Antigua Yacht Charter – Crewed Yachts in Antigua and Barbuda

Charter a Private Yacht in Antigua

Antigua is one of the great sailing islands of the Caribbean, with steady trade winds, a deeply indented coastline and, it is often said, a beach for every day of the year. English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour, home to the historic Nelson’s Dockyard, are a hub for superyachts and classic sailing yachts alike, and each December the island hosts the Antigua Charter Yacht Show, where we inspect yachts and meet their crews in person.

A week aboard can circle Antigua’s quiet east-coast bays and add Barbuda, a low coral island to the north with miles of empty pink-sand beach. For a livelier week, Antigua also makes a fine starting point for St. Barts and St. Martin.

Highlights of an Antigua Yacht Charter

• Nelson’s Dockyard and English Harbour: a restored Georgian naval dockyard, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a lively marina village.
• Shirley Heights: the island’s famous sunset view, with music on Sunday evenings.
• Green Island and Nonsuch Bay: sheltered turquoise water on the east coast, ideal for kitesurfing and snorkelling.
• Barbuda: pink-sand beaches and the Frigate Bird Sanctuary in Codrington Lagoon.
• Deep Bay: snorkelling over the wreck of the Andes close to shore.

Antigua Yacht Charter Prices for 2026–2027

Yacht style	Size and guests	Typical weekly rate (7 nights)
Crewed sailing catamaran	50–65 ft, 6–10 guests	About $30,000 – $70,000
Crewed sailing yacht	60–100 ft, 4–8 guests	About $30,000 – $90,000
Motor yacht	80–110 ft, up to 10–12 guests	About $70,000 – $135,000 plus expenses
Superyacht	120 ft and above, up to 12 guests	From about $100,000 plus expenses

What the rate includes: on an all-inclusive charter, common on catamarans, the weekly rate covers your crew, meals, a standard bar, fuel for normal cruising and water toys; you add a crew gratuity (15–20% is customary) and any marina or park fees. On a plus-expenses charter, usual for motor yachts and superyachts, an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) of typically 25–35% of the charter fee is paid ahead to cover fuel, food, drinks and dockage, and any unspent balance is returned at the end of your week.

A Sample 7-Day Antigua and Barbuda Itinerary

• Day 1 – English Harbour or Falmouth Harbour: board beside Nelson’s Dockyard and dine ashore.
• Day 2 – Green Island and Nonsuch Bay: kitesurfing, snorkelling and calm water on the east coast.
• Day 3 – Passage to Barbuda: anchor off miles of empty pink-sand beach.
• Day 4 – Barbuda: the Frigate Bird Sanctuary in Codrington Lagoon and a beach picnic.
• Day 5 – Deep Bay and Jolly Harbour: snorkel the wreck of the Andes.
• Day 6 – The south coast: Carlisle Bay and quiet coves.
• Day 7 – Shirley Heights: the sunset view over English Harbour before a farewell dinner aboard.

Best Time for an Antigua Yacht Charter

Season	Months	What to expect
Peak season	Mid-December – April	Steady trade winds, dry days and the highest demand. Book 6–12 months ahead, and earlier still for the holidays.
Shoulder season	May – June	Warm water, calmer seas and a wider choice of yachts, often at more attractive rates.
Hurricane season	June – November (peak August – October)	Many yachts reposition. Charters remain possible with flexible plans and travel insurance.
Signature events	December and April – May	The Antigua Charter Yacht Show (December), the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta (April) and Antigua Sailing Week (late April – May).

Every Antigua charter is arranged personally by Hansel or Adrian Sneed. Sneed Charters has arranged Caribbean yacht charters since 1992, and as independent brokers we compare yachts from many owners and central agents, so our advice is unbiased and the charter rate is the same as booking direct.

Explore nearby: Leeward Islands yacht charter · St. Barts yacht charter · St. Martin yacht charter · Caribbean sail yacht charter