Private Yacht Charter St. Thomas: Boat Tours to St. John and the BVI for Ritz-Carlton Guests

By the Island Adventures team · Published November 11, 2026 · 7 min read

You booked the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas so your trip runs the way you want it to. Then the day trip to St. John comes round and it looks like this: taxi to Red Hook, ferry line, ferry, taxi queue in Cruz Bay, and a public beach shared with that day’s cruise passengers. A private yacht charter in St. Thomas fixes that. It leaves from the East End, a short drive from the resort, and takes your group, and only your group, on a private boat tour to the best snorkeling and beaches in the US Virgin Islands.

The short version

Your charter boards on the East End, a short drive from the Ritz-Carlton. One ride there, no ferry.
Only your group on board. You set the start time, the stops and the pace.
St. John’s north shore, Christmas Cove and Lovango are all a short run from Great Bay. The BVI is a full day.
A family-owned St. Thomas charter company since 1985, rated Tripadvisor Top 1%.

St. John ferry vs. a private boat charter

	Ferry and taxi	Private charter from the Ritz
Getting there	Taxi to Red Hook, ferry, then taxi to the beach	One short ride to the boat, then straight out
Who you’re with	The ferry, the taxi van and the beach crowd	Your group only
Schedule	Ferry and taxi times	Leave when you want, stay as long as you want
Where you swim	Beaches you can reach by road	Bays you anchor off, picked that morning for the clearest water
Lunch	Whatever is near the beach	On board, or ashore at Lovango Resort + Beach Club
The BVI	Separate ferry, customs lines and more taxis	Same yacht, straight there

Why the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas puts you close to the best water

The Ritz-Carlton sits on Great Bay at the far East End of St. Thomas. That is the closest point on the island to St. John, to Christmas Cove on Great St. James, and to the route out to the BVI. Guests on the south and west of the island spend part of their day just getting to where you already are.

Our private charters leave from the East End too, so getting to the boat is a few minutes, not the cross-island drive guests on the other side of St. Thomas face. We confirm your boarding point when you book.

Private boat tours from St. Thomas: St. John, Christmas Cove, Lovango and the BVI

St. John’s north shore. Most of St. John is Virgin Islands National Park. By road you get the public beach parking lots. On a private St. John boat tour you anchor off the bays and snorkel straight off the yacht.
Christmas Cove, Great St. James. Directly across from the East End. Sheltered, clear water and often sea turtles. Some of the easiest snorkeling in St. Thomas for kids and nervous swimmers.
Lovango Cay. Lunch ashore at Lovango Resort + Beach Club, between St. Thomas and St. John.
Jost Van Dyke and the BVI. A BVI day trip from St. Thomas: White Bay, the Soggy Dollar Bar and Sandy Spit, or The Baths on Virgin Gorda on a longer day. Bring passports for everyone. Customs and BVI entry fees apply. See BVI day trips from St. Thomas.

Your captain sets the route that morning around wind and swell, so you end up wherever the water is best that day.

When to book a private yacht charter in St. Thomas

Families with mixed ages. Grandparents, toddlers and teenagers on one boat, at a pace that works for all of them. Swim when you want, shade when you need it, head back when the little ones are done.
Celebrations. Anniversaries, birthdays, proposals. A private luxury yacht is the one setting on the island where nobody else is in the photos.
Heavy cruise days. St. Thomas is a cruise port. On the busy days tens of thousands of passengers come ashore, and the ferries and popular beaches fill. On a private yacht that does not touch your day. See which December days are heaviest.
Holiday week. Christmas to New Year’s is when the island is busiest and private yachts are hardest to get. Book as early as you can.

Private yachts for charter in St. Thomas

VTR 38. Couples, families and small groups. Up to 6 guests for trips before 15 January 2027, up to 12 from that date.
Breakaway I and Breakaway II. Two 55 ft power yachts with more deck and shade for larger families and groups, and a quicker run to the BVI.

Catering, drinks, a lunch reservation ashore and anything else for the day can be set up through our concierge service before you board.

A family-owned St. Thomas charter company since 1985

Island Adventures is a family-owned St. Thomas boat charter company, run by the same family since 1985. We hold a Tripadvisor Top 1% rating, and our team has been with us more than four years on average, so the captain taking your family out knows these waters. If we cancel for weather, you get a full refund or a free reschedule. If the day falls short, our Beyond the Horizon Promise means we invite you back or offer up to a 100% refund, subject to the guarantee terms.

Plan your private charter

Private yacht charter St. Thomas: FAQ

Where do private charters leave from for Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas guests?

From the East End of St. Thomas, a short drive from the resort. We confirm the exact boarding point when you book, and it is one ride there and one ride back. No ferry and no second taxi.

Why book a private charter instead of taking the ferry to St. John?

The ferry route means a taxi to Red Hook, a ferry line, another taxi in Cruz Bay and a public beach. A private charter leaves from the East End, minutes from the resort, and anchors off the north shore bays of St. John, on your schedule, with only your group on board.

How is a private charter different from the resort's sunset sail?

The resort's sail is a sunset trip. A private charter is the whole day, or half day, set around your group: snorkeling, beaches, lunch ashore, St. John or the BVI.

Can we go to the British Virgin Islands from the Ritz-Carlton?

Yes, as a full day. Jost Van Dyke is the usual choice, and The Baths on Virgin Gorda are possible on a longer day. Every guest needs a valid passport, and customs and BVI entry fees apply.

How many people can come on a private charter?

Our VTR 38 takes up to 6 guests for trips before 15 January 2027 and up to 12 from that date. Breakaway I and Breakaway II are 55 ft power yachts for larger families and groups.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If we cancel for severe weather or unsafe conditions, you get a full refund or a free reschedule. Otherwise reservations are non-refundable once confirmed, and non-weather reschedules are possible with 30 or more days notice, subject to availability.

How much is a private boat charter in St. Thomas?

It depends on the yacht, half day or full day, the route and the date. A BVI day trip adds customs and entry fees. Send your date, group size and where you want to go and we will reply with a firm quote.

What is the best St. John boat tour from St. Thomas?

For a family or group, a private boat tour to St. John's north shore. You board on the East End, anchor off the National Park bays and snorkel straight off the yacht instead of taking the ferry and a taxi.

Is a private charter good for snorkeling in St. Thomas?

Yes. Your captain picks snorkel spots that morning based on conditions, such as Christmas Cove or the St. John north shore bays, and you stay as long as you want at each one.

How far ahead should we book?

For Christmas, New Year's and peak winter weeks, as soon as your dates are set. There are only so many private yachts on the island and the best dates go first.