Midnight Sun Charters – 37ft OBSIDIAN

The best island days follow no timetable. Midnight Sun Charters puts you aboard the 37-foot Obsidian for a private day on the water, with a captain who can shape the route around your group. From St Thomas, you can reach British Virgin Islands beaches, snorkeling sites, lunch stops, and the famous Baths at Virgin Gorda.

I especially like the private boat setup, since your group of up to six does not have to share the day with strangers. I also like the chance to adjust the plan with your captain, whether you want more swimming, a longer lunch, or fewer stops and more time in one beautiful bay.

The main drawback is practical: the suggested stops add up to much more than a five to eight-hour outing. You will need to choose carefully, and BVI customs fees, fuel, and hotel transport are not included in the $2,000 price.

Key points before you book

• A private 37-foot boat for up to six: The $2,000 price covers the group, not each person, making the cost easier to justify with five or six guests.
• A flexible route: You can work with your captain to decide where to swim, snorkel, eat, and stop for a drink.
• Strong captain feedback: Adam, Justin, Sam, and Colin are singled out for good service, flexibility, and making families feel welcome.
• The Baths requires real time: Allow about two hours if Virgin Gorda is a priority, since the rocks and Devil’s Bay deserve more than a quick photo stop.
• Cruise passengers need extra care: Ship details, passport information, and re-boarding times are required at booking.
• Plan for extra charges: BVI customs and entrance fees, fuel, and hotel pickup are outside the advertised price.

Why a private charter changes the day

A standard boat excursion gives you a fixed route and a fixed pace. This charter gives you a captain and a boat, then lets your party help decide how the day unfolds. That matters in the Virgin Islands, where the best choice can depend on how much time you want in the water and how ambitious your route is.

You can spend the morning at a beach, move to a snorkel site, stop for lunch, and finish with a drink at Jost Van Dyke. Or you can keep things simple and focus on Virgin Gorda and Norman Island. The point is not to check every name off a list. The point is to build a day that suits your group.

That freedom works especially well for families and mixed-age groups. One party praised Colin for connecting with both adults and teenagers, which is useful when not everyone wants the same kind of day. A teen may want active snorkeling, while another family member may prefer sunbathing and a slow lunch.

The boat carries bottled water with ice, and captain Adam was praised for providing snorkel gear and pool noodles. Those extras make the day easier, though you should confirm equipment availability when booking if it is important to your plans.

The $2,000 price and what it really buys

The listed price is $2,000 per group of up to six. With six people, that works out to roughly $333 per person before fuel and BVI customs or entrance fees. With four people, the effective cost rises to $500 each, so the charter becomes much better value when you can fill the boat.

You are paying for privacy, flexibility, and the captain’s time rather than a simple ride from one point to another. If your group values a custom day and wants to combine several islands, the price can make sense. If you mainly want one beach and a short swim, a less expensive shared excursion may be the better fit.

Fuel is not included, and the BVI charges are also extra. The information provided does not state the exact amounts, so ask about the full expected total before departure. That is particularly important for smaller groups, where added charges affect each person more.

The outing lasts about five to eight hours. That is enough for a good selection of stops, but not enough to enjoy every listed location properly. The published stop times total twelve hours before accounting for travel, customs, and boarding. Treat the list as a menu of possibilities, not a promise that all eight stops fit into one day.

Magens Bay begins with an easy beach stop

Magens Bay is listed as the first stop, with about one hour allowed. It is free to enter on this itinerary and is known for its broad beach and calm-water setting.

An hour gives you time for a swim, a little sun, and a quick look around. It does not give you a full beach day. If Magens Bay is a personal priority, tell the captain early so the rest of the route can be trimmed.

The bay also raises an itinerary question. Since the charter begins in St Thomas and the main route then heads toward the BVI, you should confirm how this stop fits your day and whether it is included in your chosen route. The captain can help balance local St Thomas time against the longer run to Virgin Gorda, Norman Island, or Jost Van Dyke.

The Baths and Devil’s Bay deserve the longest look

The Baths on Virgin Gorda are the signature stop on this route. Giant granite boulders form narrow passages and pools along the shore, and the route includes time at Devil’s Bay for swimming. About two hours are allowed, and admission is included.

I would make The Baths a top choice if this is your first visit to the BVI. It offers more than a quick swim because you can explore the rock formations and then cool off at Devil’s Bay. The terrain also means you should not treat it as a simple boat-to-beach stop.

The possible drawback is time. Reaching Virgin Gorda and returning to St Thomas takes a larger share of the day than staying around Norman Island or nearby cays. If you choose The Baths, you may have to drop several other stops. That is a fair trade if this is the sight you most want to see.

Sandy Cay is built for a quiet hour

Sandy Cay is a small BVI island suited to snorkeling or sunbathing. The planned stop is about one hour, with admission included.

This is a good choice when you want a quieter break between more active stops. You can use the hour to float, swim, or simply sit in the sun. It also gives your group a chance to slow down rather than racing from one attraction to the next.

Because Sandy Cay is small, the appeal is its simplicity. Do not expect a long list of facilities or activities from the information provided. Choose it for the water and the pause, not for a packed sightseeing program.

Francis Bay brings turtle and ray snorkeling

Francis Bay is scheduled for about an hour and is noted for snorkeling with turtles and sea rays. Admission is included.

This stop will appeal to anyone who wants wildlife rather than only scenery. Bring patience. Marine life does not follow a timetable, so an hour may produce a memorable sighting or may feel brief if conditions are less favorable.

The private format helps here. If your group is enjoying the water, you can ask the captain about staying longer and cutting a less important stop. That flexibility is one of the strongest reasons to choose a private charter instead of a rigid group tour.

Norman Island combines caves, snorkeling, and lunch

Norman Island Caves are described as a strong snorkeling location and are linked with the old Crusoe’s Treasure Island story. About two hours are planned, and the stop can also work well for lunch.

This is one of the more useful all-around stops because it combines a story, a swim, and a meal break. Two hours gives you enough time to snorkel and eat without turning lunch into a rushed sandwich between stops.

The route also includes The Indians, another snorkel site near Norman Island, with about one hour allowed. If underwater time is your main goal, Norman Island and The Indians may offer a better use of the day than trying to reach every beach and bar on the list.

One account also included a stop at Pizza Boat on the way back, with drinks and a bushwacker. That sounds like a fun addition, but it should be treated as an example of the captain tailoring a route, not as a guaranteed part of every booking.

Cooper Island is the lunch-focused choice

Cooper Island is allotted two hours and is presented as a strong lunch stop. The longer pause makes sense here, since a meal can easily consume much of an hour once you add swimming or time ashore.

You will need to decide if lunch at Cooper Island fits your priorities. It may be ideal for a group that wants a comfortable midday break, but it competes directly with Norman Island, Pizza Boat, or Soggy Dollar Bar. Ask your captain about the day’s timing before setting your heart on several meal stops.

Since food is not listed among the included items, plan to pay for lunch and drinks separately. The charter includes bottled water with ice, but not meals.

Soggy Dollar Bar adds a classic Jost Van Dyke stop

The Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke is the route’s island-hopping finale, with about two hours planned for a famous Painkiller cocktail. Admission is included in the tour information, though your drink is not listed as included.

This stop suits adults who want a relaxed bar break after swimming and snorkeling. It also gives the day a social finish, but it may be less appealing if your group prefers beaches, wildlife, or quiet water.

The distance and customs requirements matter. A Jost Van Dyke visit adds another BVI destination to a day that may already include Virgin Gorda and Norman Island. If Soggy Dollar is essential, make it one of your first priorities when discussing the route.

The captains shape the quality of the day

The strongest praise centers on the captains. Adam was credited with making several enjoyable stops, supplying snorkel gear and pool noodles, and dropping a group close to its cruise ship to help them use every available minute.

Sam was praised for being flexible and for tailoring the tour around what the group wanted to see and do. Colin made a strong impression on a family with teenagers, which suggests the crew understands that a successful private day must work for different ages and energy levels.

Justin was singled out with a recommendation to visit Virgin Gorda and The Baths, eat at Norman Island, and stop at Pizza Boat for drinks on the return. That route shows how the captain can link major sights with food and a casual drink, though the exact plan depends on timing and conditions.

The overall rating is 4.9 from 135 ratings, with 99 percent recommending the experience. Those numbers point to a consistently strong operation, but they do not remove the need to communicate clearly. Tell the captain what matters most before leaving: beaches, snorkeling, lunch, The Baths, or a bar stop.

Timing matters more than the long stop list

The listed route includes Magens Bay, The Baths, Sandy Cay, Francis Bay, Norman Island Caves, The Indians, Cooper Island, and Soggy Dollar Bar. Read together, the stop times total about twelve hours, while the charter itself is advertised at five to eight hours.

That difference is the most important planning issue. You cannot reasonably expect to spend one or two hours at each location and still complete the route within the normal charter window. Travel between islands and BVI entry procedures also take time.

I suggest choosing two or three main goals. For example:

• The Baths, Norman Island Caves, and one lunch stop
• Francis Bay, The Indians, and Cooper Island
• Sandy Cay, Soggy Dollar Bar, and a relaxed beach stop

This approach gives you room to enjoy the water instead of watching the clock. A private charter is at its best when you use the flexibility to cut stops, not when you try to turn the day into a race.

Cruise passengers need a careful plan

Cruise ship passengers must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time when booking. You also need a valid passport on the day of travel, and passport name, number, expiry date, and country are required for every participant.

Do not book this casually around a tight ship schedule. The operator does not issue refunds if you miss the tour because your cruise ship arrives late or fails to arrive. Make sure your planned return leaves a sensible margin before the ship’s re-boarding time.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The tour information says the experience is near public transportation, but it does not specify a hotel transfer service. Confirm where you need to meet and how you will reach the departure point.

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. That is another reason not to leave the reservation until the last minute, especially since the experience is booked about 45 days ahead on average.

Weather and cancellation rules

This charter requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

For your own cancellation, you receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

Those terms are reasonable for a boat trip, but they make timing important. Keep your schedule flexible enough to move the outing if weather affects the original date.

Who will enjoy the 37ft Obsidian most?

I would recommend this charter to a group of up to six that wants privacy and has a clear idea of its priorities. It is particularly well suited to families, couples traveling together, and friends who want a day split between swimming, snorkeling, food, and island stops.

It is also a strong option for cruise passengers, provided you have enough time between docking and re-boarding and you share all required ship details at booking. The captain’s ability to adjust the plan can help you make the most of a limited port day.

I would hesitate if your group dislikes extra fees, wants a fixed all-inclusive price, or hopes to see every stop listed. The $2,000 cost is easier to defend with a full group and a genuine interest in a private boat. For two people seeking only a quick beach visit, the value is less convincing.

Should you book Midnight Sun Charters?

Book it if you want your own boat, a flexible captain, and the freedom to build a BVI day around your group. The strongest plan is to choose a few priorities before departure and let the captain shape the route around them.

The experience earns its high marks through personal service, flexible routing, and well-chosen stops such as The Baths, Norman Island, and Francis Bay. Just confirm fuel and BVI fees, carry a valid passport, and accept that the full stop list is far too long for one five to eight-hour outing.

If your group can share the cost and values time on the water more than a rigid sightseeing checklist, the Obsidian is a persuasive choice from St Thomas.

FAQ

How much does the private charter cost?

The charter costs $2,000 per group of up to six people. Fuel and BVI customs or entrance fees are not included.

How long does the experience last?

The charter lasts approximately five to eight hours. The actual route and number of stops depend on the itinerary you arrange with your captain.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a private tour, a captain, and bottled water with ice. Snorkeling equipment and pool noodles were provided on at least one reported outing, but you should confirm equipment details when booking.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. Every participant must have a current valid passport on the day of travel. Passport name, number, expiry date, and country are required at booking.

What information do cruise ship passengers need to provide?

Cruise passengers must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time when booking. No refund is issued if the tour is missed because the ship is late or does not arrive.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded, while a weather cancellation offers a different date or a full refund.