St. Martin Yacht Charters

Few Caribbean destinations cover as much ground in as little distance as St. Martin.

St. Martin yacht charters typically cross four jurisdictions in a single weeklong route: The Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint-Martin, which share one 37-square-mile island; Anguilla, which is twelve miles to the north; and St. Barts, which is fifteen miles to the southeast.

There’s also Saba and Statia further south, which are available for charters that want to extend the route.

Steady 15–20 knot trade winds and short crossings between islands make this region especially approachable for first-time charter guests.

Simpson Bay Lagoon on the Dutch side is the largest enclosed lagoon in the eastern Caribbean. The regional charter fleet's main base is dense with marinas, chandleries, and provisioning shops, and Princess Juliana International Airport is minutes away.

The French side is best known for the food: the Wednesday and Saturday markets at Marigot, the lolos at Grand Case, and provisioning that includes French wines, cheeses, and fresh seafood that are difficult to find elsewhere in the Caribbean.

Key Highlights

• When to sail: December through April is the best time to visit because of the dry weather, steady 15-20-knot trade winds, and water temperatures in the low 80s. Avoid August through November, which is the height of hurricane season.

• Getting there: Princess Juliana International (SXM) on the Dutch side runs direct flights from most major US hubs. Most charters depart Simpson Bay Lagoon or Marigot Bay. both a short ride from the airport.

• The signature route: The 60-mile cruising triangle to Anguilla and St. Barts is one of the Caribbean's most accessible weeklong itineraries.

• In and out of the water: Go reef snorkeling at Creole Rock and Tintamarre, have a beach lunch on Pinel Island, and late dinner in Grand Case, the French side's gastronomy hub.

• Who it suits: Couples after quiet anchorages, families who want a beach every day, or groups who want both duty-free Philipsburg and barefoot French sand without changing boats.

Why Charter a Yacht in the St. Martin

Few Caribbean destinations pack as much variety into one anchorage chain as St. Martin.

The 37-square-mile island is split between France and the Netherlands, so a single week of sailing covers two cultures, two cuisines, and two flags, without needing to clear customs in between.

Sail north for warm baguettes and rosé in Marigot, or south for casinos, duty-free shopping, and Dutch cafés in Philipsburg. Coming here on a luxury yacht charter means everything is within easy reach.

What sets a St. Martin charter apart is the chain of neighboring islands.

Anguilla, twelve miles north, holds some of the Caribbean's most-photographed white-sand beaches and a famously low-key bar scene.

St. Barts, fifteen miles southeast, draws the well-heeled set to its yacht-watching scene at Gustavia, with quieter coves like Anse de Colombier on the far side. Saba and Statia round out the southern reach for guests who want to stay longer than a week.

At St. Martin, distances between anchorages are short, passages are calm, and the trade winds blow steady from the east - making this one of the easiest sailing regions in the Caribbean for first-time charter guests.

Beyond the cruising conditions, most lagoons and bays are well-protected and easy to access.

Simpson Bay Lagoon - the largest enclosed lagoon in the eastern Caribbean - attracts several megayachts. It’s full of chandleries, marinas, and provisioning shops, and is a short boat ride from the airport.

Whether the goal is a slow week of snorkel stops and long lunches, or an island-hopping week that touches three jurisdictions, a private yacht charter is the best way to see St. Martin and the islands around it.

Top Anchorages and Day Trips from St. Martin

Most St. Martin charters do not actually spend the full week in St. Martin. The island serves as the base where guests board and disembark, but the days in between often pull north to Anguilla, southeast to St. Barts, or out to one of the smaller uninhabited islets in the chain.

Within the main island itself, guests cross between French and Dutch sides without going through customs.

Here is how the two halves of the island compare:

Marigot and the French Side of St. Martin

Marigot Bay is the capital of the French side and the natural starting point for a French-themed day. Wednesday and Saturday markets fill the waterfront with fresh seafood, French cheeses, and baguettes still warm from the oven.

A few miles up the coast is Grand Case, the island's food capital.

The main street has more high-end restaurants per block than anywhere else in the Caribbean, and the lolos - open-air BBQ shacks - at the beach end serve lobster, ribs, and grilled fish at picnic tables until well after dark.

Pinel Island, a tiny, uninhabited islet, is a short boat ride from the northeast coast, offers a 30-minute walking trail around the perimeter, calm shallow water for swimming, and two beach restaurants for a casual lunch.

On the east coast, Orient Bay is the island's longest beach and the best spot for windsurfing or paddleboarding. For a quieter overnight anchorage, Anse Marcel at the northeast tip is long, protected, and largely undeveloped.

Philipsburg and the Dutch Side of St. Maarten

Simpson Bay Lagoon is the largest enclosed lagoon in the eastern Caribbean - a deep, sheltered body of water tucked between the French and Dutch coastlines, with two narrow bridges connecting it to the open sea.

Its shores are dense with marinas, restaurants, and provisioning shops. Most yacht charters begin and end here, as the Princess Juliana International Airport is a short drive away.

Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side, sits a few miles east of Simpson Bay Lagoon. Most charters drop in for an afternoon of duty-free shopping along Front Street, where jewelry, watches, liquor, and electronics line the storefronts. The boardwalk runs one block down on the beach and is lined with bars and casinos that stay open late.

The catch: cruise ships dock at Philipsburg several days a week, and the town fills up fast on those days. Guests who would rather have it quieter time their visit for early morning or after the ships leave around 5 p.m.

Just west of Simpson Bay, the airport’s runway ends right at the edge of Maho Beach. Landings come in low enough that you can read the airline logos and feel the engine wash on the sand - it's one of the most photographed spots in the Caribbean.

Day Trip to Anguilla and Its Pristine Beaches

Anguilla lies twelve miles north of St. Martin, perfect for a short morning sail and your first border crossing of the week.

Most charters check in at Sandy Ground, the main harbor on Anguilla's west side, where guests have breakfast at one of the waterfront cafés while the captain handles customs paperwork.

From there, the day typically splits between two of Anguilla's small offshore islets and one of its mainland beaches.

Sandy Island is a tiny sandbar half a mile offshore with one open-air restaurant, white sand, and clear water. Prickly Pear is a pair of uninhabited islands with snorkeling reefs on the western side and a beach bar on the other.

Shoal Bay East on the main island is consistently ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean: two miles of fine white sand and turquoise water with a handful of beach restaurants set back from the shore.

Cap Juluca and Meads Bay are the resort-row beaches on the western tip - very quiet, very white, and often nearly empty by yacht-day standards.

Day Trip to St. Barts and Beyond

St. Barts is only fifteen miles southeast of St. Martin but feels like an entirely different island. During peak season, megayachts fill the main harbor at Gustavia, drawing visitors to the surrounding luxury shops, boutique perfumeries, and art galleries. Dinner spots range from casual French bistros to Michelin-starred tables, often a short tender ride from where the yacht is anchored.

Anse de Colombier is the quieter part of the island - a wide, sandy bay on the northwest tip, reachable only by boat or by a 20-minute walk over a hill. The anchorage is protected and the beach stays empty most days. Snorkeling along the rocks at the western edge is among the best on the island.

Ile Fourchue, halfway between St. Martin and St. Barts, is a horseshoe-shaped uninhabited islet with a protected anchorage in the middle and reefs ringing the entrance. It’s a common overnight stop on the way south.

For charters with extra time, Saba and Statia further south are worth a visit. They are quieter, more rugged, and known for some of the best diving in the eastern Caribbean, with far fewer yachts around.

All-Inclusive Crewed Yacht Charters in St. Martin

Most yacht charters in St. Martin run on an all-inclusive basis. One base rate covers the bulk of the week - the yacht, the crew, food, standard drinks, fuel, water, and the toys - so guests do not have to track small costs day to day.

Sailing yachts and most catamarans use this model, which most charter guests prefer.

The staff’s expertise and hospitality are what makes the experience work.

A captain who knows the ins-and-outs of St. Martin knows when Tintamarre gets choppy and Pinel calm.

They handle clearance into Anguilla and St. Barts, so guests wake up in a new country rather than in a customs line.

The chefs onboard are also excellent, and they can put together delicious meals, courtesy of the wine, cheeses, bread, and fresh fish that’s available on the French side of the island. Guests often eat better on the boat than they would at the restaurants on shore.

Larger boats, such as motor yachts and most superyachts, operate on a plus-expenses model instead. The base rate covers the yacht and crew, and an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) of 25–30% of the charter fee is paid up front.

The captain uses the APA to cover fuel, food, docking fees, and other running costs through the week. Any unused balance is returned.

What's Included in an All-Inclusive Crewed Charter

A typical all-inclusive week covers:

• Use of the yacht and all onboard equipment

• Captain, chef, and crew (2-4 people, depending on yacht size)

• All meals on board - breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks

• Standard bar: house wines, beer, soft drinks, non-alcoholic drinks

• Fuel for the yacht and its tender

• Water toys: paddleboards, snorkel gear, kayaks, sometimes a small sailing dinghy

Unless stated otherwise, you’ll need to budget for these expenses separately:

• Airport transfers

• Onshore excursions

• Restaurants meals ashore

• Premium liquor and specific wine requests

• Cruising permits for Anguilla and St. Barts

• Crew gratuity. Caribbean gratuity is 15-20% of the charter rate, paid in cash to the captain at the end of the week.

Here’s how the two charter models compare side-by-side:

For onboard events - anniversaries, milestone birthdays, vow renewals, small corporate gatherings - the crew can arrange themed dinners, decor, and tender shuttles to shore, and special menus.

Share what you have in mind at the booking stage so the chef can build the menu around the occasion and the captain can select an anchorage to match.

St. Martin Yacht Charter Prices

Yacht charter costs depend on four things: yacht type, yacht size, the number of guests, and the season traveled.

A sailing catamaran for a couple is at the lower end of the range, while a 130 ft Motor Yacht with a full crew sits at the higher end. The catamaran charter runs on all-inclusive pricing, and the motor yacht on plus-expenses (APA) also factors in.

Season is another lever. Peak Caribbean season runs mid-December through April, when the weather is most reliable, and demand is highest.

May through July and November are shoulder periods - often quieter and slightly more flexible on pricing.

June through November is hurricane season, with most yachts repositioning to the Mediterranean or pausing operations.

Sample 7-Day St. Martin sailing itinerary

Charters with Ritzy Yachts run on a weekly minimum. The St. Martin itinerary usually follows some version of the Leeward Islands triangle - Dutch St. Maarten, Anguilla, French St. Martin, the offshore nature reserve, and St. Barts.

The captain adjusts the order based on weather and group preferences, but the canonical seven-night sequence runs as follows.

Guests board in Simpson Bay on day one. The first night is spent at anchor in the lagoon, with a welcome dinner aboard. Day two is a short morning sail twelve miles north to Anguilla. The captain handles customs at Sandy Ground, then the yacht moves to Sandy Island or Prickly Pear for an afternoon of snorkelling or beach time.

On Day three, the ship sails back south to the French side and stays in Marigot Bay. Visit the Wednesday or Saturday markets for lunch, and spend the evening at Grand Case, the island’s food capital, for dinner at the lolos.

Day four is a short sail east to Tintamarre, a small uninhabited island inside the St. Martin nature reserve, with white sand, reef snorkeling, and no development ashore, while day five brings you to Ile Fourchue, a horseshoe-shaped uninhabited islet just off St. Barts. The anchorage is sheltered inside the horseshoe, with reefs at the entrance for snorkeling.

For the last two days, you’ll drop by Gustavia, the main harbor on St. Barts, for designer shopping, boutique perfumeries, and dinner at a Michelin-starred table, and Anse de Colombier, a wide sandy bay on the northwest tip of St. Barts reachable only by boat.

The yacht anchors back in Simpson Bay for the final night, with disembarkation after breakfast the next morning. Total distance is about 59 nautical miles round trip, with no single day's sail longer than fifteen miles.

How to Choose Your Yacht: Catamarans, Monohulls or Motor Yachts

There are four choices of boats for sailing around St. Martin - catamaran, monohull, motoryacht, or superyacht.

The right one depends mostly on group size, how fast you want to move between islands, and how much weight you place on the sailing experience itself. Catamarans are the most popular pick across the Caribbean, St. Martin included.

Catamarans have two narrow hulls, which give guests more deck space, greater stability at anchor, and the ability to anchor closer to shore than other types of boats.

St. Martin catamaran charters can sleep up to 12 guests in 6 cabins, so they're perfect for families or groups who prioritize comfort over speed.

Monohulls - traditional sailing yachts - offer the classic sailing experience. They lean to one side under sail, which some guests find iconic, and others find tiring after a few hours.

Cabins tend to be tighter, and capacity is slightly lower for the same overall length. Best suited to sailing purists, couples, and smaller groups.

Motor yachts trade sails for engines. If reaching St. Barts before lunch on day one matters, or you would rather not depend on the wind for your schedule, a motor yacht is the answer.

They typically range from 60 to 130+ feet, sleep 8-12 guests, and most run on a plus-expenses basis. Living spaces are usually bigger, and many include a flybridge with an exterior hot tub.

Superyachts - typically over 100 feet and up - come with a full crew of 6-10 staff, larger water toys (jet skis, Seabobs, and towed tubes), and amenities closer to those of a private resort. They suit milestone trips, full-family weeks, and corporate charters that want resort-level service on the water.

Here are the four types of charter yachts, and how they compare:

Best Time to Charter a Yacht in St. Martin

Peak Caribbean charter season runs from December through April. Trade winds blow steadily at 15-20 knots from the east, daytime temperatures sit in the low 80s, and rain is rare and brief when it arrives.

May through July and November are also good months to charter. Days remain warm during these shoulder periods, anchorages are quieter, and availability and pricing are often slightly more flexible than peak season.

Most groups looking for the easiest sailing conditions and the lowest chance of weather disruption book between December and April, while groups with flexible dates or first-time-charter budgets often find better value in the shoulder months.

St. Martin’s Hurricane Season

Hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June through November, with peak storm activity from August through October. Most yachts in the region either reposition to the Mediterranean or pause operations during that window. Ritzy Yachts does not generally book St. Martin charters between August and November.

If a named storm forms during a booked charter outside the peak window, the captain reroutes or pauses operations until it passes. Ritzy Yachts works with guests on rescheduling if a storm forces a full cancellation.

Ready to plan your St. Martin Charter? Get in touch

All of our St. Martin yacht charters are built around your dates, group size, and the kind of week you want - whether that’s a French-side food-and-beach week, a Leeward Islands cruise covering three cultures, or a charter tailored to a milestone occasion.

Compared to a British Virgin Islands charter (which is calmer and more contained) or a Mediterranean week (with longer crossings and ancient harbors), St. Martin combines the best of European culture with Caribbean sailing in a way no other destination quite does.

Get in touch with our team to start planning. We will match you to the right boat and crew, and handle planning from there.