50′ Luxury Yacht. Private Full or Half Day Catamaran Snorkel, & Beach Experience

A private catamaran lets you trade the fixed route and crowded deck for your own day on the water. You can spend the morning snorkeling for turtles, drift on a float, or settle into the beanbag chairs on the bow while the captain chooses a calm cove. The 50-foot SY Sirena has room to spread out, with a salon, back deck, dining space, and front trampolines.

I like two things right away: the route is flexible, and the crew can shape it around your group, not a printed timetable. I also like the family-friendly setup, with floats, snorkel gear, drinks, and a restroom aboard. The main catch is that the long list of beaches is a menu, not a promise. Commercial access rules can limit places such as Trunk Bay, and lunch costs extra.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for up to 12: Your group has the catamaran to itself, with more room and control than a shared cruise.
• Captain-led planning: Choose between snorkeling, beach time, sightseeing, and lunch stops, then adjust the pace during the day.
• Strong family setup: Floats, snorkel gear, a restroom, shaded seating, and attentive crew support make this workable with children.
• Included drinks: Bottled Virgin H2O water, soda, beer, and signature rum punch are provided.
• St. Thomas and St. John focus: You can visit nearby bays and cays, but the British Virgin Islands are not available on this boat.
• Plan for the full cost: The $1,595 group price covers the boat, but lunch and the customary 15 to 20 percent crew tip are extra.

What a private day aboard SY Sirena feels like

The appeal here is not simply getting from one beach to another. It is having a floating base for the day, with space to talk, eat, swim, and change plans without waiting for strangers.

SY Sirena leaves from American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook, on the east side of St. Thomas. The boat can carry up to 12 people, so the price makes the most sense for a larger family or group of friends. At the advertised $1,595 rate, the boat works out to about $133 per person if all 12 places are filled. A group of six pays roughly $266 each before the tip and lunch, so the value changes sharply with group size.

The boat has an indoor salon, an open back deck with seating and dining space, and a bow fitted with beanbag chairs and large trampolines. I would expect the bow to be the favorite spot while underway, especially for sunbathing, conversation, or watching for turtles and dolphins. The salon gives you somewhere to get out of the sun, while the restroom is a useful comfort on a four to seven-hour outing.

Your captain and first mate handle the boat, drinks, snorkel equipment, and water access. Crew members named in past outings include Maddy, Alex, JW, Dave, Vic, Olivia, Coleman, Ro, Celina, and others. The exact crew is not guaranteed, but the important point is the service style: you can ask for help fitting equipment, finding a calm swimming spot, or adjusting the plan for children and less confident swimmers.

Choosing between four hours and seven

The half-day option is enough for a focused outing. You can usually build it around one or two water stops, with time for a scenic cruise and perhaps lunch if the schedule allows. This is the better choice if you have young children, a mixed-age group, or only a few days in St. Thomas.

A full day gives you more breathing room. You can spend longer in the water, travel toward St. John, stop for lunch, and still have time to relax on the boat. The crew has helped groups find sea turtles, stingrays, octopus, tropical fish, and even a sunken ship, but wildlife is never guaranteed. Your best chance comes from allowing enough time at the right snorkeling area rather than racing through many stops.

The suggested minimum is about 90 minutes at each stop. That is sensible. Getting everyone fitted with masks and fins, entering the water, snorkeling, drying off, and having a drink takes time. A group of 12 will move more slowly than a couple. Trying to visit six or seven places in one day would leave little time to enjoy any of them.

I would choose a half day for a first family boat outing or a birthday add-on. Choose the full day if the boat is the main event and your group wants to make St. John part of the day.

How the route is shaped around your group

You and the captain decide what matters most before and during the charter. Tell the crew if your priorities are turtles, easy swimming, quiet beaches, sightseeing, lunch, or a slower pace. One family with a child who did not swim well had the crew watch the child on the boat briefly while the parents snorkeled. That kind of support can make a major difference, though parents should still remain responsible for their children.

Wind also affects the plan. If one side of St. Thomas or St. John is rough, the crew can seek calmer coves on another side or tuck into a protected bay. That flexibility is one of the strongest reasons to choose a private boat instead of booking a fixed shared route.

Do not treat every named stop as guaranteed. The route depends on weather, sea conditions, time, and commercial access rules. Trunk Bay, in particular, has recently had restrictions affecting commercial charters. Ask about current access before departure if that beach is important to you.

Secret Harbour and the east end of St. Thomas

Secret Harbour is a useful early stop for groups that want to get into the water without committing to a long crossing. It can work well for a first snorkel, especially if your group needs time to get comfortable with masks, fins, and the boat’s swim ladder.

The practical advantage is control. You can stay for the full suggested 90 minutes or move on if conditions do not suit your group. If you are bringing young children, ask the crew which side of the harbor offers the easiest water access that day.

Brewer’s Bay and west-side water

Brewer’s Bay gives the route a change of scenery and may offer a calmer alternative depending on wind direction. It is one of the places to consider when your original plan needs adjusting.

The downside is time. Traveling across St. Thomas takes away from swimming and beach time, so Brewer’s Bay makes more sense on a full-day charter or when conditions make the west side especially appealing. Your captain can weigh the sea conditions against the amount of time left.

Magens Bay, Sapphire Beach, and Coki Point

Magens Bay is one of the island’s best-known beach settings, and Sapphire Beach offers another appealing stretch of sand and water. Coki Point is also included among the possible stops. These locations are useful if your group wants a mix of swimming, beach time, and scenic views rather than a day spent entirely on a reef.

A private boat may allow you to enjoy the water without dealing with the full routine of arriving by road, finding parking, and carrying beach gear. Still, you should not assume the boat will anchor directly at every beach or that a listed beach will be open to the charter that day.

Coki Point can be lively compared with quieter coves. If your group wants peace, tell the captain. If you want an active stop with easy access to the water, it may fit better.

Lindqvist Beach and Honeymoon Beach

Lindqvist Beach is a good candidate for a quieter beach break, while Honeymoon Beach on St. John is often suited to a relaxed swim and float. These stops are less about checking off a famous name and more about giving your group time to enjoy the boat’s water toys.

The floats are included, and the crew can help you get equipment in and out of the water. That is valuable when several people are swimming at once. With a full group, ask for a simple plan so everyone knows when the boat will move on.

Francis Bay, Trunk Bay, and Maho Bay

Francis Bay, Trunk Bay, and Maho Bay are among the St. John options. Maho is especially appealing for a group hoping to see sea turtles, though no sighting can be promised. Several outings have included turtles along with stingrays, octopus, and schools of fish.

Trunk Bay requires a clear warning. It appears among the possible destinations, but commercial charter access can be restricted. If you have your heart set on the famous beach or its underwater trail, confirm the current rule before booking. A private boat gives you flexibility, not automatic access to every shoreline.

St. John also adds travel time. On a full-day charter, that crossing can be part of the pleasure. On a half day, staying closer to Red Hook may give you more actual swimming time.

Waterlemon Cay, Scott Bay, and Hansen Bay

Waterlemon Cay is a strong choice for a snorkeling-focused day. Scott Bay and Hansen Bay offer more options around St. John, helping the captain adapt to wind, waves, and your interests.

These stops are best treated as possibilities rather than a checklist. If your group wants turtles, tell the crew early. If someone gets seasick, ask for a sheltered route and a calmer place to stop. One outing included a passenger who became ill toward the end, and the crew adjusted to help. That kind of flexibility is a real benefit, but it cannot eliminate rough water or motion sickness.

Snorkeling, floats, and the best use of your time

Snorkel equipment is included, as are floats and bottled water. The crew helps people get fitted and can point out sea life. Reports from the outings include turtles, stingrays, octopus, tropical fish, and a sunken ship, which gives you a good sense of what can be found in these waters.

Bring your own mask if you are particular about fit, but the supplied equipment keeps the trip simple. I would also bring reef-safe sun protection, a hat, a dry change of clothes, and any motion-sickness remedy you already use. The provided water comes from Virgin H2O, and the operator says it follows eco-friendly habits aboard.

Do not expect the crew to turn the outing into a formal marine biology lesson. Some captains, including Coleman and JW, have shared island facts and local stories, while others focus more on running the boat and helping with water activities. You can ask questions and let the crew know how much interpretation you want.

Drinks, lunch, and the final price

The $1,595 rate includes the private boat for up to 12 people, water, soda, beer, and signature rum punch. That is a useful package, particularly for a celebration or reunion where you want the day to feel easy from the start.

Lunch is not included. You can buy food at some locations, and past outings have stopped at Lovango for lunch or arranged pizza from the pizza boat. Ask the captain about practical lunch choices when you plan the route. A lunch stop can be enjoyable, but it also uses part of your charter time.

The crew tip is separate. A 15 to 20 percent tip is customary for exceptional service, which would add about $239 to $319 to the listed price. Factor that into the budget before comparing this with a shared snorkel cruise.

The price is strongest when 10 to 12 people share it. For four people, the cost is much harder to justify unless privacy, flexible timing, and a private crew are central to your holiday.

Families, celebrations, and group fit

This charter suits families with children, multigenerational groups, birthday parties, and friends who want the boat to themselves. The crew has worked with babies, toddlers, older children, and groups of 11 or 12. The restroom, shaded salon, floats, and attentive help with snorkel gear all matter when not everyone has the same stamina.

It also works well for a special occasion. One group used the boat for a 50th birthday, with a private beach stop and rum punch. Another group made the day around teenagers who wanted to swim with turtles.

This is not the best pick if you want a cheap, short snorkel trip or a guaranteed visit to a specific beach. It is also not right for anyone who dislikes flexible plans. The captain may need to change the route because of weather, restrictions, or sea conditions.

The activity is wheelchair accessible only to the extent stated in the supplied information, which says most people can participate and service animals are allowed. Ask the operator directly about your specific mobility needs before booking.

Meeting in Red Hook and planning ahead

The departure point is American Yacht Harbor on Smith Bay Road in Red Hook, St. Thomas. The trip returns there at the end. Pickup from Cruz Bay on St. John may be possible with advance notice after booking, so arrange this early rather than assuming it is included.

Bring your group to the harbor on time. The charter has a fixed duration, and arriving late can reduce your time on the water. The operator sends confirmation at booking, and the activity requires good weather. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations or changes inside 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

Should you book this St. Thomas catamaran?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the cost and want a private day built around your own pace. The best reasons are the spacious 50-foot boat, flexible route, family-friendly crew support, included drinks, and access to snorkeling areas around St. Thomas and St. John.

I would choose the full day for a group that wants St. John, turtle spotting, lunch, and several long water stops. I would choose the half day for a smaller plan focused on one or two snorkel areas.

Before paying, confirm the current beach access rules, ask where lunch can fit, and calculate the tip. If you do that, this is a strong choice for a private island day, especially when shared by 10 to 12 people.

FAQ

How long is the private catamaran charter?

The experience lasts approximately four to seven hours, depending on whether you choose a half-day or full-day charter.

How many people can join?

The private catamaran accommodates up to 12 people, and only your group participates.

Where does the boat depart?

The meeting point is American Yacht Harbor at 84GX+24H, Smith Bay Road, Red Hook, St. Thomas.

Can I be picked up in Cruz Bay, St. John?

Pickup from Cruz Bay may be possible with advance request after booking. It should be arranged ahead of time.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but food can be purchased at some locations along the route.

What drinks are included?

The charter includes bottled Virgin H2O water, soda, beer, and the operator’s signature rum punch.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and floats are included, along with use of the onboard restroom.

Can the boat visit the British Virgin Islands?

No. The British Virgin Islands are not available on this vessel. Separate products are offered for BVI trips.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.