Booking a week with a professional crew is the ideal way to explore the British Virgin Islands by yacht without managing everything yourself. From choosing the right yacht to arranging flights and preparing for boarding, a little planning makes the whole process easy.
If you’re wondering how to rent a yacht for a week, start by understanding what your group needs. With your dates, budget, and group size in mind, a charter broker can help you compare options and build a week around the way you want to travel.
Standard BVI charter length
Peak season
Lead time for holiday weeks
How Do Weekly Yacht Rentals Work in the BVI?
Most crewed yacht rentals in the BVI are booked by the week, usually for seven nights. Your yacht is both your transport and your accommodation, so you can visit different islands and anchorages without packing and unpacking at every stop.
A crewed charter includes a professional team to run the yacht and look after guests. Depending on the yacht, the crew may include a captain, a chef, and additional crew members. A bareboat rental is different: you operate the yacht yourself and need the experience and qualifications to do so.
How to Rent a Yacht for a Week: Step by Step
Step 1: Choose Your Dates
Decide when you want to travel and how flexible you can be. The BVI’s busiest period is typically December to April, with Christmas and New Year especially popular. If you have a specific yacht or holiday week in mind, booking early gives you the best choice.
Step 2: Confirm Your Group Size
- How many people are traveling?
- How many cabins and what bed configurations do you need?
- Does anyone have mobility requirements?
Regency Yacht Charters offers a range of crewed yachts, including catamarans and motor yachts, with different layouts and guest capacities. The best fit isn’t always the largest yacht, but the one that suits your group.
Step 3: Set a Realistic Budget
Decide on a comfortable overall budget before comparing yachts. Weekly rates vary by yacht, season, crew, and level of service, and inclusions differ from one yacht to the next. Our guide to what it costs to rent a yacht in the BVI breaks down typical prices.
Step 4: Compare Yachts and Choose Your Favorite
Look beyond photos and the headline price. Compare:
- Guest capacity
- Layout and cabins
- Crew arrangements
- Inclusions
- The overall experience each yacht offers
Think about how your group wants to spend its time. A spacious sailing catamaran suits guests who love the outdoors and relaxed island-hopping, while a motor yacht appeals to those who want to cover more ground quickly. A charter broker can answer questions about the yacht, crew, and itinerary.
Step 5: Review the Contract and Pay a Deposit
Once you’ve chosen your yacht, read the charter agreement carefully. It should include your dates, payment schedule, cancellation terms, and what the price includes. Double-check the deposit amount and when the balance is due, and follow the schedule in your contract rather than a general rule.
How Far Ahead Should You Book?
For peak winter travel, especially Christmas and New Year, start planning around a year ahead. Popular yachts and holiday weeks book up early. Other dates have more availability, but booking early still gives you more choice of yacht and crew.
If your dates are flexible, tell your broker. Shifting your trip by just a few days, or considering a similar yacht, often opens up more options.
Getting to Tortola and Boarding Day
Many BVI charters begin on Tortola. Depending on your route, you may fly into Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island, connect through another Caribbean hub, or fly to St. Thomas and continue by ferry.
Confirm your arrival plan with your charter broker before booking flights. Leave enough time for connections, immigration, and transfers, and ask whether arriving the day before makes sense for your itinerary. On boarding day, you’ll meet the crew, settle in, and receive a safety briefing.
What Does a Typical Seven-Day Charter Look Like?
Every week depends on the weather, your preferences, and your captain’s advice, but a typical itinerary might include Virgin Gorda, Norman Island, Jost Van Dyke, and other BVI anchorages. Days often combine short passages with swimming, snorkeling, and time ashore, all shaped around your group.
Tips for a Smooth Charter Week
- Complete your preference sheet carefully and share special occasions in advance.
- Ask which activities and water toys are included.
- Pack light, in soft-sided bags if possible.
- Keep travel documents accessible at all times.
- Leave some wiggle room in your itinerary so you can adjust as needed.
Ready to Book Your Week Aboard?
Browse the Regency Yacht Charters fleet or contact our charter team to talk through dates, group size, and budget.
Prefer to talk it through? Call a charter specialist at 1-800-524-7676.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to rent a yacht for one week with a crew?
In the BVI, crewed weekly charters typically start around $15,000 for a catamaran and rise to $100,000 or more for larger yachts, depending on the yacht, season, group size, and inclusions.
Do I need sailing experience to rent a yacht with a crew?
No. On a fully crewed charter, the captain and crew handle the sailing and operation of the yacht.
When should I book a BVI yacht charter?
For Christmas or New Year, book around a year in advance. For other dates, a few months ahead is often enough, and flexible travelers can sometimes find last-minute availability.
