Category Archives: Expert Commentary

Chic and Exotic Caribbean Luxury Yacht Charter Destinations

The Caribbean is a paradise known for serenity, with miles of deserted beaches and magnificent coves. But many of the islands also offer exhilarating excursions, vibrant nightlife, designer shopping and phenomenal gourmet restaurants. Here Sharon Bahmer, Caribbean and USA Charter Director, reveals a few of her favorite destinations that seem to have it all.

œOne of my favorite islands is St. Lucia. A luxury yacht charter itinerary that goes to St. Lucia and the Martinique area allows you to experience different cultures and savor different flavors. Martinique is one of the most romantic islands in the Caribbean, with a distinctly French flavor, a selection of excellent restaurants, and exciting nightlife. St. Lucia is quite spectacular with a lot to do – you can visit the waterfalls, zip-wire through the rainforest, go mountain-biking, hiking and more. It’s a fabulous place to explore if you want to do a land excursion.

Grenada, the most southerly of the Windward Islands, is also a spectacular destination, similar to St. Lucia. Grenada is the ˜Spice Isle’ and you can go ashore and experience where nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon and cocoa come from and how spices are harvested and used. There are plenty of invigorating adventures exploring the rainforest and waterfalls, archeological sites and historic plantations. Grenada is an enchanting island with a centuries old history, culture and traditions that infuse the island with exotic charm.

You can cruise from St. Vincent through the Grenadines and end up in Grenada, so on a ten or fourteen-day charter you’ve only got one leg rather than a loop that necessarily repeats some of the places. Grenada has upscale Port Louis Marina for the megayachts and you can fly straight out of Grenada to New York with no connecting flights.

The best locations for adults-only luxury yacht cruising are St. Maarten and St. Barths because of the really fun nightclubs, upscale restaurants and evening entertainment available on these islands. St. Maarten is half Dutch and half French and offers a charismatic potpourri of history, culture and cuisine. St. Barths was settled by the French and has long been a favorite destination for luxury superyachts, lured as much by the island’s natural beauty as by the delightful restaurants, designer boutiques and colonial architecture.

There are numerous onshore amenities on all of these islands that are not necessarily public knowledge. For example, if luxury yacht charter guests are avid golfers, adore spa treatments, or relish a cooking lesson with a Michelin Star Chef, megayacht Captains always have an œin because they work with the locals, they tip them and have established an excellent rapport. Therefore it is possible to obtain reservations for properties, activities and events that are generally open only to registered guests.

These islands represent only a few of the plethora of luxury yacht charter destinations in the Caribbean. What is most important for clients to know is that we’re here to assist them in finding the perfect yacht, the perfect crew, and designing the perfect itinerary.”

Boatbookings website has numerous informative about charter in the Caribbean. Here are some suggestions:  The Windward Islands Yacht Charter,  St Barts St Barths St Barthelemy and Gustavia Yacht Charter Overview, St Martin/St Maarten

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Caribbean Family Yacht Charter: Destinations That Top the Charts

The Bahamas and Caribbean offer a variety of spectacular luxury charter yacht winter destinations with something to delight everyone. Whether you are planning an adventure on a bareboat charter or chartering a luxury superyacht to unwind and be pampered, there is an ideal itinerary for you. Sharon Bahmer, Boatbookings Charter Director for the Caribbean and USA shares her personal favorites for chartering with children.

The BVI is always a top destination, especially for smaller boats during the holidays. I have a lot of bookings already for Christmas, New Year and spring break all the way through April next year. The BVI is very low key and an excellent destination for families with children because of the fabulous snorkeling and the Baths at Virgin Gorda that children love to explore. If your kids are into the outdoors and being in the water paddling kayaks, snorkeling and seeing things they will love the BVI.

The Grenadines are becoming increasingly popular because the weather is fantastic and our repeat charter guests often want a different destination. The Grenadines include some very interesting islands, such as Mustique and Little Palm Island, playgrounds of the rich and famous, and then you’ve got the Tobago Keys, which are very good for diving and snorkeling. The islands are not populated with many boats and are a little more remote and somewhat more distance from one another, so although more time is spent getting underway it’s well worth having your own private bay at anchor for the night.

The Bahamas offer fantastic diving and snorkeling but there’s another aspect that kids get a kick out of and that is petting the nurse shark that has beached itself on a dock just to get petted. Then there’s swimming with the pigs. The pigs love it too.

It is important to realize that a Bahamas luxury yacht charter does not have to start in Nassau or Atlantis, which is where most people go. For a far more exotic destination, Plana Cays and Samana Cay, west of Mayaguana Island, on the southernmost tip of the Bahamas chain, offer snorkeling and diving that is absolutely phenomenal. These islands are thought to be the first place Christopher Columbus stepped ashore in 1492, so you might even surface with a couple of doubloons. The Cays are located about 60 miles from Provo in the Turks and Caicos. Charter guests can fly into either Georgetown or Provo and be in this really remote, beautiful place with no other boats, no facilities, and no people. For clients who want a spectacular dive charter it is a superb destination.

Boatbookings website features extensive destination information. Here are just a few helpful links:

BVI Yacht Charter Guide, Bahamas Yacht Charter Guide, St Vincent and the Grenadines Yacht Charter

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New for the Yacht: Thermal Night Vision Cameras


FLIR thermal cameras are fast becoming ubiquitous in the marine industry, providing images for a variety of applications from footage on the TV series ‘Deadliest Catch’ to human scanners onboard cruise ships designed to detect disease.

The T300 and T400 Series thermal navigation cameras, which will be available as of today, allow boaters to navigate safely and confidently, seeing obstructions, buoys, and other vessels in total darkness or foul weather conditions.

The cameras can be fully integrated into the navigation system at the helm for easy access to imagery alongside the chartplotter, fishfinder, and radar navigation displays. The optional remote joystick control unit allows captains to navigate with thermal imagery from the main helm, or a remote navigation station.

The T300 Series thermal navigation cameras offer a single thermal imaging sensor while the T400 Series (pictured above) features both a thermal imaging camera, and a high-performance lowlight video camera. The marine-grade enclosure provides 360°pan and 90° tilt capability for complete coverage from horizon to horizon.

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Lionfish: Dangerous, Dramatic and Delectable

If you are planning to dive or snorkel the reefs on your next charter voyage to the Caribbean, Bahamas or Florida Keys you may encounter the astonishingly beautiful lionfish. Beware, the graceful profusion of colorful fins belies venomous spines that, although not known to be fatal, are extremely painful and can (rarely) come with severe complications. In addition, some scientists consider them as one of the top 15 threats to biodiversity worldwide.

Lionfish are native to the Indo-Pacific region but in recent decades have invaded the waters of the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the east coast of the Americas as far north as Rhode Island, and as far south as Columbia. Their infiltration is likely the result of releases from tanks of saltwater hobbyists. With few known natural enemies, lionfish present a major threat to coral reef ecosystems as predators and competitors for food.

Humans are becoming the most lethal threat to date, as the fish emerges as a gourmet delicacy. Facebook groups promoting lionfish consumption include œI Spear Lionfish, œLionfish Derby and œEat the Lionfish. According to an article published by the Washington Post, July 7, 2010, chefs, spear fisherman and seafood distributors are plotting to eat the fish out of non-native existence. The REEF Environmental Education Foundation, a leading organization in the research and development of lionfish control programs, is preparing to publish a cookbook this fall on how to prepare the lionfish, described with a flavor between snapper and grouper.

What you should you do if you see the foot-long lionfish? They are glamorous and peaceful creatures, so use the photo opportunity. Otherwise, unless you are a savvy fisherman, or have the proper training and equipment, leave it alone but report the sighting location to the local island authorities and/or REEF when you surface.

Photo credit: REEF

Visit REEF Environmental Education Foundation: www.reef.org/lionfish

Lionfish Recipes: www.lionfishhunters.org/Recipes.html

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/06/AR2010070601003.htm

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Insider tips to the French Riviera (from those who live there)

Several members of the Boatbookings.com staff live on the French Riviera.  We've been compiling some of their insider tips to get the most out of your time on the Riviera!

– If you want a great place to sit outside in the evening, have a nice meal, listen to some music and feel the buzz – go to Juan Les Pins (near Antibes)

– There is a big difference between the town of St Tropez and Pampelonne Beach, where the St Tropez beach clubs are.  You can't walk between the two. Go to St Tropez town in the morning, shop, see the yachts and have a coffee by the water, then have your skipper take you to Pampelonne Beach for sunning and a long, late afternoon lunch at the Club of your choice.

– You can literally walk right up to many of the world's largest superyachts on the IYCA (International Yacht Club of Antibes) Pier in Antibes.  Same in Cannes by the Palais des Festivals and in Monaco.

– If you're near Cannes, anchor between the two Iles Lerins.  It feels a million miles away from the busy town, is great for swimming, and has a gorgeous view of the sunset behind the striking Esterel Rock Formation. That's what the locals do!

– Don't even think of driving to St Tropez in July or August between 10 am and 1pm.  You'll just roast in your car and arrive in a bad mood. That's why we're here – take a boat and do it properly!

– There are great places to kayak and swim beneath the beautiful red rocks of the Esterel.  Don't just power by on the way to St Tropez – take time to enjoy this beautiful area!

Please add more suggestions here on the blog, or on our Facebook page – we'll be publishing the best on Boatbookings in our French Riviera Section.  Enjoy!

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