St. Martin Catamaran Charter: Crewed Week or Day Sail?
St. Martin catamaran charter: crewed weeks at a $41,800 median, day sails from five operators, and see which crewed catamarans can start a week on the island.
A St. Martin catamaran charter can mean two quite different bookings: a catamaran day sail that has you back at the dock by late afternoon, or a crewed catamaran you live aboard for a week. Both leave from the same island, so a search for one turns up the other.
For the wider region, start with our guide to Caribbean crewed charter destinations; the St. Martin and St. Barts destination page introduces the islands themselves.
What is a St. Martin catamaran charter?
A St. Martin catamaran charter is a catamaran and its crew, booked for a day or a week, from an island shared between French Saint-Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten (St. Maarten) (Saint-Martin Tourist Office, 2026). The main airport is Princess Juliana International, on the Dutch side, and a smaller regional airport serves Grand Case on the French side. The Dutch side alone has more than 10 marinas (St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, 2026).
A crewed catamaran here is almost always a sailing catamaran: of the crewed catamarans that can start a charter in St. Martin, all but one are sailing catamarans (Vital Charters listings analysis, October 2026). Among the crewed yachts that winter on the island, though, motor yachts outnumber catamarans, 19 to 16.
Every charter in this guide comes with its own captain, so nobody in your group has to sail the boat or deal with the formalities. Skippering the boat yourself is a bareboat charter, a different booking that this guide doesn’t cover.
Day sail or crewed week: which booking fits?
A catamaran day sail fits a group that wants one day on the water and a hotel bed at night. A crewed week fits a group that wants the catamaran itself to be the vacation, sleeping aboard and moving between islands at the pace it sets.
| What differs | Catamaran day sail | Crewed catamaran week |
|---|---|---|
| Time aboard | A two-hour sunset sail, up to a full day of about nine hours | A week, the unit the rates are quoted in |
| Where you sleep | Ashore, in your hotel or villa | Aboard, in your own cabin |
| Who is aboard | Other guests on a shared sail; only your group on a private one | Your group, a captain and a chef, sometimes a third crew member |
| How far you go | Around St. Martin, the reserve islands, or a long day to Anguilla | St. Barts, Anguilla and the islands between, at the pace you set |
| How it’s priced | Per person on a shared sail, per boat on a private one | By the week, for the catamaran |
Which companies run catamaran day sails and tours in St. Martin?
Sail The Phoenix, Celine Charters, Renegades, Scoobi and Pyratz each run catamaran day sails, the trips booking sites sell as St. Martin catamaran tours, and publish a price on their own website. We found them by searching for St. Martin catamaran trips in October 2026, and list them in no particular order and without ratings; the table gives only what each operator publishes about itself. Booking platforms that resell other operators’ trips aren’t included.
| Day-sail operator | Departs from | Catamaran | Shared day sail | Private charter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sail The Phoenix | Bobby’s Marina, Philipsburg | 62-foot Privilege sailing catamaran | $139 a person for five hours | From $3,190 for up to 8 guests, then $60 a guest; a two-hour sunset sail from $1,200 |
| Celine Charters | A dock in Simpson Bay | 62-foot catamaran | $260 a person to Anguilla, including $30 for customs and immigration | $4,000 to Anguilla for up to 10 guests, plus $30 a guest for customs |
| Renegades | Port de Plaisance, Cole Bay | Private catamaran | Private only | From $2,195 for a full day around St. Martin and $2,795 to Anguilla, up to 15 guests; a sunset cruise from $1,395 |
| Scoobi | Anse Marcel Marina, on the French side | 56-foot Lagoon 560 for private charters | From €95 a person for a half day, and from €165 to Anguilla | From €2,690 around St. Martin and €3,090 to Anguilla |
| Pyratz | Simpson Bay | Power catamaran for shared trips; sailing catamaran to Anguilla | From €325 a person; departs with 8 to 10 guests | From €2,590 to Anguilla for four guests, then €200 a guest, up to 8 |
Each operator’s own website, read 21 October 2026. Rates change, so check before you book.
A catamaran day trip from St. Maarten to Anguilla crosses a border, so every guest needs a passport, as Celine Charters’ booking page says. Four of the five operators above run the Anguilla day, and the customs and immigration fee is either built into the price or added per guest.
Can you charter a crewed catamaran in St. Martin for one day?
Rarely. Of the crewed catamarans that can start a week in St. Martin, one says it takes day charters, on request and depending on its schedule (Vital Charters listings analysis, October 2026). The crewed fleet sells weeks, so for a single day you’re better off with the operators above.
Our observation: If someone in your group hasn’t spent a day on a catamaran before, a private day with one of the operators above shows you how they take to it before you commit to seven. The crewed week that follows has you waking up at anchor off St. Barts or Anguilla, with no dock to be back at by five.
Search the crewed catamarans that cruise St. Martin and St. Barts for a group your size:
What does a crewed catamaran charter from St. Martin cost?
A crewed catamaran charter from St. Martin costs a median of $41,800 for a 2026-27 high-season week, across the 18 catamarans that can start here and publish a winter rate (Vital Charters rate analysis, October 2026). Those totals include the provisioning allowance on the catamarans that charge one, estimated where a listing leaves it out, and they don’t include the crew gratuity.
At the luxury end, the most expensive catamaran that can start here lists $98,700 for a high-season week and the least expensive $21,000, on the same all-in basis. Twelve of the 18 charter all-inclusive, so the rate covers meals, drinks and fuel for a normal week. The other six quote plus expenses, so the totals add their allowance in to put both kinds on the same footing. Across all 139 crewed catamarans that list the Leeward Islands and publish a winter week, the median is $35,100. The St. Martin set skews larger: a median length of 62 feet, against 57 across the Leewards. Our luxury catamaran charter price tiers guide sets out what each price band buys.
What lands on a St Martin and St Barts charter invoice in 2026
The French islands add almost nothing per guest: St Martin abolished its visitor tax in 2020, St Barts taxes land stays only, and Gustavia’s port dues fall on the yacht, plus a 1 euro per person per day waste tax. Daytime moorings in the St Martin nature reserve are free. Budget the customary 15 to 20 percent crew gratuity.
| Line item | Typical amount | Who sets it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) | None mandatory on all-inclusive catamarans, except a small allowance, usually 5 percent, on about 1 rate in 50. Plus-expenses charters add an APA, typically 30 to 35 percent of the base rate, intended to cover every running fee except government taxes, refunded where unspent | Each yacht’s own charter terms; MYBA publishes the mechanics, not a percentage | Vital Charters APA listings analysis |
| Visitor or tourist tax (per guest) | None: French St Martin abolished its visitor tax in 2020; the St Barts visitor tax covers land stays only | Collectivité de Saint-Martin; Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy | Saint-Martin tax administration notice |
| Gustavia port dues and waste tax | Paid by the yacht: port dues per vessel by length and beam (higher for charter vessels), plus a 1 euro per person per day waste tax, crew included | Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy; collected by the Port de Gustavia | Saint-Barthélemy Code des contributions, Art. 128-1 and 139 |
| St Martin nature reserve moorings | Free by day, no request needed; overnight only at Tintamarre and Rocher Créole with prior authorisation, which your crew arranges | Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin | Réserve Naturelle, mouillage |
| Crew gratuity | Customarily 15 to 20 percent of the charter fee in the Caribbean crewed fleet, the band CYBA’s Inclusive Agreement (Clause 2.B) calls the customary rate; MYBA’s 2026 guidelines publish no percentage, and both leave it at your discretion | Custom, written into the CYBA form | CYBA Inclusive Agreement, Clause 2.B (2020) |
Fees verified September 2026.
Which catamarans can start a charter in St. Martin?
Nineteen crewed catamarans can start a charter in St. Martin, but only eight give it as their one winter base: eight more list it among several winter bases, seven of them alongside the Virgin Islands, and three name it as a pickup point in their rates (Vital Charters listings analysis, October 2026). So a St. Martin catamaran week often means a yacht that sails over from the Virgin Islands to meet you.
Several catamarans based in the British Virgin Islands charge for that trip, publishing a relocation fee of $2,000 to start a charter in St. Martin or St. Barts, and $3,000 if the week also takes in Anguilla. The fee isn’t part of the weekly rate, so ask about it when you compare quotes.
The catamarans run from 46 to 79 feet, and Lagoon, Dufour and Sunreef built most of them, with Bali, Privilege and Moon close behind. The usual layout takes eight guests. Most carry two or three crew: a captain and a chef, plus a third crew member on the larger boats.
If you’d rather start from a ready-made list, our best crewed yachts in St. Martin and St. Barts page gives each one’s rates and crew, and the St. Martin and St. Barts yacht charter companies list shows who runs them.
Where does a St. Martin catamaran charter go?
A St. Martin catamaran charter goes to St. Barts, Anguilla and the small islands off the French side. St. Barts is about an hour by boat from St. Martin (Saint-Martin Tourist Office, 2026), so a crewed week can spend several nights there; our seven-day St. Barts yacht charter itinerary maps one.
Anguilla is closer still, about 20 minutes north by ferry (Saint-Martin Tourist Office, 2026), and its beaches and cays are the classic catamaran day out: Sandy Island off Anguilla is a sandbar with a beach bar on it. On St. Martin’s own coast, the nature reserve covers Pinel Island, Tintamarre and Rocher Créole, all good for a swim stop. For a meal ashore, crews take guests to the lolos of Grand Case.
When is the best time for a St. Martin catamaran charter?
The best time for a St. Martin catamaran charter is the winter high season. Of the 129 crewed catamarans listing the Leeward Islands that publish a high-season rate, 111 start that season in November and 115 end it in April (Vital Charters rate analysis, October 2026).
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 (National Hurricane Center). You can still charter in summer, and the captain will watch the forecast. Our guide to the best time to charter a yacht in the Caribbean compares the months across the region.
How do you book a crewed catamaran in St. Martin?
You book a crewed catamaran in St. Martin through a charter broker or the yacht’s central agent, on a weekly contract that names the start and end port. Tell the broker your dates, your group and whether you want to start in St. Martin, St. Barts or Anguilla, because a different start port can add a relocation fee. Our guide to a crewed yacht charter explains what the contract covers and what it leaves out.
Book the day sails direct with the operators above; for a crewed week, start a yacht search at Vital Charters and filter for catamarans in St. Martin and St. Barts.
The bottom line
A St. Martin catamaran charter is either a day sail or a crewed week. For one day, book a shared or private catamaran from Simpson Bay, Cole Bay, Philipsburg or Anse Marcel. For a week, look at the catamarans that can start here, ask where each one spends the winter, and budget for a relocation fee if it’s coming over from the Virgin Islands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you charter a catamaran in St. Martin for just one day?
Yes. Several operators run catamaran day sails from St. Martin, shared or private, around the island or to Anguilla. Crewed catamarans that sell weekly charters don’t usually take day bookings, so for a single day a day-sail operator is the usual choice.
Can you hire a private catamaran in St. Martin?
Yes. All five day-sail operators above rent their catamaran privately, priced by the boat, and Renegades sells private trips only. A crewed week is always private to your group.
Do yacht charter guests pay a tourist tax in St Martin or St. Barts?
No. Neither French St Martin nor St. Barts charges a per-guest tourist tax on a yacht charter. Gustavia’s port dues and its small per-person waste tax aren’t charged to you: the yacht pays them.
Which side of St. Martin do catamaran charters leave from?
Both. On the Dutch side, catamarans leave from Simpson Bay, Cole Bay and Philipsburg; on the French side, from Anse Marcel. A crewed catamaran boards wherever its charter contract says.
Do you need a passport for a catamaran charter from St. Martin?
Yes, for any trip that leaves St. Martin’s waters, including a day sail to Anguilla or a week that visits St. Barts. Bring it aboard, and the crew or operator handles the customs and immigration paperwork.
A catamaran week from St. Martin, planned around you.
Tell us your dates, your group size and where you’d like to start, whether St. Martin, St. Barts or Anguilla, and we’ll match you to a crewed catamaran and check what it costs to bring it to you.
