TRU NORTH
2021 · Fountaine Pajot · Catamaran
67 ft
Length
8
Guests
4
Cabins
3
Crew
Caribbean · U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands Yacht Charters
American ease in Caribbean waters: no passport, no customs line, and St. John’s national parkland a short sail away.
American Soil, Caribbean Soul
The Caribbean, without the customs line.
The U.S. Virgin Islands pull off a rare trick: a tropical charter where you pay in dollars and skip immigration entirely. But the convenience never costs you character. This is a study in contrasts, from the kinetic energy of St. Thomas to the emerald silence of St. John, where two-thirds of the island is protected national parkland, to the blue-water crossing south to St. Croix. It’s the ideal cruising ground for travelers who want the West Indies without leaving the domestic sphere. Deciding between these islands and their British neighbors? Our BVI vs. USVI charter comparison breaks down cost, sailing conditions and anchorages.
What Not to Miss
The Best of the U.S. Virgin Islands
Six anchorages and shore stops your crew will build the week around: floating taco bars, national-park beaches and the Caribbean’s finest marine garden.
Coral Bay · St. John
Lime Out
A lime-green floating taco bar that became an instant icon, accessible only by boat, serving gourmet tacos and craft cocktails to guests lounging on lily-pad rafts. The ultimate lunch-on-the-water experience, playful and entirely unique to the territory.
Christmas Cove · Great St. James
Pizza Pi
The Caribbean’s original food boat, anchored in a protected cove known for its turtles. This aluminum sailing vessel turns out New York-style pizzas delivered to your yacht by dinghy, the quintessential charter stop for a casual sunset dinner on the aft deck.
Caneel Bay · St. John
ZoZo's at Caneel Bay
Set on the grounds of the historic Caneel Bay resort, ZoZo’s offers the finest dining view in the Virgin Islands. The Italian-Caribbean menu is superb, but you’re really here for the sunset: purple and gold over the darkened silhouette of St. Thomas.
North Shore · St. Thomas
Magens Bay
A heart-shaped, mile-long beach protected by two peninsulas that keep the water as calm as a swimming pool. A private yacht lets you anchor on the quiet far ends, enjoying one of the world’s most photogenic shorelines while avoiding the crowds.
Lovango Cay · St. Thomas & St. John
Lovango Resort + Beach Club
A chic newcomer bringing a touch of St. Barts flair to U.S. waters. This private-island retreat features an infinity pool that spills toward the ocean and a restaurant serving elevated coastal cuisine, the premier spot to dock for a sophisticated rosé-all-day afternoon.
Off the coast of · St. Croix
Buck Island Reef
An uninhabited 176-acre island ringed by a massive barrier reef, with one of the few underwater snorkeling “trails” in the world, with plaques guiding you through the coral gardens. The beach is a blinding strip of white, often entirely empty in the late afternoon.
Know Before You Go
Destination Brief
The practical essentials for a U.S. Virgin Islands charter, at a glance.
When to Go
December through May
Peak season brings dry, breezy trade-wind sailing and the liveliest anchorages. Shoulder months trade a little buzz for lower rates and emptier bays.
Peak · Dec–May
Shoulder · Jun & Nov
Cruising Style
Short, protected island hops with sheltered bays and abundant moorings.
Language
English, spoken throughout the territory.
Currency
US Dollar (USD), and no passport required for U.S. citizens.
Getting There
Fly directly into Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas.
Plan With a Broker
Tell us your dates and group and we’ll match the right yacht and route. Start an inquiry →
Crossing to the BVI
Joining a yacht in the British Virgin Islands? See how to cross from St. Thomas by ferry, private water taxi or plane, with current schedules, fees and timing. USVI to BVI ferry and water taxi guide →
Renting Water Toys
Want an eFoil, Seabob or sea scooter for your charter? See who rents them on St. Thomas and in the BVI, what they cost and where the lessons run. eFoil, Seabob and sea scooter rentals →
Our Ten Best Yachts
Want a shortlist? See the ten crewed yachts we rate highest for the U.S. Virgin Islands, with weekly rates, terms and crews. 10 best crewed yachts in the USVI →
Comparing Charter Companies
Weighing who to book with? See the operators, brokers and booking platforms that sell U.S. Virgin Islands yacht charters, each checked on its own website, with real weekly prices. List of USVI yacht charter companies →
Comparing the Caribbean
Still choosing between islands? Our ranking of the best Caribbean yacht charter destinations compares five of them by crewed yachts and price. For 10 to 12 guests, our list of Caribbean catamarans for large groups covers every catamaran that takes that many.
By the numbers
The USVI fleet, measured
Vital Charters works from live crewed charter industry booking data and analyses it independently. These are the figures behind the US Virgin Islands, a smaller fleet than the British Virgin Islands next door and a slightly cheaper one.
| Measure | Figure | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Crewed yachts available | 256 | Against 385 in the British Virgin Islands. |
| Median all in week | $36,821 | Base rate plus APA, seven nights, across all group sizes. |
| Per stateroom, per night | $1,214 | The lowest per stateroom rate of any Caribbean ground we track. |
| Catamarans in the fleet | 75.8% | Close to the 80.0% next door in the British Virgin Islands. |
| Median yacht length | 59 ft | The same median as the British Virgin Islands. |
| Departures from St. Thomas | 40.5% | From 595 recorded departures in this cruising ground. |
Figures drawn from live crewed charter availability and booking records for the US Virgin Islands, analysed independently by Vital Charters. Weekly rates are base rate plus APA. Per stateroom figures assume a seven night charter. Percentages are printed with the number of records behind them. Reviewed quarterly.
Available in the USVI
Featured Yachts in the U.S. Virgin Islands
A glimpse of the crewed catamarans cruising these waters. Browse the full fleet to compare layouts, crew and availability.
JUSTIFIED HORIZONS
2021 · Lagoon · Catamaran
65 ft
Length
10
Guests
5
Cabins
3
Crew
XANDROS
2021 · Lagoon · Catamaran
65 ft
Length
8
Guests
4
Cabins
3
Crew
Ready to look at yachts?
See all 238 crewed yachts in the US Virgin IslandsThe whole fleet on one page. Sort by length, guests, cabins or weekly rate.or search your dates
Good Questions
USVI Charter FAQs
The things first-time charterers ask us most about the U.S. Virgin Islands.
If you are a U.S. citizen, no passport is required to visit the USVI. However, carrying a government-issued ID (like a driver’s license) and a birth certificate is recommended. If you plan to sail over to the British Virgin Islands during your trip, a valid passport is absolutely mandatory.
Absolutely. This is one of the most popular itineraries, known as the “Virgin Islands Loop.” You can start in St. Thomas, clear customs into the BVI for a few days of island hopping, and then clear back into the USVI. Your captain will handle the logistics and paperwork for a seamless experience.
St. Croix sits about 40 miles south of St. Thomas and St. John, separated by a deep ocean trench. Because of the longer open-water sail (approx. 4-6 hours), it is often excluded from standard 7-day leisurely charters unless specifically requested by guests who enjoy blue-water sailing.
Yes. To protect the coral reefs, the USVI has strictly banned the sale and possession of sunscreens containing the “Toxic 3 Os” (oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene). Be sure to pack only mineral-based (zinc or titanium) sunscreens. Most yachts will have approved, reef-safe options available onboard.
Keep Exploring
Explore Other Cruising Grounds
The U.S. Virgin Islands are one of six distinct waters we sail. Here's where else a Vital Charters week can take you.
Sample Itineraries
U.S. Virgin Islands Sailing Itineraries
Two routes to start the conversation: five nights from St. Thomas along the north shore of St. John, and seven that carry on around the island. Scroll through the days and the yacht follows on the map.
Deciding between the two territories? Read our BVI vs. USVI charter comparison, see the top islands in the USVI to visit by yacht, or check what a week runs in our Caribbean cost-by-destination guide.
Five nights of short hops: Christmas Cove, then Caneel Bay, Maho Bay and Leinster Bay along the north shore of St. John, and back by way of Buck Island and Water Island. Three of the five nights are inside the national park.
The full circuit of St. John. The same start, then around the East End to Coral Bay and along the quiet south shore before the run back to St. Thomas.
Day 1
Christmas Cove
St. Thomas to Great St. James
- Under way
- 7 nmAbout 1 hr
- Overnight
- Christmas Cove, at anchor
Board at Yacht Haven Grande around midday and settle in over lunch. The first leg runs east along the south coast of St. Thomas, into the trade wind, to a cove on the west side of Great St. James. It is a short first day by design.
- Pizza PiA sailboat that works as a pizzeria, serving boats in the cove since 2014. Swim up or raft up between 11 am and 5:30 pm, in season.
- Fish CayThe small cay in the middle of the cove. Snorkel around it for an easy first swim; turtles are regulars here.
- Current HoleThe narrow cut at the north end of the cove, where the tide runs at up to three knots. Tomorrow starts through it.
Day 2
Caneel Bay
Current Hole, Lovango Cay and Honeymoon Beach
- Under way
- 3 nmAbout 30 min
- Overnight
- Caneel Bay, on a national park mooring
North through Current Hole and across Pillsbury Sound to St. John, where most of the island is national park. The hop takes half an hour, which leaves the day for a beach, a long lunch on Lovango Cay and the dressiest dinner of the week.
- Honeymoon BeachA white sand beach inside the park, a short tender ride from the mooring. Caneel Bay Beach Club serves food and drinks on the sand.
- Lovango CayA private island resort about a mile and a half to the north, open from mid-December to mid-July. Visiting yachts are welcome for lunch and dinner with a reservation.
- Cruz BaySt. John's small harbor town, about a mile away by tender: shops, bars, and the park visitor center at the start of the Lind Point Trail.
Day 3
Maho Bay
Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Francis Bay
- Under way
- 4 nmAbout 30 min, with a stop
- Overnight
- Maho Bay or Francis Bay, on a national park mooring
The north shore in one easy morning: out through Durloe Channel, past Hawksnest and the long beach at Cinnamon Bay, with a stop off Trunk Bay on the way. The afternoon is for the turtles at Maho.
- Trunk BayThe park's underwater snorkel trail runs for about 300 feet along the west side of Trunk Cay, with plaques on the seabed. There is a $5 day fee for anyone 16 or over.
- Maho BayThe park calls this the place to go for sea turtles. Green turtles graze the seagrass beds in the middle of the shallow bay.
- Francis BayCalm water the park recommends for beginners, from the west end of the beach all the way to Little Maho.
Day 4
Leinster Bay
Waterlemon Cay and the Annaberg ruins
- Under way
- 3 nmAbout 30 min
- Overnight
- Leinster Bay, on a national park mooring
Out through Fungi Passage and east through The Narrows, with Great Thatch and the British Virgin Islands across the channel. Leinster Bay is the quietest night of the route, with a reef to snorkel and a ruin to walk to.
- Waterlemon CayA small cay at the mouth of the bay. Snorkel out along the eastern shore, as the park suggests, and expect a current on the far side.
- AnnabergThe ruins of an 18th-century sugar plantation above the bay: the windmill tower, the sugar factory and the quarters of the enslaved people who worked it.
- Leinster Bay TrailA level path along the water, a little under a mile, between the Annaberg ruins and the beach at Waterlemon Bay.
Day 5
Water Island
Buck Island and Honeymoon Beach
- Under way
- 17 nmAbout 2 hrs 30 min, with a stop
- Overnight
- Druif Bay, off Honeymoon Beach
The one real sail of the trip, and it is downwind: back through The Narrows, down Pillsbury Sound and out through Current Hole to Buck Island for lunch and a swim with the turtles. The night is off Honeymoon Beach on Water Island, a short hop from the dock.
- Buck IslandA wildlife refuge about two miles off St. Thomas. Nobody lands, so this stop is for the water: Turtle Cove on the north-west side, and a wreck in about 40 feet off the western end.
- Honeymoon BeachThe beach in Druif Bay, on the west side of Water Island, with Dinghy's Beach Bar on the sand.
- Fort SegarraAn underground fort at the south end of the island, begun in 1944 and never finished.
Departure morning
Back to St. Thomas
- Under way
- 4 nmAbout 40 min
A last swim off the stern, breakfast under way around Hassel Island and into Charlotte Amalie harbor, and back on the dock by late morning. Charters usually end at noon.
Day 1
Christmas Cove
St. Thomas to Great St. James
- Under way
- 7 nmAbout 1 hr
- Overnight
- Christmas Cove, at anchor
Board at Yacht Haven Grande around midday and settle in over lunch. The first leg runs east along the south coast of St. Thomas, into the trade wind, to a cove on the west side of Great St. James. It is a short first day by design.
- Pizza PiA sailboat that works as a pizzeria, serving boats in the cove since 2014. Swim up or raft up between 11 am and 5:30 pm, in season.
- Fish CayThe small cay in the middle of the cove. Snorkel around it for an easy first swim; turtles are regulars here.
- Current HoleThe narrow cut at the north end of the cove, where the tide runs at up to three knots. Tomorrow starts through it.
Day 2
Caneel Bay
Current Hole, Lovango Cay and Honeymoon Beach
- Under way
- 3 nmAbout 30 min
- Overnight
- Caneel Bay, on a national park mooring
North through Current Hole and across Pillsbury Sound to St. John, where most of the island is national park. The hop takes half an hour, which leaves the day for a beach, a long lunch on Lovango Cay and the dressiest dinner of the week.
- Honeymoon BeachA white sand beach inside the park, a short tender ride from the mooring. Caneel Bay Beach Club serves food and drinks on the sand.
- Lovango CayA private island resort about a mile and a half to the north, open from mid-December to mid-July. Visiting yachts are welcome for lunch and dinner with a reservation.
- Cruz BaySt. John's small harbor town, about a mile away by tender: shops, bars, and the park visitor center at the start of the Lind Point Trail.
Day 3
Maho Bay
Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Francis Bay
- Under way
- 4 nmAbout 30 min, with a stop
- Overnight
- Maho Bay or Francis Bay, on a national park mooring
The north shore in one easy morning: out through Durloe Channel, past Hawksnest and the long beach at Cinnamon Bay, with a stop off Trunk Bay on the way. The afternoon is for the turtles at Maho.
- Trunk BayThe park's underwater snorkel trail runs for about 300 feet along the west side of Trunk Cay, with plaques on the seabed. There is a $5 day fee for anyone 16 or over.
- Maho BayThe park calls this the place to go for sea turtles. Green turtles graze the seagrass beds in the middle of the shallow bay.
- Francis BayCalm water the park recommends for beginners, from the west end of the beach all the way to Little Maho.
Day 4
Leinster Bay
Waterlemon Cay and the Annaberg ruins
- Under way
- 3 nmAbout 30 min
- Overnight
- Leinster Bay, on a national park mooring
Out through Fungi Passage and east through The Narrows, with Great Thatch and the British Virgin Islands across the channel. Leinster Bay is the quietest night of the route, with a reef to snorkel and a ruin to walk to.
- Waterlemon CayA small cay at the mouth of the bay. Snorkel out along the eastern shore, as the park suggests, and expect a current on the far side.
- AnnabergThe ruins of an 18th-century sugar plantation above the bay: the windmill tower, the sugar factory and the quarters of the enslaved people who worked it.
- Leinster Bay TrailA level path along the water, a little under a mile, between the Annaberg ruins and the beach at Waterlemon Bay.
Day 5
Coral Bay
Around the East End to Hurricane Hole
- Under way
- 9 nmAbout 1 hr 20 min, with a stop
- Overnight
- Round Bay, at anchor
East along the north coast and around Privateer Point, the most exposed stretch of the week, then into the shelter of Coral Bay. Midday is on a day mooring in Hurricane Hole, lunch is at a floating taco bar, and the night is across the bay in Round Bay.
- Hurricane HoleMangrove creeks inside the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, where scientists found corals growing on the mangrove roots. Moorings are for day use only, so it is a snorkel stop and not an anchorage.
- Lime OutA floating taco bar in Coral Bay harbor that can only be reached by boat. Open Sunday to Friday.
- Coral BayThe village at the head of the bay, with a dinghy dock and a handful of casual bars. A slower St. John than Cruz Bay.
Day 6
Lameshur Bay
Ram Head, Salt Pond Bay and Yawzi Point
- Under way
- 5 nmAbout 45 min, with a stop
- Overnight
- Great Lameshur Bay, on a national park mooring
South out of Coral Bay and around Ram Head onto the least visited shore of St. John. Stop at Salt Pond Bay for the beach and the walk out to the headland, then pick up a mooring in Great Lameshur Bay.
- Salt Pond BayA long white sand beach with snorkeling along the rocky shores on either side.
- Ram Head TrailAbout a mile each way from the end of the beach to the headland at the southern tip of the island.
- Yawzi PointThe spit of land between Great and Little Lameshur. The park rates the snorkeling at its tip.
- TektiteIn 1969 four scientists spent 58 days living in a habitat on the floor of Great Lameshur Bay, 43 feet down.
Day 7
Water Island
Buck Island and Honeymoon Beach
- Under way
- 15 nmAbout 2 hrs 10 min, with a stop
- Overnight
- Druif Bay, off Honeymoon Beach
Downwind along the south coast of St. John and across the mouth of Pillsbury Sound to Buck Island, for lunch and a last swim with the turtles. The final night is off Honeymoon Beach on Water Island, a short hop from the dock.
- Buck IslandA wildlife refuge about two miles off St. Thomas. Nobody lands, so this stop is for the water: Turtle Cove on the north-west side, and a wreck in about 40 feet off the western end.
- Honeymoon BeachThe beach in Druif Bay, on the west side of Water Island, with Dinghy's Beach Bar on the sand.
- Fort SegarraAn underground fort at the south end of the island, begun in 1944 and never finished.
Departure morning
Back to St. Thomas
- Under way
- 4 nmAbout 40 min
A last swim off the stern, breakfast under way around Hassel Island and into Charlotte Amalie harbor, and back on the dock by late morning. Charters usually end at noon.
Distances are measured along the route shown and rounded. Sailing times assume about 7 knots; a power catamaran or motor yacht covers the same legs faster. Inside Virgin Islands National Park yachts use the park's moorings instead of anchoring, so the order of the bays can change with what is free on the day. Every charter is routed around your group, your yacht and the weather. Map imagery is an illustration generated for Vital Charters, with coastlines from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Tables Ashore
Where to Eat Ashore in the USVI
Most of this route is national park, so most meals are your chef's, and that is part of the appeal. The tables below are the ones worth planning a lunch or a dinner around. Season matters: two of the three are closed from the summer until December, and much of St. John shuts for part of the late summer and fall.
Caneel Bay · St. John
ZoZo's at Caneel Bay
The dressiest dinner on St. John, on the beach at Caneel Bay with the sun going down behind St. Thomas. Four courses with an Italian lean, at $140 per person. Read our ZoZo's guide.
Good to knowDinner Monday to Friday, with seatings from 6 to 8 pm. Winter season only: it reopens in December. Reservations open 30 days ahead. Tenders up to 26 feet land on the beach, as the pier is closed. No children under five.
Lovango Cay · off St. John
Lovango Resort + Beach Club
A private island resort between St. Thomas and St. John that welcomes visiting yachts. Lunch with your toes in the sand, an afternoon at the beach club, or dinner at Lovango's Waterfront Restaurant. Read our Lovango guide.
Good to knowLunch 11 am to 4 pm daily. The Waterfront Restaurant serves dinner on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 5 to 9 pm; Wednesday and Saturday are casual nights at The Sandpit. Reservations are required. The resort has day moorings, and overnight moorings for dinner guests.
Cruz Bay · St. John
STJ Speakeasy
Chef Vincent Alterio's restaurant in Cruz Bay, opened in June 2024. Shareable, globally inspired plates with a Caribbean twist: spiced oxtail arancini, ceviche with roasted pineapple salsa, pan-seared lobster dumplings.
Good to knowDinner Monday to Saturday, 5:30 to 9 pm. Reservations through OpenTable. By tender to Cruz Bay from the Caneel Bay moorings.
Along the route
Christmas Cove · Great St. James
Pizza Pi
The sailboat pizzeria, serving boats in Christmas Cove since 2014: fresh pizza, craft cocktails and frozen drinks. Read our Pizza Pi guide.
Good to knowOpen daily 11 am to 5:30 pm in season. The 2026 season starts on 2 November. Swim up or raft up.
Honeymoon Beach · St. John
Caneel Bay Beach Club
Walk-up food and a bar on Honeymoon Beach, with chairs to rent, restrooms and showers. A beach lunch, not a restaurant.
Good to knowOpen daily from morning to sunset.
Cruz Bay · St. John
More tables in Cruz Bay
Cruz Bay has the island's other serious kitchens, all a tender ride from the Caneel Bay moorings. Morgan's Mango for Caribbean seafood and lobster nights, La Tapa, in town since 1996, and Ocean 362 for a modern island menu and the view from Gallows Point.
Good to knowAll three are dinner only. Ocean 362 is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Each closes for several weeks between August and October.
Maho Bay · St. John
Maho Crossroads
A beach bar across the road from Maho Bay beach, with shaded seating, food, a boutique, and kayak, paddleboard and snorkel rentals.
Good to knowStays open through the off season. Hours are not published, so we check before you go.
Coral Bay · St. John
Lime Out
A floating taco bar anchored in Coral Bay since 2019 and reached only by boat. Tacos from Caribbean chicken to spiced tuna, and a long cocktail list. Read our Lime Out guide.
Good to knowSunday to Friday, 10:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Saturdays, and closed for part of the late summer and fall; it reopens in mid-October 2026.
Honeymoon Beach · Water Island
Dinghy's Beach Bar & Grill
The beach bar on Honeymoon Beach, Water Island: local dishes, fresh locally caught fish, burgers, tacos and salads, a few steps from the tender.
Good to knowCasual, and it can be lively. We confirm the hours for your dates.
Yacht Haven Grande · St. Thomas
Cutlass & Cane
Local seafood and shared plates on the waterfront at Yacht Haven Grande, a short walk from the yacht on your first or last night.
Good to knowOpen Wednesday to Monday from 4 to 10 pm, with brunch on Sundays from 11 am. Closed on Tuesdays. Business casual. A 20 percent gratuity is added to every bill.
Hours and opening days are as published by each restaurant in October 2026. Most St. John restaurants close for several weeks between August and late October, and ZoZo's and Lovango are closed from the summer until December. We confirm what is open for your dates and make the reservations.
From the Journal
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Charter Guides
Best Time to Charter a Yacht in the Caribbean
The best time to charter a yacht in the Caribbean is December through April. Month-by-month weather, availability, and what timing actually does to the price.
Plan Your USVI Week
Let a broker build your charter.
Tell us your dates, your group and the kind of week you want, and we’ll match you to the right yacht, crew and route through the U.S. Virgin Islands.