A catamaran is a boat with two hulls. For a holiday outing, the next question is whether you are buying seats on a shared cruise or reserving the boat for your group. Compare two reviewed private catamaran options below.
Two hulls joined by a deck are the defining feature. Catamarans can be powered by sails or engines. The word alone does not specify the number of passengers, the layout, the size of the shaded area or what is included in the trip. Those are details of the actual vessel.
A catamaran can also be described as a yacht. When choosing a holiday charter, compare the named boat, seating, boarding arrangements and itinerary instead of treating those two labels as opposite categories.
Choose the cruise arrangement
Three arrangements you may encounter when comparing catamaran trips
Arrangement
What you are booking
What to confirm
Shared cruise
Passenger places on a sailing with other travelers
Per-person fare, timetable and inclusions
Private day charter
One outing reserved for your party
Whole-group quote, guest limit and captain
Overnight charter
A boat for a trip that includes nights aboard
Cabins, crew arrangements and multi-day costs
The options below are private day trips. Booking several tickets on a shared sailing does not establish that your group will have the boat to itself.
Private catamaran options in St. Thomas and Cancun
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A private catamaran option to investigate after the operator resolves the headcount.
Stated capacity
Ask the operator
Listed duration
4–7 hours
Capacity needs confirmation
Cost check. Dock or government charges are additional. Ask whether hotel transport and lunch are included in the selected option.
Capacity note. Capacity needs clarification: the title says up to 13, while another section says a maximum of 9. We do not mark this as a confirmed fit.
Meeting point. Marina Las Perlas, Cancún; confirm any pickup
Before booking. Get written confirmation of the vessel and your full headcount before paying, especially for 10–12 guests.
The St. Thomas selection is a 50-foot private catamaran with a stated allowance of up to 12 and four- or seven-hour options. The Cancun listing also offers four- or seven-hour outings, but its conflicting guest limits remain unresolved in our review. A group of 10–12 should get the Cancun vessel and full headcount confirmed before paying.
Ask for the whole-boat quote and separate mandatory extras from optional spending. Dock fees charged per passenger, lunch and transport can change the comparison. Then compare the private total with the total for the same party on a shared cruise.
Ask for covered seating, toilet access and the boarding method on the exact boat. If some people will swim and others stay aboard, explain that plan. A vessel category does not establish comfort, accessibility or suitability for a particular passenger.
Questions before you choose
Is every catamaran cruise private?
No. Catamaran describes the boat type. Check whether the booking reserves the vessel for your party or buys places on a shared sailing.
Does a sailing catamaran use its sails for the entire trip?
Do not assume it does. Ask the operator how the intended route is normally covered and how conditions may change the plan. The boat’s photograph does not guarantee a particular sailing experience.
Which listed catamaran takes 12 guests?
The reviewed St. Thomas listing describes a private group of up to 12, subject to confirming your selected sailing. The Cancun listing has conflicting limits, so this guide does not mark it as a confirmed fit for 12.