Archive for the Category »Boating «

BVI Yacht Charters – The Only Way To See The British Virgin Islands

With BVI yacht charters you can choose to take a diving charter and learn to scuba dive in some of the most beautiful locations in the world. You can choose to take a yacht charter where you will learn to sail or even choose a luxury charter where you will have your own floating resort with amenities of all kinds at your fingertips. Flying to the British Virgin Islands is not expensive and when several couples book one of the BVI yacht charters it is only about the same as staying at an all-inclusive tropical resort.

BVI diving is rated as one of the best diving experiences in the world. There are over sixty dive sites you can visit with one of the yacht charters. BVI charters will take you to many unexplored reefs or if you want you can dive in one of the National Parks, where there are buoys for yacht charters to use. With the many vertical walls and shipwrecks, by booking one of the BVI yacht charters specializing in diving you might just discover a sunken treasure ship.

The year round temperature in the BVI is suitable for swimming and diving all the time. The seas are calm and there are no currents to worry about when you book one of the BVI yacht charters. The dive sites are all located in sheltered coves and if you have sailing experience, you don’t have to hire a captain or a crew. You can enjoy bareboat sailing with your yacht charter. BVI charter companies have all types of yachts from bareboats to luxury yachts capable of carrying 8 or more passengers.

You can have the ultimate honeymoon with BVI yacht charters. With its quiet pristine beaches, you can be alone in paradise with fabulous accommodations and dining on board the yacht. With honeymoon yacht charters, BVI companies can plan to meet you on any of the islands, except St. Croix, if you decide that you want to spend a few nights at a hotel before you get on board the yacht. With crewed yacht charters, you will have the perfect honeymoon where you have a crew ready to wait on your hand and foot.

BVI yacht charters offer discounts for families looking for the perfect vacation. You can choose captain only yacht charters or one with a full crew. If you have young children, you might think that a yacht charter might be dangerous, but it is perfectly safe. The only thing you need to keep in mind when booking family yacht charters in the BVI is that the crew does not look after the children for you. You have to do this yourself. BVI yacht charters have all the information you need available online so you can browse the many charters and choose the one that best meets your needs.

Booking Crewed Sailing Charters – What You Need To Know

Crewed sailing charters are available to take you to sights you only dreamed about. These charters include staying on a yacht for a week at a time and dropping anchor in exotic ports of call. While at sea, you don’t need to lift a finger nor do you need to know how to handle as sailing yacht. This is what you hire the crew for – so you can sit back and relax. When you make the decision to book one of the many crewed sailing charters available, you have to decide where you want to go and what you want to see and do.

The fee you pay for crewed sailing charters may be different depending on the part of the world where you want to charter a sailing yacht. In North America, the cost includes the rent of the yacht, the fee for the captain and the crew, as well as insurance that you pay just in case of an accident. In addition to this cost, if you charter a crewed sailing yacht the cost of the provisions, berthing fees and fuel are extras and you do need to pay them when you arrive back at the starting port. In the Mediterranean, the cost of a crewed sailing charter also includes fuel, berthing charges and water that you need to have on board the yacht.

When you start looking at the types of charter yachts, you can choose either motor or sail crewed charters. If you choose crewed sailing charters, you will experience the thrill of sailing slowly along the ocean. This is often the choice of couples that want to experience the romance of the sea. The number of people that will be going with you on the crewed sailing yacht will also determine the type of boat you need to charter. A crewed yacht is generally available for charter for a week, but you can also book these charters on a daily basis. The length of time you choose for the charter will determine the number of places that you get to visit.

When you make up your budget for crewed yacht charters, you have to include the cost of return airfare to the destination where you will board the sailing yacht. Look at what the charter company includes in its costs and then make allowances for food, fuel, anchorage and of course shopping and entertainment in the various places you dock. Then when you total this list you can determine whether or not a crewed sailing yacht is within your budget. Usually people plan for this type of vacation several years in advance and save up the money they will need to book the charter.

Once you make the booking for crewed yacht charters, the company will send you a contract to sign. When you return the signed contract, you will also have to make a 25% – 50% deposit on the reservation or you may have to make this deposit even before you receive the contract. There will also be a detailed questionnaire for you to complete so that the crew will be able to provide you with the vacation you are looking for. You will have to pay the balance of the cost of crewed yacht charters one month prior to your departure date. This way the only extra money you have to take with you is what you plan to spend while on vacation.

Boats, A List Of Do’s And Dont’s

Doesn’t the idea of a lovely three day sail in wonderful old boat sound nice? Here are a few things to think about before you sail away.

1. Do check the price. It may be possible to take an actual, fairly luxurious cruise instead of sailing on one of the oldest boats in America.

2. Do make sure you fully understand the size of your “room ” on the boat. If you are hoping to have any romantic action in your cabin it would be good to know ahead of time that you and your partner each have a small bunk and these bunks are not on the same wall.

3. Do know ahead of time if you and your partner can both even stand up at the same time in your “room” on the boat. If the answer is “no” consider other options.

4. Don’t leave without checking more than once to make sure you have Your luggage. Even though you carefully packed All the luggage, did Yours actually make it to the boat? If not you will have a fantastic time with no changes of clothing and nothing warmer than a sweatshirt. Don’t leave without all your luggage!

5. Don’t get on a boat where the crew is planning on having a lot of assistance from you and the rest of the paying customers. Like, for instance, doing your own dishes or pulling in ropes and such.

6. Don’t think you will get everything outlined in the brochure. Will you ever go onto land during this excursion or will you just ride around and around on the boat being quite sure you’ve seen that same shoreline five times in three days. Do ask the boat crew if you will ever see any of the sea creatures promised and what about the island lobster bake?

7. Don’t plan on real bathroom facilities and do ask where the shower is. Ha!!

8. Don’t even think of taking this kind of boat trip if you don’t like small spaces. Not only is the berth area minuscule, there is no other place to play games or cards except the galley, also tiny and often being used to fix the meals.

9. Do consider this boat trip if you enjoy working while on a very expensive vacation in the smallest accommodations imaginable while possibly seeing no sea life and not eating promised lobster!

These are some do’s and don’t of a boat trip I’ve actually taken.