Luxury Catamaran Private Charter in St. Maarten/St. Martin

A private 42-foot Lagoon 42 catamaran carries you from Dutch St. Maarten to the French side, with a captain, crew, open bar, full lunch, and time to swim. I like the relaxed pace and the fact that the food, towels, reef-safe sunscreen, water toys, and fuel are included. The main catch is the high price, especially for a small group.

I also like the mix of quiet water time at Happy Bay and Baie Longue with the very different spectacle of planes landing at Maho Beach. Crew members including Andre, Carla, Diana, Denise, and Tony have earned strong praise for attentive service, but the route can change with weather and sea conditions.

Key things to know before booking

• Freedom is a private 2022 Lagoon 42: You get the boat, captain, and crew for your own group rather than sharing the day with strangers.
• The day covers both sides of the island: The route links Port de Plaisance, Happy Bay, Baie Longue, and Maho Beach.
• Food and drinks are part of the fare: Expect a morning snack, barbecue lunch, salads, dessert, craft cocktails, wine, beer, prosecco, soft drinks, and more.
• Water time is built in: Snorkeling gear, two paddle boards, and a floating lily pad mat are provided.
• Maho Beach adds a fun finale: You get about 30 minutes near the airport beach to watch planes pass overhead.
• The cost makes more sense for a group: At $598.75 per person, this is a luxury splurge, not a low-cost beach cruise.

Starting at Port de Plaisance in Cole Bay

Your morning starts at 8:00 am at Renegades, located at Port de Plaisance Yacht Club in Cole Bay on the Dutch side of St. Maarten. The activity lasts about 7 hours and 30 minutes and ends back at the same marina.

The opening half hour is more than a simple transfer from dock to open water. You board Freedom, remove your sandals, and settle into a catamaran designed for space and comfort. The boat is a 2022 Lagoon 42 with a broad teak deck and several lounge areas. You can begin with a cool scented towel, a handmade chocolate, and a mimosa while the captain handles the boat.

That small welcome sets the tone. This is not a bare-bones sailing trip where you are handed a bottle of water and pointed toward a seat. The crew is there to serve drinks, prepare food, manage the equipment, and keep the day moving at an easy pace.

The private format matters here. You are not adjusting your day around a large mixed group. The only people on the activity are members of your own party, along with the captain and crew. The exact group capacity is not stated, so ask before booking if you need to confirm how many people the charter can hold.

Sailing toward Happy Bay on the French side

The first major stop is Happy Bay Beach, reached after a leisurely sail across to the French side. The scheduled stop lasts about three hours, giving you plenty of time to use the water toys, swim, snorkel, or simply stay aboard and enjoy the view.

Happy Bay is described as a quiet beach surrounded by natural scenery. The appeal is the change of pace. After leaving the marina, you have open water and a calm bay rather than a packed schedule of short photo stops. If you want a day that feels unhurried, this is likely the strongest part of the route.

A late-morning apple and cheese charcuterie board arrives during the sail or around this part of the morning. The crew also serves a beet and garlic hummus platter with fresh vegetables, pita chips, and rice crackers. These are useful details for anyone who dislikes the usual boat excursion diet of packaged snacks and basic sandwiches.

You can use the supplied snorkeling equipment here, though the information does not promise a specific reef, fish population, or water clarity on a given day. Weather and sea conditions can change the route. Bring a willingness to adapt rather than expecting every stop to look exactly the same.

The two paddle boards and floating lily pad mat add options for active and relaxed time. The mat is especially useful if your group includes people who would rather float than paddle. Towels and reef-safe sunscreen are also provided, which means fewer wet bags and fewer small purchases once you are aboard.

A long pause at Baie Longue and Belmond La Samanna

The next three-hour section takes you toward Baie Longue, home to high-end villas and the exclusive Belmond La Samanna resort. The stop is listed alongside The Spa at Belmond La Samanna, but you should understand the nature of the visit: the charter takes you to the area for swimming, sailing, and time on the water. It does not state that a spa treatment or resort access is included.

Baie Longue gives the day a more polished feel. You have clear water, high cliffs, and an upscale setting without needing to schedule a formal shore excursion. This is where the private boat format pays off. Your group can settle into the swim, paddle, or lounge rhythm that suits you instead of racing to the next stop.

Lunch is served during the day and includes barbecued skewers, fresh salads, homemade cookies, and locally made ice cream. The meal is substantial enough to make the open-ended afternoon practical. You are not left to bring your own food or return to the marina early because everyone is hungry.

The bar remains open all day. Included choices cover craft cocktails and mocktails made fresh, standard mixed drinks, beer, wine, prosecco, soft drinks, juices, and infused water. Alcohol is available only to people aged 18 or older. If you prefer not to drink, the mocktails, juices, soft drinks, and infused water give you alternatives.

This is also the point where you should be realistic about the price. You are paying for more than transport from one beach to another. The fare includes a private boat, fuel, staff, meals, drinks, equipment, towels, and onboard restroom access. It is still expensive, but the list of included items reduces the chance of constant add-on charges.

Watching planes at Maho Beach

The final stop is Maho Beach, scheduled for about 30 minutes. This is the most playful part of the route. The beach sits beside Princess Juliana International Airport, so you get a front-row view of aircraft landing overhead.

Maho is not the quiet beach stop. The airport setting is the attraction, and the short visit makes sense. You can take photos, watch the arrivals, and enjoy a change of scenery before returning to the marina. If your ideal boat day is entirely peaceful, this stop may feel less appealing than Happy Bay or Baie Longue. If you want one memorable, distinctly St. Maarten moment, it earns its place.

The stop is also weather and schedule dependent. The activity does not promise a specific aircraft type or landing time. Treat the planes as a bonus built into the route rather than the sole reason to book the charter.

Returning through Simpson Bay Bridge

From Maho Beach, Freedom returns through the Simpson Bay Bridge and docks at Port de Plaisance. The bridge passage gives you one last change of setting, with the crew waving to people watching from shore before the boat ties up.

The return to the same meeting point keeps the day simple. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to arrange your own way to Cole Bay. The meeting point is near public transportation, but the exact transport arrangements are not provided.

Allow extra time before the 8:00 am start if you need to find the marina, organize transportation, or buy anything personal. The boat includes a restroom, but it is still wise to board with the basics you want for a full day on the water.

What the all-inclusive setup really gives you

The phrase all-inclusive can be vague on some boat trips. Here, it has a fairly useful meaning. Fuel is covered, so you are not watching the clock because of an unexpected fuel charge. Food and drinks are covered, so the listed price includes more of the actual day than a simple charter rate might.

The inclusions cover:

• Morning apple and cheese board
• Beet and garlic hummus with crudités, pita chips, and rice crackers
• Barbecued skewers and fresh salads
• Homemade cookies and locally made ice cream
• Craft cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine, prosecco, mixed drinks, juices, and soft drinks
• Snorkeling equipment
• Two paddle boards
• Floating lily pad mat
• Towels and reef-safe sunscreen
• Onboard restroom
• Captain and crew
• Fuel

Gratuity is not included. Plan for that extra cost if the crew provides the attentive service this type of charter requires. The fare also does not include hotel transportation.

Several people who have sailed with Renegades have singled out the crew by name. Andre and Denise are praised for warm hosting, while Andre and Tony are also described as a strong team. Carla is noted for being responsive before the trip, and Diana is mentioned as part of the onboard crew. Crew assignments can change, so treat these names as examples rather than a guarantee of who will be aboard.

Is $598.75 per person a fair price?

At $598.75 per person, this is one of the pricier ways to spend a day around St. Maarten. It is not the right pick if you simply want a short boat ride, a beach transfer, or a cheap way to get on the water.

The value improves as your group grows and uses the private format fully. You are buying exclusive use of the boat, not just a seat. You also receive seven and a half hours of service, meals, premium drinks, equipment, fuel, and a crew focused only on your party. Group discounts may be available, but the exact terms are not provided, so ask how the price changes with your group size.

The strongest value is for people celebrating something, families or friends who want privacy, and guests who would otherwise spend money on separate meals, drinks, beach equipment, and transport. The weakest value is for a solo visitor or a couple who does not care about a private boat, open bar, or full meal service.

I would also compare the price with the cost of a shared catamaran plus restaurant meals and drinks. That will not make this charter inexpensive, but it can show whether the private setting is worth the difference for your group.

Who will enjoy Freedom most?

This charter suits you if you want a polished day with very little planning once you reach the dock. You can eat, drink, swim, paddle, snorkel, lounge, and let the crew manage the schedule.

It is especially well suited to:

• Families and friends traveling together
• Birthday, anniversary, or celebration groups
• Couples who want privacy and a full-service day
• People who value good food and a broad drink selection
• First-time visitors who want several famous St. Maarten sights in one outing
• Anyone who prefers a slower day rather than many short excursions

It may not suit you if you are watching your budget, dislike spending most of a day on a boat, or want a highly active snorkeling trip with a guaranteed reef location. The itinerary includes snorkeling, but it is not presented as a specialized marine-life tour.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. Still, the activity depends on good weather, and the route may change with sea conditions. That flexibility is sensible in the Caribbean, but it means you should avoid booking the charter when your plans cannot tolerate a change.

Booking timing, cancellation, and practical details

This activity is booked about 40 days in advance on average, which is a useful warning for busy holiday periods and popular travel dates. Private boats have fewer available departures than shared excursions, so book early if your schedule is fixed.

You receive confirmation at booking. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted, and cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

If poor weather forces Renegades to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund. Since the route already depends on sea conditions, keep some flexibility in your schedule if possible.

The activity is offered with a mobile ticket. Bring what you need for a full day in the sun, but remember that towels and reef-safe sunscreen are supplied. Hotel pickup is not included, so arrange transport to 155 Union Road in Cole Bay.

Should you book this private St. Maarten catamaran?

Book it if you want the boat itself to be a major part of your vacation, not just a way to reach a beach. The combination of private use, attentive crew, open bar, barbecue lunch, swimming time, Happy Bay, Baie Longue, and Maho Beach creates a full day with a clear sense of occasion.

Think twice if $598.75 per person strains your budget or if your group would be just as happy on a basic shared cruise. The private format is the central reason to pay more. For a group that values comfort, privacy, food, and easy service, Freedom makes a strong case. For a budget-minded beach day, choose something simpler.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran charter start?

It starts at Renegades, Port de Plaisance Yacht Club, 155 Union Road in Cole Bay, Sint Maarten. The start time is 8:00 am.

Where does the activity end?

The charter returns to Port de Plaisance Yacht Club in Cole Bay.

How long does the experience last?

The full activity lasts approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, along with the captain and crew.

What food is included?

Food includes an apple and cheese board, beet and garlic hummus with crudités and crackers, barbecued skewers, fresh salads, homemade cookies, and locally made ice cream.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

Yes. The bar includes craft cocktails, mocktails, mixed drinks, beer, wine, prosecco, soft drinks, juices, and infused water. The minimum age for alcohol consumption is 18.

Is hotel transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must arrange your own transportation to and from the meeting point.

What happens if bad weather cancels the charter?

If poor weather causes cancellation, 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.