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

The best island day is on the water. Renegades’ private charter pairs a spotless 2022 Lagoon 42 catamaran with attentive service, good food, an open bar, and a relaxed route from Dutch St. Maarten to French Saint-Martin. I especially like the all-inclusive setup and the chance to shape a private day around swimming, sun, and quiet coves. The main drawback is the price: at $598.75 per person, this is a serious splurge unless you are sharing it with a group.

The day also packs in several very different stops, from quiet Happy Bay to famous Maho Beach. The crew names that come up most warmly are Andre, Denise, Diana, Tony, and Carla, so you can expect a personal touch rather than a bare-bones boat ride. Keep in mind that the route can change with weather and sea conditions.

Key Points to Know Before Booking

• The 42ft Lagoon 42 is the main attraction: Freedom is a 2022 sailing catamaran with teak decking, roomy lounge areas, a restroom, and space to spread out.
• You get a full private crew: A captain and crew handle sailing, food, drinks, and water equipment while your group enjoys the day.
• Happy Bay gets the longest beach stop: Plan on about three hours for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, or relaxing on the floating mat.
• Baie Longue adds a more polished setting: The route continues toward the exclusive La Samanna area, with time for water activities and a slower pace.
• Food and drinks are included: Lunch, snacks, desserts, beer, wine, prosecco, cocktails, mocktails, soft drinks, and juices are part of the package.
• Maho Beach gives you the classic St. Maarten finale: The 30-minute stop offers a close view of aircraft approaching over the beach.

Boarding Freedom at Port de Plaisance

Your morning begins at 8:00 am at Renegades, 155 Union Road in Cole Bay, on the Dutch side of St. Maarten. The meeting point is Port de Plaisance Yacht Club, and the full outing lasts about seven and a half hours.

The first impression is meant to feel more like a private yacht charter than a standard boat excursion. You leave your sandals behind, step onto the teak deck, and receive a cool scented towel and a handmade chocolate. A mimosa helps set the mood as the crew gets the boat underway.

That small welcome matters. A long day on the water can feel awkward if the first 20 minutes involve confusion, paperwork, or crowded seating. Here, the experience is designed to get you comfortable quickly, with lounge areas, open deck space, and crew attention from the start.

Freedom is a 42ft Lagoon 42 built in 2022. The catamaran is described as custom-appointed for comfort, safety, and lower-impact cruising. You have a restroom onboard, towels, reef-safe sunscreen, snorkeling equipment, two paddleboards, and a floating lily pad mat.

The private format is important. Only your group participates, so you are not working around a boatload of strangers or a fixed social mood. That makes the charter a strong fit for a family celebration, a birthday, a group of friends, or a couple willing to pay for plenty of space.

Sailing From Dutch St. Maarten to French Saint-Martin

The first portion of the route is a gentle sail away from Port de Plaisance and toward the French side of the island. The crew serves a late-morning snack, including an apple and cheese charcuterie board, while the premium bar is open.

The bar includes craft cocktails and fresh mocktails, along with standard mixed drinks, beer, wine, prosecco, soft drinks, juices, and infused water. That range is useful for mixed groups. One person can enjoy a cocktail, another can choose a mocktail, and children or non-drinkers are not stuck with plain water.

Alcohol is available only to people age 18 and older. Since the boat leaves early and the day is long, pacing yourself is sensible. Sun, salt water, and cocktails can catch up with you before lunch.

The sailing portion is not just transportation between stops. It gives you a chance to settle into the boat and watch the island from offshore. The exact route depends on sea and weather conditions, so you should treat the advertised stops as a strong plan rather than a promise carved in stone.

Three Hours at Happy Bay

Happy Bay is the first major stop, and it receives about three hours. The setting is described as a quiet beach on the French side, surrounded by open natural scenery and clear water.

This is where the charter feels most useful. You are not rushing off the boat for a quick photograph. Three hours gives you time to swim, use the snorkeling equipment, try a paddleboard, stretch out on the lily pad, or simply sit on deck with a drink.

The two paddleboards are a nice touch for a private group. You can take turns without needing to pay an extra rental fee. The floating mat offers an easier option for anyone who would rather lie in the water than paddle.

The beach stop also gives the crew time to serve the food and keep the day moving at an easy pace. The lunch includes barbecued skewers, fresh salads, and more, followed by homemade cookies and locally made ice cream. A beet and garlic hummus platter with crudités, pita chips, and rice crackers is served as happy-hour fare.

The menu is more substantial than the usual chips-and-sandwiches boat lunch. It also fits a day where swimming and sun can make you hungry. Still, the supplied information does not list every ingredient or dietary accommodation, so anyone with food allergies or strict dietary needs should confirm options before booking.

Happy Bay is likely the quietest part of the day, but it may not suit someone who wants constant sightseeing. Much of the appeal is simply having time to relax. If you need a packed schedule of landmarks, this stop could feel slow. If you want a private beach break, it is one of the best parts of the route.

Baie Longue and the La Samanna Coast

After Happy Bay, the catamaran continues toward Baie Longue, home to high-end villas and the area around The Spa at Belmond La Samanna. This section lasts about three hours, giving you another generous block of time on the water.

The setting changes from a relaxed beach stop to a more polished coastal scene, with cliffs and clear water around the anchorage. You can swim, snorkel, use the paddleboards, or remain onboard with a drink and take in the view.

This stop helps justify the private-charter format. On a shared excursion, the group may have to follow one activity or one timetable. Here, your party can decide how much time to spend in the water and how much to spend on the boat.

The name of the resort can make this stop sound like a land visit, but the supplied schedule describes time around the bay, not admission to the resort or a spa treatment. Do not book this expecting a hotel tour or a massage. The value is the anchorage, the scenery, and the chance to enjoy a more exclusive-feeling stretch of coast from the catamaran.

The crew remains central here. The most consistent praise goes to the service, food, and drinks, with Andre, Denise, Diana, and Tony singled out for making the day feel personal. Carla is also involved with the company and handles guest communication before the trip. That is useful when you are arranging a costly private outing and want clear answers before paying.

Maho Beach and the Famous Airplanes

The final major stop is Maho Beach, reached for about 30 minutes. This is the most recognizable sight on the route, thanks to planes approaching just above the beach before landing at Princess Juliana International Airport.

From the water, you get a front-row view without spending your entire day at the beach. The stop is short, so it works best as a memorable finale rather than a full beach visit.

Maho is also the least peaceful part of the day. The aircraft are the point, and the area is famous because of the unusual proximity to the runway. If you love aviation or want the classic St. Maarten photo opportunity, this stop earns its place. If you prefer quiet coves and long swims, Happy Bay and Baie Longue will probably be more rewarding.

After Maho, the boat heads back through the Simpson Bay Bridge and returns to Port de Plaisance Yacht Club. The bridge crossing gives you one last local sight before the day ends at the original meeting point.

What the All-Inclusive Price Really Covers

At $598.75 per person, this is not a casual half-day boat trip. The value depends heavily on how many people are in your private group and how much you care about comfort and service.

You are paying for a 42ft catamaran, a captain, crew, fuel, a full-day route, food, a premium bar, towels, reef-safe sunscreen, snorkeling equipment, two paddleboards, a floating mat, and an onboard restroom. There are no listed equipment charges for the included water gear, and the food and drinks do not require a separate package.

That removes the small upcharges that can make a supposedly luxury outing feel nickel-and-dimed. The strongest praise for this charter focuses on exactly that point: everything needed for the day is included, from towels and sunscreen to lunch, desserts, and drinks.

The price is easier to defend for a group splitting the charter than for one or two people paying alone. Group discounts are available, though the exact discount is not specified. Since this is a private activity, ask for the total group cost and maximum group size before booking.

Gratuity is not included. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also not included, so you need to reach Port de Plaisance yourself and arrange your return. Those costs are easy to overlook when comparing the charter with a standard excursion.

Food, Drinks, and Crew Service

The food is one of the strongest reasons to choose this experience over a basic sailing trip. The day starts with a late-morning apple and cheese board, followed by a lunch of barbecued skewers and fresh salads. Later, you get homemade cookies, locally made ice cream, and a beet and garlic hummus platter with vegetables, pita chips, and rice crackers.

The bar is open throughout the day. Craft cocktails and mocktails are shaken fresh, and the list also includes beer, wine, prosecco, mixed drinks, soft drinks, juices, and infused water.

That setup lets you choose the pace of your day. You can turn the charter into a celebratory lunch on the water, keep things light with mocktails, or simply snack between swims. The crew’s service is repeatedly praised as first-class, with special credit given to Andre and Denise for warmth and care.

I would still confirm any important dietary needs in advance. The food sounds generous, but the provided details do not promise vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergy-safe menus.

Who Will Get the Most From This Charter?

This is a strong choice for:

• Families or friends who want a private day rather than a shared boat
• Couples marking a special occasion
• People who value food, drinks, comfort, and attentive service
• Swimmers and snorkelers who want long stops instead of quick photo calls
• Visitors who want both quiet beaches and the Maho Beach airplane sight
• Groups willing to divide a high per-person cost

It is less suitable if you want a low-cost excursion, hotel transportation, a guided land tour, or a packed list of island attractions. It may also disappoint if bad weather forces a route change and your heart is set on one particular beach.

The boat is designed for comfort, but the day still takes place at sea. You should be happy with sun, salt water, and a flexible schedule. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The experience is also near public transportation, though hotel transfers are not provided.

Booking Timing and Weather Notes

The charter is booked an average of 40 days in advance, which tells you to plan early if your dates are fixed. Confirmation is received at booking, and the experience offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.

Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. The local start time controls the cut-off.

Weather matters more than it does on a land tour. If poor conditions force cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. The route can also change based on sea conditions, so allow the captain some flexibility.

Should You Book the Renegades Private Charter?

Book it if you want a polished, private day where the boat, meals, drinks, and water gear are handled for you. The combination of a modern Lagoon 42, three-hour stops at Happy Bay and Baie Longue, a Maho Beach viewing stop, and a full bar makes this more than a simple sail.

I would be most likely to recommend it for a group sharing the cost. The price is high for a single person, but the private format and all-inclusive service can make sense for a birthday, anniversary, family day, or close friends’ outing.

Skip it if your main goal is to save money or tour the island by land. Choose it if your ideal St. Maarten day involves a clean catamaran, warm crew service, a proper lunch, time in clear water, and no strangers telling you when to leave the beach.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran charter begin?

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

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts about seven hours and 30 minutes.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What food is included?

Included food includes an apple and cheese charcuterie board, barbecued skewers, fresh salads, homemade cookies, locally made ice cream, beet and garlic hummus, crudités, pita chips, and rice crackers.

What drinks are included?

The premium bar includes craft cocktails, fresh mocktails, standard mixed drinks, beer, wine, prosecco, soft drinks, juices, and infused water. Alcohol is available to people age 18 and older.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, two paddleboards, and a floating lily pad mat are included. Towels and reef-safe sunscreen are also provided.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. The route may also change because of weather and sea conditions.