Cooper Island sits at the heart of the British Virgin Islands, sheltered by Sir Francis Drake Channel and ringed by coral reefs that delight younger guests. A family charter here means waking to calm, turquoise water, spending mornings snorkelling at Cistern Point where sergeant majors and parrotfish circle the coral heads, and afternoons exploring by tender. The island is compact and traffic-free, making it one of the safest anchorages in the Caribbean for families with children of any age.
The charter fleet serving Cooper Island and the wider BVI runs to around 65 family-tagged yachts, ranging from 30-metre motor yachts with dedicated children cabins and shallow-draft hulls suited to these protected waters, to larger expedition vessels that carry kayaks, paddleboards and waterslides. Crew ratios are generous, typically five to eight aboard a 40-metre vessel, so children are looked after while parents enjoy the sun deck. Most family yachts carry a medically trained crew member.
Weekly rates for family-friendly charter yachts in the BVI start at around 50,000 euros for a well-appointed 30-metre vessel and rise to 150,000 euros and above for larger motor yachts with dedicated children’s programming and watersports instructors. The advance provisioning allowance, covering fuel, food, drinks and marina fees, typically adds 30 percent to the base fee. The BVI season runs from November through June, with the calmest conditions from January to April.
From Cooper Island the cruising radius is generous. Salt Island, ten minutes by tender, holds the wreck of the RMS Rhone, one of the Caribbean’s finest dive sites. Dead Chest Island and Peter Island offer secluded beaches. Norman Island’s Caves, the inspiration for Treasure Island, make for an afternoon adventure that captures every child’s imagination, and the Virgin Gorda Baths are less than two hours away.
