How to Have a More Sustainable Caribbean Yacht Charter

We are approaching one of our favorite times of the year – the Caribbean boating season! At Boatbookings, we love cruising the Caribbean, from the azure waters and abundant marine life to pristine beaches. But, like the rest of our planet, the islands are under threat.

The Caribbean is a fragile ecosystem suffering under the various challenges climate change brings. The Caribbean faces many threats, from rising sea levels and increasingly severe weather to ocean acidification. There are so many things we can do to leave less of an impact on our crewed charter catamarans.

Here are some ways you can help minimize your impact this Caribbean season:

Choose a Greener Yacht

The first step is to choose a more eco-friendly yacht from our greener crewed charter catamaran selection. At Boatbookings, we showcase more sustainable boats and look at incorporating catamaran builds, such as Sunreef and Silent Yachts, that champion sustainability. Crewed catamarans are better for our oceans and boast more advantages, such as better efficiency, shallow draft, expansive living areas, and comfortable cruising. The recently launched Sol is perfect for a greener Caribbean charter in the BVIs. This Sunreef 80 power eco has all the luxury facilities and amenities while having sustainability at the core, including vegan interiors and the solar and battery tech found within this Eco-Catamaran range.

An Eco-Conscious Itinerary 

There are a few factors that can help minimize your impact by choosing a more eco-conscious itinerary for a Caribbean charter. Overcrowding can have a negative impact on an ecosystem, so cruising destinations and anchorages that are less crowded will help. Opting for quieter spots also makes for a better experience. There are plenty of natural reserves and marine parks in the Caribbean, especially within the Bahamas, such as Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. Visiting these on your charter means you will help support the conservation efforts by abiding by the strict conservation regulations to protect the area.

Better Onboard Practices 

While the crew onboard will already implement sustainable practices, it is important that you are aware of these. The main culprit in the Caribbean is the use of single-use plastic, but most boats now have water filtration systems onboard so that you can reduce any plastic water bottles needed. While in the Caribbean, you will undoubtedly be in the water a lot, so it is important to wear reef-friendly suncream to protect from the toxicity of regular suncream when exploring reefs and marine life. Another way to ensure a greener charter is through the menus you enjoy; ask your chef to create menus that are prioritized with local and seasonal ingredients in mind, helping reduce the carbon footprint of your charter. Always look for opportunities within the Caribbean to incorporate responsibly sourced seafood and avoid overfished species, such as parrotfish that have been overfished in the Caribbean for decades. 

Support Conservation Efforts 

As well as choosing to visit marine parks and natural reserves while following the regulations as charter guests, you can also support by donating to local conservation organizations or participating in beach cleanups. By aligning your charter experience with minimizing your impact, you are contributing to the long-term health of our oceans. Before your charter, you can also use our carbon offsetting calculator.

Charter the Caribbean Today! 

These are just some steps you can take to ensure the Caribbean’s natural beauty lasts for generations to come. Contact the Boatbookings team to book a greener crewed charter catamaran to enjoy the Caribbean this coming season. 

Greener thrills: How can a yacht have more eco-friendly water toys?

On a crewed charter catamaran, you can have so much fun getting out on the ocean exploring new places, and spending quality time with loved ones. What else would you need? 

Water toys, of course! Watersports and water toys turn a simple day on the water into pure exhilaration. But when it comes to reducing the yacht’s environmental footprint, the toy box has a lot to answer for. Now, with increasingly innovative designs and green technology, a new wave of eco-friendly water toys is on the rise. 

Ones that are equally exciting but without the fossil fuel-guzzling engines and unsustainable materials.

We take a look at these more eco-friendly water toys:

Powered by humans 

Put aside the fuel and diesel needed for fun, and harness the energy you have in yourself! There are so many toys powered by humans, whether paddleboarding or kayaking. These toys offer a fresh alternative to traditional motorized options. They allow you to immerse yourself fully into nature, contribute to a greener playtime, and give you a workout on the side! 

Watts of fun 

Electric is the future! And what’s not to like about virtually silent, emission-free fun? Many innovative electric water toys, such as surfboards, jet skis, and inflatable boats, combine cutting-edge technology with sustainability. By using electric motors, they produce zero emissions and reduce the impact in terms of noise and vibrations. These toys give a thrilling ride without the guilt of fuel. 

If your toys do have to run on fuel, make sure they use 4-stroke, not 2-stroke engines. Without going into the details, 2-stroke engines are incredibly pollutive. A single two-stroke engine produces pollution equivalent to that of 30 to 50 four-stroke automobiles because they mix oil and gas and don’t burn them very efficiently.

Foiling alternatives 

Water toys with foiling technology have taken water-based adventures to the next level. Foiling toys such as hydrofoil surfboards, kite foils, and sailboats use specialized wings or foils beneath the surface to lift them above the waves, enabling the user to glide effortlessly over the ocean. 

Toys made better 

A long-standing issue with many of the current toys on the market is the materials, but today many manufacturers now consider the life cycle of a product and prioritize sustainable materials and production methods. This helps to reduce the carbon footprint and minimizes waste. Many are now made from recycled plastics or biodegradable materials – you can even get golf balls made of fish food! 

We all know that the yachting community must set a path toward sustainability and a circular economy to survive and for the planet’s future. While significant emphasis is being put on the yacht to be more sustainable, it also must extend to everything that comes with it – including the tenders and toys! 

Get onboard with eco-friendly water toys today!

Contact one of the Boatbookings team to learn about the more environmentally crewed charter catamarans and the watersports fun you can have.

7 Day Tahiti Crewed Catamaran Charter – Introduction & Overview

Our family of 5 recently enjoyed a 7-day Tahiti Yacht Charter on a 56-foot Lagoon 560 crewed catamaran. The entire trip was idyllic! In this series of blog posts, we will take you through the arrival, departure, itinerary, cuisine, crew, and lots of other observations to give you a clear picture of what it’s like to charter in Tahiti and the brilliance of being on a crewed catamaran.

Note, you can see this entire 7-day Tahiti Crewed Catamaran Itinerary here.

The Yacht

We chartered a Lagoon 560 crewed catamaran through Boatbookings. Lagoons are fantastic catamarans – they offer great open spaces both inside and out, and the cabins are roomy and comfortable. The 560 has a very large flydeck with seating for 8, where we spent a lot of time, especially at sunset, because you get a 360-degree view of the incredibly beautiful surroundings. We ate most of our meals on the spacious and comfortable aft deck, because it is never windy and offers easy access to the galley.

The crew had their own quarters so that each of our children could have their own cabin and bathroom, what a luxury! See the layout below.

Charter Yacht DIVA - Lagoon 560(2017)- 4 Cabins - French Polynesia - Tahiti - Bora Bora - Raiatea - Huahine

The main salon is large, well lit and comfortable, although we honestly never spent one minute in it – there was too much to do outside!

The boat had 2 paddleboards, 2 kayaks, and plenty of snorkeling gear. We used them every day!

The Crew

We had a fantastic crew who took care of all of our needs, set the daily itinerary, and produced world-class cuisine (a mixture of french and Tahitian cooking) three meals a day.

Jerome was our captain – he is French and has lived in the Tahitian Islands for 20 years. He knows where the best snorkeling spots are and always moored the boat in quiet, beautiful anchorages so that we had amazing views and sunsets!

Clara served three fantastic meals a day, plus sundowner drinks and hors d’oeurvres so we could fully enjoy the sunsets. She cooked meals to meet our dietary specifications – Tahitian food is, of course, centered around amazing fresh fish, but one of our party didn’t eat fish so she always had a great substitute.

See more in our Tahiti Yacht Charter Guide.

Tomorrow: Travel to and arrival in Tahiti

Top 5 off the beaten track destinations!

Top 5 bareboat itineraries to escape the crowds and get back in touch with nature. Feel the wind in your hair, and breath in that healing sea breeze onboard your bareboat charter!

Greece – Ionian

One house bay – Ionian

You want to sail in Greece, but you down want the crowds – where should you go? Simple answer – the Ionian! Secluded anchorages, fair winds, and fantastic tavernas makes the Ionian one of the best places to sail in Greece!

Caribbean – BVI’s

BVI’s

Thinking about celebrating Christmas a little bit differently this year? Have your summer holiday plans been canceled and you’re looking for the next celebration? Then a BVI bareboat charter should be for you! With Scuba itineraries, and island hopping adventures – could this be the next tick on your to-do list?

French Polynesia – New Caledonia

New Caledonia

Thinking about a sailing trip in the southern hemisphere far away from any local continent? How about New Caledonia?! A few hundred miles of the coast of mainland Australia lays the New Caledonian archipelago! Enjoy the peace and quiet of what these islands have to offer. An incredible mix of French and Polynesian cultures!

Portuguese Atlantic – The Azores

The Azores

Do you have an Atlantic crossing on your bucket list? Do you need an area to test your sailing skills? Do you need a mile builder itinerary? Then the Azores is for you! An incredible mix of Atlantic and Portuguese culture with the backdrop like something from Jurassic Park. Explore the Volcanos and lava fields on your bareboat charter.