Yacht charter in the Exumas: prices, skipper costs and what to budget

A charter lets you cruise the Exuma Cays without owning a boat, with the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park on the route. The prices on this page are The Moorings’ own, a charter company with a base at Palm Cay in Nassau¹. Each price carries the date this page read it, and charter prices change, so get a written quote for your dates.

How much does it cost to charter a yacht in the Exumas?

The Moorings’ Exumas charter page, seen on 19 October 2026, states a price range from USD 4,529 to USD 49,919, based on a 7-day charter for 2 people¹. The same page shows a from-price of Call for pricing, so treat the range as the operator’s starting figures, not a quote¹.

Item (The Moorings, seen 19 Oct 2026)	Price	Note
7-day range, 2 people	USD 4,529 to 49,919	Starting prices1
Bareboat, low season	USD 4,529	7 days1
Bareboat, high season	USD 15,559	7 days1
Skipper on a bareboat	USD 345 per night	Add-on1
Additional costs	From about USD 1,300	2 people, 7 days1

Season moves the price. The same bareboat starts at USD 4,529 in low season and USD 15,559 in high season¹. Ask the operator which dates fall in which season before you commit. The best time to visit the Exumas page covers the weather side.

Can you charter with a skipper in the Exumas?

Yes. The Moorings lists a skipper on a bareboat at USD 345 per night, and it asks you to allow one extra cabin for the skipper¹. Over 7 nights, a skipper at USD 345 per night adds USD 2,415 (7 x 345) to the base price¹.

To charter a sailing yacht in the Bahamas, The Moorings says there must be at least one certified skipper over 18 years old². Every skipper must attend a chart briefing that covers the cruising area, use of the VHF radio and how to call for assistance².

What licence and experience does a bareboat charter need?

The Moorings lists these cruising licences for the Exumas: NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master, SLC, IPC, ICC, or ASA 103 / US Sailing Basic Coastal Cruising or above². It also asks for sailing experience level 3, which it defines as at least 20 days or 400 miles as skipper on an equivalent size yacht¹.

Which boats does The Moorings list for the Exumas?

Boat	Cabins	Length	Sleeps
5000 catamaran	5	50’6”	121
403PC catamaran	3	40’	61

The booking form offers 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 14 nights¹. The Moorings describes the Exumas as a chain extending over 100 miles north to south¹.

Can I charter an all-inclusive yacht in the Exumas?

The Moorings describes its crewed charter as an all-inclusive vacation on a private sail yacht or power catamaran¹. Ask the operator for the rate and a list of what is included, then add the park surcharge below.

Where does the charter start and end?

The Moorings runs its Exumas charters from Palm Cay, in Nassau¹. Its nearest airport is Lynden Pindling International (NAS)². Its 5 day power itinerary begins on day 1 at the Nassau base⁴. The Nassau to the Exumas by boat page covers the run from the base.

Base detail	The Moorings says
Base hours	8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week2
Charter boarding time	10 a.m.2
Charter end time	10 a.m.2
Refuelling rule	Return to the base by 9:00 a.m. and vacate the yacht by 10:00 a.m.2

What extra costs come on top of the charter price?

At the base, the security deposit is paid by Visa or Mastercard and is refundable at the end of the charter, subject to there being no loss or damage². To significantly decrease the deposit, The Moorings says to purchase its Yacht Damage Waiver insurance ahead of time². The travel insurance guide quotes what other providers say about boat cover.

Other costs listed by The Moorings:

• Wi-Fi at the base through a service partner, for approximately USD 150 to 200 for a 7-day rental².
• A base wristband for access to all base amenities, USD 12 per person, payable in cash at the check-in desk².
• Mooring and docking fees or cruising taxes, which The Moorings says are not always payable by USD, debit or credit cards. It recommends bringing enough local currency to cover them².

Your bareboat starts with a full tank of fuel. At the end you can return it with a full tank or pay for fuel used at the local marina price². For fuel and provisioning on the route, see fuel, water and provisioning in the Exumas.

How do park fees apply to a charter?

Charter vessels pay the mooring or anchorage fee plus an additional BSD 14.00 per person per day³. That per-person charge is BSD 12.73 plus 10% VAT, added at checkout³.

The park does not take reservations. Pre-payment does not constitute a reservation or guarantee a mooring³.

Mooring fields outside Warderick Wells operate on a first-come, first-served basis³. You pay through the Trust’s ParkPay app after you are on a ball, not before³. The park fees and mooring fees page has the table by boat length. The Trust lists a charter vessel annual pass at USD 22,560 a year³.

Before you book

Ask each operator for the same numbers: the boat’s price for your dates, the skipper rate per night, the extra costs and the deposit. Use the same 7-day length and guest count for each company so the comparison is fair. Then add the park surcharge for the nights you will spend in the park, because it scales with the number of guests as well as the nights. For 4 guests over 3 days, the surcharge comes to BSD 168 (14 x 4 x 3)³. Check the ParkPay page for the current total at checkout, because fees change.

Read the boating hub for the clearance, route and weather pages that sit around this one. If a cold front is in the forecast, the weather windows guide shows how a front moves through before you leave the dock.