The Caribbean is the one cruising ground where the catamaran premium is published rather than guessed at. Sunsail prints both hull types for the same week on the same page, which makes this the best place in this whole record to see what the second hull actually costs and to decide whether your party wants it.
The published comparison
Sunsail's British Virgin Islands page puts a low-season bareboat 42ft monohull at approximately $3,500 and a low-season four-cabin catamaran at about $5,700, with high-season equivalents around $7,000 and about $10,000. The Moorings publishes $3,284 to $49,584 for a 7 day charter for 2 people out of the same island group without splitting hull types, which brackets Sunsail's figures neatly.
What the second hull buys in the Caribbean
Four cabins with doors and their own heads, a cockpit that seats eight in the shade, a swim platform at the back and a boat that does not roll at anchor in a swell that wraps into a bay. For six or eight people it is usually cheaper per head than two monohulls and unquestionably more comfortable. For two people it is a lot of boat and the monohull is the better buy.
What neither figure includes
Cruising permits and National Parks fees, charged per person per day and collected locally; the mooring balls that most popular Caribbean bays now use, paid nightly; fuel; provisioning; and the security deposit or damage waiver. Together those are a meaningful addition to a week and they are identical whichever hull you take.
Questions people ask about caribbean catamaran charter
How much is a Caribbean catamaran charter?
Sunsail publishes about $5,700 for a low-season four-cabin catamaran and about $10,000 in high season, against about $3,500 and about $7,000 for a monohull.
Is a catamaran worth the extra in the Caribbean?
For six or eight people, usually: four cabins with doors, shade and no roll at anchor. For two, the monohull is the better value.
What extras does a Caribbean charter carry?
Cruising permits and park fees per person per day, mooring balls paid nightly, fuel, provisioning and the deposit or damage waiver.