Private Full Day or Half Day Charter – 37′ Midnight Express

The best part of this charter is the freedom to cross from St. Thomas into the British Virgin Islands without booking separate ferries or flights. You can spend your day among the huge granite boulders of The Baths, stop for a Painkiller on Jost Van Dyke, or ask your captain to shape the route around your group.

I like the boat’s speed and the private format. The 37-foot Midnight Express has three 300-horsepower outboards, so you can cover a lot of water in one day. I also like the small touches: bottled water, soda, ice, snorkeling gear, and swimming noodles are included. Captains Jervan and Jashae are noted for friendly service and flexible plans.

The catch is cost. The $1,950 group price is before fuel, a customary 20 percent captain gratuity, lunch, and the $75-per-person BVI customs fee, paid in cash. Groups larger than six also pay an additional fee, so ask for the full total before booking.

Key points to know before booking

• Three 300-horsepower engines: The Midnight Express is built for a quick ride between islands, giving you more time for beaches and swimming.
• Private access to the BVI: You can visit several British Virgin Islands in one day without arranging public transportation between them.
• Passports are essential: You need them for BVI entry at Soper’s Hole and for U.S. customs when you return through Cruz Bay.
• The Baths needs real time: The two-hour stop lets you walk through boulders, caverns, and rock pools instead of making a rushed photo stop.
• The price changes with group size: The base fare covers up to six passengers, while larger groups pay an added fee.
• Your captain can shape the day: The route includes major island stops, but the charter format allows attention to your group’s preferred mix of swimming, sightseeing, and beach time.

A fast, private boat day from St. Thomas

You meet at Compass Point Marina in Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas, at 8:30 a.m. Pickup is offered, but confirm the exact arrangement when you book. At the marina, your captain welcomes you and walks you to the boat.

The vessel is a blue-and-white 37-foot Midnight Express, powered by three 300-horsepower outboards. That matters here. The Virgin Islands are spread across open water, and a fast boat can turn a long transfer into a useful part of the day rather than a major time drain.

This is not a shared excursion. Only your group participates, with the booking price listed at $1,950 for the group. The base inclusion covers up to six passengers, while larger groups incur an added charge. The advertised capacity reaches 12, but you should request the exact price for seven to 12 people before paying.

The trip can run about four or eight hours, depending on the plan you choose. A half day suits a group that wants a swim and one main destination. A full day makes more sense if you want the BVI, several stops, and time to eat or linger rather than hurry from island to island.

Passports, customs, and the real cost

The international border is part of the experience, but it also brings paperwork and extra costs. Keep your passport ready when you leave St. Thomas. At Soper’s Hole on Tortola, or another BVI entry point, everyone must clear customs and immigration.

The BVI customs fee is $75 cash per person. That is a serious addition for a large family or group of friends. For six people, the customs charge alone comes to $450. It is not included in the $1,950 charter price.

You also pay for fuel and lunch, neither of which is included in the listed fare. A captain gratuity of 20 percent is customary. On the base charter price, that would be $390, before any fuel, food, added passenger fee, or customs charges.

At six passengers, the base charter works out to $325 per person before extras. With 12 people, the basic per-person share could be lower, but the additional fee for passengers above six changes the calculation. The price makes the most sense when a group values privacy, speed, and a custom route more than the lowest possible island-hopping fare.

Soper’s Hole: the BVI entry point

Soper’s Hole is where you handle BVI customs and immigration if that is the chosen entry point. Set aside about 30 minutes for this stop, and keep every passport close at hand.

This is not sightseeing time, but it is a useful part of the crossing. Once cleared, you can continue into the BVI without dealing with a separate ferry terminal or flight connection. Bring the required cash for the customs charge, and do not pack your passport away in a dry bag that is difficult to open.

The schedule can shift around border procedures. A private boat gives your captain more room to adjust than a fixed group tour, but customs remains outside the captain’s control. If your day is built around several stops, allow some breathing room.

The Baths at Virgin Gorda

The Baths are the major natural attraction on this route. Large boulders form narrow passages and caverns leading toward rock pools and the Cathedral Room, a natural pool inside a small cave.

The planned stop is about two hours. That is a good amount of time for this site, since the appeal is not just the view from the boat. You want time to move through the stone corridors, pause at the pools, and enjoy the odd shapes created where land and sea meet.

Wear footwear suitable for walking around uneven rock, and keep your belongings secure. The information provided does not specify a guided walk or a dedicated shore guide, so expect to explore at your own pace unless your captain tells you otherwise.

The Baths can be the highlight of a full-day trip, but it also creates a tradeoff. Two hours here leaves less time at other islands. If The Baths is your main reason for booking, tell the captain early so the route protects that time. If you want equal time at Norman Island and Jost Van Dyke, a full-day booking is the sensible choice.

Norman Island and the Treasure Island connection

Norman Island brings a more storybook mood. It has long been linked with the idea that Robert Louis Stevenson drew inspiration for Treasure Island from the island and its surroundings.

The planned visit lasts about two hours, giving you time to enjoy the island’s setting rather than simply point a camera at it from offshore. The exact activities are not fixed in the information provided, so ask your captain what is practical that day and how much time will be spent ashore or in the water.

I like this stop for groups that want a little history and atmosphere mixed with a boat day. It is less specific than The Baths, where the boulders and caves give you a clear route to follow. Norman Island works better when you want the captain to shape the pace around your interests.

If you are choosing between several famous BVI stops, do not assume every destination can receive equal attention on a half-day charter. The island crossings and customs process take time. A full day gives Norman Island room to feel like a real stop rather than a quick pass.

Jost Van Dyke and the Painkiller decision

Jost Van Dyke is one of the smallest islands in the British Virgin Islands, but it has a big reputation for casual beach bars and relaxed island time. The suggested plan gives you about an hour here.

You might order a Painkiller at Foxy’s or a rum punch at the Soggy Dollar. These are classic stops for a group that wants a drink, a bit of music, and a break from the boat. If you prefer swimming or quiet scenery, tell the captain. An hour goes quickly, especially if you need to walk from the dock, order food or drinks, and return to the boat.

This stop comes with an obvious practical warning: alcohol and an open boat day require judgment. You still have transfers ahead, and the boat will be moving at speed. Treat the bar stop as one part of the outing, not the whole purpose of it.

Jost Van Dyke is also where the private format helps. Your group does not have to follow a large excursion’s fixed timing. Still, the captain cannot make every stop long, so choose your priorities before the boat leaves St. Thomas.

Returning through Cruz Bay and St. John

On the way back, passengers clear U.S. customs in Cruz Bay on St. John. Plan for another 30-minute customs stop and keep your passports available.

The stop makes the day feel more like an international boat trip than a simple cruise along the U.S. Virgin Islands. It also means the return is not just a straight run back to Compass Point Marina. Border clearance can take time, so do not schedule an important evening commitment too tightly after the charter.

The final portion may include time in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with a chance to swim near well-known beaches or see historical sites connected with the islands’ past reaching back to the 1600s. The exact U.S. Virgin Islands route depends on the length of your charter and what you choose to do earlier.

If you book a half day, you may need to choose between a BVI crossing and a longer U.S. Virgin Islands outing. For the best chance of including The Baths, Norman Island, Jost Van Dyke, and a U.S. Virgin Islands swim, choose the full-day option and confirm the timing with One Caribbean Charters.

What is included on the Midnight Express

The practical inclusions are useful on a hot day at sea:

• Bottled water
• Soda
• Cooler and ice
• Snorkeling equipment
• Swimming noodles

You are not paying extra for basic drinks or a place to keep them cold. The snorkeling gear also saves you from bringing or renting equipment separately, though the supplied details do not specify the type or number of pieces. If everyone in your group wants to snorkel at once, ask what is available.

Lunch is not included. You can plan to buy food during a stop, bring your own if permitted, or ask the operator about suitable arrangements. Do not assume every listed island stop will have a convenient meal option at the exact time your boat arrives.

The boat itself is the main amenity. A fast 37-foot vessel gives you a private base for the day, but it does not turn the trip into a resort. Bring sun protection, a swimsuit, and any personal items you need, while keeping bags compact and easy to secure.

Service and captain style

Captain Jervan is specifically associated with an excellent BVI day and with an upgrade from a smaller Nortech boat to the Midnight Express. Captain Jashae is also named in connection with the boat, island stories, and a smooth trip to Virgin Gorda.

Assignments can change, so you should not book expecting one particular captain unless One Caribbean Charters confirms it. The useful point is that the operator presents the outing as a captain-led private charter, not a rigid bus-style tour on water.

The strongest service qualities are flexibility and personal attention. A custom itinerary can work well for a family with mixed interests, such as adults who want a bar stop, swimmers who want time in the water, and sightseers who want The Baths.

The boat’s speed is another strength. You can see more islands in a day than you could by relying on ferries, though faster travel does not remove the need for customs stops or favorable weather.

Who should book this charter

I would consider this trip for a group of friends, a family celebration, or several couples who can share the cost. It suits people who want a private day and care about seeing several destinations rather than staying at one beach.

It is also a good choice for anyone who dislikes fixed group excursions. You can discuss the balance of sightseeing, swimming, drinks, and beach time with the captain. That flexibility has real value when your group does not share one single idea of a perfect boat day.

I would think twice if your priority is the lowest price. The base fare is only part of the bill, and the BVI customs charge, fuel, lunch, gratuity, and extra passenger fee can add up fast. A smaller group of two or three people may find the cost difficult to justify unless privacy and the custom route matter a great deal.

You should also confirm the plan if anyone has trouble with boat movement or extended time in the sun. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not describe the ride in detail or promise a calm crossing. The experience depends on good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund.

Cancellation and final booking advice

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and cancellations inside the window are not refunded. If weather forces the operator to cancel, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

Before you pay, confirm four things: the fuel charge, the exact fee for more than six passengers, the pickup arrangement, and the proposed route for a half or full day. Also confirm how lunch will work and where BVI customs will be handled.

Should you book the Midnight Express?

Book it if you want a private, fast boat and a full day of island choices. The combination of The Baths, Norman Island, Jost Van Dyke, and St. John gives you a strong range of scenery and activities, while the captains can adjust the pace for your group.

Skip it if your main goal is a cheap beach transfer or if your group does not want to pay for fuel, customs, lunch, and gratuity on top of the charter. For everyone else, the best value comes from filling the boat with a group that enjoys the same kind of day and choosing the full-day option. That gives the Midnight Express enough time to be more than a fast ride between stops.

FAQ

Where does the charter start?

The charter starts at Compass Point Marina in Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas, USVI. The listed start time is 8:30 a.m.

Does the activity return to the starting point?

Yes. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the charter last?

You can book a half-day or full-day charter lasting approximately four to eight hours.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. Keep your passport ready when leaving St. Thomas, entering the British Virgin Islands at Soper’s Hole or another entry point, and returning through U.S. customs in Cruz Bay.

How much is the BVI customs fee?

The BVI customs fee is $75 cash per person. It is not included in the charter price.

What is included on the boat?

Bottled water, soda, a cooler with ice, snorkeling equipment, and swimming noodles are included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. Fuel and the customary 20 percent captain gratuity are also separate costs.