Rescue at Sea on ADVENTURER

We had perhaps our most unusual charter ever last week. Peter, who runs our Mauritius office, got a call on Friday night at 9pm from a marine insurance company saying that a super tanker had been disabled at sea near Reunion island and they needed urgently to send a boat with spare parts and technicians to fix her.

Trimaran Giving up his Friday night, Peter found an amazing yacht, got the contract signed, and arranged for all payments by 3 am! The yacht left the next morning, and had delivered the technicians and parts by the following day.

Too bad it wasn’t a pleasure cruise, because this is one exciting yacht. ADVENTURER, a power trimaran, runs at 24 knots, carries up to 50 passengers, and has set world speed records.

If you would be interested in chartering her for a pleasure charter, or a rescue at sea, we’d be happy to help!

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

A chance to charter the new Norman Foster Super Yacht

Ocean Emerald - Norman Foster Super Yacht You may have heard about the recently launched Norman Foster designed 41 meter super yacht OCEAN EMERALD. This futuristic yacht, one of four to be launched over the next two years, is a fractional ownership concept created by YachtPlus in London. OCEAN EMERALD has five suites for up to 12 guests and a permanent crew of seven. All furnishings and fittings are provided by the Italian manufacturer Cassina and kitchen and galley equipment by Schiffini.

If you’re wondering why we’re writing about a fractional ownership yacht, it’s because there will be opportunities to charter her! Each owner has an allotment of weeks during the year, and if they can’t make it, they are free to charter it out. So if you’re interested in chartering the hottest new yacht launch of the year, just contact us and we will arrange the dates.

Here’s more about OCEAN EMERALD itself.

Posted on April 28, 2009 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

LADY JOY – Yacht review

Written by Sharon Bahmer, Caribbean and Americas Charter Director, Boatbookings.com

Lady Joy Charter Yacht I recently enjoyed a weekend familiarization trip to St Maarten and Anguilla onboard the 157’ Christiansen, Lady Joy charter yacht built in 2007.

The Yacht
Lady Joy’s elegance and style is splendid throughout. The King Master Suite boasts a private office, two walk in closets and a grand en-suite his and her bathroom. Other accommodations include five additional staterooms and an additional nanny/children’s cabin. She accommodates 12 guests with ease.

Her special features include:
An elevator to all decks, alfresco dining on the sun deck, bridge deck main and aft, VSAT communications and internet available at all times. All staterooms have flat screen Satellite TV, Crestron controllers and Kaleidescape entertainment system for music and videos which has been touted as the œBest of the Best.

Water Toys and transportation include:

22′ Nautica Widebody with twin 115 HP Yamahas
17′ Nautica
2 X 4 stroke Waverunners
2 X Vespa Scooters
Snorkel and SCUBA gear

Exercise equipment including a Stationary Bike, Elliptical Machine and Treadmill

The trip:

Upon boarding we were met by the smiling Captain Michael Lovely and his delightful crew of 9 and were immediately shown to our respective 5 star cabins. The captain then briefed us on safety and chatted about our itinerary.

An elegant, 4 course dinner prepared by French chef, Nicolas Richert, was served alfresco on the bridge deck, which boasts seating for 12 guests. The chef was the highlight of our charter, continually surprising us with his culinary talent and creativity.

On Saturday morning we left the dock in time to meet the scheduled Simpson Bay bridge opening and headed out towards our first stop, Grand Case on the island of St Maarten. Once we arrived, there were several activities to choose from. Snorkeling, diving, walking the beach, shopping in town, kayaking, jet skiing, or simply enjoying being onboard and taking in the surroundings.

We were served a buffet BBQ lunch which was the talk of the rest of the charter because of the variety of the dishes, including BBQ Ribs, Chicken and turkey Kebabs, Jumbo Prawns, mushroom salad, corn on the cob, baked red potatoes with a sour cream dill topping, complimented by a French Chardonnay, finished off with Berry Cobbler and cappuccinos! You will certainly not go hungry on this yacht!

Eager to head out to the next adventure, we motored out to Anguilla, following the coast line to view the famous 5 star resorts along the way. We anchored in Mead Point facing a very pretty beach, which was dotted with upscale small resorts and private homes.

On the last day we made use of the water toys onboard, swam and took a tender ride to Road Bay before heading back to St Maarten’s Marigot Bay.

It was a great thrill to be onboard the prestigious charter yacht, Lady Joy and for a short time to get to know her amenities and crew, in order to assist charter guests with their inquiries regarding the yacht and the region. The yacht and crew and both top notch, and highly recommended.

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

The Top Yachts from the Caribbean Boat Shows

King's Ransom The Stateside Boatbookings team have been cruising the boat shows of the Caribbean (still ongoing!) and at the recent British Virgin Island (BVI) and St. Thomas Shows they have formulated a list of their top picks for the coming season. Here is what they had to say:

From the BVI Show, the top yachts were Aldebaran and King’s Ransom.

“King’s Ransom is another great catamaran based in the BVIs. It is a brand new Matrix design, very spacious, and is definately one of the higher end crewed cats we have to offer for the BVI. Crew were lovely and the boat has all new amenties, with lovely warm soft furnishings.”

“I also like Aldebaran, a Lagoon 57. She has great crew, a husband and wife team from South Africa. He is a dive master and she is now a qualified yoga instructor so if the guests onboard would like a private yoga class she can accommodate them! Diving facilities are onboard. Aldebaran won best multihull yacht in the BVI boat show.”

From the St. Thomas Show, the yachts of choice were 5 Star and Viaggo.

“We both loved the yacht 5 Star. It is a great Beneteau 50 and newer to charter. She is a 2 pax boat only, so a perfect fit for a honeymoon charter, or a romantic getaway for a couple.”

“Viaggo is motor yacht and is also brand spanking new, she really is a great boat. She is extremely spacious for her size. A Horizon 74 design from Virgin traders, this is their first crewed yacht, so still working on the details, but watch this space and she should be on our site soon”

So, it’s all set to be another exciting season in the Caribbean with more news coming this way from the other Caribbean shows!

Posted on November 28, 2008 by admin — No Comments ↓

Want a honeymoon with va va vooom? This Sicilian special for 2 features both a Ferrari sports car and the beautiful Aicon 84 Fly Motor Yacht

This spectacular offer will take your breath away and inject some va va voom into a romantic mini-break away or honeymoon on the glorious Italian island of Sicily. Renowned for their hot-blooded passion for life the Sicilians are offering you the exhilerating chance to experience the speed and magnificance of the hottest of all sports cars, the Ferrari, spend 2 nights on the beautiful and elegant Aicon 85 Fly Motor Yacht where you will be served gourmet cuisine and exquisite wines by the ever attentive crew and all whilst taking in some of the top spots in Sicily; Taormina, Acireale, Santa Venerina for a visit to the S. Michele estate, Gaiardini Naxos, Siracusa and the wonderful wildlife Oasis of Vendicari. If this isn’t enough to tempt you into treating your loved one or perhaps splashing out on the most extravagant 4 day date of your life, you also spend one night in the gloriously lavish and luxurious Grand Hotel in Atlantis Bay, experience spa treatments and ultimate pampering onboard the luxury yacht and your transfer from the airport will be by exclusive limousine and return via your own private helicopter, all in all, I think you will be the best loved person alive after this treat!

[More information about the Special ‘A Taste of Sicily’]

Posted on November 24, 2008 by admin — No Comments ↓