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The 30 to 40m bracket is the single best-fit size for a Caribbean charter week. A 30 to 40m motor yacht in the Caribbean 2026 season runs $85,000 to $230,000 per week plus a 25 to 30 percent APA, takes 8 to 10 guests, and threads the line between BVI cruising depth, St Barths anchorage limits, and Antigua weather positioning. Sailing yachts in the same bracket sit at $65,000 to $160,000 per week. The Caribbean fleet at this size is roughly 40 percent the depth of the Med fleet, which has direct consequences for booking lead times.
Why the bracket suits the Caribbean specifically
The Caribbean rewards yachts that can move between island groups in a single week without burning the trip on transit. A 30 to 40m yacht does Tortola to St Barths in 14 hours overnight, St Martin to Anguilla in 90 minutes, and the Tobago Cays to Bequia in a half day. Below 30m the seakeeping in the Anegada Passage gets uncomfortable when the trades blow above 20 knots, which they do for most of January and February. Above 40m the bracket starts to lose access to the smaller St Barths anchorages and the inner Tobago Cays.
The Caribbean charter season runs December through late April, with peak weeks Christmas, New Year, Presidents' Week, and Easter. The shoulder windows of early December and mid-March are where rate value sits.
Weekly rate map for 2026
The rate ranges below are for high season (mid-December to mid-April) in 2026, before APA at 25 to 30 percent and gratuity at 10 to 15 percent.
| LOA bracket | Motor yacht (low to high) | Sailing yacht (low to high) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 to 33m | $85K to $125K per week | $65K to $100K per week |
| 33 to 36m | $110K to $160K per week | $85K to $130K per week |
| 36 to 40m | $135K to $230K per week | $105K to $160K per week |
Christmas and New Year weeks add a 30 to 50 percent premium and require booking by July of the prior year. Mid-January through mid-March is the rate-stable core of the season. Late April repositioning weeks before the Med crossing can drop 20 to 30 percent below the table above.
For full pricing across the full Caribbean fleet, see Caribbean charter weekly rates.
What the bracket buys you in the Caribbean fleet
Cabins. 4 to 5 cabins is the standard, same as the Med. Caribbean inventory skews slightly toward 4-cabin layouts because the typical Caribbean charter group is two couples with one family of four.
Crew. 6 to 8 crew is typical. The chef and dive instructor matter more in the Caribbean than in the Med because the trip shape is more food-focused and water-focused, with less off-yacht restaurant time. A captain who actually knows the BVI and St Barths anchorages, including the unmarked ones around Anegada and the leeward side of Jost Van Dyke, is worth a 10 percent rate premium over a captain who is doing their first season.
Tenders and toys. The Caribbean toy load is heavier than the Med. Expect a primary 7 to 9m tender, a Seabob or two, paddleboards, snorkel kits, and increasingly an eFoil. Dive compressors are common but not universal in this bracket; if your group dives, confirm before booking.
At-anchor stabilizers. Standard on builds from 2014 and newer. The Caribbean anchorages are generally calmer than the Med, but Christmas Cove off St Thomas and the southern roll into Norman Island both reward stabilized anchorage stays.
Trip shapes that fit the bracket
The 30 to 40m bracket fits the standard Caribbean trip shapes well.
BVI loop. Tortola embarkation, then The Baths at Virgin Gorda, the North Sound, Anegada (only if the captain has the local knowledge for the reef approach), Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island, and back. The bracket is the right size for the BVI cruising grounds, which become awkward for yachts above 45m. See Charter BVI for the destination context.
St Barths and St Martin. Gustavia harbor and the Colombier and Anse de Grand Cul-de-Sac anchorages handle the bracket. Above 38m the Gustavia berths get tight in the New Year week, when the harbor packs out. See Charter St Barths.
St Lucia, Grenadines, and the Tobago Cays. The southern Caribbean route from Antigua or St Lucia south through Bequia, Mustique, and the Tobago Cays. The bracket sits well across this route, with the inner Tobago Cays anchorages opening up to anything under 40m draft and beam.
Bahamas and Exumas (separate season window). Many 30 to 40m Caribbean yachts move into the Bahamas for late spring and the Exumas in summer. Different season, similar bracket logic. See 30-40m Bahamas.
What the bracket does not do well
Trans-Caribbean sweeps. A 30 to 40m yacht doing Antigua to the Grenadines in seven days spends three of those days underway. Cap the trip at two island groups per week.
Long open-ocean passage. The Anegada Passage and the run from St Lucia south to the Grenadines can be punchy in the trade-wind season. A 30 to 33m yacht in 25-knot trades and 8-foot seas is uncomfortable for non-sailors. Lean toward the upper end of the bracket if your group is sea-sensitive.
Helicopter ops. As in the Med, sub-38m yachts in this bracket do not take helicopters. For St Barths arrival logistics, the alternative is a charter flight into SBH directly.
What to book
For a first BVI charter, two couples plus four children, eight days in mid-February: a 36m motor yacht with 4 cabins plus a convertible twin, captain with five years BVI experience, and a strong dive program. Budget $145K plus APA, all-in roughly $200K. Booking lead time: 5 to 7 months for February peak.
For a couples-only St Barths week over New Year: a 38m motor yacht with 4 equal cabins and a Gustavia berth held in advance. Budget $250K plus APA, all-in roughly $345K. Booking lead time: 9 to 12 months. Most New Year St Barths inventory in this bracket is locked by July.
For a sailing-led trip down the Grenadines, six guests, ten days in late March: a 38m sailing yacht out of St Lucia south to Bequia, Mustique, and the Tobago Cays. Budget $135K plus APA, all-in roughly $185K. Booking lead time: 4 to 6 months.
Build, refit, what to ask
Caribbean fleet age skews older than the Med because many yachts move to the Caribbean in the latter half of their charter lives. A 2012 to 2018 build with a 2022 to 2024 refit is the realistic value zone in this bracket. Confirm air conditioning capacity for the Christmas week heat load, watermaker capacity for guest days at anchor, and tender service hours since last overhaul.