While crewed sail boat charters and bareboat charter vacations normally last 5 to 7 nights, not everyone has the time for a multi-night term luxury yacht charter. In this economy, saving up for a special bareboat charter or luxury yacht charter holiday might mean postponing until 2010.
Now for the good news – sailboat charters can be as short as one day and are the perfect compliment to a land-based Caribbean island vacation.
Let’s take a look at a single-day luxury yacht charter escape in the British Virgin Islands (also known as the BVI or BVI’s).
There are four major inhabited islands in the BVI, as well as dozens of (nearly 60) smaller islands, cays, and rocks scattered throughout the archipelago. Of course, the fun way to see these sights is by boat on a luxury sailing charter.
You can rent a small Caribbean yacht charter sailboat or a fast powerboat for the day in Road Town, Nanny Cay, West End, or several other locations. Some experience driving a powerboat or basic chart-reading skills are important to ensure you have a pleasurable day.
A great trip could start from Road Town, Tortola and head south across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Peter Island. You can tie up to the dock in Sprat Bay, or anchor off the beach in Deadman’s Bay and swim ashore (remember to wear your water socks). Visitors are welcome in the public areas, the boutique, and the beach grill.
From Peter Island, it’s a short boat ride to Norman Island. This is author Robert Louis Stevenson’s legendary Treasure Island, and the source of countless tales of pirates and buried chests of gold. Today, the island is uninhabited except for a small restaurant on the beach in the Bight. Anchored in the bay is the old ship, William Thornton, affectionately known by bareboat charter lovers and the locals as the “Willy T,” a trading vessel converted to a bar and restaurant. It’s a great stop for a little “pirate” ambiance. Be warned – on holiday weekends, the Willy T is not appropriate for kids as it takes on a bawdy “adults only” atmosphere.
Just outside the bay are the Caves. These are more like grottoes and are a true snorkeler’s delight. You can tie up your boat to one of the National Park moorings and swim in. Don’t be surprised if a school of tropical fish swim alongside you, looking for a handout. The locals ask that you resist the temptation to feed the little critters, however. Human food is not healthy for the fish and may do them great harm in the long run.
After snorkeling at the Caves, it is a short boat ride to The Indians. These rock outcroppings are the size of houses and full of nesting seabirds in the summer. The waters around the rocks are teeming with fish of every shape and color. One local describes a swim here as a magical experience: “Floating among the fish, corals and sea fans will make you feel like Peter Pan flying through an enchanted forest.”
If the sun is still high in the sky, and you still feel fresh for more adventure, zip over to Salt Island. You can tie up to the dock and walk around the abandoned houses to the salt pond where workers harvest and sell sea salt. If you still have any get-up-and-go in your tank, hop back on your boat and cruise around the corner to the wreck of the HMS Rhone, the BVI’s first underwater park. Snorkel over the wreck and try to imagine what it looked like before it sank in 1867!
By now, you realize you are on “island time.” There’s little reason to hurry back to Tortola, unless you have an early dinner reservation at your hotel or resort. Assuming you are in the island groove, we suggest a cruise east to Cooper Island. Accessible only by boat, this island has a few rental homes and a tiny resort that’s looks like a vacation postcard from the water – palm trees and long, white sand beach. By now, you must be hungry from a morning/afternoon of exploring. Drop in a local restaurant for a late lunch. With a full belly and a big smile, it’s just a short sail or cruise back to Tortola.
There are many other itineraries for a day trip by boat. Your hotel concierge can recommend the best local boat rental operators and give you some ideas as to where to go and what to see there. You can go fast on a powerboat or slower on a sailboat – the choice is yours. Either way, a day boat trip around the British Virgin Islands will be the highlight of your land-based island holiday!
This entry was posted in Caribbean Destinations and tagged BVI, The Caves, British Virgin Islands yacht charter, Willy T., barrier reef in the BVI, William Thornton, British Virgin Islands, Treasure Island, yacht charter Caribbean, bareboat, Robert Louis Stevenson, sailing yacht charters, skin dive, grottoes, sailboat charter, snorkel, HMS Rhone, Snorkeling, caribbean reefs, The Indians, sailboat, Sir Francis Drake Channel, Underwater Park, bareboat charter, Peter Island, caribbean yacht charter, Norman Island
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Just in time for the winter rental season, Trinity yacht charter vessel Motoryacht CARPE DIEM has added a new toy to her watersport equipment list. That toy is a unique “Jetovator.”
Be warned! This toy is for designed strictly for adrenaline junkies!
The rider can also redirect the water thrust of the two front nozzles in order to maneuver the Jetovator in all directions (read between the lines – spin wildly in the air). It should be noted that the Jetovator can go vertical straight up to a dizzying 20-25 feet at speeds of up to 25 mph. Finally, for a wetter experience, you can take a nose-dive and actually cruise underwater (to approximately 4-5 feet deep).
Luxury motor yacht CARPE DIEM 191 sleeps 10 to 12 guests. Her accommodations feature, for instance, a full-beam master stateroom on the main deck, four double guest staterooms, and a convertible gym on the lower deck. Weekly charter rates begin at $395,000 per week, plus all expenses.
This entry was posted in Yacht Charter Good Times and tagged SCUBA, kaleidescape entertainment system, Trinity yacht charter, watersports toys, gourmet food, snorkel, Jetovator, Carpe Diem, yacht charter Bahamas, trampoline, Bahamas, jetlev, trinity, jet boots, Bahamas yacht charter
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So, you’re just itching to get back on the water and enjoy another private luxury yacht charter vacation. Suddenly, you remember your wife mentioned it was time to renew your family’s passports…six months ago!
Now you’re in a pickle. You go to the United States Department of State website, and your heart sinks… According to the site, the total time it takes to process a routine passport application, and for you to receive the mailed passport, is 4 to 6 weeks. Yikes!
Even with expedited (code for: “more expensive”) service, it will still take at least 2-3 weeks from the time of application, including mailing time.
Without valid passports, it looks like that last-minute charter yacht vacation is going to be put on hold.
Or is it?????????
Fortunately for you, there are several great Caribbean yacht charter destinations where a passport is not required to enjoy a luxury yacht charter holiday. These destinations are often overlooked by Americans – bypassed for the traditional charter hotspots like the British Virgin Islands, St Barts, and the Bahamas. Most are within a half-day’s travel time from much of the United States, and are all are well worth a visit by boat.
Here are three of our favorite destinations where bare feet and bathing suits are the dress code, and passports are not required…
Things to do:
There are just SO many wonderful activities to do in St. Thomas. Here are just a few (thanks to the USVI Tourism Bureau):
Booking a luxury yacht charter in one of these passport–free destinations is as simple as contacting the charter professionals here at 1-800 Yacht Charters at https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/book-now-contact-us/ . You don’t even need to tell us you forgot to renew your passport – we’ll probably guess, anyway! Just tell us the destination you wish to visit, your desired dates, how many guests in your party, and your preferred budget. We’ll take it from there!!!
This entry was posted in Frequently Asked Questions Educational News and tagged Giftivism and Generosity, Fort Jefferson, Florida and Florida Keys, St. Thomas activities, what to do, Frequently Asked Questions, travel documents, yacht charter tips, virgin islands yacht charter, zipline, volunteer, skydive, Spanish Virgin Islands, birdwatching, snorkel, No passport required, USVI
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