Charter

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…

New Discounts on Some Great European Barge Cruises

By Peter Janssen on February 5, 2020 Charter

Here’s some good news if you’re thinking about taking a barge vacation in Europe this year, but you have to act fast. European Waterways, the luxury hotel barging company, is offering up to a 20 percent discount on prices of some of its best cruises in France, Italy and Scotland, but you have to place the booking by Feb. 17. European Waterways is calling the discounted cruises Days of Wine and Whiskey, and it says that guests will have the opportunity to enjoy world-class wines on the French and Italian cruises, as well as famed Scottish whiskies on the barge…

Ellis Boat Charters: Iconic Down East Boats for a Maine Cruise

By Peter Janssen on January 29, 2020 Charter

If you’re starting to think about where to cruise next summer, you might want to look at Ellis Boat Charters in Southwest Harbor, Maine, right in the heart of some of the best cruising grounds in the U.S. Ellis has a series of Down East boats for day or week (or longer) charters there, and they have all the local knowledge you’ll need to make sure your charter is a success. The charter operation is a branch of the Ellis Boat Company, one of Maine’s iconic builders. The charter fleet, naturally enough, has five Ellis 36s (see picture at…

A Guide to Chartering in St. Martin for the First Time

By Peter Janssen on January 22, 2020 Charter

Here’s some great information about chartering in St. Martin if you haven’t been there before, with some up-date-advice from a charterer on a new Moorings 514 power cat. St. Martin Yacht Charter Guide for First Time Guests Published: January 20, 2020 Terese Kerrigan A logical next step for anyone looking to branch out from the British Virgin Islands, half-French, half-Dutch St. Martin is a premier travel destination and a delightfully eclectic cultural melting pot. Known for its laid-back Caribbean charm and stylish European appeal, this upscale sailing paradise boasts sparkling white-sand beaches, designer shopping, superb dining, and scenic hiking. Plus, nearby…

5 Best Charter Destinations for 2020 from The Moorings

By Peter Janssen on January 7, 2020 Charter

Looking for the best charter destinations for the year ahead? Here’s a list of five of them, from The Moorings, which knows a thing a two about the subject: When thinking about the top charter-worthy destinations for 2020 there are many amazing cruising grounds around the world to choose from, but we think we found our 5 favorites… St. Martin and the British Virgin Islands are experiencing a renaissance following the storms two years ago. Greece and Croatia, the most popular boating destinations in the Mediterranean, are experiencing increasing interest from the American market. And Tahiti remains the crown jewel…

Island Hopping in Croatia: 5 Top Spots

By Peter Janssen on December 11, 2019 Charter, Destinations

Whether you’re an adventure seeker, a foodie, a history buff or just someone who wants a variety of new adventures in your next cruising or charter vacation, you’ll find all the experiences you want on the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. In the past few years, the Dalmatian Coast has become increasingly popular (largely thanks to Game of Thrones), but you still can cruise easily through the islands there at your own pace and explore to your heart’s content. The Dalmatian Coast, a narrow belt on the east shore of the Adriatic Sea backed by a rugged mountain range, is the…

Plan Now for an Unforgettable Charter in Historic Greece

By Peter Janssen on November 20, 2019 Charter

Now is a great time to plan your charter vacation for next spring or summer, and you would have a hard time finding a more historic or alluring place than Greece. It has just about everything – easy cruising conditions, beautiful landscapes, ancient ruins, secluded islands, gorgeous white sand beaches, and waterfront tavernas. The place to start is Zia Marina in Athens’ port of Piraeus (Athens is pictured above). To give some sense of history, Piraeus has been a port since the 5th century, B.C. Today, Zia Marina is a fully-equipped, modern marina with room for 670 boats; it’s also…

BVI Update: Many Favorite Spots Now Open

By Peter Janssen on November 11, 2019 Charter

It’s been more than two years since the hurricanes devastated much of the British Virgin Islands, and the recovery has been difficult. Many marinas, charter fleets and resorts were hard hit. But now some of our favorites are open again or getting back to normal. “Normal,” of course, is a high bar to reach, since the BVI are one of the best, easiest and most attractive cruising grounds in the world. Here’s an update from The Moorings, the worldwide charter powerhouse, on what’s open now. Pusser’s Marina Cay, probably high on the list of everyone’s favorite destinations in the BVI,…

Cruise Through France’s Champagne Region on a Luxury Hotel Barge

By Peter Janssen on October 28, 2019 Charter

For a truly different and totally relaxing charter, consider six nights on the Panache, a 12-passenger luxury hotel barge run by European Waterways that cruises through the heart of France’s Champagne region, with frequent stops at vineyards and historic sites along the way. (See the video, below.) The cruise starts on the River Marne, about 75 miles from Paris. The Champagne tasting centers on Epernay, where you can tour the home of Moët & Chandon and inspect thousands of bottles of Champagne in 17 miles of underground tunnels. After some sampling there, you can move on to a hillside tasting…

Insider Tips: Cruising Mallorca to Ibiza on Chartered Power Cats

By Peter Janssen on October 22, 2019 Charter

Cruising Mallorca to Ibiza – Insider Tips Published: October 7, 2019 The Moorings Comments By Renato Seitenfus: Since I joined The Moorings and became hooked on the charter experience, I cannot let one year pass without stepping on a boat, exploring new waters, and discovering new cultures. Every year my friends and I set up an annual floating meeting, so after the Caribbean and Thailand, we decided to choose a destination that we’d all been to before and fell in love with – Spain. Our crew was bigger this time with 12 best friends coming from different places all…

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