What to Expect From a Crewed Catamaran Charter in the Caribbean
For first-time charter guests, the idea of a “crewed” yacht can raise more questions than it answers. What does the crew actually do? How does the pricing work? Is it really more relaxing than chartering on your own? Using a real example — the Lagoon 52, based in Sint Maarten — here’s a practical look at what a crewed catamaran charter actually involves.
The Crew: Captain and Chef
A standard crewed charter includes at minimum a professional captain, and very often a chef as well. On the Lagoon 52, both are included as standard. The captain handles all navigation, anchoring and mooring, using local knowledge to find the best spots for swimming, snorkeling or a quiet overnight anchorage — the kind of insight that’s hard to replicate without years of experience in the area. The chef, meanwhile, plans and prepares meals throughout the charter, usually based on preferences guests share in advance.
Housekeeping is typically included too, so cabins and common areas stay tidy without anyone on board having to think about it.
What This Means Day to Day
In practice, a crewed charter removes almost all of the logistics of sailing. Guests don’t need any sailing experience, don’t need to plan routes, and don’t need to worry about docking, provisioning or cooking. The day becomes about choosing what you want to do — swim, dive, relax on the trampolines, explore ashore — rather than managing the boat itself.
Understanding the Pricing Structure
Crewed charters are usually priced differently from bareboat (self-skippered) charters, and it’s worth understanding the difference before booking:
- The charter fee covers the yacht itself and the crew’s services.
- The APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is a separate amount, typically around 25% of the charter fee, that covers fuel, food, drinks, and port or marina fees incurred during the trip. It’s paid in advance and settled — with receipts — at the end of the charter, with any unused balance returned.
- VAT may apply depending on the charter’s departure port, and is usually quoted separately from the base rate.
- Crew gratuity is customary but not included in the charter fee, and is left to guests’ discretion based on service.
Knowing these components in advance makes it much easier to budget accurately, rather than being surprised by costs beyond the headline weekly rate.
Is It Worth It?
For most guests — especially those without sailing experience, or simply looking for a genuinely relaxing week rather than a hands-on sailing trip — a crewed charter is by far the most enjoyable way to experience the Caribbean by yacht. The trade-off in cost compared to a bareboat charter is usually offset by the quality of the experience: local knowledge, home-cooked meals, and zero responsibility for anything beyond deciding where to swim next.
Experience It Aboard the Lagoon 52
The Lagoon 52 catamaran, based in Marigot, Sint Maarten, is a great example of what a crewed charter looks like in practice — accommodating up to 8 guests across 4 cabins, with a professional captain and chef included as standard.
Explore our full yacht charter in Sint Maarten fleet, or get in touch with our team to talk through what a crewed charter would look like for your group.