Christmas & New Year private boat charters in St Maarten 2026/27
Planning a private boat day while you’re in St Maarten over Christmas or New Year?
The festive period is one of the busiest parts of the winter season, which can affect boat availability, pricing and how much flexibility you have around your preferred date.
Tell us your dates, group size and what kind of day you have in mind. We’ll check current availability and recommend the most suitable private charter options for St Maarten, Anguilla or St Barts.
You do not need to choose a specific boat before contacting us.
Christmas and New Year availability can be more limited.
The boat is reserved for your group.
St Maarten, Anguilla or St Barts.
Based in St Martin and here to help.
Quick answer
Yes. Private charters can be available throughout the Christmas and New Year period, including the main festive dates.
Availability is naturally more limited than during an ordinary week, particularly if you have one fixed day, a larger group or a specific destination in mind.
That does not mean every boat will be booked months ahead, and last-minute options can still appear.
But if a private boat day is one of the experiences that really matters to your holiday, Christmas and New Year are periods when it makes sense to check your options in advance.
What changes over Christmas and New Year?
Christmas and New Year do not change the type of private boat day you can enjoy.
What changes is mainly the availability around particular dates and how much flexibility you have when choosing your charter.
Availability
Christmas and New Year fall within one of the busiest parts of the winter season.
Private boats can normally take one private group at a time, so the choice naturally becomes narrower as individual dates are reserved.
If you only have one realistic boat day, tell us when you enquire.
Fixed dates
Festive trips often come with fixed plans — family meals, restaurant reservations, travel days and other activities.
If your dates are flexible, let us know. Moving the charter by a day can sometimes open up considerably more choice.
Anguilla and St Barts
Anguilla and St Barts need a little more planning than a day around St Maarten.
Passports and clearance requirements apply, and St Barts in particular requires a suitable boat for the longer crossing.
We’ll explain what is needed for the option you choose.
Choose your destination
Christmas and New Year do not require a particular type of boat day. The best destination still depends on what your group actually wants from the experience.
St Maarten & St Martin
Stay around the island for the most flexible private boat day.
Depending on your departure point, the boat and conditions, your day might include swimming, snorkelling, beaches, Tintamarre, Pinel Island, Creole Rock or other stops around the French and Dutch sides.
This often works particularly well for families, first-time visitors and guests who want a relaxed Caribbean boat day without making an international crossing.
Anguilla
Choose Anguilla for beautiful beaches, clear water and a relaxed full-day island experience.
A private charter can combine swimming and beach stops with lunch ashore, depending on the itinerary you choose.
Passports and clearance requirements apply.
St Barts
Choose St Barts for a more destination-focused full-day experience.
The longer crossing can be combined with time around Gustavia, beaches, restaurants or other stops ashore.
Because the journey requires a suitable boat and appropriate sea conditions, there are fewer options than for a local St Maarten charter.
Key festive dates
Christmas Day
Christmas Day charters can be available, but the choice is naturally more limited than on an ordinary day.
If December 25 is the date you want, tell us specifically and we’ll check what is available for your group.
New Year's Eve
Daytime charters can be available on December 31.
If you are interested in a sunset charter, mention it when you enquire, as evening availability is generally more limited.
New Year's Day
January 1 charters can also be available.
As with Christmas Day, it is worth treating it as a specific date rather than assuming the same availability as an ordinary January day.
When should you enquire?
There is no single number of weeks that applies to every private charter.
The useful rule is simple:
If your date is fixed and the boat day matters to your trip, enquire once you know your travel dates.
Earlier planning is particularly useful if:
- you only have one possible charter day
- you have a larger group
- you specifically want Anguilla or St Barts
- you want a particular type of boat
- one departure area is much more convenient for where you’re staying
If your dates are flexible, excellent options can still appear closer to the day.
Read our guide: Do I need to book a private boat charter in advance in St Maarten? →
Festive pricing
Festive-period pricing can vary by charter and date.
The final price can also depend on the boat, group size, destination, duration and what is included.
We’ll confirm the exact price for your date before you book.
If you’re still setting a budget, our general St Maarten charter price guide gives you a useful starting point. Festive-period prices may differ from the standard ranges shown there.
See the St Maarten charter price guide →
Families and larger groups
Christmas and New Year trips often bring families and friends together, which can make a private charter particularly well suited to the occasion.
Your group has the boat to itself, and the day can usually be paced around the people travelling.
For families, that might mean easier swimming stops, more shade, a shorter route or simply a less rushed day.
For larger groups, the main consideration is finding a boat with the right capacity, space and layout.
Tell us your group size, dates and anything particularly important to you and we’ll narrow the options from there.
Weather and flexibility
Weather and sea conditions can affect any private boat day.
If possible, avoid making your final day on the island your only possible charter date. Having some flexibility earlier in your trip makes it easier to adjust plans if conditions affect the original day or route.
Captains monitor the conditions closely and will make any necessary decisions about the charter or itinerary.
How booking works
A Christmas or New Year enquiry does not need to begin with a particular boat.
Tell us what you already know and we will work from there.
1. Tell us your plans
Share your preferred date, group size and the type of experience you're looking for.
2. We recommend the best options
We'll check current availability and recommend the private charters that best suit your group, destination and plans.
3. Choose your charter
Once you’ve chosen the right option, secure your booking with the required payment and we’ll confirm the details.
Secure booking • Clear payment arrangements • Local support
Related guides
St Maarten trip planner
Where to stay, how long to visit, getting around and planning your time across St Martin / St Maarten.
Do I need to book in advance?
When booking ahead helps — and when last-minute availability can still work.
Compare private charter options
Compare destinations, prices, boat types and the most common private-charter decisions.
What our guests say
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Frequently asked questions
Can I book a private boat charter on Christmas Day in St Maarten?
Yes, Christmas Day private charters can be available.
Not every operator works on December 25, however, so availability is more specific than on an ordinary day. Tell us your date and group size and we'll check the suitable options that are actually operating.
Can I book a private charter on New Year's Eve?
Yes, daytime charters can be available on December 31.
If you are specifically looking for a sunset, evening or late-night New Year's Eve experience, tell us when enquiring. Those options are more limited and should not be assumed to operate in the same way as a normal daytime charter.
Can I book a private charter on New Year's Day?
Yes, January 1 charters can also be possible depending on the boat and operator.
Because it is a specific holiday date, we recommend checking availability rather than assuming that every normal charter option will operate.
Are private boat charters more expensive over Christmas and New Year?
Some are.
Certain boats use special festive-period pricing while others may retain their usual rates. There is no single Christmas or New Year surcharge across all EXPLR.SX charters.
We confirm the exact price for your date before you book.
How far in advance should I book a Christmas charter?
There is no fixed number of weeks that applies to every boat.
If your travel dates are fixed and a private charter is important to your holiday, it makes sense to enquire once your dates are known. The earlier you ask, the more flexibility we are likely to have around boat type, departure point and destination.
Last-minute availability can still occur, particularly if your dates and preferences are flexible.
Can we visit Anguilla over Christmas or New Year?
Yes, private day trips from St Maarten to Anguilla can be available during the festive period.
Passports and clearance requirements apply, and availability depends on the boat, operator and conditions. We will explain the relevant arrangements before your charter.
Can we visit St Barts over Christmas or New Year?
Yes, St Barts private charters can be possible during the festive period.
St Barts is a longer open-water trip and requires a suitable boat and appropriate sea conditions. It normally works best as a full-day experience.
Tell us your date and group size and we'll check which suitable options are available.
What happens if the weather is unsuitable?
The captain or provider makes the final decision about whether conditions are safe for the charter to operate.
A poor-looking forecast by itself does not automatically mean the trip is cancelled, and routes can sometimes be adjusted around the conditions.
If the captain or provider determines that the charter cannot safely operate, we will first try to arrange a suitable alternative date. If rescheduling is not possible, the refund conditions set out in your booking terms apply.
Are private charters suitable for families over Christmas?
Yes.
Private charters can work particularly well for families because the boat is reserved for your group and the experience can usually be paced around your needs.
If you are travelling with young children, older family members or a mixed-age group, tell us when enquiring so we can concentrate on the most appropriate boats and routes.
What information do you need to check availability?
The most useful information is your preferred date, group size, where you are staying and whether you are considering St Maarten, Anguilla or St Barts.
If you already have a budget or particular preference — such as extra shade, more space, a catamaran or a relaxed family day — include that too.
You do not need to know which individual boat you want before contacting us.
Tell us your plans
If a private boat day is part of the trip you’re planning, tell us your dates and group size.
We’ll check the most suitable current options for St Maarten, Anguilla or St Barts and explain everything clearly before you decide.
No payment is required until availability has been confirmed.
