Charter

Best Snorkeling in the Caribbean, from The Moorings

By Peter Janssen on June 1, 2020 Charter

Here’s a great story from The Moorings about the best places to snorkel in the Caribbean, with a look at the BVI, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Martin, and the U.S. Virgin Islands: Grab your fins and get your mask fog-proof ready because we’re kicking our way through nature’s island-hopping paradise to reveal the best snorkeling in Caribbean sailing destinations. But no matter what sun-and-sea activity you crave most on vacation, you can always count on the Caribbean for extreme relaxation, fun-filled adventures, and unforgettable memories. This warm-weather wonderland is certainly not lacking in praiseworthy snorkeling spots but there are…

Spend a Night, or More, on a Grand Banks in Beaufort, NC

By Peter Janssen on May 27, 2020 Charter

Jan and Lee Rychel finished the Great Loop in January, 2019, on their Grand Banks 46 Shangri-La, but they didn’t want to give up their lifestyle. In fact, they liked it so much they wanted to share it. So they opened an onboard B&B, called Bed & Breakfast On A Boat, in Beaufort, North Carolina, and they’ve now expanded it to include chartered overnight cruises and trawler training. The Rychels have been living on board since 2016, when Lee retired after more than 30 years in the home furnishing business. He had grown up on the Great Lakes and had…

Charters Can Reopen in the U.S. Virgins on June 1

By Peter Janssen on May 18, 2020 Charter, Cruising Life

Good news: The U.S. Virgin Islands can open up their charter operations on June 1. The Virgins, of course, include some of the best cruising grounds around, with beautiful water, white-sand beaches, and great dive sites. And you’re still in the United States; no passport needed. Albert Ryan, Jr., the Governor of the U.S. Virgins, just issued an executive order spelling out the protocols for when and how the islands will reopen in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was his sixth executive order about the crisis. Reopening the charter business is good news for those of us who love…

Now: Cruise the Arctic Circle on a Luxurious Charter Yacht

By Peter Janssen on May 18, 2020 Charter

If you’re tired of feeling hemmed in, think about taking a charter to the Arctic Circle this summer on a luxurious 253-foot, ice-breaking yacht, fully equipped with a helicopter, a submarine and a 16-person Jacuzzi. Ariodante Travel has just announced Arctic Circle tours on Legend, an expedition yacht with a Lloyds 1A ice-class hull. The tours start in the Svalbard archipelago (pop: 2,642), midway between mainland Norway and Iceland. From there, Legend can go just about anywhere in the Arctic Circle, including the North Pole, Greenland, the North Cape and Spitsbergen. We have to wait for international travel restrictions to…

When Things Get Better, What To Take on a Charter

By Peter Janssen on April 22, 2020 Charter

At some point, the current coronavirus crisis will wind down, and we’ll be able to take charter vacations again. In the meantime, we can plan ahead; a few dreams about warm waters, white beaches, and dark rum painkillers never hurt anyone. When the timing is right, we can start making a list about what to take on that dreamed-about charter. Even for the most experienced or organized cruiser, a list helps. For newcomers, it helps a lot. Here, from the people at Awestruckwander, is one of the most thorough lists I’ve seen of what to take on your charter, including…

When We Can Travel Again, European Waterways Barges Are Waiting

By Peter Janssen on April 15, 2020 Charter

When things start to open up again, you might want to think about a European Waterways cruise for your next charter vacation. They offer the largest fleet of luxury hotel barges cruising along the less populated canals and small rivers of Europe and the U.K. On a European Waterways barge you can celebrate an end to enforced social distancing by exploring the European countryside, from the South of France to the Highlands of Scotland. Each barge, a floating boutique experience, holds from six to 12 guests. European Waterways offers six-night, all-inclusive tours along canals and small rivers, visiting local towns…

Charter Update from The Moorings: What’s Open/Closed

By Peter Janssen on March 18, 2020 Charter

Here’s a charter and travel update from The Moorings, with a chart showing areas that are open for business as usual, that are experiencing some health issues, and that are closed for business. Click on the link at the bottom of the story to see the chart: Update from The Moorings As a leading member of the travel community we feel it is our responsibility to report on the global event currently unfolding accurately, and in a timely manner to help our guests make informed travel decisions. There is certainly no shortage of information available on COVID-19, but we invite…

Explore Greenland on a Luxury Expedition-Yacht Charter

By Peter Janssen on March 4, 2020 Charter

The world of adventure travel is growing rapidly, as more and more people want to try new experiences in new places. Increasingly, Greenland is one of those places. Sure, you can cruise there on your own Nordhavn, your Fleming, or your Kadey-Krogen (among other brands), or you can relax, charter an expedition yacht and let someone else worry about navigating through the icebergs and the frigid waters. We usually concentrate on owner-operated boats. But every once in a while it’s fun to take a look at what’s possible out there. If you’re thinking of cruising to Greenland, for example, you…

Barton & Gray: Enjoy a Hinckley, Without Owning One

By Peter Janssen on February 26, 2020 Charter

Here’s an appealing alternative to boat ownership, particularly if you like to enjoy the better things in life and you like to go boating in a lot of different places: The Barton & Gray Mariners Club, which offers members the use of crewed Hinckley Yachts in 25 spots on the East Coast, the Gulf Coast, and the Great Lakes. The major appeal of the club is that you can have all the advantages of owning a Hinckley without the disadvantages, primarily the costs of buying one, insurance, dockage and maintenance. And that’s before you add in the services of a…

Northwest Explorations: Still Spots Open for Flotilla to Alaska

By Peter Janssen on February 8, 2020 Charter

Northwest Explorations, the Bellingham, Washington, company that runs the legendary Mother Goose flotillas up to Alaska, just announced that it still has a few openings on its cruises this spring and summer. The reason that people, experienced skippers and those who are not so experienced, like the flotillas is that they offer safety in numbers, and they are planned, and led, by captains and crew from Northwest Explorations who have done this many times before. You cruise in a group, with planned stops every night, and excursions on shore that highlight the best of the natural beauty of this part…

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