Good Ol' Days › What it costs
What a crewed BVI charter actually costs
Charter pricing is quoted by the boat and by the week, which makes it hard to compare against anything else you might book. Here is the arithmetic, with the real numbers.
A crewed yacht charter is priced for the whole vessel for the whole week. Two people pay the same as ten. That is the opposite of how a hotel works, and it is why the per-person cost of a charter falls off a cliff as the group fills up.
The rate
| Week | Rate |
|---|---|
| Standard week (2–10 guests) | $32,000 – $36,000 |
| Christmas week | $40,000 |
| New Year's week | $43,000 |
That is eight days and seven nights aboard, all-inclusive, on Caribbean terms. Five nights is the minimum booking.
What that is per person
At a full boat of ten guests, a standard week at $32,000 works out to $3,200 per person for the week, or about $457 per person per night. That figure already covers your bed, every meal, the open bar, the crew, the fuel, the water toys and the BVI permits. The only material thing left to add is the crew gratuity.
| Ten guests, standard week | Per person | Per person, per night |
|---|---|---|
| Charter rate, $32,000 | $3,200 | $457 |
| Plus gratuity at 15% | $3,680 | $526 |
| Plus gratuity at 20% | $3,840 | $549 |
The holiday weeks run higher. Christmas at $40,000 is $571 per guest per night before gratuity; New Year's at $43,000 is $614. Those two weeks book earliest and are the two we are asked about most.
Smaller groups pay more per head, because the rate is for the yacht rather than for the seat. Six guests on a $32,000 week is $762 per person per night. If your group is flexible on size, filling the fifth cabin is the single biggest lever you have on cost.
What is actually included
"All-inclusive" means different things at different operators, so here is the specific list:
- Both crew — the captain and the chef
- Every meal aboard, snacks, and barista coffee
- Open bar: beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks, with the wine chosen by a certified sommelier
- All fuel and water
- Water toys, including two sea scooters
- Starlink wifi throughout
- Linens and towels
- BVI customs fees and cruising permits
What is not
- Crew gratuity, customary in the Caribbean at 15–20% of the charter rate, paid at the end of the week and at your discretion
- Your flights and any ferry across from St. Thomas
- Anything you choose to buy ashore — a dinner off the boat, a beach bar afternoon, souvenirs
How to think about the comparison
The honest comparison is not against a hotel room. It is against what the same week would cost you if you assembled the parts: a villa large enough for five couples, a private chef, a stocked bar, a car or two, and several day charters to actually get on the water. Priced separately, those add up quickly, and you still spend part of each day organizing them.
What you are really buying is that the organizing is gone. The boat moves while you sleep, the fridge is full, and the next anchorage is someone else's problem. Whether that is worth it to your group is a fair question, and it depends more on the group than on the number.
We would rather you worked out the arithmetic before you inquire than after. If something here does not match what you have been quoted elsewhere, ask us about it directly.
See the full rate card and inclusions, how the boat works for a group of ten, or where a week actually goes.
Common questions
How much does an all-inclusive BVI yacht charter cost?
Aboard Good Ol' Days a standard week is $32,000 to $36,000 for the whole yacht, with Christmas week at $40,000 and New Year's week at $43,000. That is eight days and seven nights for up to ten guests, including crew, all meals, the open bar, fuel, water toys and BVI permits.
What does a crewed charter cost per person?
At a full boat of ten guests, a standard week at $32,000 is $3,200 per person, or about $457 per person per night, before gratuity. Adding a customary 15 to 20 percent gratuity brings it to roughly $526 to $549 per person per night.
Is the charter rate per person or for the whole boat?
For the whole boat, for the whole week. Two guests pay the same as ten, which is why the per-person cost drops sharply as the group fills up. Six guests on a $32,000 week works out to about $762 per person per night.
What is not included in an all-inclusive charter?
Crew gratuity, customary at 15 to 20 percent of the charter rate and paid at the end of the week; your flights and any ferry from St. Thomas; and anything you buy ashore. There is no fuel surcharge, no provisioning bill and no bar tab.
How much should I budget for crew gratuity?
The Caribbean custom is 15 to 20 percent of the charter rate, at your discretion. On a $32,000 week that is $4,800 to $6,400 across the group, or $480 to $640 per person on a full boat.
Is a crewed charter cheaper than a villa?
It depends entirely on the group and on what you would otherwise book. The fair comparison is not a hotel room but the whole package: a villa for five couples, a private chef, a stocked bar, ground transport and several day charters to get out on the water. Assembled separately those costs add up, and the coordination stays yours.
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