The worst moment on a charter is not the weather. It is the moment somebody hands you a bill you were not expecting. This page sets out exactly what is in a Captain Caicos quote, what is not, and what you might reasonably pay on the day.
If you are comparing operators, use it as a checklist. Any quote that will not answer these questions in writing is a quote to be careful with.
Included on every charter
- Your captain and crew. Not just a driver — crew who help people in and out of the water, hand up the snorkelling gear and keep the drinks coming.
- The whole boat. Private means private. No other group joins you, at any price point.
- Snorkelling equipment. Masks, snorkels and fins, in adult and child sizes.
- Refreshments. Island rum punch, beers, sodas, juice and water.
- Beach pickup. We come to the beach in front of your hotel, resort or villa.
- Fuel. There is no separate fuel surcharge on our charters.
Included on some charters
| Inclusion | Which charters |
|---|---|
| Caribbean meal by a private chef | Full-day boat, full-day yacht, full-day catamaran |
| Champagne and gourmet snacks | Half-day luxury yacht |
| Air-conditioned interior, onboard bathroom, indoor shower | Luxury yacht and 65ft yacht |
| Water slide | Catamaran charters |
| Hydraulic swim platform | 65ft Fairline Targa GT |
The full-day menu is substantial: jerk chicken, steak and shrimp kabobs, grilled snapper, BBQ ribs, lobster when it is in season, peas and rice, mac and cheese, plantains, salad, bruschetta and fruit. Tell us about allergies and dietary requirements when you book and the chef works around them.
Not included
12% government tax
Every price we publish excludes 12% government tax, and we show it as a separate line rather than folding it in. On the $1,450 half-day boat charter that is $174. On the $2,500 full day it is $300. It is a government charge, not an operator fee, and it applies to every licensed charter in the country.
If a competing quote looks 12% cheaper than ours, check whether tax is in it yet.
Gratuity
Tips are never added to our invoices and never assumed. Guests who want to tip usually hand it to the crew directly at the end of the day; the common range for a good day on the water in the Caribbean is 15–20% of the charter price, but there is no expectation and nobody will mention it. If you would rather add it to a card payment, ask and we will arrange it.
National park and landing fees
A few stops sit inside protected areas managed by the Turks and Caicos National Trust, and a landing fee applies at some of them. These are small, they are not ours, and we will tell you before the day whether your route involves one. Ask us for the current amount when you book — we would rather you heard it from us than at a jetty.
Extra guests above the base count
This is the line that moves a quote the most, so it is worth being precise:
| Charter | Base covers | Each extra guest | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-day boat — $1,450 | 6 | $75 | 14 |
| Full-day boat — $2,500 | 6 | $100 | 14 |
| Half-day yacht — $2,500 | 6 | $125 | 14 |
| Full-day yacht — $4,700 | 6 | $200 | 14 |
| Catamaran, any trip | 10 | $150 | 40 |
Transfers: the one people get wrong
This is where most charter complaints in Turks and Caicos actually start, so read this bit carefully.
We do beach pickup in front of your hotel, resort or villa. If you are staying anywhere along Grace Bay or with water access, we come to you and there is nothing to pay and nothing to arrange. You walk off the sand onto the boat.
If there is no water access where you are staying, we pick up at TCI Ferry or Turtle Cove Marina instead. Getting yourself to the marina is a taxi ride, and that taxi is yours to pay for. A short hop across Providenciales is not expensive, but it is not nothing, and it is not in our price.
The failure mode we see from other bookings is a quote that says “transfers included” without saying what kind. A traveller in the local groups paid $3,300 for a seven-person charter on that basis and was then charged $200 for the taxi on the day. The fix is simple: ask whether your accommodation has water access, and if it does not, ask in writing who is paying for the ride to the dock.
Our team will tell you which applies to your villa before you pay anything.
What a complete quote from us looks like
When you ask us for a price, you get all of this on one page: the boat, the hours, the date, the guest count, the base price, extra-guest charges if any, the 12% tax as its own line, the pickup point, what is on board, and the total. Nothing is added afterwards.
That is not generosity, it is self-interest. A guest who finds out about a cost at the dock does not come back, and does not recommend us.
Common questions
Is the 12% tax avoidable?
No. It is a government tax on charter services and every licensed operator charges it. An operator quoting without it is either going to add it later or is not declaring it.
Do you charge for children?
Children count toward the guest total the same as adults, because the boat’s capacity is set by the number of people aboard. If your group of six includes three children, that is still six guests and the base price covers it.
Can we bring our own food and drink?
Yes. Refreshments are included, but you are welcome to bring anything specific you want — a birthday cake, a particular wine, baby food. Just tell us so we have cooler space ready.
Is there a deposit?
Terms are confirmed when you book. Send us your dates and we will set out the payment schedule with the quote rather than after it.
What happens to my money if the weather cancels the trip?
If the captain calls off a trip for weather, we reschedule it or refund it. We would rather move your day than take you out in conditions that will make it miserable. There is more on this in our guide to weather and when to visit.
