Boat Charters Archives | News of St. John

Business Spotlight: Sonic Charters Expands Offerings with New Boats and BVI Trips

December 22, 2022December 22, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Sonic Charters, a family owned and St. Thomas based company, has expanded their fleet and their charter destinations this season just in time for the holidays! This charter company, established in 2013, was formed by Morgan and Carrie Locke (And named for their pup Sonic!), after they migrated from St. Croix to St. Thomas in 2009. When they started, Sonic was just a four-year-old pup! And now their furry friend, and their business, have grown for nearly ten years and Sonic’s namesake company has expanded, in that time, from one boat to six! And they are venturing into the British Virgin Islands once again as well!

Business Spotlight: On The Sea to STT Will Cure Your Last Day Blues!

December 24, 2022November 29, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning everyone! I have to admit, I’m pretty excited about the boating opportunity that I’m about to share with you. I absolutely love this grass roots, two boat company, On the Sea Charters, and the owner, Ryan Matthews. And I have very much enjoyed watching him build this business over the years and put in the hard work to make an immense success of himself here in Love City. And, in addition to all of their trip options, the new excursion that he has dreamed up is absolutely guaranteed to wash your last day on STJ blues away and leave you with a grand finale that will keep a smile on your face long after your flight departs.

Who’s in the Water?- Off Season Boat Charters on St. John

August 24, 2022August 19, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning Everyone! We have seasonally published a report in regards to restaurant closures during the peak months of hurricane season for the past few years (See this year’s list here.). But, a question that I see popping up all over the place is in regards to boat charters during the off season.

During this time of year, a lot of the boat owners on St. John relocate and/or haul out their vessels for the off season months. There are a few reasons for this…For starters, some boat insurance actually requires that the vessel be outside of a certain “hurricane zone” during the peak times of year. Many boat owners will plan to haul out this time of year for scheduled maintenance or to simply take a vacation with the peace of mind that their boat is safe and strapped down in the event of a storm. This is all great for the safety of some of our favorite charter boats, but it leaves folks who are vacationing this time of year with slim pickins when it comes to going for a play day on the water during the off season months. So, I thought it might be time to start publishing a list of St. John based boats that are in the water and available for charter from August to November!

Travel Guide- St. John Boat Charters

August 3, 2022June 13, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning. Today, I want to address something that has really been grinding my gears for the past few months. So, there are all of these different boat broker companies, “concierge” companies and Facebook groups and charter booking operations out there that are offering a service to the consumer (that’s you!) in an attempt to help you find the perfect boat for your day on the water while visiting. Which is GREAT. It makes your life easier when all of the options are in one place, right?

However, I have noticed that many of these websites and group pages offer almost exclusively St. Thomas BASED vessels. Even on the St. John pages on their websites! Yes, they do pick up on St. John and do trips and excursions around Love City. But, I thought maybe visitors to St. John might be interested in knowing that you are booking a boat and crew that are actually based here on island. And, in order to do that, you need accurate information, right? Misinformation is my biggest pet peeve and many other charter boat owners have expressed their frustrations about all of this to me. So, in light of all of this, I created a list of St. John based boats for you to peruse the next time you are planning a trip and looking to get out on the water for a day of fun!

Business Spotlight: Choose Your Boat Day Adventure with Ocean Runner!

April 6, 2022April 6, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! Today, I want to share with you all a bit of info about a charter boat company that has been on St. John since 1994 and evolved exponentially over the years. A company that offers a vast array of charter options, from minimal bare boat rentals to all-inclusive luxury power yachts. A company that, in recent years, has merged with the premier diving operation on St. John. A company that makes it exquisitely easy for you to get to your boat for the day with a private dock and complimentary on-site parking and flexible pick up locations. You know them and you love them, but let’s take a deep “dive” into the updates and expansions at Ocean Runner….Pun intended 🙂

Business Spotlight: Adventure the Day Away With Catzilla

February 23, 2022February 23, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! If you have been following along, you may have noticed how ABSOLUTELY gorgeous our days on the water have been recently. The skies and sea have been stunning, dolphins and whales have been showing their beautiful faces, the underwater life is thriving and the weather has been in absolutely perfect with scattered showers bringing rainbows and lush green landscapes and the Trade Winds keeping the temperature incredibly comfortable during even the warmest times of day.

So, I wanted to share with you a virtual day on the water today for all of you folks who are stuck at home…But, if you are heading to St. John soon, it doesn’t have to be virtual. Get out on the water with Catzilla the next time you visit!

Business Spotlight: Sail Away for a Day with Sailing Asante!

February 9, 2022December 23, 2021 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! If you have been paying attention over the past year, you will know that this little write up is near and dear to my heart! In addition to all of my online work, I have also been working for the past year and a half with my boyfriend, Teddy, to build and develop his sailing business. And, I’m pleased to say today that he is FINALLY letting me write an article about all of our hard work and good times out there on the beautiful waters surrounding St. John. So, sit back, enjoy the views and sail away with us for a day on Sailing Asante….

Business Spotlight: Voodoo VI – The Ultimate Luxury Charter Experience

November 18, 2021November 18, 2021 by Hillary Bonner

Earlier this year, I shared with you a sneak peak of Voodoo, a brand new, custom-built, high performance 57 foot power catamaran. She boasts the status of being one of the largest catamarans in the world with outboard diesel engines. She calls St. John her home…And is beckoning you to come spend a day of luxury on board.

Business Spotlight: Arrive in Style With Love City Excursions’ Water Taxi

November 8, 2021 by Hillary Bonner

We ALL know how daunting a day of travel to the Virgin Islands can be! Especially when it comes to St. John. COVID Test, paperwork, probably at least two flights, paperwork review, taxi or rental car…And THEN you still need to take the barge or the ferry. And, figure out which one is going to work best for you and your family or friends. Well, what if I told you that, instead of dealing with ferries, you could end that lengthy travel day with a private luxury power boat ride, complete with icy cold beverages on board?

Who’s on the Water? Boat Charters During the Off Season

August 24, 2021August 24, 2021 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning Everyone! We have seasonally published a report in regards to restaurant closures during the peak months of hurricane season for the past few years. But, a question that I see popping up all over the place is in regards to boat charters during the off season.

During this time of year, a lot of the boat owners on St. John relocate and/or haul out their vessels for the off season months. There are a few reasons for this…For starters, some boat insurance actually requires that the vessel be outside of a certain “hurricane zone” during the peak times of year. Many boat owners will plan to haul out this time of year for scheduled maintenance or to simply take a vacation with the peace of mind that their boat is safe and strapped down in the event of a storm. This is all great for the safety of some of our favorite charter boats, but it leaves folks who are vacationing this time of year with slim pickins when it comes to going for a play day on the water during the off season months. So, I thought it might be time to start publishing a list of boats that are in the water and available for charter from August to November!