Charter

Best Dive Spots in the Bahamas: Navigare

By Peter Janssen on December 14, 2022 Charter

What to do on a charter vacation in the Abacos? Problems, problems. The Abacos are known for some of the most beautiful waters in the world, as well as white sand beaches, warm breezes and easy cruises (as long as you watch your depth). But they’re also a great place to go diving, for beginners and experts alike. The Abacos are a little more secluded than many other spots in the Bahamas, so it’s easy to enjoy the marine life and dive with the turtles and tropical fish by yourself. The reefs there get more exposure to Atlantic temperatures, and…

BoatUS and The Moorings Forming BVI Flotilla

By Peter Janssen on November 29, 2022 Charter

BoatUS and The Moorings just announced that they’re forming a new cruising flotilla in the British Virgin Islands next May. In normal (non-pandemic) years, The Moorings hosts a week-long BoatUS Flotilla in the BVI, where BoatUS members can charter power and sail boats to cruise as a group through some of the best cruising grounds in the world. The next flotilla will be from May 20-27, and will include stops at some of the BVI’s most popular destinations. A flotilla offers a feeling of security for people who may not have a lot of charter experience. There’s safety in numbers,…

MarineMax Vacations Celebrates 10 Years in BVI

By Peter Janssen on November 2, 2022 Charter

MarineMax Vacations is celebrating its tenth anniversary in the British Virgin Islands, and it has created a sweepstakes offering a free charter vacation there. You can enter the sweepstakes through the rest of this year. If you win, you’ll get a six-day/five-night charter on a MarineMax 443 power cat next year in the BVI. The MarineMax base is on Nanny Cay on Tortola, a central location to start a charter in the BVI, with some of the most beautiful cruising grounds in the world. The BVI also are a relatively easy place to cruise; most navigation is line-of-sight. The base…

Cooper Island: A Bit of Paradise in the BVI

By Peter Janssen on October 25, 2022 Charter, Destinations

Cooper Island, a small island in the British Virgin Islands, seems to have it all: Location, a boutique-like resort along a sloping white beach, a mooring field for visitors, snorkeling right off your boat, and a western view for fantastic sunsets. Cooper Island is close to Tortola, home of the larger charter fleets, and to Virgin Gorda, where The Baths are on almost everyone’s charter itinerary. If you don’t have a boat, you can get there on a water taxi from Tortola. The Cooper Island Beach Club is now fully restored from the hurricanes of 2017. It’s a family-owned, eco-resort…

Photo by Nicholas Claris

Lagoon Starts Fractional Ownership with Sea Style

By Peter Janssen on October 11, 2022 Charter, Cruising Life

Lagoon Catamarans and Sea Style Partners just formed a joint venture to promote a fractional ownership program for Lagoon’s multihull power and sail yachts. The two companies announced their new partnership at the Cannes Yachting Festival, saying it will give owners access to Lagoon’s international network of yachts and Sea Style’s experience in fractional ownership, yacht management and crew services. Mathias Chouraki, the president of Sea Style, said the new partnership “shows that fractional ownership is not only trending, but also will become an important part of our industry in coming years.” The program offers owners a 25 percent or…

SamBoat, the Rental Giant, Expands to U.S.

By Peter Janssen on October 10, 2022 Charter, Cruising Life

SamBoat, the online company that’s leading the European boat rental market, is expanding to the United States. Indeed, it has started a rental fleet in Florida, in a partnership with Dream yacht Charter, and it plans to have a fleet of 2,000 rental boats across the U.S. by the end of 2023. So far, SamBoat has 50,000 boats in the water for rent at 1,400 destinations around the world. It basically is an online boat rental platform that connects boat owners and renters; it works much the same as Airbnb. The idea is that people who don’t own a boat,…

Four Seasons Building Luxury Yachts

By Peter Janssen on October 4, 2022 Charter

Four Seasons, the luxury hotel brand, just announced that it’s expanding to the high seas. At a press briefing at the Monaco yacht show, Four Seasons said has formed a new venture, Four Seasons Yachts, starting with a “no expense spared” 679-foot long vessel with 96 luxury suites. The first of three Four Seasons Yachts, costing $1.16 billion, will be built at Fincantiere, the large Italian yard that specializes in superyachts and commercial vessels. It’s scheduled to be launched in 2025. “We’re known for creating exceptional experiences,” said Christian Clerc, the president of Four Seasons Resorts and Hotels. “We plan…

The Good Life on European Hotel Barges

By Peter Janssen on September 12, 2022 Charter

You still have some time left for a late fall cruise, or you can plan now for next spring and summer. Either way, European Waterways has a fleet of luxury hotel barges in Europe and the UK where you can enjoy first-class service and accommodations while cruising through some of the most historic and beautiful waterways of the world. Here’s a small sample of the barges, the routes and the opportunities to immerse yourself in the local culture along the way: La Belle Epoque is a 12-passenger deluxe hotel barge, with wood paneling, custom seating, a spa pool, and marble…

Charter a Boat for a Day in the Virgin Islands

By Peter Janssen on August 31, 2022 Charter

Palm Tree Yacht Charters offers a different way to charter a powerboat in the Virgin islands, home of some of the most desirable cruising grounds in the world. Based in St. John, in the U.S. Virgins, Palm Tree has a fleet of powerboats that you can charter for the day, enjoy everything that the U.S. or British Virgin Islands have to offer, and then get back to stay on land at night. The boats all come with a captain, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy yourself. Palm Tree has a “You Choose the Cruise” program, where…

Boatsetter Raises More Money, Keeps Growing

By Peter Janssen on August 24, 2022 Charter

Boatsetter, the innovative boat renting company, is getting bigger and better. Founded in 2014, Boatsetter just raised $36 million in Series B funding to support further growth. The new funding came from Level Equity, Suntex Marinas, Certares and other companies in a placement by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. Boatsetter’s announcement said the funding will enable it to expand its features, boat inventory and “experiential offerings.” Boatsetter, basically an Airbnb on the water, now has more than 50,000 boat listings in 700 locations around the world. The company, based in Fort Lauderdale, says it offers the most diverse collection of boat…

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