St. Vincent and the Grenadines Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend a week. The chain runs roughly 60 nautical miles from St. Vincent down to Petit St. Vincent, and seven days lets a typical itinerary visit Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau and Salt Whistle Bay, the Tobago Cays, and Union Island or PSV with time to settle into each anchorage. Shorter trips work too. For a 5-day charter we typically recommend embarking at Canouan's Glossy Bay Marina or Bequia rather than Blue Lagoon — starting from St. Vincent adds a 9-nautical-mile leg to Bequia at the front of the trip, which is a fine sail on a week-long charter but a meaningful chunk of a five-day one. Canouan or Bequia drops you in the middle of the chain immediately.

Included: a professional crew (typically captain, chef, and stewardess), all meals and a standard bar (beer, wine, and spirits), water sports equipment, fuel for normal cruising, customary mooring fees, linens, and towels. Not included: crew gratuities (15-20% of the base charter rate), the per-yacht Tobago Cays Marine Park fee, premium dockage at Mustique or Canouan during peak weeks, premium drinks or specialty provisions, onshore dining (Basil's Bar on Mustique, Sugar Reef on Bequia, Happy Island off Union, etc.), and transfers to and from the yacht. Larger motor yachts and select sailing yachts run plus-expenses instead. Your broker will tell you which model applies to the yachts you're considering.

APA stands for Advance Provisioning Allowance — a pre-paid fund (typically 25-35% of the base charter rate) that covers food, beverages, fuel, mooring and marina fees, and other running costs during your trip. Your captain keeps an itemized account, and any unused funds are refunded at the end of your charter. In the Grenadines specifically, APA also covers the Tobago Cays Marine Park fee, customs and immigration clearance fees on entry, premium dockage at Glossy Bay (Canouan) or Mustique if your itinerary calls for it, and any cross-border clearance to Carriacou or Grenada at the southern end of the chain.

For peak season (December through April), book 6-12 months ahead — the best yachts and crews go first, and Christmas and New Year weeks at Mustique often book 12+ months out. Easter is the second peak, anchored by the Bequia Easter Regatta, which fills Admiralty Bay for the full week. For the May-June or November shoulder windows, 4-6 months is typically enough. Last-minute availability comes up too, especially when a charter cancels — we can always check what's open.

Yes. Your chef can accommodate virtually any dietary need — vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, allergies, kids menus, and more. Before your charter, you will complete a preference sheet detailing every guest's dietary requirements, favorite foods, and anything to avoid. Your chef builds the menu around it. In the Grenadines, expect plenty of fresh-caught snapper, mahi, lobster (in season), and locally grown produce alongside your preferences — provisioning is typically done out of Bequia or Canouan, where the markets carry the best of what the chain offers.

Most guests do. Mustique is a privately owned island of 100 villas — historically the winter residence of Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Princess Margaret — and Britannia Bay off the west coast is the standard anchorage. Yachts pick up a mooring there (the island restricts anchoring), tender ashore, and spend an afternoon or evening at Basil's Bar, the open-air pavilion on the water that's been the island's social anchor since 1976. Shore access is limited. Mustique is private and the villa areas are not open to the public, so guests typically explore the island's two beaches — Macaroni and Pasture — by tender, and beyond that the village area around Britannia Bay. Yachts can stay overnight on a mooring; the captain handles the booking. For HNW guests it's a fixture of the chain — the only real question is whether to visit early in the trip on the way south or late on the way back.