BVI Yacht Charters - What's Included

The bareboat companies represented have individual policies and vary in equipment and services provided. We represent four of the most reputable bareboat charter companies in the British Virgin Islands:

Horizon Yacht Charters
TMM - Tortola Marine Management
Virgin Traders Motor Yachts
Voyage Yacht Charters

Depending upon the sailboat or motor yacht selected, all bareboat charters will begin at one of three locations on Tortola in the BVI. There are over 50 models and 95 boats from which to choose, including monohulls, catamarans and power boats. To make your selection, see sailing charters or motor yacht charters. For base locations, see map of Tortola below.

Tortola Bareboat Holiday Prices

For monohull and catamaran sailboats, see bareboat charter rates or powerboat charter rates for motor yachts. Note: BVI bareboat charters do not include crew, provisioning, cruising tax, National Parks Trust permit, fuel costs or insurance.

Charter weeks span 8 days. Most British Virgin Islands boating holidays begin and end at noon and include 7 full days and nights with the exception of Voyage Charters which end at 10:00 am on the last day of your charter.

You may begin or end your sailing or power boat holiday any day of the week you choose depending upon availability.

Boat systems and chart briefings begin at or around 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on the day your Tortola bareboat charter begins with the exception of Voyage Charters and Virgin Traders who do not start their briefings until noon unless you sleep aboard the night before.

You may be required to do a quick check-out cruise around the harbour to establish your boat handling abilities. The whole briefing process takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Provisioning for your bareboat vacation is delivered before noon on the day your boating holiday begins with the exception of Voyage Charters who ask that you do not have your provisioning delivered until you have arrived at the dock.

All BVI Yacht Charters Include:

Who Includes what in their rates?

HYC = Horizon Yacht Charters
TMM = Tortola Marine Management
VYC = Voyage Yacht Charters
VT = Virgin Traders

Free Stuff & General Info		HYC		TMM		VYC		VT
Free Taxi Transfers		No		No		No		No
Minutes from Airport		40-45		30-35		55-60		40-45
Minutes from W.E. Ferry		12-15		20-25		5		12-15
Starter Package		Yes		Yes		Yes		Yes
Free Shower at Charter Base		Yes		Yes		Yes		Yes
Free WIFI at dock or base		Yes		Yes		Yes		Yes
Free Wifi Aboard Yachts		No		Yes		No		No
Water price/Gal. (Oct. 09)		.12		Free		Free		.12
Free Snorkel Gear		No		Yes		Yes		No
Free Ice		1 Bag		4 Bags		2 Bags		1 Bag
Sleep Aboard Fee (Available Pre-charter only)		75.00/ person Min. 200		50% of daily rate		Priced per yacht		60% of * daily rate

* Sleep aboards are only available on any of the Voyage catamarans if you are chartering for a minimum of 7 nights or longer.

Crew Costs		HYC		TMM		VYC		VT
Daily Captain's Fee + meals		150.00		150.00		150.00		150.00
Daily Cook 's Fee + meals		125.00		150.00		NA		125.00
Daily Instructor's Fee + meals		175.00		175.00		NA		175.00

Insurance & Security Deposit		HYC		TMM		VYC		VT
Daily Insurance Rates		50.00 500/cap		40.00 560/cap		50.00 700/cap		30.00 no cap
Refundable Security Deposit (with insurance)		1,000.00		400.00		400.00		3,000.00

Provisioning (excl. Beverages)		HYC		TMM		VYC		VT
Provisioning House Packages		Bobby's		RiteWay		None		Bobby's
Full Provisioning /person/day 3 meals /person/day		34.95		30.00		-		34.95
Split Provisioning /person/day		26.95		26.00		-		26.95
Dinners Ashore /person/day		22.95		21.00		-		22.95

Scuba Diving and Snorkel Gear

If chartering from TMM, your snorkel gear is provided free of charge. You may rent scuba equipment from Dive Tortola which is located at Prospect Reef Resort, right beside the charter base.

If chartering from Horizon Yacht Charters or Virgin Traders out of Nanny Cay Marina, snorkel and scuba gear is available for rent from Blue Water Divers located on the dock, beside the base.

Though Voyage Charters also provides free snorkel gear, if you would like to rent scuba equipment, there is another Bluewater Divers Shop in Soper's Hole Marina just down the dock from Voyage Charters. See their link above.

Additional Charges
In addition to the basic bareboat fees and those included in the table above, the following charges are applicable for all BVI yacht charters:

Cruising Tax
$2.00 /person/day from November 1st to April 30th
.75 /person/day from May 1 to October 31st.

National Parks Trust Mooring Fees
$25.00/week minimum for up to 4 guests
$35.00/week for 5 to 6 guests
$45.00/week for 7 to 8 guests
$55.00/week for 9 to 10 guests

Add $5.00/person for the first 7 nights for 11 people or more.
Weekly rates double if chartering 8 to 14 nights and triple if chartering 15 nights, etc.

V.I.S.A.R.
Virgin Islands Search and Rescue is a volunteer Organization which operates on donations from the boating community. All bareboat companies collect $1.00 per person towards the continuing efforts of this very worthwhile and all too frequently needed service. These are voluntary donations and although included on your invoice, may be deducted if you wish.

Early Arrival for Charters in the British Virgin Islands
If you plan to arrive in Tortola a day prior to your BVI yacht charter, we will be happy to make arrangements for you to sleep aboard your boat or at a nearby hotel. Sleep aboard rates are listed in the table above. Hotel rates vary, but are usually between $150.00 to $200.00 /night and up.

Refundable Security Deposit
A security deposit is required at time of arrival and may be paid in cash, traveler's checks or credit card. Your deposit will be returned upon the safe and undamaged return of the boat and its equipment and provided you have settled any outstanding charges. See rates for the individual bareboat companies in the table above.

Airport & Ferry Transfers
Once you've made your reservations, you will be asked to provide your flight number and time of arrival in Tortola. We will arrange, through your charter company, to have you picked up by taxi at the port of entry. This information will be sent to you with your taxi order form. If you will be arriving in St. Thomas, see the Ferry Schedule to Tortola.

Provisioning & Groceries in Tortola
We recommend Bobby's Market Place or RiteWay located in Road Town (see map below). They have an excellent selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, wine, liquor, beer, soda and a wide variety of canned goods, fresh bread, cheese, frozen foods, snacks and typical supermarket items. For more information on BVI provisioning, go to BVI yacht provisioning.

Water Toy Rentals
Water toys may be rented through either BVI Watertoys or Last Stop Sports. Both companies will deliver to your boat.

Chase Boat Service
All BVI bareboat companies operate their own chase boats, making service calls possible within very short order! Call the base from the cell phone provided aboard your yacht or use your VHF radio. Calls to the base are free. If it is determined that a chase call was required as a result of "customer error or neglect", you will be charged for parts and labour as well as the chase call itself. If it is a maintenance problem, the company will assume all expenses.

BVI Mooring Fees
Depending upon the anchorage, overnight mooring fees vary from $25.00 or $30.00 per night to $60.00 per night depending upon where you are. There are no fee for anchoring. Mooring fees are usually collected late afternoon or early evening.

For more information about bareboat holidays, see our Yacht Charter Information and FAQ sections. Come to the British Virgin Islands for a fabulous Caribbean sailing vacation!

Need more information about BVI Yacht Charters?
Contact our Tortola bareboat specialist!

Phone: (284) 495-4168 Tortola, BVI
Bareboats BVI