Destinations

The Hamiltons’ Latest Cruise: The Stunning Lysefjord in Norway

By Peter Janssen on October 17, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

Dirona is on the move again. The 2009 Nordhavn 52 owned by James and Jennifer Hamilton just cruised up the Lysefjord in southwest Norway, one of the cruising world’s major – and hard to get to – attractions. A remnant of the ice age, Lysefjord (light fjord) is 26 miles long and is bordered by steep granite cliffs that often rise 1,300 feet above the water. Underwater, the depths start at 43 feet and then plummet to more than 1,000 feet as the fjord moves inland. This summer the Hamiltons, a high-tech couple from Seattle who’ve been cruising since 2012, took…

Pusser’s To Open New Restaurant and Painkiller Bar on Cane Garden Bay in the BVI

By Peter Janssen on October 17, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

Here’s some really good news if you’re heading for the British Virgin Islands any time soon. Pusser’s will open a restaurant, bar and company store at Myett’s Hotel on the beach at Cane Garden Bay. The new Pusser’s will replace Myett’s existing restaurant there, and will open around the end of November. Cane Garden Bay is on the northwest side of Tortola, basically across from Jost Van Dyke. It’s one of the prettiest spots in the BVI, which is so full of pretty spots that it’s become a worldwide cruising and chartering favorite. The area was hit particularly hard by…

Ten Things To Do in Fort Lauderale

By Peter Janssen on October 16, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

So you’re thinking about heading to Fort Lauderdale for the big boat show? Great. But what do once you’re there? Here’s our list of ten things to do to make your visit truly memorable. 1.Go to the show. It’s one of the best, and largest, in the world, with 1,500 new boats and 1,200 exhibitors. This year it runs from Wednesday, Oct. 31 through Sunday, Nov. 4. You’ll find everything from megayachts to jet skis, Ferraris and helicopters. There’s so much that the show can be overwhelming, and crowded; it had 110,000 visitors last year. If you get tired of…

Architectural Digest: Will Bermuda Become the Next Hamptons, Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket?

By Peter Janssen on October 8, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

Now that the America’s Cup has come and gone, Bermuda is back to its natural state: One of the best cruising and vacation destinations in the world. Indeed, Architectural Digest, an arbiter of such things, says Bermuda is on track to become the next Hamptons, Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard, a prediction that could make some old Bermudians wonder what’s happening to their favorite island. The fact is, however, that Bermuda has a lot going for it, other than being at the other end of the Bermuda race, or a stopping point for a transatlantic crossing (as it was for the…

In Light of State Department Warnings, How Safe is Mexico Today? The Log Has Some Answers

By Peter Janssen on September 30, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

Travel advisories are often issued by the United States, but how dangerous is it south of the border? MEXICO — There are certainly a fair share of boaters who navigate to and from Mexico’s many marinas and boating destinations on a regular basis, giving no mind to the travel advisories issued by the U.S.’s State Department. Yet others might buy into this notion of Mexico being a drug cartel playground, with innocent U.S. tourists caught in the middle of heated gun battles. Traveling always comes with risks, to be sure. Some people will invariably have bad experiences, even if they…

Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island Resort To Reopen Soon, Rebuilt After Irma. See His Video

By Peter Janssen on September 29, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

Sir Richard Branson is going to reopen his exclusive and beautiful vacation property on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands in a few weeks. It had been seriously damaged by Hurricane Irma last fall. “Delighted that Necker Island will soon be open again as we continue the recovery,” Branson wrote. Branson bought the 74-acre island in the ‘70s for $180,000 and spent millions making it one of the most sought-after luxury resorts in the world. Over the years, the guest list has included royals, Kate Moss, Kate Winslet, the late Nelson Mandela, and former President Barack Obama and his…

14 Best Bars and Watering Holes in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Don’t Miss the Frangi Fever

By Peter Janssen on September 22, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

If you’re planning a cruise south, down the Caribbean to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, you might want to plan a stop at some of the best local watering holes and beach bars listed here by AFAR. Even if you’re not going that far, it’s always fun to live a little, even vicariously. Here are some pictures and writeups of 14 of the best bars and restaurants in that part of the world. AFAR says you don’t want to miss the famous Basil’s Beach Bar on Britannia Bay in Mustique or the great bars on Bequia. The Frangipani on Bequia…

Attention Snowbirds: Plan a Stop in Historic Hampton, Virginia, on Your Way Down the ICW

By Peter Janssen on September 17, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

If you’re thinking of joining the snowbirds heading south this fall (or returning north in the spring), you also are probably thinking about stopping in the Norfolk/Hampton area along the way. After all, Norfolk is Mile Zero of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway so unless you’re cruising offshore, you’ll be there. Norfolk, of course, is the Navy’s largest base in the world, and it’s busy with military and commercial traffic. Hampton, next door, shares its rich history and offers more marinas and facilities for cruising boat owners. If you just want to start down the Waterway itself, go south 12 miles…

For Some of the Best Fall Cruising, Head North, to Canada

By Peter Janssen on September 5, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

Don’t even think about putting your boat away for the season. Now that summer’s over, there’s still lots of cruising time left, when the autumnal colors can be gorgeous, the crowds thin out, and you can have more time to wander and explore at your own pace. Indeed, in many parts of the U.S., fall can be the best boating season. And this may seem counter-intuitive, but to enjoy some of the best fall boating, you need to head north, all the way to Canada. Here’s a look at some of the best cruising destinations that country has to offer.…

Some of the World’s Best Beach Bars Are Back in Business in the BVI

By Peter Janssen on September 5, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

First things first. Sure, we all know that cruising in the British Virgin Islands is one of the great pleasures available to mankind. The water’s gorgeous, the navigation’s easy, and you could spend night after night anchored off a different island or cove for a very long time. But let’s get to the serious stuff: The beach bars. At the end of the day (literally), the beach bars in the BVI (and many other places) offer a welcoming conclusion to hours spent on the water; they’re destinations in their own right, and they often can provide the more memorable moments…

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