What to pack for a Caribbean yacht charter

Soft duffels only. Hard suitcases do not fold flat, there is nowhere on a yacht to store them for the week, and crew visibly wince when they see one come down the dock. A soft duffel or holdall per guest slides under a bunk or into a locker and disappears. Two smaller bags per person is better than one large one.

Think of clothing in three buckets. On board: two swimsuits, board shorts, a couple of technical t-shirts, and one light layer for the breeze after sunset. Day ashore: shorts, sundresses, a linen shirt for hotter beach lunches. Evening ashore: one smart-casual outfit — chinos and a shirt, or a dress — for Basil's on Mustique, the Cotton House, or dinner at Sugar Reef. That is genuinely it for a week. Laundry can usually be done mid-charter on crewed boats.

Footwear is short: a pair of reef shoes or sturdy sandals for wet dinghy landings and the reef edge, deck shoes or bare feet on the yacht (no black soles), and one decent pair for dinner ashore. Trainers if you plan to hike — Bequia and St Vincent both have proper walks.

Sun and skin is where guests underpack. Bring reef-safe SPF 30–50 from home (oxybenzone-free is legally required in several marine parks and enforced in the Tobago Cays), a wide-brim hat with a chin strap that will not blow overboard, a long-sleeve UPF rash top for long snorkel sessions, and a good after-sun. Sunglasses on a strap. Local pharmacies stock the basics but choice is limited.

Tech: bring a universal travel adapter — sockets vary between yachts and can be UK, US or EU on the same boat. A GoPro or similar with a floating handle, a small dry bag for the dinghy, a portable speaker for your cabin (not the shared deck), and downloaded films for the kids. Starlink is now on most crewed boats but is not guaranteed on every bareboat.

Medical: sea-sickness tablets even if you do not usually need them (the passage to the Tobago Cays can be lively), any prescriptions with a couple of extra days in case flights are delayed, plasters, antihistamines, and rehydration sachets. For anything else, see /plan-your-charter/faq and /experiences for what is provided on board and what to arrange in advance.