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

A fast boat opens up the islands.

This private charter lets you cross from St. Thomas into 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, ice, and a cooler. The main catch is cost: $1,950 per group is a serious spend, and fuel, lunch, gratuity, and BVI customs fees come extra.

You can choose a half-day or full-day outing, with pickup offered and room for up to 12 people. The base inclusions cover up to six passengers, though, so ask about the added charge before booking a larger group. If you want a private boat, quick crossings, and several famous island stops in one day, this is a strong option.

Key Points To Know Before You Book

• A private Midnight Express: Your group gets the boat rather than sharing with strangers, with three 300-horsepower outboards for fast travel between islands.
• Two-country island hopping: The route can include both the US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands, with customs stops at Soper’s Hole and Cruz Bay.
• The Baths takes real time: Plan on about two hours at Virgin Gorda, enough to explore the boulders, caves, pools, and Cathedral Room.
• Captain-led flexibility: Captain Jervan received praise for adapting the route, while Captain Jashae was noted for stories and a smooth trip to Virgin Gorda.
• Bring cash for BVI customs: The fee is $75 per person, paid in cash, and it is not included in the charter price.
• Best for groups: The price makes more sense when divided among several people, especially if you want a private day instead of separate ferry and boat arrangements.

What This Charter Really Buys You

The central benefit is not simply a boat ride. It is control over your day.

From Compass Point Marina in Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas, you can set out at 8:30 a.m. and move between a string of islands and cays without arranging separate ferries, flights, taxis, and day tours. The company describes access to more than 100 islands and cays across the US and British Virgin Islands, though your exact route depends on the time you choose and the plan agreed with the captain.

The boat is a 37-foot Midnight Express, painted blue and white and fitted with three 300-horsepower outboards. That setup matters when your goal is to see several places in one day. You spend less of the outing waiting for transport and more of it at beaches, coves, restaurants, and swimming spots.

You also get privacy. Only your group participates, which makes the charter useful for families, couples traveling together, or friends who do not want to follow a fixed public-tour schedule. Captain Jervan was praised for adjusting a full-day plan to suit the group, and Captain Jashae was singled out for sharing stories and helping make the trip to Virgin Gorda memorable.

Still, private does not mean cheap. At $1,950 per group, the value improves as more people share the cost. A group of six is effectively paying $325 each before fuel, customs, lunch, and tip. With 12 people, the per-person cost could be much lower, but an added fee applies above six passengers. Confirm the exact total for your group before you commit.

Leaving Compass Point Marina At 8:30 a.m.

Your day begins at Compass Point Marina, St. Thomas, at 8:30 a.m. The captain meets you there and walks your group to the boat. Pickup is offered, which can make the morning easier, but confirm where you will be collected and how that affects the final price.

Have your passport ready from the start. You need it if you are departing St. Thomas and you will need it again when entering the British Virgin Islands. This is not the place to pack your passport in the bottom of a suitcase. Keep it dry and accessible.

The first marina stop is listed as about 30 minutes, including the welcome and boarding process. Your captain can also go over the day’s plan, which is useful because the route may include several major stops and border formalities.

The boat includes bottled water, soda, a cooler, ice, snorkeling equipment, and swimming noodles. Lunch is not included, so you need to budget for a meal or discuss food plans with the charter company in advance. Do not assume that a restaurant stop replaces every other part of the day. Your time is limited, particularly on a half-day booking.

Clearing Into The BVIs At Soper’s Hole

Soper’s Hole, at the West End of Tortola, is one possible entry point into the British Virgin Islands. Here, all passengers must present passports for customs and immigration clearance. The formal stop is listed at about 30 minutes, but border procedures can affect your schedule.

The BVI customs fee is $75 cash per person. This is a large extra cost, especially for a family or full group. Bring the required cash rather than assuming it can be added to the card payment for the charter.

This is one reason the private boat format can be valuable. You are not trying to connect with a ferry departure after customs, and you are not tied to the pace of a large boat. Your captain can manage the day around the clearance process, although no private charter can remove the need for official entry procedures.

The trip is described as a dual-country experience, but you should remember that international travel rules still apply. Passports are essential, and the route may change if the captain needs to use another approved entry point.

Two Hours At The Baths On Virgin Gorda

The Baths are likely to be the visual centerpiece of the day.

At Virgin Gorda, enormous granite boulders create a maze of passages, caves, pools, and narrow openings. The path leads toward the Cathedral Room, a natural pool set inside a small cave. You get about two hours here, which gives you a meaningful amount of time rather than a quick photo stop.

Wear footwear suitable for walking over uneven rock. That advice is practical rather than fancy: the attraction is formed by natural boulders, not a flat promenade. Keep your phone and other valuables protected around the water and cave areas.

Two hours can pass quickly. If you want to explore the rock formations at a relaxed pace, swim, and take photographs, The Baths may deserve priority over adding too many other stops. Your captain can help you decide how much time to spend here, especially on a half-day charter.

The Baths is also a place where the boat’s speed matters less than your time ashore. A fast crossing gets you there, but the real value comes from having enough time to move through the rock formations without feeling rushed.

Norman Island And The Treasure Island Connection

Norman Island brings a different mood. Its appeal comes from its connection to pirate lore and the long-standing belief that it helped inspire Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

The stop is scheduled for about two hours, giving you time to enjoy the island and surrounding water rather than simply point the camera from the boat. Snorkeling equipment is included, and the boat also carries swimming noodles, so this is a natural place to ask about getting into the water.

The attraction here is less about one famous rock formation and more about the setting, the stories, and the feeling of being on an island tied to old maritime legends. If your group likes history with a little imagination, Norman Island may be one of the most enjoyable parts of the route.

The drawback is the clock. A full-day trip can accommodate several stops, but every extra beach or swim reduces time elsewhere. On a half-day charter, you may need to choose between Norman Island, The Baths, and Jost Van Dyke rather than expect a full version of all three.

Jost Van Dyke For A Painkiller Or Rum Punch

Jost Van Dyke is a small island with a big reputation for casual beach-bar stops. The suggested choices are a Painkiller at Foxy’s or a rum punch at the Soggy Dollar.

This part of the day is listed at about one hour. That makes it a social break rather than a long island exploration. You can enjoy a drink, take in the shoreline, and get a taste of the island’s easygoing character.

Remember that drinks are not included. The boat supplies soda and bottled water, but your bar tab is separate. You should also plan carefully if anyone in your group is drinking, since the captain remains responsible for the boat and the return schedule.

I like this stop as a change of pace after time around rocks and water. Still, it may not suit every group. Families with young children, anyone who does not drink, or anyone who prefers swimming and beaches may want to ask the captain to trade this hour for another stop.

Returning Through Cruz Bay On St. John

On the way back, the group clears US customs at Cruz Bay on St. John. The listed time is about 30 minutes, and passports are needed again.

This return procedure is easy to overlook when you are planning a day of beaches and drinks. It can affect the timing of your final swim or meal, so leave room in the schedule. The captain can guide you through the process, but you should keep passports dry and close at hand.

Cruz Bay also gives the route a neat geographic shape. You begin in the US Virgin Islands, cross into the BVIs, then return through St. John before heading back to the meeting point in St. Thomas.

The activity ends at the original meeting point. If you arrange your own ride afterward, do not schedule it too tightly. The published duration ranges from about four to eight hours, and border clearance plus weather can affect the exact return time.

Adding A US Virgin Islands Day Instead

You do not have to spend the whole charter crossing into the BVIs. The company also offers a four-hour or seven-hour US Virgin Islands option, with historical landmarks dating back to the 1600s, scenic shorelines, and swimming at well-known beaches.

This can be the smarter plan if your group wants less paperwork and more time in US waters. You avoid the $75-per-person BVI customs fee, and you do not need to clear into another country. That can make the USVI route a better fit for families, shorter port calls, or anyone who wants a simpler boat day.

You will give up the international feel and famous BVI stops such as The Baths and Jost Van Dyke. The choice comes down to priorities. Pick the BVIs for variety and iconic locations. Pick the USVI plan for a more contained day with fewer border formalities.

Ask about the exact beaches and historical landmarks included in the USVI plan. The available information confirms the general focus but does not name every stop, so your captain should help shape the route.

What Is Included, And What You Still Pay

The charter includes the core supplies needed for a day on the water:

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

The major exclusions deserve close attention. Fuel is extra, as is the customary 20 percent captain gratuity. Lunch is also separate, and BVI customs costs $75 cash per person.

For six people, the $1,950 base price works out to $325 each before those additions. For a larger group, the per-person share may become more attractive, but passengers seven through 12 incur an additional fee. The published capacity is up to 12 people, while the included rate covers up to six. Ask for a written total based on your final head count.

A 20 percent tip on $1,950 alone would be $390, before fuel and other charges. That does not make gratuity mandatory, but it shows why the final budget can be much higher than the headline price.

The best value comes when you care about privacy, speed, and a custom route. If you mainly want a short swim and one beach, a shared boat or ferry may cost less. If your group wants multiple islands in one day, the private arrangement makes more financial sense.

Who Will Get The Most From This Boat Day

I would recommend this charter most strongly to groups that can share the cost and want control over the day. Families with older children, couples traveling together, and groups of friends are the natural fit.

It is also useful for people who want to see several places without handling separate transport bookings. The captain can adjust the plan, and the boat carries basic water and snorkeling gear, so you have a good foundation for a full day.

The experience may be less suitable if you want a quiet, slow cruise. Three 300-horsepower engines signal a boat built for speed between destinations. If you are sensitive to motion, ask the operator what conditions are expected and what route would be most comfortable.

Service animals are allowed, most people can participate, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The activity is private, which is a major advantage for a group with its own rhythm.

Weather is an important condition. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Should You Book The Midnight Express?

Book it if you want a fast, private way to combine The Baths, Norman Island, Jost Van Dyke, and other island stops from St. Thomas. The boat, flexible route, included snorkeling gear, and captain-led service give the day a personal feel that a fixed ferry schedule cannot match.

Before paying, confirm four things: the final price with fuel, the extra passenger fee, the exact route, and the customs arrangements. Bring passports and $75 cash per person for BVI customs, and set aside money for lunch and a 20 percent captain tip.

Skip this charter if your budget is tight or if you only want one simple beach stop. But if you are splitting the cost among a group and want a full, private island day with Captain Jervan or Captain Jashae style service, this Midnight Express charter is a persuasive choice.

FAQ

Where does the charter start?

The charter starts at Compass Point Marina in Estate Bovoni, St. Thomas, USVI. The listed start time is 8:30 a.m.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at Compass Point Marina.

How long is the charter?

The experience lasts approximately four to eight hours, depending on whether you book a half-day or full-day option.

How many people can join?

The boat can accommodate up to 12 passengers. The included base coverage is for up to six passengers, and an additional fee applies above six.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. You should have your passport ready when departing St. Thomas and when clearing customs and immigration in the British Virgin Islands. You will also clear US customs in Cruz Bay on St. John when returning.

How much are the BVI customs fees?

BVI customs fees are $75 cash per person. They are not included in the charter price.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you need to budget for it separately.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, 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.