Destinations

After the Shows, What To Do in Miami

By Peter Janssen on February 3, 2020 Destinations

One of the most vibrant, lively and warm of all American cities, Miami has long been a magnet for people from all over the world. The draw: A combination of the culture, the water, the beaches and, in the middle of February, the boat shows. But Miami is always a great place to visit at any time, particularly for cruising boat owners. It’s a great destination in its own right or as a stopover on the Great Loop, a starting point for a cruise down to the Keys or over to the Bahamas. Whether you’re heading to Miami for the…

NY Times: 52 Places To Go in 2020

By Peter Janssen on January 12, 2020 Destinations

The New York Times just published its annual “52 Places To Go” in the coming year story, and it contains some old favorites, as well as some entirely new ones. Here are some in both categories: The Times’ Number 2: The British Virgin Islands. Still recovering from the hurricanes of 2017, the BVI are coming back. Rosewood Little Dix Bay, for example, reopened this month. Richard Branson’s private Necker Island (its Red Dock is pictured above) is on schedule to reopen by April. The Bitter End Yacht Club will open its new marina this summer, with accommodations to follow in…

For 2020: The 20 Best Beach Bars in the Caribbean

By Peter Janssen on December 17, 2019 Destinations

You may have been wondering, as you plan your next cruise or charter vacation, what are the best beach bars in the Caribbean? Even if you haven’t been concentrating on this yet, the people at Caribbean Journal have put together a list of “The 20 Best Caribbean Beach Bars to Visit in 2020,” just to get you in the mood. I may be remiss in this department, but I haven’t set foot in most of them; then again, this gives me something to aim for in the year, or years, ahead. The point is that the best bars are more…

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…

Abacos Update: Some Reopenings with More To Come

By Peter Janssen on December 5, 2019 Destinations

Absolutely devastated by the historic winds of Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 1, a few spots in the Great Abaco area of the Bahamas are starting to come back. Dorian, with sustained winds of 183 mph, left more than 50 people dead and destroyed almost every building in Marsh Harbour, the largest community on Great Abaco Island – homes, grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, everything. Now the Leonard M. Thompson International Airport in Marsh Harbour is up and running, with Bahamas Air, Western Air and private flights. And the Abaco Inn, a 16-room villa resort just eight miles away in Hope…

The Hottest Islands for 2020, from Coastal Living

By Peter Janssen on November 7, 2019 Destinations

We all love islands. At least I think we do. I certainly do. There’s something romantic about islands. They’re always away, a trip from home, a loosening of our ties to land. They bring out the sea captain in us, or the pirate, or maybe just the beach bum. Some of my best memories are of cruises, charters and vacations to islands. I’m thinking of mainstays like Nantucket, the BVI, and Antigua, but I also include some a bit more off the beaten path – I’m thinking of you, Rebak Island in Langkawi, Malaysia, and Rottnest Island, off Perth, Australia.…

Oxford, Maryland, a Picturesque Boating Haven Since 1683

By Peter Janssen on September 30, 2019 Destinations

If you’re in Annapolis for the boat shows, or simply cruising through the Chesapeake on your way south for the winter, give yourself a treat and stop across the bay at Oxford on Maryland’s eastern shore. Founded in 1683, Oxford is small, with only 651 people, and quiet (its most prosperous time was during the Revolution), but it’s a picturesque boating haven simply invites you to slow down and relax a bit. Oxford is almost surrounded by water, with the Tred Avon River and Town Creek wrapping around it on three sides. Their banks are lined with restored 18th and…

Want To Help the Bahamas? Go There. Here’s What’s Open

By Peter Janssen on September 29, 2019 Destinations

Here’s a good story from The Points Guy by Liz Hunt called Three Reasons Now Is the Best Time To Visit the Bahamas. It tells what’s open after Hurricane Dorian, which is a lot. Earlier this month, the Bahamas were hit very hard by Hurricane Dorian with winds up to 185 miles per hour at landfall — the destruction was deadly. Weeks later, at least 50 people have been confirmed dead and 1,300 remain missing. The northern part of the archipelago, including the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, endured the brunt of the hit while destinations such as Nassau, the…

New Marina, with Incredible Views, Opens in Brooklyn

By Peter Janssen on August 28, 2019 Destinations

The first new marina in New York City in the past 50 years is now open on the East River, just south of the Brooklyn Bridge, with 100 slips for boats up to 200 feet and incredible views of downtown Manhattan. The marina, Oneº15 Brooklyn, is part of Brooklyn Bridge Park. It’s just below the River Café, between Piers 4 and 5, and directly across the river from the South Street Seaport and the Fulton Fish Market. More than five years in the building, the marina was delayed until the owners, Oneº15, a Singapore company, developed a new, proprietary, wave-attenuation…

Cayman Islands: Great Diving, Fishing, and Red-Footed Boobies

By Peter Janssen on August 26, 2019 Destinations

The three Cayman Islands, stretching across a swath of the western Caribbean, are one of the better cruising and chartering destinations, popular in the winter but with a warm sun, turquoise waters and world-class diving and fishing all year long. The reefs are full of tropical life, fishing is called “the national sport,” and the beaches are always white and usually underpopulated. The Caymans officially are a British Overseas Territory, and they lie south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica. Grand Cayman is the largest, and is known for its beach resorts, diving and fishing. Cayman Brac offers diving, and…

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