The US Virgin Islands sit a few miles from the British ones and are chartered as part of the same cruising ground, but almost all of the fleet is on the British side. A USVI charter usually means starting at St Thomas and crossing, or starting in the BVI and visiting St John. The choice is about flights and clearance rather than about sailing.
Taking a catamaran: USVI and BVI priced as one market
The Virgin Islands are priced as one market and the published figures come from the British side. Conch Charters publishes BVI bareboat monohulls from 2,599 USD a week and catamarans from 6,999; The Moorings publishes a 7 day charter for 2 from 3,284 USD on a page reaching 49,584; Sunsail publishes about 3,500 USD for a low season bareboat monohull. St Thomas bareboat sailing charters sit in the same bands.
The crossing and the clearance
Between the USVI and the BVI is an international border. Clearing in and out is a real formality at Road Town, West End or Cruz Bay, it takes a morning, and it has to be done on both sides. Some charter agreements restrict it, most price it, and a one week charter that crosses twice spends a noticeable part of the week in an office rather than an anchorage.
St John, which is the reason to be here
Two thirds of St John is national park with mooring balls in bays that are as good as anything in the British islands and considerably less crowded. Caneel, Maho, Francis and Leinster are the names. For crews chartering in the BVI, a day or two in St John is the usual answer to the crossing question; for crews chartering out of St Thomas it is the first afternoon.
Catamaran charters: St Thomas has some, but the fleets are British
History and scale: the BVI built the bareboat industry in the seventies and the infrastructure, the bases and the boats followed. St Thomas has charter operations and they are smaller. If the boat matters more than the flight, charter in the BVI; if the flight into St Thomas is what decides your trip, charter there and accept a smaller choice of hulls.
Questions people ask about usvi bareboat charter
How much is a USVI bareboat charter?
The Virgin Islands price as one market. Conch Charters publishes BVI monohulls from 2,599 USD a week and catamarans from 6,999, and The Moorings a 7 day charter for 2 from 3,284, all read on 11 September 2026.
Can you sail between the USVI and the BVI?
Yes, but it is an international border with clearance in and out on both sides, taking a morning each time. Some charter agreements restrict it and most price it.
Why are most Virgin Islands charter boats in the BVI?
The BVI built the bareboat industry in the seventies and the bases and fleets followed. St Thomas has charter operations but a much smaller choice of boats.