Time on Deck
Three days gives you the parts of a charter that a single day never reaches. Long stretches on deck between stops, meals taken at anchor rather than against the clock, and evenings that do not end with a run back into Nassau.
Multi Day Charters
3 Day Bahamas Yacht Charter
The shortest charter that genuinely reaches the Exumas and gives you time there.
Why Three Days Is the Turning Point
A day charter out of Nassau is a good day. It is not, however, a way to see the Exumas, because the round trip to the middle of the chain consumes most of the available hours. Three days changes that completely. You spend the first afternoon getting south, the middle day entirely in the Exumas, and the last day working back at a sensible pace.
That structure is why this is the shortest multi day charter we recommend to anyone whose main goal is Staniel Cay, the swimming pigs or the better snorkeling. Two days is mostly travel. Three days is a trip.
Sample Bahamas Yacht Charter Itinerary
This is a realistic three day route, not a brochure schedule. Your captain will adjust it around wind, tide and what your group actually enjoys. Itineraries are always customised.
Day One, Nassau to the Northern Exumas
Board late morning and clear Nassau harbour. Depending on conditions and vessel speed, the first day usually ends around Highbourne Cay or Norman's Cay. If time allows there is a stop at the sunken aircraft at Norman's Cay, which sits in shallow clear water and snorkels well. Dinner aboard at anchor, and on most yachts of around forty five feet and larger this is prepared fresh by a chef on board.
Day Two, The Middle Exumas
The full day, and the reason for the trip. Run south to the Staniel Cay area early. Big Major Cay for the swimming pigs before other boats arrive, then Thunderball Grotto if the tide is right, which your captain will have planned around rather than guessed at. Lunch at anchor. Afternoon at Compass Cay with the nurse sharks, and a sandbar as the tide drops. This is the day guests remember.
Day Three, Working North
A slower return. One or two stops that were skipped on the way south, a final swim, and back into Nassau in the afternoon. Disembark with enough margin for onward flights, and tell us your flight time in advance so we can build the day around it.
Some guests fly one leg to gain time. The seaplane page explains when that is worth doing on a three day trip.
On Board
What Three Days Looks Like on Board
The difference between a day charter and a three day charter is mostly in the hours that are not spent travelling.
Quiet Anchorages
The captain picks the overnight anchorage on the day, based on the wind direction and where your group has ended up. Sheltered water, no marina noise, and on most nights very little else in sight.
Your Charter
What Is Included
What comes with a charter depends on the vessel. This covers what is commonly included, and we confirm the specifics for the yacht you choose.
- Private use of the yacht for your group alone
- Licensed captain
- First mate and professional crew
- Chef on board generally on yachts around 45 feet and larger, and on larger catamarans
- Freshly prepared meals where a chef is aboard
- Premium open bar and cocktails
- Appetizers and hors d'oeuvres
- Snorkeling equipment
- Water toys these vary by yacht
- Bluetooth sound system where fitted
- Fuel and marina logistics
- An itinerary customised with your captain
Water toys vary from vessel to vessel. Jet skis are not carried on every yacht, and where they are available they may be included or offered at additional cost. Ask about a specific yacht and we will tell you exactly what is aboard.
Practical Planning
Where you sleep
At anchor, in sheltered water chosen by the captain. Multi day charters do not generally return to a marina each night, and the quiet anchorages are one of the better parts of the trip. Cabin configuration varies by vessel, so tell us how the group splits before we suggest yachts.
Packing
Soft bags only. Hard suitcases are difficult to stow on a boat and there is rarely anywhere sensible to put them. Bring less than you think; laundry is not usually available on a three day charter.
Provisioning and dietary needs
Tell us about allergies, dietary requirements and strong preferences at the time of booking rather than on the day. Provisioning happens in Nassau before departure, and the Exumas have very limited shopping.
Weather
A three day window gives the captain some flexibility, but not unlimited. If conditions are poor for the southern run, the route may be shortened or changed. That decision is about your comfort and safety and is not negotiable, though we will always explain the reasoning.
Why Charter With Us
Why Choose Our Private Yacht Charters
- Every charter is private, never shared with another group
- Licensed local captains who know the Exuma tides
- Routes planned around conditions, not a printed schedule
- Honest advice on whether three days suits your plan
- Vessels from fast sport yachts to large catamarans
- Clear pricing confirmed before you commit
Availability and Pricing
Charter yachts are privately owned and availability changes constantly. Vessels are sold, repositioned between Miami and Nassau, and operate seasonally. Rates move with season, fuel costs, demand, operating costs and wider market conditions.
Nothing on this website is a live booking system. Contact us for current availability and pricing for your dates.
Three Day Questions
Questions About a Three Day Charter
Planning, sleeping aboard, provisioning and what three days realistically covers.
Why is three days the shortest charter you recommend for the Exumas?
Because two days is mostly travel. Three days lets you spend the first afternoon getting south, a full middle day in the Exumas, and the last day working back at a sensible pace.
How far south can we get in three days?
Comfortably to the middle Exumas, which covers Staniel Cay, Big Major Cay and Compass Cay. Vessel speed affects this, so we will tell you what a specific yacht can realistically do.
Where do we sleep?
At anchor, in sheltered water chosen by the captain. Multi day charters do not generally return to a marina each night, and the quiet anchorages are one of the better parts of the trip.
How are the cabins arranged?
It varies by vessel, which is why we ask how your group divides into cabins before suggesting yachts. That question rules boats in or out faster than length does.
What should we pack?
Soft bags only. Hard suitcases are difficult to stow and there is rarely anywhere sensible to put them. Bring less than you think, as laundry is not usually available on a three day charter.
Are all meals included?
On yachts carrying a chef, meals are prepared on board and planned around your preferences. Tell us about allergies and dietary requirements at booking, because provisioning happens in Nassau before departure.
Can we stop for supplies along the way?
Only in a limited way. The Exumas have a couple of small grocery stores at Staniel Cay and very little else, so the trip is provisioned before you leave Nassau.
Is fuel included?
Fuel is included in most standard charters. We will be explicit at the quote stage about what is and is not covered so there is no surprise at the end.
Can we change the itinerary once we are under way?
Yes, and it usually changes. Wind and tide decide the running order more than the plan does, and a good captain will rearrange rather than force a schedule.
What if the weather turns during the charter?
Three days gives the captain some flexibility. The route may be shortened or changed, and that decision is about comfort and safety. We will always explain the reasoning.
Is there phone signal?
Patchy in the middle Exumas and absent in places. If someone needs to stay reachable, tell us early and it can be factored into the route.
Can we fly one leg to save time?
Yes, and on a three day trip it often makes sense. Our seaplane page explains when it is worth the extra cost.
Would a week be better?
If you can manage the time, yes. A week changes the character of the trip rather than just extending it. Three days is the sensible minimum, not the ideal.
How far ahead do three day charters book up?
Several months for anything between December and April. Multi day charters commit the vessel and crew, so the suitable yachts are booked earliest.
Three Days, Properly Planned
Give us your dates, your group size and your flight times. We will tell you which yachts are free, how far south they can realistically get in three days, and what it costs.
If three days is not enough for what you are describing, we will say so.
Three day charters over weekends and holidays are committed earliest.