Luxury All-Inclusive Yacht Charter Experience British Virgin Islands

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We set sail on an All-Inclusive Yacht Charter Vacation for the Ultimate 50th Birthday Celebration in the breathtaking British Virgin Islands. Here’s everything you need to know from the details of our trip, the booking process, what to pack and how to plan a Yacht Charter Vacation of your own!

Sailing the BVI’s in Style!

Truly a vacation of a lifetime! If you’ve ever dreamed of island-hopping the Caribbean on a private yacht, but thought it was only affordable for Celebrities or wealthy individuals, you’re not alone. We thought the exact same thing, so keep on reading!

Cost of a Yacht Charter Vacation

Typically when we hear the word “Yacht” we automatically think expensive! Surprisingly a yacht charter vacation is actually pretty affordable. The average charter is $25,000 which is not cheap by any means. So how can the average Joe afford a vacation like this? You get friends or family to split the cost of the trip with you. If 8 guests are going, that ends up being $449 per person per night!

Once I realized we could vacation like a Celebrity too, I knew this is how I wanted to celebrate my 50th Birthday. So, we sent out a group text with our friends and started planning!

Booking Process with Charter Smarter

The booking process with Charter Smarter was seamless. Charter Smarter is a leading provider of crewed charter yachts in the Virgin Islands with decades of experience and over 50 yachts to choose from. Here’s a step by step guide on booking.

• Start by filling out a quote request form https://zfrmz.com/JCWPcYPvp7WBbWUvpRzT
• After filling out the form, browse through their fleet of yachts to see which one best fits your needs and party size.
• A Charter Smarter specialist will reach out to you via email or phone. You can also schedule a zoom meeting if you prefer. Their specialist will help you with planning and recommendations based on your wants and needs.
• Payment/Deposit – Pay in full at booking or 50% up front, 25% at interval, and then the final 25% at second interval.
• Fill out preference sheets for food, beverages and charter activities.
• Sign Waivers- One per guest needed
• 2 Weeks prior to your charter vacation, you will have a call with the Yacht Crew to go over specifics, to include your food preference sheet, custom itinerary, and excursions.

The Yacht We Chartered: Mira Sol

Our home for the week was Mira Sol, a beautifully appointed Lagoon 56′ sailing catamaran that comfortably accommodated our group of 6 (3 couples). Each of the three spacious staterooms features a private en-suite bath, making it the ideal setup for traveling with friends or family.

Mira Sol came fully stocked with every water toy and activity imaginable. Whether you just want to relax on a float with a drink in your hand or try something a little more adventurous, here’s a list of what was included.

• Paddle Boards, Kayaks, 10′ Floating Lilypad, Hawaiian Slings, Snorkeling Gear, Offshore Fishing Gear, Beach Coolers, Noodles & more!

Yacht Charter Crew Included

One of the highlights of the trip? Captain Julle and Chef Anna – our incredible crew who elevated the experience beyond expectations.

• Captain Julle has been sailing for over 44 years, and his calm, capable leadership was felt from the start. With a background ranging from charter captain to sailing instructor, he expertly navigated us through the British Virgin Islands while working with us to create a custom itinerary before we ever set sail.
• Chef Anna brought her fine dining expertise to sea, crafting gourmet meals inspired by her background in Mediterranean cuisine. Before departure, we filled out a food and beverage preference form, ensuring that every meal was perfectly suited to our tastes – and yes, that included our favorite adult beverages!

Our British Virgin Islands Itinerary

Each day brought a new island and a new adventure. You will work with your captain in advance to map out the perfect itinerary for your group. Here’s the itinerary we chose.

• Day 1 : Norman Island – We kicked off my 50th Birthday Celebration with a splash at the legendary Willy T, a floating bar known for its wild energy and iconic jump-off deck.
• Day 2: Cooper Island – A laid back day of snorkeling with sea turtles, paddle boarding and relaxing on floating rafts in crystal-clear waters. Our captain took us up to the beach resort by dingy boat, where we shopped, had a rum tasting and hung out on the beach for a while.
• Day 3: Virgin Gorda – A highlight of the trip! We spent a few hours exploring the natural beauty of The Baths, then made our way over to Bitter End Yacht Club and finally soaked in the views at Saba Rock. Make sure you head upstairs for the coolest bar, which offered a spacious area with jumbo jenga, cornhole and pool tables.
• Day 4: Sandy Spit & Jost Van Dyke – A beach-lover’s dream! We visited Sandy Spit, an iconic location used to film several Corona commercials. Next, we made our way over to Jost Van Dyke. We started at Foxy’s where we got to meet the man (Foxy) himself and listen to one of his legendary stories that he’s known for. Next, we took a short cab ride over to lounge on White Bay Beach and sipped Painkillers at the iconic Soggy Dollar Bar.
• Day 5: Tortola – This is where our journey started and where it ended. We spent our final night enjoying the sunset and drinks with our friends on the deck of Mira Sol. Chef Anna prepared a wonderful Greece inspired pasta dish for our last meal. We invited Captain Julle and Chef Anna to join us for dinner, where we got to know them a little more and hear some great stories.

What was Included on our Yacht Charter Vacation

• Yacht
• Crew
• Custom Itinerary
• Meals (fully crewed only)
• Drinks (fully crewed only)
• Yacht amenities and toys
• BVI entrance and cruising fees

Not Included in Yacht Charter Vacation

• Crew gratuity, typically 15-20%
• Ground transportation
• Flights

Packing for a Yacht Charter Trip

This was our very first yacht charter vacation and of course, we all overpacked for this trip! The yacht had beach towels, sun screen, hair dryer in every bathroom, body wash, shampoo and conditioner. The only thing it didn’t have that I wish it did was an iron. Here’s a list of what you will need to bring:

• Passport if you’re visiting the British Virgin Islands
• Swimsuits
• Swimsuit Cover Ups (trust me, this is what you’ll be in majority of this trip)
• Water shoes ( I used them walking through the caves at The Baths in Virgin Gorda)
• Flip flops or easy on and off sandals
• Casual clothing (sun dress, tshirts, shorts)
• Sun hats (wore majority of the time so I didn’t have to fix my hair)
• Sun glasses
• Waterproof bag or phone case
• Pajamas
• Deodorant
• Tooth brush
• Tooth paste
• makeup if you wear it
• Hair brush
• Hair ties or something to hold hair back with when cruising
• Motion Sickness medicine just in case (I kept a patch on the entire time just to be sure since I am prone to motion sickness) I never felt sick. It’s not like a cruise! You will always see land and be close to land.
• Basic medicine (motrin, etc)
• Prescription medications if you have any
• SPF for lips or any specific SPF you may use
• Downy wrinkle release (travel size)
• Here’s a shoppable link of some of the items I purchased from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/shop/eatdrinkvacationrepeat/curation/926ba3ea-15fb-4bcb-bf95-a53d2630d379?ref_=hype_hm_sf_e