Boat Charters Archives | News of St. John

Business Spotlight: New Transportation Service From STT Airport To Cruz Bay… The Last Mile Water Taxi

May 10, 2023 by News of St. John

Good Morning! If you’re a frequent traveler to St. John, you know how difficult it can be to get to our little slice of paradise. After a flight to St. Thomas (or multiple depending on where you’re coming from), you’re probably looking forward to some sunshine with a painkiller in hand, and the last thing you want to do is MORE travel.

Unfortunately, to get to St. John you still need to deal with the sometimes hectic St. Thomas airport, meander through other travelers to find a taxi, then get on a ferry to take you over to St. John. When you do finally arrive, you then sometimes need to continue to wait amongst a sea of other tired passengers until your bag is removed from the ferry. That’s why we’re so excited about Sonic Charters announcing their new business line: The Last Mile Water Taxi!

New Options for Island Hopping Beginning this April

April 25, 2023April 25, 2023 by Elise DuPont

There are exciting new options for visiting the islands of St Croix, Anegada and Virgin Gorda starting this month.

Business Spotlight: Spend the Boat Day of Your Dreams with Sunshine Daydream!

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023 by News of St. John

Good Morning, Good Morning! We all know that there are a TON of power charter boat companies operating out of St. Thomas and St. John, right? And when it comes time to choose which company to invest your one day on the water with, the choices can be way past overwhelming (especially if it is your first time!), correct? Ok, well, today I’m going to help you narrow down your selection of charter boat operators for your next trip around the USVI or the BVI. Sunshine Daydream Charters is owned and operated by someone who has spent a decade on St. John, the entire team of Captains are extremely knowledgeable about the Virgin Islands and the waters that surround us and, with four uber comfortable twin-hulled power boats to choose from for your day, they can accommodate any size group from two to forty-two!

Business Spotlight: Spend the Best Day (or Days!) of Your Vacation on Asante

February 10, 2023February 10, 2023 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! Our regular time together here is coming to an end shortly, unfortunately. But I will be checking in with you regularly right here on News of St. John in between our adventures at sea on Asante. So, I thought it might be fitting to leave you all with a little info on what we will be up to on Asante in this next chapter of life so you can check in with us when you are visiting next!

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!