A private yacht charter in Turks and Caicos costs $2,800 to $9,800 before tax, for up to six guests. A sunset cruise on Calypso or Iris is the entry point; a full day on VENUS, our new 51-foot catamaran, is the top. The price covers the boat, a professional crew, full meals, premium drinks and snorkel gear. Additional guests are priced per person.
A yacht charter isn’t priced like a hotel room or a tour ticket, and the first number you see is usually not the number you pay. We run private charters out of Turtle Cove Marina in Providenciales, and we get this question every day. Here’s our answer.
The one thing to understand first: you pay per boat, not per person
On a private charter, you are hiring a vessel and a crew for a block of time. The price is set by the boat and the length of the trip, not by how many people you bring, at least up to a base group size.
That’s the opposite of a shared boat tour, where you buy a seat. It’s why a private charter can look expensive next to a per-person ticket and then turn out to be reasonable once you divide by your group. It’s also why the fair way to compare is cost per guest, not cost per booking. (We break down that comparison in our guide to shared vs. private boat tours.)
What a yacht charter costs at Poseidon
These are our rates for private charters out of Providenciales, effective November 1, 2026. Each price covers up to six guests, and each trip has a set length: half day is 4 hours, full day is 8 hours, and a sunset cruise is 2.5 hours.
| Trip | Calypso or Iris (51 ft Sea Ray Sundancer) | Salacia (62 ft Sea Ray) | VENUS (51 ft power catamaran) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset cruise (2.5 hours) | $2,800 | $3,800 | $4,800 |
| Half day (4 hours) | $3,500 | $4,500 | $5,500 |
| Full day (8 hours) | $6,500 | $8,500 | $9,800 |
| Maximum guests | 12 | 22 | 25 |
Prices exclude the 12% government tax and the payment processing fee (details below). Guests beyond the first six are added per person, and children under 10 are $100. Extra hours are available when the boat’s schedule allows: $900 on Calypso or Iris, $1,100 on Salacia, $1,300 on VENUS.
These are our direct rates, with no reseller markup on top. VENUS is the newest boat in the fleet and is open for booking for the 2026–27 season.
What adds to the base price on a yacht charter?
The base rate covers the boat. These move the total:
Extra guests. Past the first six, each additional adult is $200 on Calypso or Iris for a half day or sunset cruise and $300 for a full day. On Salacia and VENUS it’s $250 for a half day or sunset and $350 for a full day. Children under 10 are $100 on every boat.
Group size. Bigger groups need a bigger boat. Calypso and Iris each carry up to 12 guests, Salacia up to 22, and VENUS up to 25. The full specs are on the fleet page.
Water toys. Our packages include paddleboards, snorkel gear and vests, and tubes for kids. A SeaBob, the powered underwater sled, is $350 per charter. A jet ski is $350 per hour. Both are per unit, and we have a limited number, so ask when you book.
Food upgrades. Every charter includes snacks and a full meal appropriate to the time of day. Upgrades are optional: charcuterie boards, an extra main course for guests who want to choose their own, or a lobster lunch when it’s in season. Lobster season in Turks and Caicos runs August 1 through March 31, and the upgrade carries an additional fee.
Beach or hotel pickup. Salacia carries a 10-foot tender that can collect guests from a beach or hotel. That’s an extra charge, and it’s worth it if you’re staying somewhere without a dock.
Government tax. The 12% tax is added to the total. Every reputable operator in the islands has to collect it. If a quote doesn’t mention it, ask.
Payment processing fee. Booking through our website carries a 6% processing fee. Paying through a direct payment link carries 3%. Ask us for the link if you’d rather pay the lower fee.
What can you expect to pay per person on a boat charter?
Because the base price covers six guests and extras are per person, your cost per guest falls as your group grows, up to the vessel’s maximum. Here are four worked examples at our November 1 rates, before tax and processing fee.
- Six guests, half day on Calypso: $3,500 total, or about $583 per person.
- Eight guests, full day on Calypso: $6,500 plus two additional adults at $300 is $7,100, or about $888 per person.
- Fourteen guests, half day on Salacia: $4,500 plus eight additional adults at $250 is $6,500, or about $464 per person.
- Twenty guests, half day on VENUS: $5,500 plus fourteen additional adults at $250 is $9,000, or $450 per person.
Add 12% tax to any of these for the final number, plus the processing fee. If you’re comparing us with a shared tour, that’s the figure to use.
What’s included, and why it matters when you compare quotes
The cheapest yacht quote is rarely the cheapest yacht day. Before you compare two numbers, compare what’s inside them.
At Poseidon, every charter includes:
- The boat and a professional crew (a captain and deckhand on Calypso and Iris; a captain, deckhand and bartender on Salacia and VENUS)
- A champagne toast leaving the marina
- Premium drinks: white wine, champagne, local beer, Bud Light, soda and water
- Snacks, plus full meals served onboard that match the trip (lunch on a full day)
- Snorkel gear and snorkel vests
- Paddleboards, and tubes for kids
- USB chargers on board, so phones survive the day
Some operators quote a low base and charge separately for drinks, food, gear or fuel. Others include everything, as we do. Both are legitimate, but the two quotes aren’t comparable. Ask three questions of every quote: Is food included? Are drinks included? Is there a fuel or service fee? Ours is spelled out on the what’s included page.
Why prices vary so much between operators?
If you’ve been shopping around, you’ve probably seen quotes that differ by thousands of dollars for what looks like the same day. Here’s what usually explains it.
The boat. A 62-foot yacht with three crew, an elevated bar and a motorized swim platform costs more to run than a smaller vessel, and it prices accordingly. VENUS, a 51-foot power catamaran with the most deck space in our fleet, sits at the top of our range. Boat size, type and amenities are the biggest driver.
Crew. Three crew and a bartender is a different day from a captain and a cooler.
Season. Demand in Turks and Caicos peaks from Christmas through Valentine’s Day and again in March during spring break. Prices reflect that. Shoulder months and summer are quieter, and availability is easier.
Who you book through. If you book through a hotel concierge, a resort desk or a third-party reseller, the price you see often includes their commission. Booking direct with the operator means you’re paying for the trip, not the middleman. It also means you’re talking to the people who will actually run your day, which matters when you want to plan a route or ask a question.
Peak vs. off-peak: when the price and the availability change
Demand in Turks and Caicos isn’t flat. The busiest weeks run from Christmas through Valentine’s Day, with a second surge in March during U.S. spring break. April and May are quieter. June and July are warm and popular with families. August is typically a value-seeker’s month, and September and October are the quietest of the year.
If your dates fall in a peak window, book early. The best boats and days go first. If you’re flexible, shoulder-season dates give you more choice on boats and departure times. The online booking calendar shows what’s open.
Five mistakes people make when comparing yacht charter quotes
- Comparing a per-boat price to a per-person price. They measure different things. Divide by your group size.
- Forgetting the tax and fees. A 12% government tax on a $6,500 charter is $780, and a processing fee may come on top.
- Not asking what “included” means. Food, drinks, gear and fuel can each be in or out of a quote.
- Ignoring the maximum guest number. A boat that’s cheaper because it’s smaller may not fit your group comfortably.
- Booking through the first middleman you meet. Concierges, resort desks and resellers can be convenient, but their price may include a commission, and the trip is still run by the operator. Ask who actually operates the boat, then compare with the operator’s direct price.
Is a private yacht charter worth the money?
For a couple after a quiet afternoon, a shared tour may be enough. For a family, a group of friends, a birthday or an anniversary, the private charter is usually the day people talk about afterward. You choose where to snorkel, how long to stay on the beach, when to eat, and when to head back.
How to get an exact price
The fastest way is to check dates and group size on our online booking calendar, which shows availability and pricing for your day. If you’d rather talk it through, call us at (649) 232-3633 or message us on WhatsApp. Tell us your dates, your group size and what kind of day you have in mind, and we’ll tell you which boat and which trip fit best, and what it will cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charter a yacht for a day?
At Poseidon, a full day (8 hours) is $6,500 on Calypso or Iris, $8,500 on Salacia and $9,800 on VENUS, before 12% tax and the processing fee, for up to six guests. Additional guests are priced per person.
How much does it cost to charter a boat for half a day?
A half day (4 hours) is $3,500 on Calypso or Iris, $4,500 on Salacia and $5,500 on VENUS, before tax and the processing fee, for up to six guests.
Is food and drink included in the price?
Yes. Every Poseidon charter includes full meals onboard and premium drinks (white wine, champagne, local beer, Bud Light, soda and water), plus a champagne toast leaving the marina.