

Wear a swimsuit and bring a hat, sunglasses, and a light cover-up. The crew supplies towels and reef-safe sunscreen, but you should not count on the boat’s supplies for every personal need. Since you will be outside for much of the day, comfortable, sun-ready clothing matters more than dressy resort wear.

The boat has a restroom, which is important on a seven-and-a-half-hour outing. Hotel transportation is not included, so arrange your own ride to 155 Union Road in Cole Bay.

Should You Book Freedom?

Book this charter if you want a private, polished day where the details are already handled. The strongest reasons are the new Lagoon 42, the full food and drink package, the long swim stops at Happy Bay and Baie Longue, and the freedom to enjoy the day only with your own group.

I would skip it if the price would make you uneasy or if you mainly want a quick cruise. But if you are splitting the cost with friends or family and value service as much as scenery, this is one of the more complete ways to spend a day around St. Maarten. The combination of quiet beaches, onboard barbecue, water toys, and Maho Beach gives you both relaxation and a memorable final spectacle.

FAQ

Where does the private catamaran charter begin?

It begins at Renegades, located at 155 Union Road, Cole Bay, Sint Maarten, at Port de Plaisance Yacht Club.

What time does the activity start?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 a.m.

How long does the charter last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours and 30 minutes.

Is this a shared boat tour?

No. This is a private activity, so only your group participates.

What food and drinks are included?

Included food consists of an apple and cheese board, homemade beet and garlic hummus with vegetables and crackers, barbecued skewers, fresh salads, homemade cookies, and locally made ice cream. Drinks include cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine, prosecco, soft drinks, juices, and infused water.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If the activity is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.