Destinations

A Fast Guide to the Ionian Islands off Greece

By co_admin on August 17, 2021 Destinations

Here’s a great story about the Ionian islands off the west coast of Greece, with some of the world’s most beautiful cruising destinations, from nationalgeographic.co.uk and the Greek National Tourism Organization: Imagine sailing across a shimmering emerald sea, bottlenose dolphins cresting the waves alongside your boat. Ahead lies a mountainous island thick with oak, hornbeam, cypress pine and olive groves. Closer in, a pastel-shaded fishing village tumbles down the hillside, its harbour quay lined with traditional tavernas. A nearby sheltered cove, fringed with a pale gold beach, offers safe anchorage and a refreshing dip in limpid lapis lazuli waters. It’s…

Canadian Border Now Open, But with Rules

By Peter Janssen on August 11, 2021 Destinations

The good news, the very good news, is that the border to Canada opened to U.S. boaters on Aug. 9, meaning that fully vaccinated Americans can cruise up the Inside Passage and British Columbia on the West Coast, along the shores of the Great Lakes, and up the Rideau Canal, the Thousand Islands, the St. Lawrence or Nova Scotia on the East Coast. But…and there’s a big but. The Canadian government has set some restrictions and guidelines, so it’s not quite like the good old days, the time before Covid. Fully vaccinated U.S. citizens can enter Canada on their boats…

Exploring Glacier Bay on a Kadey-Krogen 48

By co_admin on August 2, 2021 Destinations

Veteran cruisers Jeff and Susie Parker just spent a week exploring Glacier Bay, Alaska, on their 2006 Kadey-Krogen 48 North Sea trawler, Idyll Time. Glacier Bay is dear to my heart, since my daughter and her husband lived there for several years while working for the National Park Service, and loved it. You can read about the Parkers’ adventures, and see Jeff’s terrific pictures, on their blog here: With the fog beginning to lift, we weigh anchor at 10 am and ease out of Geike Inlet. We keep a sharp lookout for the Orcas that were in the anchorage earlier today…

Ganges, Salt Spring Island, BC. Aerial photographs of the Southern Gulf Islands. British Columbia, Canada.

Salt Spring Island: Pacific Northwest Gem

By Peter Janssen on July 28, 2021 Destinations

Now that Canada is starting to open up again, Salt Spring Island, in the Canadian Gulf Islands, is an appealing destination for U.S. cruisers. The largest of the Gulf Islands, Salt Spring is just above the popular San Juan Islands in Washington State and off the east coast of Vancouver Island. It’s easy to get to, and hard to leave, as I can attest from personal experience. Salt Spring is 17 miles long, nine miles wide, with a year-round population of 12,000 people, including large groups of painters, writers, musicians, retirees, and farmers: it’s home to more than 200 farms…

Mackinac: Horses, Boats and a Grand Hotel

By Peter Janssen on July 21, 2021 Destinations

A four-acre island at the top of Lake Huron, just around the corner from the top of Lake Michigan, Mackinac has been a major tourist – and boating – destination for more than a century. To visit Mackinac (pronounced “Mackinaw”) is to step back in time. Motor vehicles have been prohibited since 1898, ten years before Henry Ford rolled out his first Model T. Since then, you get around on the island by horse, bike, or foot. Mackinac is known for its fudge. The first fudge shop was opened in 1887, the same year that the iconic Grand Hotel was…

Saba Rock Resort Set To Reopen in BVI

By Peter Janssen on July 12, 2021 Destinations

Saba Rock, the relaxed and romantic destination resort with breathtaking waterfront views in the British Virgin Islands, will reopen on Oct. 15. The resort, on a private island in North Sound, Virgin Gorda, has undergone a dramatic reconstruction after it was largely destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017. You can stay in one of Saba Rock’s nine ocean-front rooms, but if you’re chartering or cruising through the BVI, you can enjoy lunch or dinner in the open-air restaurant or one of two bars; you also can sign up for diving (the resort has a dive shop) and for kite-surfing. Saba…

The Moorings Opens Charter Base in Historic Corfu

By Peter Janssen on June 1, 2021 Charter, Cruising Life, Destinations

The Moorings just announced that their marina in Corfu, in the northwest corner of Greece on the Ionian Sea, is now open for charters. One of the most glamorous destinations in the world, Corfu is one of the seven Ionian islands, and offers everything from gorgeous beaches and snug harbors to lively tavernas and waterfront resorts. With a charter from Corfu, you can explore the smaller Ionian islands, as well as make forays to historic ports of call along the Greek mainland. Many cruisers think the Corfu waters offer the best cruising in Greece. They certainly are among the most…

Branson Reopens Luxurious Necker Island Resort

By Peter Janssen on May 24, 2021 Cruising Life, Destinations

Sir Richard Branson’s luxurious Necker Island resort in the British Virgin Islands has now fully recovered from the hurricanes and has just come up with a Private Family Hideaway package involving a six-person private jet, a private pool, a DJ, and rooms for all for just $137,000 for a week. This month, Branson formed a partnership with evoJets to offer “the ultimate exclusive luxury experience in a setting that is just about as exclusive as it gets.” The exact price varies according to the departure city; the above far is from New York. The flight is round-trip to Beef Island…

New Covid Protocols Start May 15 in the BVI

By Peter Janssen on May 11, 2021 Charter, Destinations

The government of the British Virgin Islands has announced an update to its Covid-19 protocols that go into effect on Saturday, May 19. The BVI, of course, are some of the most coveted charter and cruising destinations in the world, and are the home of major charter operations including The Moorings and MarineMax Vacations. Here’s a recap of the new protocols are reported by The Moorings: Fully vaccinated travelers will be immediately released from quarantine upon receiving negative results from their Covid-19 test on arrival. The results take 24 to 36 hours to process. For unvaccinated adults, the previous four-day…

New Upgrades at Champlin’s on Block Island

By Peter Janssen on May 5, 2021 Cruising Life, Destinations

If you’re thinking about cruising in New England this summer, you’ll want to know about this: Among many other changes, the new owners of Champlin’s Marina and Resort on Block Island are offering seasonal dockage for the first time. Also, for transients, the marina will not allow rafting up. In the past, the marina had rafted boats three or four deep in crowded periods during the summer. Now, some boats will dock Med-style, stern-to, and occupants will get off on floating wooden docks that adjoin the fixed pier. Champlin’s, on Great Salt Pond, has been a major cruising destination for…

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