Luxury Private Full-Day Catamaran Charter in St Maarten & Saint-Martin

This is a private catamaran day built around good food, warm water, and the freedom to shape your time at sea. From Bobby’s Marina, you can sail along St. Maarten or make the longer run toward Tintamarre Island, with stops for swimming, snorkeling, and beach time.

I like the generous food program, from French pastries and fresh fruit in the morning to a four-course lunch. I also like the room to spread out on Flagship II, with shaded seating, bathrooms, storage, and room for your own music through Bluetooth.

The main consideration is price: $770 per person is a serious splurge. It makes more sense for a couple, family, or group sharing a private charter than for a solo visitor, and the route can change with wind and sea conditions.

Key details before you book

• Tintamarre option: The nine-hour route visits Long Bay La Samana, Happy Bay, and Tintamarre Island, with a chance to see turtles and stingrays.
• St. Maarten option: The seven-hour route visits Mullet Bay, Long Bay La Samana, and Divi Little Bay.
• Meals are part of the day: Expect breakfast, snacks, appetizers, and a four-course gourmet lunch.
• The open bar is unlimited: Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks are included throughout the charter.
• Water gear is supplied: Snorkeling and fishing equipment, plus two paddleboards, are available.
• Bring the basics: You need a valid passport, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a beach towel.

A private day begins at Bobby’s Marina

Your day starts at Bobby’s Marina at 22H Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard in Philipsburg. The nine-hour outing leaves at 8:30 a.m. and returns around 5:30 p.m. The seven-hour route starts later, at 9:30 a.m., and gets back around 4:30 p.m.

That difference matters. The nine-hour trip gives you more time on the water and adds Tintamarre Island, but it also means an earlier start. The seven-hour option is easier to fit around a relaxed vacation morning and keeps the route closer to St. Maarten.

This is a private activity, so only your group participates. The exact group capacity is not provided, but the catamaran has been used comfortably by groups of six and nine. You can expect more personal space than on a standard shared cruise, along with the ability to talk with the crew about your preferred pace.

Crew members named in the trip feedback include Alois, Benjamin, Georgia, Sylvia, Paula, Cami, Daniella, and Alsace. Staffing can vary, but the repeated pattern is a captain handling the sailing and a host or cook taking care of food, drinks, and comfort.

Before departure, the crew gives safety information. Bring your passport because identification details must be checked. The marina is near public transportation, but transportation to and from the marina is not listed as part of the charter, so plan that portion yourself.

Choosing seven hours or nine

The choice between the two routes is simple on paper, but it affects the feel of your day.

The nine-hour Tintamarre route begins with breakfast and then sends you around the St. Maarten and Saint-Martin coastline. Planned stops include Long Bay La Samana, Happy Bay, and Tintamarre Island. This is the fuller outing, with more sailing time and a better chance to see several different stretches of the island.

Tintamarre Island is the most distinctive stop. It is known here for clear water and possible encounters with turtles and stingrays. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but the chance to swim in those waters gives the trip a stronger nature focus than a simple beach cruise.

The seven-hour St. Maarten route stays along the island’s shore. Stops include Mullet Bay, Long Bay La Samana, and Divi Little Bay. This route gives you three attractive water stops without committing to the longer island circuit.

Mullet Bay and Divi Little Bay are practical choices for swimming and snorkeling. Long Bay La Samana adds another stretch of coastline and a change of scenery. If you want a shorter day, prefer less time under sail, or are staying close to the Dutch side, this route may be the better fit.

The crew can adjust the plan when wind and sea conditions require it. That is sensible seamanship, but it means you should not book with a rigid checklist of stops. You might end up at Mullet Bay, Long Beach, or Little Bay instead of completing the full circuit, particularly when the weather turns rough.

What the sailing feels like on Flagship II

Flagship II is described as a large, comfortable catamaran with plenty of shade. A catamaran gives you more stable footing than many smaller boats, though no vessel can remove the motion of the sea. One account specifically notes that the captain handled a formed sea well, while another group received useful advice for seasickness.

You can sit in the shade, move around the boat, or spend time in the water at the planned stops. The boat includes rooms and bathrooms, along with storage bins for items such as phones, cameras, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Those touches matter on a full day, when a small open boat can begin to feel cramped.

The atmosphere is flexible. You can connect your own music through the Bluetooth system, make requests, or simply listen to the sea and the crew’s explanations of the islands. One group of nine had enough room to spread out and turn the day into a casual dance party, while quieter groups found the crew friendly and attentive without pressure to be constantly entertained.

The boat has a lot of shade, but you still need sunscreen. The Caribbean sun reaches you even when you are not sitting in direct light. Wear a swimsuit, bring a beach towel, and pack sunglasses that you can secure.

Breakfast, snacks, and a four-course lunch

Food is one of the strongest reasons to consider this charter instead of a basic sailing trip.

The morning begins with French pastries, fresh fruit, tea, and coffee. The nine-hour route also lists breakfast, while the seven-hour outing includes a light breakfast. Appetizers and snacks appear during the day, followed by a four-course gourmet lunch.

The exact menu is not specified, so you should request vegan or vegetarian meals in advance if needed. Food allergies have been accommodated when the crew received notice ahead of time. That is a useful detail, since you should not assume a last-minute special meal can be arranged on a boat.

The food is served as part of the experience, not treated as an afterthought. The crew handles the meal while you swim, sail, or relax, and the boat’s setup gives you places to sit and store your things. The open bar includes unlimited soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, so you do not need to bring your own beverages.

Do keep your own limits in mind. Unlimited alcohol in the sun, after swimming and sailing, can catch up with you quickly. Drink water as well, use sunscreen often, and tell the crew if you are feeling unwell.

Snorkeling, paddleboards, and beach stops

Snorkeling equipment is included, as are fishing supplies and two paddleboards. That means you can try several activities without renting gear at each stop.

The crew can guide you toward fish and other marine life. One family had a captain point out interesting fish while snorkeling, and another group saw a turtle and stingray. You might find similar wildlife, but the water conditions and animals change from day to day.

The paddleboards provide a quieter way to explore close to the boat. They are especially useful for people who want to get on the water without committing to a long swim. Fishing gear adds another option for a group with mixed interests, since not everyone needs to snorkel at the same time.

Beach time is also part of the appeal. Depending on the route and conditions, you can spend an hour or two ashore, swim from the catamaran, or remain on deck. The exact length of each stop is not fixed, which lets the crew respond to the sea and to your group’s preferences.

You should still expect a boat day rather than a beach-resort day. The stops are designed around sailing, swimming, and snorkeling. If your priority is spending most of the day on one broad beach, a land-based beach outing may suit you better.

The value of a $770 private charter

At $770 per person, this is one of the pricier ways to spend a day in St. Maarten. The cost includes the boat, captain and crew, meals, snacks, open bar, taxes, snorkeling gear, fishing gear, and two paddleboards. There are also group discounts, though the exact discount structure is not provided.

The price becomes easier to justify as your group grows and shares the experience. A group of six or nine gets a private boat, rather than paying for separate meals, drinks, water activities, and a shared cruise. You also avoid spending the day with strangers and have more say in the music, pace, and stops.

For two people, the same price feels much steeper. You are paying for privacy, service, space, and the full-day setup, not just transportation along the coast. If you mainly want a short sail and one swim, this charter gives you more than you need.

I would compare it with the cost of a quality meal, drinks, water-sport rentals, and a private boat before deciding. The value is strongest for a special birthday, anniversary, family celebration, or a group that wants the boat to be the main event of the day.

Weather, timing, and the small practical matters

The charter requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. The route can also change during the day because of wind and sea conditions, so keep your schedule flexible.

The cancellation rule is straightforward: cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. Confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.

Most people can participate, but the information does not provide detailed accessibility specifications. If you have mobility needs, contact the provider before booking and ask about boarding, deck access, bathrooms, and getting into the water.

The cruise is listed as suitable for most participants, but the sea can still be tiring. Families with children, older adults, and anyone prone to seasickness should discuss the conditions with the crew early. The crew has offered practical seasickness advice, but you should bring any medication you normally use.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this for a group that wants a full day centered on the water, not a quick sightseeing ride. It suits couples, adult families, birthday groups, and friends who value privacy and good meals as much as snorkeling.

It is also a strong choice for a mixed group. One person can paddleboard, another can snorkel, someone else can fish, and another can stay in the shade with a drink. The private setup makes that easier than a rigid shared excursion.

The trip is less suitable if you are watching every dollar, dislike a flexible schedule, or want guaranteed wildlife sightings. It is also not the right fit if you want a quiet, alcohol-free sailing environment, since a full open bar is part of the package.

Should you book the Flagship II charter?

Book it if you want the boat itself to be a highlight of your St. Maarten visit. The private setting, shaded deck, strong meal service, included gear, and choice between seven and nine hours give you far more control than a standard group cruise.

Choose the nine-hour Tintamarre route if you want the broadest outing and a chance to swim near turtles and stingrays. Choose seven hours if you prefer a later start and a closer route along St. Maarten.

At $770 per person, I would not book it casually for a short stop in port. But for a celebration or a group splitting the cost, the package can make sense, especially when you value the privacy, open bar, four-course lunch, and attentive crew as much as the scenery.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran charter start and finish?

The charter starts and ends at Bobby’s Marina, 22H Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten.

How long is the catamaran trip?

You can choose a seven-hour or nine-hour outing. The nine-hour tour runs approximately from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The seven-hour tour runs approximately from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

What stops are included on the nine-hour route?

The nine-hour route includes Long Bay La Samana, Happy Bay, and Tintamarre Island, subject to wind and sea conditions.

What stops are included on the seven-hour route?

The seven-hour route includes Mullet Bay, Long Bay La Samana, and Divi Little Bay, subject to weather and sea conditions.

Are meals and drinks included?

Yes. The package includes breakfast with French pastries, fresh fruit, tea, and coffee, plus appetizers, snacks, a four-course gourmet lunch, and unlimited soft and alcoholic drinks.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear, fishing gear, and two paddleboards are included.

Do I need to bring a passport?

Yes. A current valid passport is required on the day of the boat because passenger information must be checked.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Poor weather cancellations may also result in a different date or a full refund.