Destinations

Le Boat Opens North American Boat Rental Operations on Canada’s Historic Rideau Canal

By Peter Janssen on May 29, 2018 Charter, Cruising Life, Destinations

Le Boat, the largest boat rental company in Europe, just opened its first operation in North America on the historic Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Canada. The company, which has 16 bases in eight different countries, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Kilmarnock Lock Station on the Rideau Canal, with three of their new Horizon Cruisers among the first vessels to transit the lock to start the 2018 boating season. The Rideau Canal winds 125 miles through picturesque towns, unspoiled lakes and rolling pastoral countryside from Kingston, on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence, up to Ottawa,…

New List of 13 “Best Secret Islands on Earth” from the Caribbean to the South China Sea

By Peter Janssen on May 23, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

Thinking about a new place for a cruise, a charter or just a vacation? Take a look at some of these islands, which Coastal Living calls the “best secret islands on earth,” with white-sand beaches, fresh seafood and, best of all, no crowds. Skopelos, in Greece (pictured above), caught my eye, with its hidden coves, blue-roofed tavernas, Byzantine churches and endless views of the turquoise Aegean. It also has the beach that Hollywood used for scenes in Mama Mia. In Belize, Caye Caulker is a laid-back, five-mile-long strip of land where you can snorkel among the nurse sharks and rays at…

Five Best Places To Snorkel in the BVI: Grab Your Mask and Fins

By Peter Janssen on May 15, 2018 Charter, Cruising Life, Destinations

The British Virgin Islands have been a cruising and chartering paradise for generations; the waters are clear blue, the winds usually mild, the navigation easy and often line of sight, the people are friendly, and when you get tired of one island, it’s easy to head for another one. And then there’s the snorkeling. The BVI were hit hard by the hurricanes last fall, but now things are getting back to normal. The only problem with snorkeling in the BVI now is deciding where to go first, or second, or…To help you decide, here’s a list of the top five snorkeling…

For Cruising Off the Beaten Track, Head Way Down East. When You Hit Canada, Turn Left into Passamaquoddy Bay

By Peter Janssen on May 15, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

If you want to get away from the crowds and experience some cruising in deep-blue waters, where rocky green coastlines are dotted with small coves, islands and potential anchorages, head all the way up to the top of Maine to the U.S.-Canada border and turn into Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick. And as you pass Eastport, Maine, the last town in the U.S., take a look a mile across the strait to Campobello Island, the summer home of FDR and the site of the East Quoddy Lighthouse with its absolutely iconic red Cross of St. George. I took this trip a…

For the Best of Land and Sea, Check Out San Diego’s Hotel Marinas, with First-Class Amenities All Around

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

If you’re cruising in Southern California, you might want to think about taking advantage of the many marinas that are run by hotels in San Diego, one of the prime boating destinations on the West Coast. You can get the best of both worlds, land and sea, by tying up at one of the city’s first-class marinas and then making use of the hotel’s amenities on shore. Here are some ideas from The Log. One of the largest of these is Kona Kai Marina on Shelter Island, part of the decidedly upscale Kona Kai Resort (pictured above). The marina, which…

Meet the New Albemarle Loop: Slow Down and Enjoy North Carolina

By Peter Janssen on May 7, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

A group of North Carolina marinas and businesses has formed a new organization aimed at cruising boat owners called The Albemarle Loop, making it easier to enjoy the waterfront towns, culture and history that surround Albemarle Sound. Now you can stray away from the magenta line marking the middle of Intracoastal Waterway on most charts and explore the many rivers, creeks, coves and communities on Albemarle Sound, or take advantage of The Albemarle Loop to make it an important part of your journey. There are now 12 marinas in The Albemarle Loop program, offering free or low-cost slips, fresh water…

Hit Hard by Maria, Laid-Back but Beautiful St. Croix Has Almost Fully Recovered

By Peter Janssen on May 2, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

St. Croix, the largest, and arguably the most laid-back of the U.S. Virgin Islands, has mostly recovered from Hurricanes Irma and Maria last September. As it turned out, Irma wasn’t too bad, but Maria was devasting. But that was then. Now 90 percent of the island’s businesses have reopened, power is restored, and the island’s oldest hotel, the Buccaneer, which housed relief workers for many months, is open for visitors. For visiting boaters, the St. Croix Marine Center in Gallows Bay next to Christiansted Harbor is fully functioning. It’s a full-service marina with 44 slips for boats up to 150…

Great Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center Named One of Best in the U.S.

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

If you’re heading around the Great Loop, or simply cruising up and down the Intracoastal Waterway, you may want to schedule a stop at the facedock at the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center in North Carolina, just south of the Virginia border. It’s always been a friendly spot to rest or spend the night; indeed, about 2,000 boats stop there each year. But now it has some added cachet: Architectural Digest just named it one of the 15 most beautiful rest spots in the U.S. The state-run welcome center serves as a gateway to the Dismal Swamp State Park just across…

For a Real Charter Vacation, Try a Luxurious Crewed Cat from MarineMax in the BVI

By Peter Janssen on April 23, 2018 Charter, Cruising Life, Destinations

What could be better than a charter vacation in the British Virgin Islands, with some of the most beautiful, and boater-friendly, cruising grounds in the world? Well, how about a crewed charter vacation in the BVI, where someone else does the driving, the planning, the cooking and the cleaning up? Sounds good? Take a look at the MarineMax Vacations crewed charters now located at Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina, next to Tortola. They’ll move to their new permanent location at Nanny Cay in the fall, once construction is finished there. The rebuilt Nanny Cay, on the south side of…

Belfast, Maine: A Summer Cruising Destination with a Now-Thriving Waterfront

By Peter Janssen on April 19, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

Once a major shipbuilding and commercial fishing center that fell on hard times, Belfast, Maine, is enjoying a revival that makes it an attractive cruising destination this summer if you’re heading Down East. Way up Penobscot Bay, Belfast seems a bit off the beaten track, but it’s well worth the detour. For one thing, the newly invigorated waterfront, centering around a public Harbor Walk and the thriving Front Street Shipyard, is worth a visit in itself. For another, because of its location, Belfast often gets less summer fog than many other Maine ports. Belfast dates to 1630, when it was…

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