Fourteen guests is the ceiling on most private charters in Providenciales, including our boat, our luxury yacht and the 65ft Fairline at sixteen. Above that, the options in Turks and Caicos thin out quickly.
Our answer is the catamaran: up to forty guests, from $2,700 for four hours. It is also, past about twelve people, the cheapest boat we run per head.
What a large group costs
The catamaran base price covers ten guests. Additional guests are $150 each, on every trip length.
| Group | Half day (4h) | Full day (7h) | Sunset (2h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 guests | $2,700 | $4,900 | $2,000 |
| 15 guests | $3,450 | $5,650 | $2,750 |
| 25 guests | $4,950 | $7,150 | $4,250 |
| 40 guests | $7,200 | $9,400 | $6,500 |
All before 12% government tax. At forty people the half day works out at $180 each, and the full day — which includes a Caribbean meal prepared by a private chef — at $235 each. For a private boat with a water slide, that is not a lot of money per person.
Full details are on the catamaran page.
Why a catamaran and not two boats
Twenty-five people could, in theory, go out as two private boats. We would advise against it, and not because it costs more.
- The group splits and stays split. Two boats anchor in slightly different places, swim at slightly different times, and the day becomes two separate days. For a wedding party or a company trip, that defeats the point.
- Toasts and speeches need one deck. You cannot make an announcement across two hulls.
- It is more expensive. Two half-day boats at $1,450 plus extra guests comes to more than one catamaran for the same twenty-five people, and you get one slide instead of none.
The exception is a group that genuinely wants to split — say, serious snorkellers on one boat and a sunbathing contingent on the other. That is a real use case, and we can run it.
What the catamaran is actually like
Two hulls, a wide flat deck, and a water slide that runs off the deck straight into the sea. The slide is used at anchor during swim and sandbar stops, and it is the thing the photographs end up being of.
Practically, for a big group the important qualities are:
- Deck space. Forty people need somewhere to sit that is not each other’s laps. A catamaran has the beam for it.
- Stability. Two hulls roll far less than one, at anchor and underway. With a large mixed-age group, somebody is always prone to seasickness, and this helps.
- A bathroom. Non-negotiable at this group size.
- Pace. A catamaran is slower than a yacht, so a full day covers less ground. For a group day that is usually fine — the point is being out there together, not the mileage.
Running a large charter well
Decide the length honestly
Four hours is right for most groups. Seven hours with twenty-five people is a long commitment for everyone, including the three who did not really want to come. The full day pays off when the group is tight and the occasion is big.
For a wedding party the night before, or a corporate group with dinner afterwards, the two-hour sunset catamaran cruise at $2,000 is often the smarter booking: everybody is together, nobody is sunburnt, and it ends on time.
Get the headcount right early
Pricing moves $150 per person, so a group of twenty-five that turns up as thirty costs $750 more. Give us your best estimate when you book and confirm the final number a few days out. We would rather adjust than surprise you.
Pick the boarding point deliberately
Beach pickup works for small groups. For twenty-five or forty people, getting everyone from the sand onto the boat takes longer than you think, and a marina is usually cleaner. Tell us where the group is staying and we will advise.
Food and drink
Rum punch, beers, sodas, juice and water are included on every charter. The full-day catamaran adds the chef-prepared Caribbean meal. For half-day or sunset trips with a big group, talk to us about catering rather than assuming — and tell us about dietary requirements as one list, early.
Music
Your boat, your playlist. For group charters this matters more than people expect, so nominate one person to own it before you get aboard.
Weddings and corporate days
These are the two most common large bookings we take, and they want different things.
Weddings usually want the sunset cruise or a half day the day before the ceremony, with the whole party together, photographs, and an early finish. The catamaran handles the numbers and the light does the rest.
Corporate groups usually want the full day: enough time for people to actually relax, a proper lunch, and swimming. Give us the group’s makeup in advance — non-swimmers, anyone who will not be in the sun, anyone with mobility issues — and the route gets built around it.
Either way, tell us what the day is for. A boat is a boat; what makes a group charter good is planning the shape of the day before it starts.
Common questions
Is forty really the maximum?
Yes, that is the catamaran’s capacity. Larger groups would need a second boat alongside, which we can arrange — ask us.
Can we bring our own DJ or equipment?
Ask first. Space and power are both finite on a boat, and we would rather plan it than improvise.
Do children count toward the forty?
Yes. Capacity is people.
Can we split payment across the group?
Talk to us when you book and we will tell you what is workable.
How far ahead do large groups need to book?
Further than you think. There is one catamaran, and in high season the good dates go months out. Check your date now, even if the numbers are not final.
