Is the Midnight Sun Charters 37ft OBSIDIAN in St. Thomas Worth It?
Quick answer
The Midnight Sun Charters 37ft OBSIDIAN is a five-hour private boat charter in St. Thomas with a 4.94 rating from 135 reviews and a starting price of 2,333 USD. It suits groups who want a skippered, private on-the-water day without a large crowd, but the price is per charter rather than per person, so value depends on group size and how you use the time. This article explains what the verified listing tells you, what it does not, and how to decide.
If you are weighing up the Midnight Sun Charters 37ft OBSIDIAN in St. Thomas, the short answer is this: it is a five-hour private charter on a 37-foot boat, rated 4.94 from 135 reviews, with prices starting at 2,333 USD. That combination points to a well-reviewed, small-group experience rather than a mass-market snorkel trip. Whether it is “worth it” depends less on the boat itself and more on your group size, your budget, and what you want from five hours on the water. Below we break down what the verified listing confirms, what it leaves open, and the practical questions to ask before you book.
What exactly is the Midnight Sun Charters 37ft OBSIDIAN?
Based on the verified listing, this is a private charter aboard a 37-foot vessel called OBSIDIAN, operated by Midnight Sun Charters in St. Thomas. The listed duration is five hours, and the product is priced from 2,333 USD.
That is the extent of the confirmed detail. The listing does not specify the exact itinerary, the number of guests included, whether food and drink are provided, or whether snorkel gear is on board. Those are the details you should confirm directly with the operator before booking, because they materially change the value of the trip.
What the listing does tell you is that this is a private format rather than a shared group tour. For travelers who dislike crowded decks or fixed snorkel schedules, that is usually the main draw.
How much does it cost, and is the price per person or per boat?
The listing shows a starting price of 2,333 USD. It is described as “from,” which usually means the lowest available rate for the charter rather than a fixed price for every date. The listing does not state whether this figure is per charter or per person, and it does not break down what is included at that rate.
This matters enormously. If the price is per charter, a group of six or eight splits it into a much more reasonable per-person figure. If it is per person, the same number looks very different. Do not assume either way — ask the operator to confirm the pricing basis, what the rate covers, and whether taxes, fees, fuel, or crew gratuity are extra.
A simple way to think about value
- Per-charter pricing: the more people you bring (within the boat’s capacity), the lower the effective cost per person.
- Per-person pricing: compare it directly against shared snorkel or day-sail tours in St. Thomas, which are typically far cheaper per head.
- Five hours: a half-day format. It is long enough for a couple of stops but not a full-day expedition.
Because the listing does not confirm the pricing basis, treat any per-person figure you calculate as an estimate until the operator confirms it.
What do the 4.94 rating and 135 reviews actually tell you?
A 4.94 average across 135 reviews is a strong signal. It suggests that, at least among reviewers who booked through this listing, satisfaction is consistently high. That is meaningful for a private charter, where a bad crew or a tired boat tends to show up quickly in reviews.
That said, a rating is not a substitute for reading the reviews themselves. When you do, look for:
- Comments about the crew’s attentiveness and local knowledge.
- Mentions of the boat’s condition and comfort, especially shade and seating.
- Whether reviewers felt the itinerary matched expectations.
- Any recurring complaints about communication before the trip.
The listing does not include review text, so we cannot summarize specific praise or criticism here. The rating is a useful starting point, not a complete picture.
Who is this five-hour charter best suited to?
Given the private format, the five-hour duration, and the price point, this charter tends to fit certain types of travelers better than others.
Likely a good fit
- Families and friend groups who want the boat to themselves and prefer a flexible pace over a fixed group schedule.
- Travelers celebrating something — a birthday, anniversary, or reunion — where a private setting matters more than squeezing every dollar.
- Small groups who can split the charter cost and bring the effective per-person price down.
- People who value a half-day on the water over a full-day commitment, leaving the rest of the day free.
Probably not the best fit
- Solo travelers or couples on a tight budget, for whom a shared snorkel trip is likely far cheaper.
- Travelers wanting a full-day itinerary — five hours is a half-day, not a full-day charter.
- Anyone who needs confirmed inclusions (meals, drinks, gear) before booking, since the listing does not spell these out.
Midnight Sun Charters - 37ft OBSIDIAN
★ 4.9 from 135 reviews
What are the practical limitations to plan around?
A private charter is only as good as its logistics. Based on what the listing does and does not confirm, here are the gaps to close before you commit.
Details the listing does not confirm
- Departure point and time: not stated. You will need to confirm where to meet and how early to arrive.
- Maximum guest count: not stated. This directly affects whether the price is good value.
- Inclusions: food, drinks, snorkel gear, towels, and ice are not confirmed.
- Itinerary: the specific stops, swim spots, or islands visited are not listed.
- Weather policy: not stated. Ask what happens if conditions are poor.
- Cancellation terms: not stated in the listing data.
Questions worth asking the operator
- Is the 2,333 USD rate per charter or per person, and what does it include?
- How many guests can the boat comfortably take?
- Where does the charter depart from, and is transport included?
- What is the plan if the weather turns?
- Should we bring our own food and drinks, or is that provided?
Getting clear answers to these five questions will tell you more about value than the star rating alone.
How does it compare with other St. Thomas boat options?
St. Thomas has no shortage of private charters, from half-day snorkel runs to full-day luxury rentals. The OBSIDIAN sits in the five-hour, mid-size private charter bracket: longer than a quick snorkel outing, shorter than a full-day yacht rental.
| Consideration | OBSIDIAN (5 hours) | Typical shared snorkel tour | Full-day private charter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy | Private | Shared with other guests | Private |
| Time on water | 5 hours | Usually 3–4 hours | Typically 7–8 hours |
| Cost basis | From 2,333 USD (basis unconfirmed) | Usually per person | Usually per charter, higher |
| Best for | Groups wanting a half-day to themselves | Budget-conscious solo travelers and couples | Groups wanting a full day and more distance |
The table is a general comparison, not a claim about specific competitor pricing. The key point is that the OBSIDIAN’s value depends on how many people share the charter and how much you value privacy and flexibility over cost per head.
How should you decide if it is worth it for you?
A simple decision framework:
- Confirm the pricing basis. If it is per charter, divide by your group size to get a realistic per-person figure.
- Check the guest capacity. If the boat holds more people than your group, you are paying for unused space unless you fill it.
- Match the duration to your plans. Five hours is a half-day. If you want a full-day island-hopping experience, this is not that.
- Confirm inclusions. If food, drinks, and gear are extra, add those to your budget.
- Read recent reviews for crew quality and boat condition, not just the average score.
If the answers line up with a private, half-day, small-group outing at a price your group can split comfortably, the strong review record suggests it is a reasonable choice. If you are solo, on a tight budget, or need confirmed inclusions to feel comfortable, a shared tour may serve you better.
The Midnight Sun Charters 37ft OBSIDIAN looks like a solid option for a private, five-hour day on the water in St. Thomas, backed by a 4.94 rating from 135 reviews. The starting price of 2,333 USD is the number to interrogate: whether it represents good value depends on whether it is per charter, how many people you can bring, and what is included. Confirm those details with the operator, read recent reviews for crew and boat condition, and match the half-day duration to your plans. If the answers fit your group and budget, the review record suggests you are likely in good hands.
Midnight Sun Charters - 37ft OBSIDIAN
★ 4.9 from 135 reviews
