What to Pack for a BVI Boat Charter: The Real Packing List

Every packing guide for a BVI trip you’ll find online was written for someone doing a bareboat sailing charter — foul-weather gear, deck shoes, a rigging knife, spares for the winches. None of that applies if you’re stepping aboard a private captained charter or booking a water taxi with us. You’re not crewing the boat. You just need to show up ready for sun, saltwater, and a day that moves at its own pace.

We’ve watched enough guests arrive over-packed with gear they never touch, and under-packed on the two or three things that actually matter, that it felt worth writing down what we’d tell a friend. This is the real list, built around a full day, half day, or sunset charter with our crew — not a week-long sailing trip.

The Short List: What You Actually Need

• Swimsuit — worn under your clothes so you’re ready to jump in the moment we anchor.
• Reef-safe sunscreen — this matters both for your skin and for the coral. Look for mineral formulas with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide rather than oxybenzone-based sunscreens, which are restricted in several Caribbean marine parks.
• A hat and sunglasses — the sun reflecting off open water is stronger than most people expect, even with cloud cover.
• A light cover-up or rash guard — useful for the ride between stops and for anyone prone to sunburn on the shoulders.
• A dry bag or waterproof phone pouch — for your phone, wallet, and anything else you don’t want to risk near saltwater.
• Cash or card for stops ashore — restaurant lunches, beach bar drinks, and souvenirs at stops like the Soggy Dollar or Foxy’s aren’t included in charter pricing.
• A light jacket or wrap — for sunset and dinner charters, once the sun drops and the breeze picks up.
• Any medication you take regularly, plus motion sickness tablets if you’re prone to it, taken ahead of time rather than after you start feeling it.

Why a Captained Charter Packs Lighter Than a Bareboat Trip

If you’ve searched for BVI packing advice before landing here, you’ve probably seen lists built for people chartering a bareboat sailboat for a week — spare winch handles, a full set of foul-weather gear, sail repair tape, extra dock lines. That’s a completely different trip than what most of our guests are doing. A bareboat charter means you’re the crew: you’re raising sails, standing anchor watch, and provisioning a boat for days at a time. A private charter with us means our captain and crew handle all of that, and you’re a guest for the day, not a crew member for the week.

That distinction changes the packing list more than people expect. You don’t need deck shoes with non-marking soles, since you’re not working the deck. You don’t need a week of provisions, since we’re not living aboard. You don’t need navigation tools, safety flares, or a boat-specific toolkit, since none of that is your responsibility. What’s left is mostly the same list you’d bring to a nice beach day — sun protection, a swimsuit, and a way to keep your phone dry.

What We Already Provide

This is the part that trips people up most, since most general sailing packing lists assume you’re bringing everything yourself. On our charters, snorkel gear is provided, so you don’t need to pack masks, fins, or snorkels unless you have a favorite set you prefer to use. Drinking water is on board. If you’ve asked us to arrange a specific stop, meal, or celebration setup in advance, we’ll have that ready when you arrive too.

Because you’re not sailing the boat yourself, you also don’t need sailing shoes, foul-weather gear, or any of the technical equipment a bareboat charter requires. Barefoot or sandals is the norm on board.

What to Leave at the Hotel

A few things guests bring that end up staying in the bag all day:

• Heavy beach towels — we have towels aboard; bring one small towel at most if you have a preference.
• Formal shoes or dressy outfits — even our sunset and dinner charters lean casual. Save the dressier clothes for an evening back on land, if your trip calls for one.
• Big camera bags with multiple lenses — a phone with a good camera or a compact waterproof camera covers almost everyone’s needs without the risk of an expensive lens near saltwater spray.
• Excess cash or jewelry — there’s no need to carry more than you’ll spend at stops ashore, and valuables are safer left secured at your accommodation.

Packing Differently for Each Charter Type

What you’ll actually use shifts a bit depending on which charter you’ve booked:

Full Day Charter (8 hours, 4 stops): Pack as if you’re out from morning to late afternoon — sunscreen reapplication matters most here, and a light layer for the ride back if the wind picks up. See the full details on our Full Day Charter page.

Half Day Charter (4-5 hours, 2 stops): A shorter window means less sun exposure overall, but the same essentials apply — swimsuit, sunscreen, dry bag. Details are on our Half Day Charter page.

Sunset & Dinner Charter (3-4 hours): This is where the light jacket earns its place in the bag, along with a slightly nicer outfit if you’re planning to eat ashore at a restaurant stop. Our Sunset & Dinner Charter page lists our restaurant partners if you want to plan your outfit around where you’ll land.

Water Taxi: For a straightforward point-to-point ride, pack light — this is transportation more than an activity, so your regular travel bag and whatever you’re already carrying is usually all you need. Our water taxi page has more on how the service works.

If This Is Part of a Longer BVI Trip

Most guests booking a charter with us are in the islands for more than just the one day, so it’s worth thinking about the packing list in two layers: what you need for the charter itself, and what you need for the rest of the trip. For the broader visit, a valid passport is required for entry to the British Virgin Islands regardless of your nationality, and entry requirements can shift, so it’s worth confirming current documentation rules with official BVI immigration sources before you travel rather than relying on an old blog post.

Beyond documents, pack for a mix of casual island evenings and one or two slightly dressier nights if your trip includes a nicer dinner reservation on land. Lightweight, breathable fabrics do better here than anything heavy, and a second pair of sandals is worth having if your first pair gets wet and doesn’t dry out overnight. If you’re arriving by cruise ship for a single day rather than staying overnight, pack even lighter — a small bag with the essentials from our short list above is really all you need, since you’ll be back aboard your ship by evening.

Practical Details

• Sunscreen: Reef-safe, mineral-based, reapplied every couple of hours.
• Footwear: Sandals or barefoot; nothing formal required.
• Electronics: Phone in a dry bag or waterproof pouch; leave laptops and anything not water-resistant back at your accommodation.
• Cash: Small bills for stops ashore — restaurants and beach bars aren’t included in the charter price.
• Timing: Arrive with your gear already on or easily accessible — swimsuit under your clothes saves time once we’re anchored at the first stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to bring my own snorkel gear?
No. Snorkel gear is provided on our charters. Bring your own only if you have a specific mask or fins you prefer.

What should I wear on a sunset and dinner charter?
Casual is the norm, though a slightly nicer outfit works well if your stop includes a restaurant ashore. A light jacket or wrap is worth packing once the sun goes down.

Is sunscreen provided on board?
We recommend bringing your own reef-safe sunscreen, since coverage needs and skin sensitivity vary a lot from guest to guest.

Can kids come on a charter, and what should we pack for them?
Yes, families are welcome. Pack a reef-safe sunscreen suited for kids, a hat, and a favorite snack or two, along with any life jacket preferences if you’d like something specific beyond what’s provided on board.

What happens if it rains on charter day?
A passing shower rarely cancels a charter in the BVI; weather moves through quickly here. If conditions look genuinely unsafe, we’ll work with you on rescheduling.

Do I need a dry bag if I already have a waterproof phone case?
A waterproof case helps, but a dry bag is still worth having for anything else you’re carrying, like a wallet, extra clothing layer, or camera you’d rather not risk on a splashy ride between stops.

Ready to Book Your Charter

Once your bag is packed, the rest is easy. Reach out to plan your day, and if you’re still deciding what kind of day fits your trip best, our guide to the best snorkeling spots in the BVI and our rundown of the Trellis Bay full moon party are both good places to start building your itinerary.