Private Speedboat Charter: St Maarten to Anguilla

The best Anguilla days begin on the water. This private speedboat charter from St Maarten gives you a fast, flexible route to Shoal Bay, Little Bay, and Meads Bay, with a captain and guide focused on your group rather than a crowded boatload. I like the open bar with champagne, rum cocktails, beer, soda, and water, and I like that snorkel gear and floating devices are included.

The main catch is cost. The boat is $1,500 for up to nine people, so it offers fair value for a full group but becomes expensive for only two or three passengers. You also pay customs and clearance fees in Anguilla, and lunch is separate.

Key points to know before booking

• A private boat for up to nine people gives your group space and more say over the day.
• Shoal Bay gets about two hours, enough time for swimming, relaxing, and a proper beach break.
• Little Bay is reached only by boat, making it a useful stop for snorkeling and a quieter stretch of sand.
• Snorkel equipment and floating devices are included, so you do not need to pack your own gear.
• The strongest praise goes to the captains, including Junior, Ignacio, Nicolas, and Sammy, who helped with safety, island information, beach choices, and water activities.
• Lunch is not included, and you need a current passport plus money or a card for customs and lunch costs.

Leaving St Maarten at 9:30 a.m.

Your day starts at 62 Welfare Road in Cole Bay, Sint Maarten, at 9:30 a.m. The excursion lasts about seven hours and returns to the same meeting point. That timing gives you most of the daylight for Anguilla without turning the trip into an exhausting overnight-style outing.

A speedboat changes the feel of the crossing. You are not simply being carried from one island to another. The ride itself is part of the day, with open Caribbean water, wind, and a quicker pace than a standard ferry. Bring a swimsuit and towel, and expect to get wet from spray or swimming.

Because this is a private charter, only your group participates. That matters most if you are traveling with children, relatives, or friends who want different levels of activity. One person can snorkel while another stays aboard or rests on the beach, without a large group trying to follow one fixed schedule.

You should bring a valid passport. Anguilla is a separate destination, and customs and clearance fees are not included in the price. Cruise ship passengers need to provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time when booking. That information helps the operator judge if the seven-hour outing fits your port schedule.

The boat ride and what is included

The boat is described as a high-energy speedboat, so this is not the slow, quiet way to see the islands. You get a brisk ride between stops, with your captain handling the route and your guide helping with the day’s activities.

The open bar includes champagne, rum cocktails, beer, sodas, and water. That is a pleasant touch on a hot day, but it does not replace lunch. The outing stops at a beach restaurant of your choice, and you pay for that meal yourself. Ask your captain about the lunch stop and expected timing early in the day so you know how much beach time remains.

Snorkel equipment is supplied, along with floating devices. This is useful if you want to travel light. Still, bring your own towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, and any personal items you prefer using in the water. The supplied details do not specify the brand or size range of the equipment, so families with very young children or special gear needs should ask before departure.

The boat has room for up to nine people, but the value depends heavily on your head count. At the full capacity, the base price works out to about $167 per person before customs, lunch, and any other personal costs. For a small party, the same boat price is much harder to justify. The real benefit is privacy, not a low per-person fare.

Cap Juluca and the first look at Anguilla

The first listed stop is Cap Juluca, a Belmond hotel on Anguilla. The point here is less about touring the hotel and more about arriving in style along a polished stretch of Caribbean coast. The boat ride, drinks, and open-water views set the tone before the swimming stops begin.

The schedule describes time for cruising, snorkeling, or relaxing, with a gourmet lunch referenced in the stop description. At the same time, lunch is clearly not part of the tour price, so treat that meal as an optional restaurant stop rather than an included course. You will need to choose and pay for lunch separately.

This part of the outing suits you if you want a little comfort between water activities. If you prefer nonstop snorkeling, tell your captain early. The private format gives your group a better chance of shaping the pace, though the actual order of stops can depend on sea conditions and the day’s route.

Little Bay, reached only by boat

Little Bay is part of Anguilla’s marine park and can be reached only by boat. That makes it feel more removed than a beach you can reach by road. The stop combines a small beach with snorkeling in clear, calm water.

The marine life is a major reason to bring your mask. The water may give you the chance to see sea turtles, and one guide, Ignacio, was praised for getting into the water to help film an octopus at Creole Rock. Creole Rock is not listed as a guaranteed stop for every departure, so do not book expecting that exact sight. Still, the story gives you a useful sense of how involved the crew can be when the conditions and route line up.

Little Bay is a good place to split up. You can snorkel, float, or sit on the small beach. The drawback is that marine life and water visibility are never fully controlled by the operator. Snorkeling is included, but a particular turtle, octopus, or other sighting is not guaranteed.

The crew’s role matters here. Junior was praised for offering island background and clear safety tips, while Ignacio joined the water activity and helped with filming. That combination is valuable: you get practical guidance before entering the water and help once you are out there.

Shoal Bay, the main beach stop

Shoal Bay Village receives about two hours, making it the longest named beach stop. This is where you get time to slow down. Shoal Bay is frequently ranked among the world’s top beaches, and the appeal is simple: soft sand, clear water, and enough time to swim rather than merely take a photograph from the boat.

Two hours is a useful amount of time. You can enjoy the beach without feeling rushed, but you should not expect a full day there. If your group wants a long lunch, extended swimming, and an unhurried beach walk, the stop may feel short. If you want to see several parts of Anguilla in one day, the timing is sensible.

This is also the stop most likely to please people who are not interested in snorkeling. You can stay on the sand while stronger swimmers use the water. Parents should note that the tour provides floating devices, but the supplied information does not promise lifeguards or child supervision. You remain responsible for your group in the water.

Shoal Bay can be the visual high point of the day, but it is not the only reason to book. The real advantage is seeing the beach as part of a private boat route, with other coves and marine areas included instead of spending all seven hours in one place.

Meads Bay and the final hour

Meads Bay receives about one hour. Compared with Shoal Bay, this is a shorter stop, but it gives you another setting for swimming, relaxing, or enjoying the coast before returning toward St Maarten.

The value of Meads Bay is variety. After a marine park stop and a longer beach stay, another bay keeps the day from becoming repetitive. You can use the hour for a final swim or simply settle in with a drink before the ride back.

Do not expect a detailed land tour of Anguilla. This is mainly a water-based day with beach access. If your priority is shopping, museums, village streets, or an extended restaurant meal, this charter is not designed for that. It focuses on beaches, swimming, snorkeling, and the pleasure of moving between islands by boat.

The wider description also names Crocus Bay and Sandy Island among the Anguilla highlights. Those places help explain the range of the experience, but the specific stop schedule names Cap Juluca, Little Bay, Shoal Bay Village, and Meads Bay. Confirm the exact route with the captain if Crocus Bay or Sandy Island is especially important to you.

What the captains add to the day

The most praised part of this outing is the crew. Junior and Ignacio received strong praise for safety guidance, island information, and hands-on help in the water. Captain Nicolas was credited with taking a family to beautiful beaches and making sure the day felt complete. Sammy was praised for local information, several beach and swim stops, and a good lunch location.

These details are more important than they may first appear. A private boat trip can be wonderful or merely expensive depending on the captain’s judgment. Good route decisions affect how much time you spend moving, swimming, eating, and resting.

You should also tell the crew what your group actually wants. A family with young swimmers may value calm water and floating time. Strong snorkelers may prefer more time at Little Bay. A group celebrating a special occasion may care more about the boat ride, champagne, and Shoal Bay than seeing every possible cove.

The tour has an average booking lead time of 33 days, which suggests you should not wait until the last moment if your dates are fixed. This is especially sensible for cruise passengers, who have a narrow window to return to the ship.

Price, timing, and the cancellation rule

The base cost is $1,500 per group, up to nine people. That price covers the private boat, captain and guide, open bar drinks, snorkel equipment, and floating devices. Customs and clearance fees in Anguilla are extra, and so is lunch.

For a full group, the price can make sense because you are buying privacy and personal attention for most of a day. At four people, the base cost is $375 each before extras. At two people, it becomes a premium outing. Compare that with your priorities: if a private captain, flexible attention, and a fast route between beaches matter greatly, the cost may be reasonable. If you mainly want a cheap beach transfer, it is not.

The tour has a five-star rating from eight posted reviews, with repeated praise for the captains and the quality of the day. That is encouraging, but it is still a small review sample. I would place more weight on the repeated details about safety, beach choices, snorkeling help, and local information than on the rating alone.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The excursion needs good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Who should book this private charter?

I would recommend it most strongly to a group of friends or family members who can share the $1,500 cost. The private format is especially useful when your group includes mixed interests. You can combine snorkeling, beach time, drinks, and a restaurant lunch without being tied to strangers’ preferences.

It also suits cruise passengers if the ship schedule allows the full outing and the required details are provided at booking. You must leave enough time to return to the ship after the boat reaches St Maarten.

This is a good fit for you if you want:

• Several Anguilla beaches in one day
• A private captain and guide
• Snorkeling without renting equipment separately
• A fast boat ride instead of a standard group excursion
• Time at Shoal Bay and Little Bay
• A relaxed open bar on the water

I would look elsewhere if you want an inexpensive transfer, a long land tour, or an all-inclusive lunch. You should also reconsider if anyone in your group dislikes speedboat rides, water spray, or a schedule built around swimming and beaches.

Should you book it?

Book this charter if your group can fill much of the boat and you want a polished, private day focused on Anguilla’s water and beaches. The combination of Shoal Bay, Little Bay, Meads Bay, included snorkel gear, and attentive captains gives the outing real substance beyond a simple island crossing.

Before paying, confirm the customs fee, lunch plan, exact beach route, and whether the schedule works with your ship or other commitments. If your group is small, compare the total cost carefully. For a full party that values privacy and personal service, this is a strong St Maarten day trip. For two people seeking the lowest price, it is a splurge.

FAQ

How much does the private speedboat charter cost?

The charter costs $1,500 per group, with up to nine people included.

How long does the excursion last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at 62 Welfare Road in Cole Bay, Sint Maarten.

What time does the boat depart?

The scheduled start time is 9:30 a.m.

Does the tour return to St Maarten?

Yes. The activity ends back at the meeting point in Cole Bay.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. The boat stops at a beach restaurant of your choice, and you pay for the meal separately.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The open bar includes champagne, rum cocktails, beer, sodas, and water.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and floating devices are included.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. A current valid passport is required on the day of travel.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund.