Best Charter Boat Trips Around The World
The best charter boat trips in the world are those carrying guests to places they might only dream of visiting, to destinations that are unique and magical in every way. Of course water lovers the world over gravitate to such maritime delights, but even landlubbers may find delight in some of these epic trips.
Below we feature our top three picks for the best private charter boat trips to book around the world in 2025. The criteria we used to determine the winners are: popularity (in terms of how many people visit each year), relative safety (in terms of travel warnings from the US & Canadian government websites), and the sense that there is something special or unique about the trip that can’t easily be found elsewhere.
Book a Private Charter Boat Trip To The USVI Beaches
The USA was the third most visited country in the world as of 2023 with 66.5 million travelers, nearly 3 million of which visited the USVI. The British Virgin Islands often plays into private charter boat trips that embark from St. Thomas or St. John because the USVI and BVI are so close. The USVI is considered safe for tourists, and listed in Canada’s government travel website as a travel destination where tourists should only take normal safety precautions.
USVI: A Must-See Caribbean Paradise By Boat
What makes the USVI unique is its world-famous beaches and crystal clear blue waters. Make sure to book a charter trip that includes stops at all the best beaches in the Virgin Islands:
Jumbie Beach is a hidden, smaller stretch of beach on St. John that is perfect for those who want to avoid the crowds. However, the seas a little rough here so it is not the best beach for snorkeling.
Trunk Bay Beach is consistently considered the most beautiful beach in the world. It is part of the Virgin Islands National Park and is named after the leatherback turtle, which is called “trunk” by locals. Trunk beach was ranked #1 in the world by Travel and Leisure in 2024.
Cinnamon Bay is a beach known for its perfectly soft white sand, great snorkeling, and full amenities. The campground at Cinnamon Bay Beach has been fully restored since the storms and includes a restaurant, commissary, water sports, and bathhouse
Maho Bay is another gorgeous beach in St. John USVI. It is known for snorkeling with sea turtles which you almost always see feeding on the seagrass beds offshore. There's also a cute, electric beach bar there for drinks and snacks.
Caneel Bay is a beach that was left in ruins from hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. As of 2025 some parts of Caneel is still closed, although a phased land based opening began in August of 2024.
Hawksnest is a beach on St. John USVI known for having a bit of shade, restrooms, a grilling area, and a few reefs of elkhorn coral that are known for having a lot of fish swimming around. It’s an easy win for tourists who want it all.
It’s also easy to get to the BVI (British Virgin Islands) by boat from St. John / St. Thomas USVI.
Once in the BVI, visitors love to experience The Baths, White Bay, Sandy Spit, Jost Van Dyke, The Caves, Willy T’s, and Norman Island.
Make sure to go to the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke and order a Painkiller rum cocktail drink. This is where the painkiller originated back in the 1970s after all.
Read what our guest reviews have to say about the most popular places to visit by charter boat in the Virgin Islands, here.
Best Time For a Charter Boat Trip In The USVI
Peak travel season for the USVI is from December to March when everyone in the colder areas of the world are wanting to escape their local freezing temperatures and relax in the sand and sun with a cocktail of choice in hand.
Many prefer to visit the USVI when the crowds wane from April-June.
Best Time for Private Charter Boat Deals In The USVI
The best time to find discounts, deals and coupon codes for Virgin Island travel and charter boat tours is generally from August to October. This is because those months are consider hurricane season in the Virgin Islands. If you do choose to come during off-season when hurricanes have a chance of blowing by, it is best to look for charter boat companies that have low cost cancellation policies. If possible, purchase insurance in case a trip needs to be cancelled due to a forecasted hurricane or tropical storm.
Languages Spoken
Although English is the official language of the USA, don’t be surprised when visiting the USVI if you hear some Spanish and Caribbean Creole dialects being used in conversations among people interacting on shore, sand, and sea.
Flight Time From World Cities To The USVI Airport In St. Thomas: Cyril E. King Airport - STT
MIA (Miami USA) to STT – 2.5 hours
JFK (New York) to STT – 4 hours
LAX (Los Angeles) to STT – 7 hours
YYZ (Toronto, Canada) to STT – 5 hours
LHR (London, UK) to STT – 9 hours
CDG (Paris, France) to STT – 9.5 hours
FRA (Frankfurt, Germany) to STT – 10 hours
GRU (São Paulo, Brazil) to STT – 9 hours
DXB (Dubai, UAE) to STT – 17 hours
NRT (Tokyo, Japan) to STT – 19 hours
PEK (Beijing, China) to STT – 20 hours
2. Book a Private Charter Boat Trip To The Historical Greek Islands
The Greek Islands are among the most visited destinations in the world, attracting millions of travelers each year. In 2023, Greece welcomed over 33 million tourists, many of whom set sail to explore the breathtaking islands and the priceless cultural treasures that can be found there. The Greek Islands are considered safe for tourists and are listed on both the Canadian government travel website and the U.S. State Dept. website as a travel destination where tourists should only take normal safety precautions.
Must-See Highlights on a Greek Islands Charter Boat Trip
Exploring the Greek Islands by private charter boat trip is an unforgettable experience. A giant in Greek literature, Nikos Kazantzakis, said, "happy is the man, I thought, who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Aegean sea".
Some must-see historical highlights to see by private charter boat in the Greek Islands include:
Knossos Palace (Crete)
Temple of Aphaia (Aegina)
Medieval Old Town of Rhodes
Photo by Xenofon Tsantilas on Unsplash
Don’t forget to check out the hidden caves on these Greek Islands:
Blue Caves (Zakynthos)
Melissani Cave (Kefalonia)
Papafragas Caves (Milos)
Also, make sure to try some fresh seafood such as anchovies, fagri - a local favorite, cod, and sea bass. There are also cultural dishes not to be missed, such as Greek mezze, souvlaki, moussaka, and Santorini’s famous Assyrtiko wine.
Best Time For a Charter Boat Trip In The Greek Islands
Peak travel season for the Greek Islands is in the spring, around May, and early fall, around September or October. The worst time to visit the Greek Islands is in the middle of the summer, around July or August, because of the uncomfortable heat, larger crowds and higher prices.
Best Time for Private Charter Boat Deals In The Greek Islands
The best time to find discounts, deals, and coupon codes for Greek Island travel and charter boat tours is in the winter months (December through February). This is considered off-season for the Greek Islands because these months have cooler temperatures and fewer tourists.
Languages Spoken
Although Greek is the official language of the Greek Islands, you’ll probably also hear some English, Italian, and other European languages.
Flight Time From World Cities To The Greek Islands
MIA (Miami, USA) to ATH (Athens, Greece) – 11 hours
JFK (New York) to ATH – 10 hours
LAX (Los Angeles) to ATH – 13 hours
YYZ (Toronto, Canada) to ATH – 10 hours
LHR (London, UK) to ATH – 4 hours
CDG (Paris, France) to ATH – 3.5 hours
FRA (Frankfurt, Germany) to ATH – 3 hours
GRU (São Paulo, Brazil) to ATH – 12 hours
DXB (Dubai, UAE) to ATH – 5 hours
NRT (Tokyo, Japan) to ATH – 15 hours
PEK (Beijing, China) to ATH – 13 hours
Book a Private Charter Boat Trip To The Great Barrier Reef, Austrailia
Chartering a private boat to explore the Great Barrier Reef offers means you’ll be seeing coral reefs that are both ancient and vast. Out of the 7.4 million people who visited Australia in 2024, 2.25 million visited the Great Barrier Reef. Starting from popular hubs like Cairns or Hamilton Island, visitors can go on to see the pristine coral gardens, vibrant reef fish, sharks, turtles, and manta rays of the Great Barrier Reef. In terms of crime threats, Australia is generally regarded as a destination at which travelers should exercise normal precautions.
Mackay Reef & Coral Cays Are The Must-See Spots
Photo by Daniel Öberg on Unsplash
Mackay Reef is a place where private charter boat tours can bring guests to untouched coral gardens which are home to giant clams and brain corals. There may be a chance to spot rare white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and manta rays here as well. Because this reef is fairly isolated at a little over 13 miles from the coast, and several miles apart from other reefs in line with this one, it is one of the top destinations to explore by private charter boat.
The coral formations at Mackay Reef are massive and multicolored, with underwater landscapes featuring sheer drop-offs, coral arches, and seagrass meadows. There is also bioluminescence that guests can experience. Who doesn’t love seeing the ocean aglow with millions and millions of bioluminescent plankton during a night dive.
Great White Sharks, Box Jellyfish & Stingrays
Everyone associates Australia with Great White Sharks, but these sharks aren’t usually hanging around the reefs. Great Whites are so big that they stay in deeper waters further out from the shallows arounds the reeds. Great Whites are more likely found in the Outer Reef and southern regions, and are also more common during their migration seasons (winter to early spring), when they can be observed closely on shark cage dive expeditions.
The Box Jellyfish is another dangerous sea creature that many people associate with Australian waters, but they are more often found in northern Queensland waters from November to May, peaking in January-April.
Everyone knows about Steve Irwin’s 2006 fatal stingray encounter with a stingray barb in the waters off the Great Barrier Reed, but stingrays are not considered dangerous to snorkelers who can manage to keep their distance.
Languages Spoken
English is the primary language spoken in Australia, but you'll also hear other languages due to Australia’s multicultural population. Most charter operators and tour guides are English-speaking, but some may offer multilingual services.
Flight Time From World Cities to Cairns (CNS), Australia
MIA (Miami, USA) to CNS (Cairns, Australia) – 21-22 hours
JFK (New York, USA) to CNS – 21-22 hours
LAX (Los Angeles, USA) to CNS – 15-16 hours
YYZ (Toronto, Canada) to CNS – 21-22 hours
LHR (London, UK) to CNS – 22-24 hours
CDG (Paris, France) to CNS – 22-24 hours
FRA (Frankfurt, Germany) to CNS – 22-24 hours
GRU (São Paulo, Brazil) to CNS – 22-24 hours
DXB (Dubai, UAE) to CNS – 14-16 hours
NRT (Tokyo, Japan) to CNS – 8-9 hours
PEK (Beijing, China) to CNS – 11-12 hours
Top Private Charter Boat Destinations for 2025 Summary
| Destination | What It's Known For | Best Time to Visit |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) | World-famous beaches, crystal-clear waters, and easy access to British Virgin Islands. | December to March (Peak Season), April to June (Less Crowded), July to October (Best Deals) |
| Greek Islands | Historical sites, stunning blue waters, and delicious Mediterranean cuisine. | May, September to October (Best Weather and Fewer Crowds) |
| Great Barrier Reef, Australia | Vast coral reefs, vibrant marine life, and unique underwater landscapes. | June to October (Dry Season, Best Diving Conditions) |