<i>The best part of the entire trip - Day Charter to St. John!!!!!!!!!!!!
We rented a day charter 38 foot sailboat named Jester and Capt'n Jim, a laid back Californian with amazing coast guard experience, chef experience and a person who truly epitomizes the Caribbean and kind hospitality! His email is
jester@islands.vi I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM!!! He made us feel at home instantly. We sailed from St. Thomas (left from the beach by Point Pleasant Resort/Grand Renaissance) and went out from 9am to 3pm to St. John.
His price was $100 pp or $450 to rent the boat for the day - which we opted to do since... we wanted to ensure that our daughter's needs would be met. He takes a maximum of 6 people out - so I think if one had a slightly larger family they would definitely get there money's worth and then some versus a pricey shore excursion! To note - He also tailors the sail to St. John to your request (we asked for 1 stop instead of 2 and for easy waters for our 5 year old). He also sails to the BVIs and does other special charter sails like half days, weddings, sunset cruises.
He and I had emailed and planned all of the foods that my daughter loves from kids yogurts, plain chicken to black olives! He has open bar, plenty of comfortable places to relax on board and makes a delicious very fresh special grilled chicken, Caribbean corn on the cob and Rosti Pasta. He serves Jester Juice - his own rum drink (like a Painkiller), which was somewhat sweet but smooth with grated nutmeg on top!
At St. John we anchored off Honeymoon Cove and enjoyed the gentle waters - swam, snorkeled, relaxed - our daughter did the same - he provided a life vest for her and swim noodle along with floatation mats for us! He even sat with our daughter and let her feed the fishes so she would have fun and my husband and I could relax in the water!
At lunch time he blew a conch shell to signal lunch was ready and then we snorkeled so more after lunch by a nice reef. He also plays a great mix of Jimmy Buffet, Loggins & Messina, Bob Marley type tunes... We had such an amazing day that we think we might rent a barefoot charter boat and cruise around the BVIs next time!
He truly is the best idea and much more a one-of-a-kind experience then getting herded in a shore excursion group. He was also easy going about payment - we just told him we were coming and then paid him in travelers checks. We did give him a $50 tip for the excellent day.</i>
