If crystal clear, turquoise waters, long white sandy beaches and warm sunny days sound like your idea of a perfect luxury yacht charter, then St Martin is a guaranteed winner.
The picturesque Caribbean island of St Martin (Photo: Roger W via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Fusing two distinct European cultures (French and Dutch), high class dining and a relaxed way of life, the small Caribbean island is truly magical. For yachting visitors, the attractions are no less apparent, with cool trade winds, moderate seas and short distances between several popular regional spots such as Anguilla, St Barths and the Leeward Islands, making a private yacht charter itinerary easy to fill. Those shopping around for a crewed yacht charter or bareboat charters in St Martin are spoiled for choice, so we’ve done our own research and picked out two companies that we’d recommend for a memorable sea-faring adventure.
Ritzy
Founded in Miami in 2012, Ritzy Charters have forged an extensive network of key industry partners since the company began offering yacht charters over a decade ago and are our number one pick for chartering a yacht in St Martin. They offer almost 100 yachts across the island and neighbouring St Barts at varying price points, with their listings catering to every preference, whether you’re looking to charter a catamaran, sailboat, or motorboat, and crewed or bareboat.
Booking on the platform is simple and intuitive, with users asked to provide key details about their trip, such as guest numbers, dates of travel, favoured itinerary, and special requests. They’re then sent a short-list of yachts based on your custom criteria and you can make your pick based on those.
When we searched for St Martins charters, we found a huge choice of boats available. The most affordable option we found was a 16-metre sailing yacht that accommodates up to 6 guests and is available from $9,800 per week. The majority of the vessels that we were shown were motoryachts, but there was also a limited selection of catamarans and sailing boats.
Boatbookings
Established in 2005, Boatbookings are another well-established industry name are a particularly popular choice with those seeking crewed yachts. In St Martin, they have a total of 51 yachts available, 49 of which come with a crew. Of the total, 33 are catamarans, 17 are motor yachts and 1 is a sail boat. If you’re a fan of motor-fuelled power, then the smallest motor yacht on offer is 16 metres, with shorter options available in the catamaran and sail yacht categories.
As for price, the cheapest charter we could find was for a 12-metre catamaran available for $3,050 per week. This vessel was also one of only two bareboats listed during our search. Other notable website features are a comprehensive section dedicated to comments and star ratings from previous charter guests. The search function also allows you to specify yachts with specific on-board amenities such as fishing and scuba gear.
7-DAY ST MARTIN YACHT CHARTER ITINERARY
Combining relaxation, adventure, and cultural exploration, with plenty of opportunities for water sports and fine dining, we’ve created a 7-day St Martin yacht charter itinerary that includes stops on some of the idyllic surrounding islands. Here’s our summary of what you can expect:
Marigot Bay, the charming French capital of St. Martin, makes for the perfect start to your trip, where you can explore the many boutiques, cafes and open-air market before boarding your charter vessel at the marina. Over the coming days, you’ll cruise along the northern coast to Grand Case, known for its culinary scene, pristine beaches and world-class snorkelling opportunities. On the island of Anguila, a short sail across the channel, you can drop anchor for more snorkelling or paddleboarding in the crystalline waters. Also worth checking out on the island is Pricky Pear Cays, with its vibrant reefs, soft sands and enticing beach bars.
From Anguilla, a natural stopping off point is St Barths, reachable in about 3 hours by boat Here, head to the chic capital of Gustavia to indulge in some retail therapy or mouth-watering French cuisine that serves as a reminder of the island’s colonial past. For nightlife fans, there’s also a vibrant entertainment scene that runs into the early hours. On your return to St. Martin, stop off in Île Fourchue, a secluded, horseshoe-shaped island where visitors can splash around in the shallow waters and natural mud baths, or more energetic types may want to embark on a scenic hike. Your charter comes to a close back in Marigot Bay.