About Tom Virden

Founder, Boatbookings.com

Deals abound in the French Riviera

12 days for the price of 10, 30% off, additional catering thrown in for free – we are seeing amazing deals coming across our screens for crewed motor yachts in the French Riviera this summer.

So, during a lull in the World Cup, why not spend a few minutes planning your summer holiday and checking out the amazing specials available? Mangustas, Sunseekers, even Power Catamarans , of all sizes and configurations are available. Just click on our French Riviera Charter Specials Page to see a listing or contact one of our brokers who know of the best specials available on the market.

We recommend bookng now – many of these specials will go away at the end of June. We look forward to helping you plan your French Riviera Vacation Holiday this summer!

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

Charter yachts now allowed to stay 90 days in the Maldives (up from 30)

The Maldives Ministry of Tourism has extended the period that a visiting yacht is allowed to stay in the Maldives with a cruising license from 30 to 90 days, effective 1st of June 2010. The full regulations are as follows:

All foreign vessels categorized as yachts must pay an entry permit fee of MRF 5000.00 to the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture

A Captains Declaration describing the crew and passengers onboard must be submitted to the Ministry

A Government Passenger Tax is charged for each passenger on a charter yacht in the Maldives

Fees for Charter licenses are the following:

Vessels less than 25 m in LOA – USD 15.00 per day
Vessels from 25 meters to 35 meters in LOA – USD 200.00 per day
Vessels from 36 meters to 46 meters in LOA – USD 350.00 per day
Vessels from 46 meters to 75 meters in LOA – USD 450.00 per day
Vessels above 75 meters in LOA – USD 600.00 per day

Read more in our Maldives Yacht Charter Guide.

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Tom Virden — 1 Comment ↓

Turning your next luxury yacht charter into a floating Spa and Wellness Holiday

Spa and wellness on your next luxury yacht charter Luxury Yachts normally offer the finest cuisine, excellent crew service, water toys, entertainment systems – pretty much all the amenities required to make your stay aboard your yacht the vacation of a lifetime. However, only a few offer complete Spa and Beauty services, as a crew person needs to be specifically trained in this area.

Almost any luxury yacht, no matter the size, can accommodate these services. There is no need for a private or separate treatment room – there are many areas on yachts that can be used to offer these personalized services that can be transformed to have the feel of a true wellness center. Therefore, many yachts can be turned into a floating five-star health retreat with minimal effort!

If your charter yacht does not specifically offer Spa and Beauty services, but you’d like them included, just request these when you contact us and we can normally arrange with some of the best in the business. It will make your charter holiday complete in every way!

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

Impressions of CATALONIAN SPIRIT – 112 ft Inace Explorer Yacht

Friday evening, Sharon and Meg from our Ft Lauderdale office had the privilege of viewing the CATALONIAN SPIRIT. Built in the Brazilian yard Inace, this 112 ft 5 stateroom explorer yacht is a floating penthouse. Unlike most yachts that will head to the Med or New England for summer charters, CATALONIAN SPIRIT will be in the Caribbean and still has a few weeks available for charter.

And the crew! The service was exemplary and there was a gorgeous selection of hors d’oervres for us to enjoy. The captain and crew will make sure that you are wonderfully pampered, as were we.

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

After the storms, the scramble is on to get Cannes ready for the Film Festival

Major waves from a freak storm last week decimated much of the beachfront in Cannes, including several beach restaurants that are used for entertainment during the film festival. We saw mounds of sand needing to be carted away, broken piers, and ripped up restaurant floorboards.

Everyone has been pulling together, and with the addition of â‚¬2 million in interest free loans provided by the French Government, it looks like most if not all of the damage to the will be repaired on time for the opening of the Festival.

Today, the sun was back and shining in Cannes, although the forecast for the week is still unsettled. But we certainly hope that the worst is behind us and that the Film Festival will go off without a hitch!

You can get up to the minute information on Cannes via our “iRiviera” iPhone app, to keep abreast of the happenings in Cannes during the festival (tweets, news feeds, specials, services, etc.). Or click here if you’re interested in chartering a yacht for a celebration or accommodation during the festival. We hope to see you there!

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓