Tag Archives: yachtcharter

Give Back to Our Oceans This Christmas

We are in full festive Christmas spirit here at Boatbookings. As we organize and exchange gifts, it is the perfect time to go beyond the traditional and consider presents that not only bring joy but also give back to our oceans. With our oceans facing unprecedented threats, supporting ocean conservation and sustainability is more critical than ever. 

Here are some ways to make a difference to our oceans this Christmas: 

Adopt Marine Life

If you have a loved one with a particular affinity to a sea creature, why not adopt one as a gift this Christmas? Many marine conservation organizations offer adoption programs, whether it be a sea turtle, dolphin, or even whale. One of those is the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF). The funds raised from these often go toward further research and conservation efforts to protect these amazing creatures and their habitats.

Ocean-Inspired Products

With more awareness of the dangers our oceans face, an increasing number of companies and artisans are coming onto the scene to craft upcycled products from ocean trash. A lot of these brands also donate a portion of their profits to marine conservation projects, allowing you to give a great gift and contribute to a healthier ocean. Innovative brands such as Waterhaul create sunglasses from waste fishing nets. For jewelry lovers, 4Ocean produces ocean-themed bracelets from the removal of ocean plastic. It isn’t only fishing nets and plastic but also sails that can end up in our seas; SeaBags take worn-out and discarded sailcloth to make numerous products, including toiletry bags. 

Eat & Be Merry, Sustainably 

Without a doubt, Christmas is a time for indulgence, but what if you could enjoy this while having a lighter impact? Firstly, opt for local and seasonal produce wherever you are this holiday season to reduce your carbon footprint and minimize food air miles. Consider also choosing a sustainable wine producer like SeaChange wine, which is dedicated to providing eco-friendly wines that actively contribute to marine conservation. Their commitment includes removing plastic wrap-around corks and donating to marine charities with each bottle sold. 

Push The Boat Out 

If you want that extra special gift, why not gift a greener crewed catamaran charter this Christmas with Boatbookings? We advocate for a more sustainable boating industry and strive to protect our oceans. Choose from our selection of greener crewed charter catamarans.

Our oceans are vital to everything we do; by choosing gifts that give back to the ocean, we can collectively positively impact marine ecosystems and work toward a more sustainable future. Contact the Boatbookings team today to chat about what we are doing to help our oceans in 2024. 

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Responsible Sailing: How to Embrace Greener Boating Using the 4 ‘R’s’

Not only are we passionate about bringing you an unforgettable crewed charter catamaran and barefoot charter catamaran experiences, but we also want to help you partake in responsible sailing and protect our oceans. 

Greener Boating 

At its core, to have a more sustainable boating industry is about minimizing the negative impacts on the environment and maximizing the benefits for everyone involved. One aspect of this mission of greener chartering is to promote and incorporate the ‘R’s throughout our entire operation and growing fleet.

These ‘R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle – provide a roadmap for achieving these goals. We take a look into this framework that are the cornerstones to sustainability with regards to Boatbookings: 

Reduce

The first ‘R’ is all about how you can reduce your environmental impact. At Boatbookings, we have made conscious choices to offer a range of greener crewed catamaran charters for you to choose from. We prioritize the selection of yachts we offer to ensure they are showcasing more sustainable technology, ensuring lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions. We aim to provide options from catamaran builders such as Silent Yachts, Sunreef Eco, and Fountaine Pajot. 

But our commitment to reducing doesn’t stop there. Our carbon emissions calculator helps us assess and continually improve our environmental practices. 

We advocate for our operators to reduce the amount of waste and pollution while promoting eco-friendly brands. We also encourage our clients and yachts to reduce speed, especially when sailing near vulnerable marine life habitats. Going slow reduces impact and enables clients to soak up the ocean’s magic. 

Reuse 

We ensure that our crewed charter partners regularly maintain and service their fleets to ensure longevity and reduce the need for unnecessary repairs. We also work with partners who are aligned with sustainable practices that reduce resource consumption and waste generation. 

Repurpose

At Boatbookings, we pride ourselves on promoting repurposing by collaborating with companies that repurpose marine waste into innovative products, contributing to a more circular economy. 

We want to raise more awareness about the critical issue of marine pollution that our oceans face. Education is essential in changing consumer behavior and inspiring a new sense of responsibility. 

Recycle 

The final ‘R’ is recycling, which you are probably already familiar with. We advocate responsible recycling throughout our operators and clients. We are always looking for better recycling initiatives within marinas worldwide to facilitate easier recycling for our clients. 

Responsible chartering is an integral part of experiencing the beauty of our oceans. By promoting these ‘R’s, we are not only committed to reducing the environmental impact of our selected fleet but also dedicated to creating eco-conscious charter experiences for our clients. 

Contact us today to discuss our greener crewed charter catamaran options for your next vacation. 

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Charter Guest 101: How to be a More Eco-Conscious Guest

Being a charter guest onboard a luxury charter catamaran is an incredible experience, being able to cruise the world’s oceans while being looked after by a professional crew with all the amenities. But, today, charter guests must consider the impact that boating is having on the environment. 

This environmental impact of yachts can no longer be ignored, and at Boatbookings, we advocate for a more sustainable boating industry, choosing to work with yachts that implement sustainable initiatives into the build process and operations. 

Aside from choosing from one of our greener crewed charter catamarans, there are plenty of other ways to ensure you are a better, more eco-conscious and responsible charter guest. 

Here are some tips on how to enjoy your yacht charter while minimizing your impact: 

Better Preferences

Crews ensure they always go above and beyond when running a yacht charter, and this extends to ensuring guests have what they ask for onboard a crewed charter catamaran. When filling out a preference sheet, there are a few things to consider to have a greener charter. Minimize plastic waste by drinking from refillable bottles, and utilizing the onboard water filtration system instead of requesting branded water bottles. Toiletries are another factor to consider; you can request that there be reef-friendly and environmentally safe toiletries onboard.

When it comes to food, the chefs are heavily involved in preferences. If guests request something, they will be sure to fly it in, which contributes significantly to the yacht’s carbon footprint. Be sure to request locally sourced and seasonal menus when onboard. Not only does this reduce the carbon footprint, but it also allows you to savor the freshest produce and local specialities. 

Respect the Underwater World 

Getting underwater is a big part of a yacht charter, especially in tropical locations where the underwater world is pristine, such as Tahiti, the BVIs, and the Bahamas! To preserve these ecosystems, minimize your disruption when partaking in any watersport. Avoid feeding or touching marine life, and keep a safe distance when swimming.

Reduce Consumption 

While crewed catamarans have an array of luxury amenities and facilities, this doesn’t mean that there needs to be excessive use of them. Guests can easily conserve energy and resources by switching things off when not in use. This reduction in consumption can also help reduce the yacht’s carbon footprint. You should also always embrace vacation mode and cruise at a leisurely pace; not only does this allow you to take in the destination better, but a slower cruising speed further reduces emissions. 

Support Local 

Practicing responsible sailing doesn’t just stop on the ocean. When you step ashore, it is important to support the local economy. If you go on excursions ashore, consult the crew to ensure you participate in ones that benefit the community. There are always plenty of organizations and initiatives you can get involved with ashore that are helping minimize environmental impact, such as beach clean-ups. 

Listen to Your Crew 

The yacht crew onboard our charter catamaran ensure that the boats are run extremely safely to adhere to all rules and regulations, including the environmental aspect. The crew will ensure you recognize the environmental impact that the yacht and operations will have and the correct waste disposal practices you can do while onboard. 

Spread Awareness

Never hesitate to ask the crew about any small changes you can make to minimize your impact onboard. You can inspire positive change throughout the charter community by spreading awareness about eco-friendly swaps. 

Every small change contributes to a greener future for boating. It is a collaborative effort, and as guests, you can play a vital role in preserving and protecting our oceans. Contact the Boatbookings team today to find out which greener crewed charter catamaran you can book for your next vacation!

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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. 

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Future Predictions: The Yacht Charter Industry in 2030

We love delving into the future of our crewed charter catamaran industry. There has been so much innovation that it is exciting to speculate on what may come. The entire boating industry has been significantly evolving and transforming for the past decade, especially regarding sustainability.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has already set ambitious targets for 2030 and 2050, and meeting them requires that boat performance is optimized for sustainability from design through to operations. So, what must happen to reach these in the next decade?

Today, we are already witnessing advanced technologies, heightened environmental concerns, and the rise in green chartering. At Boatbookings, we take a look into our crystal ball and set out some of the things we think may happen:

Zero-Emissions & Regulation

There are already potential solutions for a fossil-fuel-free future. Advanced propulsion systems are making their entry, reducing carbon emissions and helping to minimize the industry’s carbon footprint (as well as fumes and noise!). By 2030 there will be even more carbon neutrality projects, including the utilization of electric, hydrogen, fuel cells, and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO, a sustainable fuel made from used vegetable oils). Alongside the IMO commitment to cut greenhouse emissions from shipping by at least 50% by 2050, we believe that stricter restrictions and regulations will begin to filter through in the next few years.

AI: Smarter Yachts 

We cannot talk about future predictions without considering technological shifts. Having already seen these over the past few years, we expect more to come with enhanced innovation and investment. One of the advancements that will continue is likely to be in AI and autonomous navigation systems, enabling boats to navigate with complete autonomy. The improved algorithms and sensors in the coming years will reduce the risk of human error, enhance safety, and improve efficiency. One shipyard leading the charge on this is Feadship. They have designed various concepts with full autonomy, replacing the standard helm with ‘command centers.’ There will also be more technology onboard boats that help revolutionize how they use and distribute energy; these smarter systems will better monitor consumption, enhancing efficiency.

Futuristic Building – 3D printing and more green materials

The developments in 3D printing are so exciting, and we believe will be transformative in boat building. It is hugely advantageous for manufacturing, whereby components can be made faster and with much less wastage. While at the moment, only a few pioneering companies are producing small boats and spare parts from 3D printing, soon this will expand to larger boats and every build process. With material waste dropping significantly, the process increases sustainability credentials. Alongside the building, shipyards will also begin to utilize greener materials that consider the entire lifecycle and, therefore, have less impact. 

Design Trends

In terms of actual design trends, builders will embrace designs that integrate entirely with natural environments, incorporating more sustainable materials and green living spaces. The interior spaces will blend more with the exterior, bringing the outside in. Many catamaran builders, such as Sunreef, are already working on this concept, and we believe future designs will embrace this biophilic design even more.

More and More Multihulls

At Boatbookings, we love offering our crewed and bareboat catamarans; these boats are the key to the best future. They boast better sustainability credentials such as improved efficiency, fewer emissions, reduced overall impact, and the use of renewable energy sources. Catamaran builders have seen increased demand over the years, and by 2030 perhaps multihulls will be the norm!

Today is just the beginning of a better future. The industry is in a transformative era, and we believe sustainability and technology to enhance experiences will be at the core. Contact our team at Boatbookings today to discuss your future on a greener crewed charter catamaran with us!

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