Private Full Day or Half Day Charter – 37′ Midnight Express

Fast boat, big island day. This private charter connects St. Thomas with the British Virgin Islands aboard a blue-and-white 37-foot Midnight Express powered by three 300-horsepower outboards. I like the freedom to shape the day around your group, and I like that the boat carries snorkeling gear, noodles, drinks, a cooler, and ice. The main catch is the extra cost: fuel, a 20 percent captain gratuity, lunch, and $75 cash per person for BVI customs are not included.

This is a strong choice if you want several famous island stops without dealing with planes or ferries. Captains Jervan and Jashae have been praised for accommodating custom plans, telling good stories, and keeping the boats in excellent condition. Still, passport and border formalities take time, and the fast, open-water ride may not suit anyone who prefers a slow sightseeing cruise.

Key points at a glance

• A true private charter: Your group has the boat and captain to itself, with room for up to 12 people, though more than six passengers cost extra.
• Three 300-horsepower engines: The Midnight Express is built for speed, helping you cover several islands in one long day.
• BVI border crossing: Passports are needed, and BVI customs costs $75 cash per person.
• Big-name island stops: The day can include The Baths, Norman Island, Jost Van Dyke, and Cruz Bay.
• Useful onboard extras: Bottled water, soda, ice, a cooler, snorkeling equipment, and swimming noodles are included.
• Flexible timing: Choose roughly four to eight hours, depending on whether you want a half-day USVI outing or a full day across the BVI.

Why the 37-foot Midnight Express changes the day

The boat is the star here. This blue-and-white 37-foot Midnight Express uses three 300-horsepower outboard engines, so it is designed to move quickly between St. Thomas, the British Virgin Islands, and the many islands and cays scattered around them.

That speed matters. A slower vessel may force you to choose one or two main stops. This charter is built for a fuller day, with the possibility of seeing The Baths, Norman Island, Jost Van Dyke, and Cruz Bay in one outing. The tradeoff is simple: a high-performance boat usually gives you more time at the islands, but the ride itself may feel lively in open water.

You are not joining a large shared excursion. The charter is private, so the captain can work around your group’s priorities. That is especially useful if some people want to swim, others want to see rock formations, and someone else is mainly interested in a beach bar and a cold drink.

The boat accommodates up to 12 people, but the listed inclusions cover up to six. An extra fee applies above six, so ask for the exact total before booking if you have a larger group. For a small family or a group of friends, the private setup gives you control that a scheduled group boat cannot match.

Starting at Compass Point Marina at 8:30

The meeting point is Compass Point Marina in Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas. The scheduled start is 8:30 a.m., and the captain meets you at the marina before walking you to the boat.

Pickup is offered, but you should confirm exactly where it applies when you reserve. The published meeting point remains Compass Point Marina, and the trip ends back there. That return detail matters if you are arranging a taxi, planning dinner, or coordinating with a cruise ship schedule.

Have every passport ready from the beginning if you plan to enter the BVI. You will need them at Soper’s Hole, West End, Tortola, or another BVI entry point. On the return, you clear US customs in Cruz Bay on St. John.

This is not a minor paperwork detail. Border clearance can take part of your day, and the BVI customs fee is $75 cash per person. Bring the correct amount in cash unless the operator gives you different instructions. A passport is essential for anyone crossing into the BVI, so check expiration dates before you arrive.

Soper’s Hole and the practical side of crossing borders

Soper’s Hole is the first major checkpoint after leaving the US Virgin Islands for the BVI. The listed stop allows about 30 minutes for customs and immigration.

You should think of this as a necessary pause, not a sightseeing stop. Keep passports easy to reach rather than buried in a dry bag or beach tote. The captain will guide you through the arrival process, but each passenger still needs the required documents and fee.

The cross-border format is one of the charter’s biggest advantages. You can reach famous BVI places by boat rather than arranging separate flights, ferries, and transfers. It is also one of the reasons the trip costs more than a simple USVI harbor cruise.

If your group wants a relaxed day with no formalities, choose the USVI-only option. If you want The Baths or Jost Van Dyke, the border crossing is part of the deal.

The Baths on Virgin Gorda

The Baths are the visual highlight for many people. Huge granite boulders form a maze of narrow passages, rock pools, and shaded openings. The route leads toward the Cathedral Room, a natural pool inside a small cave.

The planned visit is about two hours, which gives you time to explore rather than simply step ashore, take one photo, and hurry back to the boat. Bring footwear suited to uneven rock surfaces, although the supplied information does not specify what type is required. You will also want to keep valuables secure while moving through the formations.

The Baths are best for people who enjoy active sightseeing. This is not just a beach stop. You move among boulders and through passageways, with water and rock shaping the route. Conditions can affect how easy the passages feel, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask the operator for current guidance before booking.

The admission is listed as free, but the wider cost of reaching Virgin Gorda is built into the private charter, fuel, captain, and border expenses. In other words, the famous formation itself may not charge an entry fee, but getting there is the expensive part.

Norman Island and the Treasure Island connection

Norman Island adds a storybook note to the day. Its connection with Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island gives the stop a touch of pirate-era romance, even if you are mainly there for the water and scenery.

The planned time is about two hours. That is enough room for your captain to adjust the pace around your group rather than forcing you through a fixed schedule. The provided details do not specify a particular beach, trail, restaurant, or snorkeling site at Norman Island, so confirm what your preferred stop will include before departure.

This is a good place to use the boat’s snorkeling equipment if conditions and the captain’s plan allow. Masks and gear are included, as are swimming noodles. The noodles are handy for anyone who wants support in the water without committing to a strenuous swim.

Do not expect a museum-style history lesson. Norman Island’s appeal comes from its setting and its connection to a famous adventure novel. If you want a quiet water stop with a bit of legend attached, it fits the day well.

Jost Van Dyke for a Painkiller or Rum Punch

Jost Van Dyke is one of the smallest major islands in the BVI, but it has an outsized reputation for easygoing beach-bar culture. The planned stop lasts about an hour, with the option to enjoy a Painkiller at Foxy’s or a rum punch at the Soggy Dollar.

This is the most social stop on the route. It gives you a change from rock formations and boat time, but the hour is short. If your group wants a long lunch, relaxed shopping, and a swim, you may need to choose between Jost Van Dyke and another stop.

Lunch is not included, so budget for food separately. The supplied details name drinks at Foxy’s and the Soggy Dollar, but they do not promise a meal reservation or a set lunch plan. Ask the captain how much time is available if eating on Jost Van Dyke matters to you.

Alcohol also deserves some common sense. You are on a boat, crossing borders, and returning to St. Thomas, so pace yourself. A Painkiller is part of the island’s appeal, but a full day on the water is more enjoyable when nobody overdoes it.

Returning through Cruz Bay on St. John

On the way back, the group clears US customs in Cruz Bay, St. John. The listed time is about 30 minutes.

Like the outward clearance at Soper’s Hole, this stop is about procedure. Keep your passports close, and allow some flexibility in your schedule after the boat returns to the marina. The charter is estimated at four to eight hours, and customs timing can affect the final arrival.

Cruz Bay also gives the route a useful USVI link. If your group prefers not to cross into another country, the captain can keep the outing within the US Virgin Islands instead. That shorter plan may suit families, guests without passports, or anyone who wants a simpler day on the water.

A USVI-only option for four or seven hours

You do not have to cross into the BVI. The charter can keep you in the US Virgin Islands for roughly four or seven hours, with time for historical landmarks and swimming along the shoreline.

This option removes BVI customs fees and the need to clear a foreign border. It also lets you spend more time in one region instead of using part of the day to travel between islands and checkpoints.

The description points to historical sites dating back to the 1600s and well-known beaches, but it does not name every possible stop. That is where a private charter helps. Tell the operator if you care most about swimming, beaches, history, or a slower pace, then confirm the proposed route.

The USVI option may be the better value for a half-day booking. You still get a private boat, captain, drinks, cooler, ice, and water equipment without paying the BVI customs charge. You give up the international island-hopping element, but not the basic boating experience.

What is included, and what will cost extra

The $1,950 price is per group, not per person, and the maximum group size is 12. That sounds expensive until you divide it among a full group: at 12 people, the base price works out to $162.50 each. At six people, it is $325 each before the extra charges.

That comparison is useful, but it can also mislead. The base price does not include fuel, lunch, the customary 20 percent captain gratuity, or the $75-per-person BVI customs fee. Above six passengers, an additional fee applies as well.

For a BVI trip, calculate the full cost before deciding. A small group will pay more per person, while a larger group can spread the private-boat cost more effectively. You are paying for speed, privacy, flexibility, and a high-end vessel, not simply transportation from one beach to another.

Included onboard:

• Bottled water and soda
• Cooler and ice
• Snorkeling equipment
• Swimming noodles
• Private use of the charter for your group

The gear and drinks are practical, especially on a long day. You still need to arrange lunch and should bring any personal items you want for sun protection, passports, and time ashore.

The captains and the value of a private plan

The strongest praise centers on the crew. Captain Jervan is described as terrific and very accommodating with a custom full-day plan. Captain Jashae is also credited with making trips memorable, sharing stories, and helping create an easy trip to Virgin Gorda.

Those details matter because a private charter depends heavily on the captain. A good captain helps you balance travel time, swimming, sightseeing, food, and border formalities. You are not locked into a tour company’s fixed group rhythm.

One group originally reserved a different boat and received a last-minute upgrade to the Midnight Express. That is a nice outcome, but I would not treat an upgrade as part of the standard promise. Book this boat because you want this boat, and confirm the vessel before the day of departure.

The operator is locally owned, and the boats are described as very well kept. That combination adds confidence, particularly when you are spending nearly two thousand dollars before fuel and other charges.

Who should book this St. Thomas charter?

I would recommend it most strongly for:

• Families or friends who want a private day
• Groups that can share the base price
• People eager to see several BVI highlights in one outing
• Confident swimmers who enjoy time on and around the water
• Visitors who value a fast boat and a flexible route
• Groups willing to handle passports, customs, and extra costs

I would be more cautious if you want a slow cruise, a fixed lunch, or a low total price. It is also not the easiest match for anyone uncomfortable with open-water speed or uneven rock passages at The Baths.

The charter suits active groups better than passive sightseers. You will spend the day moving between islands, handling border formalities, walking through rock formations, swimming, and deciding how to use limited time at places such as Jost Van Dyke.

Booking details and cancellation advice

Confirmation is provided when you book. Service animals are allowed, the marina is near public transportation, and most people can participate, though the operator should answer specific mobility questions before you reserve.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted or refunded. The trip depends on good weather, and if poor conditions force a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Because the charter is often booked well in advance, with an average booking lead time of about 34 days, do not wait until the last minute if your dates are fixed. Confirm the boat, passenger count, pickup point, fuel cost, customs instructions, and preferred route before paying.

Is the Midnight Express charter worth booking?

Book it if you want a private, fast, full-day island outing and can handle the real cost of a BVI crossing. The combination of a powerful 37-foot boat, a custom route, snorkeling gear, and access to The Baths, Norman Island, and Jost Van Dyke is hard to match with ordinary public transport.

Choose the USVI-only plan if you want fewer complications and a better fit for a shorter day. For the BVI version, bring passports, $75 cash per person, and room in the budget for fuel, lunch, and the captain’s 20 percent gratuity.

My practical verdict: this is a premium charter with genuine value for a group of six or more, especially if privacy and several island stops matter to you. It is less appealing for a small group watching every dollar. Ask clear questions before booking, then let the captain shape the day around your priorities.

FAQ

How much does the private Midnight Express charter cost?

The price is $1,950 per group, with up to 12 passengers. More than six passengers incur an additional fee. Fuel, lunch, a customary 20 percent captain gratuity, and BVI customs fees are not included.

How long does the charter last?

The experience lasts approximately four to eight hours. The USVI options are listed as roughly four or seven hours, while a full BVI day can run close to eight hours.

Where does the boat leave from?

The meeting point is Compass Point Marina in Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas. The scheduled start time is 8:30 a.m., and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

Do I need a passport?

Yes, you need a passport if you are leaving St. Thomas and entering the British Virgin Islands. Passports must be available for customs and immigration at Soper’s Hole or another BVI entry point.

How much are the BVI customs fees?

The BVI customs fee is $75 cash per person. This cost is not included in the charter price.

What equipment and refreshments are included?

The charter includes bottled water, soda, a cooler with ice, snorkeling equipment, and swimming noodles. Lunch is not included.

Can the trip be canceled because of weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor conditions, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.