HOW TO
PREPARE
Before you set
sail...
Some tips to help make your adventure in
paradise
"one you want to last forever"...
Anyone about to embark on a crewed charter
in the Virgin Islands will
soon see why this is such a great way to get away from it all. And some
suggestions
from "seasoned salts" can help make the sailing even
smoother.
So, please share this information with everyone in your charter
group!
You will received a food and drink
preference list to be filled out
completely with regard to all members of your party and sent back in
advance of
your charter. The chef will plan meals and snacks based on the
information you
provide, including any strong dislikes or allergies you
indicate. Let the
chef know what your entire group will be happy
eating as it is very
difficult to prepare more than one meal type at a time in a boat
galley. Most chefs will have provisions for the
entire charter on
board prior to your arrival, so please try to be thorough with your
preference
sheets. The yacht stocks a selection of standard wines, beer, and
liquor
included in the charter fee. Vintage wine, specialty liquors, and
champagne can
be put aboard, per your request and expense.Preferences:
Contact Information:
Your yacht will also most likely have a cell phone aboard for emergency phone call usage. Additionally, phone cards are available for purchase on many of the islands. And if you just can’t get away from your email for the week, your captain will be able to direct you to an Internet cafe in the islands.
Upon Arrival . . .
Life in the Virgin Islands is laid back, and that's part of the pleasure!! The idea is to relax and not let inconveniences upset you. For example, if you fly to St. Thomas or Tortola via San Juan, Puerto Rico, your luggage may not arrive on the same shuttle flight because of weight considerations on the aircraft. If at all possible, carry your luggage with you to avoid delaying the start of your charter!
As to where that yacht will await you, be
sure you know before leaving
home. On St. Thomas, it's likely to be at Crown Bay Marina in downtown
Charlotte Amalie or at the American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook. On
Tortola,
guests normally board their yacht at Village Cay (pronounced "Key")
or Nanny Cay Marina. On both islands, taxi drivers are familiar with
all locations--and
rates are posted at the airports. You should board no earlier than noon of the
day your charter starts
unless you have made other arrangements. Your captain and crew may be
on a
short turn-around and will need every minute to get the boat prepped
for you.
If you arrive on the island a few days before, feel free to contact the
boat
and confirm your time and meeting location. If your arrival is delayed,
please
let the captain know by calling the boat’s cell
phone.
Currency...
The
U.S. dollar is the local currency in the US and British Virgin
Islands. Most major credit cards are accepted in the larger
establishments, but personal checks are not because they can take a
month to
clear stateside. For your cruising permit and BVI taxes, you will need
to pay for these in cash, although for crew gratuity, you may pay with
a personal check, cash or traveler's checks.
A passport is now required to enter the
British Virgin Islands, as well as re-entry into the
United States from foreign ports, so please check to see that each
person’s
documentation is current.
Customs
& Immigration...
Stowing Away...
Space is limited on a boat, so bring soft-sided luggage or duffel bags that can stow easily….hard suitcases will not stow. Most charterers traveling to the islands bring far too much. The ideal maximum amount of luggage per guest is one to two soft bags. Guests arriving from colder climates should leave winter clothing behind prior to boarding the airplane if at all possible. While aboard, the items you’ll use the most will include bathing suits, cover-ups, T-shirts and shorts, sundresses, and a long sleeved shirt for protection from the sun and cool nights. Most of the restaurants are casual dress.
Many crews prefer that you not wear shoes
anywhere on board &
consider themselves “barefoot boats”. You should bring some type of
shoes, such
as Tivas (or similar) that are waterproof and can be left in the dinghy
when
you come aboard. ·
Sunglasses
·
Toiletries
& Prescriptions ·
Camera
& charger ·
Extra
film or memory cards ·
Fanny
pack or beach bag ·
Reef
shoes or Tivas ·
Hat ·
Lip
Balm w/high SPF ·
Sunscreen
- please no oils or PABA
·
Favorite
CD's or iPodDon't forget to
bring:
·
Snorkel,
mask & fins (although some prefer their
own) ·
Sailboards
& SCUBA tanks (may be rented at time of
use) ·
Linens ·
Bath
or beach towels Please
be sure to inform your captain of any special size or limitation
restrictions your party may have. (For example, special arrangements
may need to be made for extra small life jackets or extra large
fins.) A well-planned trip makes for a great
vacation! The sun, water and
sand, although much looked forward to, can be hard on the eyes, skin
and
equipment if not enough precautions are taken. Sunburns happen very
fast on a
sailboat with the combination of sun & water. Make sure that
you bring with
you plenty of sun lotion (no sun tanning oils
please) and lip block with
a high SPF! A hat and good sunglasses providing UV
protection and/or polarization
are a must. Additionally, many guests bring a rash guard (lightweight
top or
full body skin to wear in the water) to make them more comfortable and
prolong
the amount of time they can spend in the water. A waterproof
pack or
beach bag will keep important items dry that will be carried from boat
to shore
(E.g. passports, camera, film, medications, etc.)
In the islands, the seas are usually
relatively calm and seasickness
rarely is a problem. While there are several steps that can be followed
to
minimize this condition, the best preventative for you may be
seasickness
medication. If you feel it may be necessary, check with your physician
or
pharmacist to determine which product(s) will be appropriate for
you. Upon your arrival, your captain and first
mate will conduct a safety
and boat briefing, pointing out all of the safety features of the boat,
as well
as letting you know about a few boat guidelines in place for your
safety and comfort. In the Caribbean, the climate tends to be
excellent year round, with
sunshine nearly every day. The air temperature will vary little summer
to
winter, with the average temperatures between 80º - 90º F.
The constant trade winds
provide excellent sailing as well as natural “air conditioning,” with
prevailing winds varying between 10 and 20 knots. The seas from the
north and
east are broken by the island chain, providing ideal conditions for
sailing. Transportation to and from your yacht will
be via dinghy. Your
captain will be happy to arrange for activities on shore such as going
to the
island tours, recreational sports and dining out. Such excursions are,
of
course, at your own expense. Your captain will be able to give you some
idea of
costs that might be incurred for shore excursions, taxis, and
rendezvous scuba
diving, etc. as well as restaurants if you choose to sample the local
island
cuisine. Most chefs will appreciate advance notice if you plan to eat
out. Most of you will want to capture your
vacation and the spectacular
scenery of the islands. While you may want to bring your nicer camera
and
lenses, you will need to take many more protective measures with them.
You may
want to consider bringing disposable cameras with you, either in place
of your
regular camera, or in addition to it. They’re easy to carry in a fanny
pack,
and come in waterproof versions that eliminate splash worries and also
allow
them to be used when snorkeling. If you do choose to bring your nice camera,
don’t forget to bring a
waterproof bag to protect it. There is plenty of light in the tropics,
making
slower speed film with a finer grain (ISO 200 and lower) good for most
shots.
Video cameras present similar difficulties when trying to protect your
equipment and maneuvering about the boat...but they can be a wonderful
way to
capture the beauty of the islands. Make sure you bring a good case to
protect
the camera. Whatever type of camera you choose, bring a charger, extra
film/memory cards, batteries and video tapes with you, as they will be
hard to
find in the islands, as well as expensive. Most boats have 110 outlets
available for charging.
What you don’t need to
bring:
Protection
From The Elements...
Safety
& Boat Briefing...
Weather...
Going
Ashore...
Photography
& Music...
Your boat will most likely have a large music collection at your disposal. However, if you have favorite CD’s, please feel free to bring them along. Many boats also have iPod jacks – so check with your captain if you’d like to bring your iPod with you.
Working
Relationships...
Your captain and mate may be a married couple or working partners. They may own the yacht or operate it for someone else. In any case, you are guests in their "home". They may ask you, as they would all charter guests, to take additional care when using certain things (i.e. not sitting on the salon if you have wet bathing suits or suntan lotion on, etc.), so as to keep the boat nice and clean all season long.
You'll savor your own "quiet time" staring up at the starry night sky or reading a good book. The crew will appreciate being allowed such times too. After all, they will probably be the first ones up in the morning and the last ones to bed at night, working hard to please you.
It is customary in the charter industry to leave a gratuity to the crew for good service of approximately 15%, even more if the service was outstanding, but the decision, of course, is up to you. If you come to think of the crew as friends (and you probably will), tipping may seem awkward at the charter's end. But tips usually constitute a major part of their working capital, and if you've enjoyed their efforts, they'll appreciate your letting them know in this way. Gratuity is generally paid in cash, travelers checks or by personal check. If you choose to give travelers checks or a personal check, ask your crew how they’d like to have you fill them out, as many crews don’t keep local bank accounts in the islands. Giving your crew their gratuity in an envelope with a note of thanks is a nice way to end the charter.
Here's a checklist to help ensure a carefree
cruise: Check-list...
- Food and beverage preference sheet filled in and returned well in advance of your charter.
- Contact numbers for the boat you are chartering.
- Passport of each member of party.
- Soft luggage or duffel bags.
- Sun protection, lip balm, medications, antihistamines, extra glasses or contact lenses.
- Waterproof shoes or sandals for the dinghy.
- Camera and plenty of film or memory cards.
- Traveler's checks or cash for shopping, dining ashore, other shore expenses and gratuity.
- Final check as you’re leaving for the airport…
Tickets...Money...Passports!
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