A four-cabin catamaran in the British Virgin Islands is published by Sunsail at about $5,700 for a low-season week and about $10,000 in high season. The Caribbean charter year has two prices for the same boat, and the gap between them is the largest published seasonal step in this record. Knowing where your dates fall matters more than which island group you choose, and on the published figures it is close to a doubling.
Ask several charter companies what your week costs
The seasonal step, published
For catamaran hire, Caribbean prices step with the season. Sunsail's own British Virgin Islands figures: about $3,500 for a low-season bareboat monohull and about $5,700 for a low-season four-cabin catamaran, against around $7,000 and about $10,000 for the same boats in high season. The Moorings publishes a BVI range of $3,284 to $49,584 for a 7 day charter for 2 people, which spans season, size and crew together.
When the seasons actually change
High season runs roughly mid-December to mid-April, when the trades are steady and the northern hemisphere is cold. Low season is the rest, with the caveat that the official hurricane season runs June to November and many companies restrict or reprice charters inside it. The shoulder weeks either side of the change are where the value is, and they book early for exactly that reason.
What the catamaran adds, and for whom
Four cabins with doors and their own heads, a cockpit that seats eight in shade, a swim platform and a boat that does not roll at anchor when the swell wraps into a bay. On catamaran charter holidays in the Caribbean, six or eight people usually pay less per head than they would on two monohulls. For two it is a lot of boat, and the monohull at about $3,500 low season is the better buy.
Questions people ask about caribbean catamaran charters
When is the Caribbean charter high season?
Roughly mid-December to mid-April. Sunsail's own published figures roughly double between low and high season for the same boat.
How much is a Caribbean catamaran?
Sunsail publishes about $5,700 low season and about $10,000 high season for a four-cabin catamaran in the BVI.
Should I avoid hurricane season?
June to November is the official season and many companies restrict or reprice charters inside it. The shoulder weeks either side of the seasonal change are the value.