The Caribbean - Caribbean Boat Charter

I have no clue where to post this...

Im looking to book a Caribbean catamaran charter, probably to the Grenadines or lower Caribbean. Has anybody ever booked? There seem to be a lot of boats available at all prices. Way too much info, i need a recommendation. thanks

I believe the best Forum for this thread is the FT Caribbean Forum. A quick search immediately brought up, at least, one thread related to this topic.
So, please follow this thread in the Caribbean Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Bareboat or captained? The ones I'm familiar with are in the BVI's but willing to help in your search.
I have no clue where to post this...

Im looking to book a Caribbean catamaran charter, probably to the Grenadines or lower Caribbean. Has anybody ever booked? There seem to be a lot of boats available at all prices. Way too much info, i need a recommendation. thanks

I've done several bareboat charters as well. With more info, there's several of us here who can probably help out a bit. Price is often a function of the age of the boats. Moorings, for instance, has newer boats. They often get passed on to other companies once they've outlived Moorings and then rent for cheaper rates.

You need to decide size, where you want to go, time of year ...all will have an impact on the cost.

a lot of the lower caribbean is quite windy. bvi is a much better choice for first time trip. if you do not have any big boat experience, or do not have extensive small boat racing experience, you will have to hire a captain,, and they will still check you out before they give you a boat.

most of the catamarans are pretty big. 4+ people rental.

the moorings boats are newer, cleaner, and in better shape. when something breaks they get it fixed very quickly. not the same with others.

for lower price, and fairly decent boats(if bareboat chartering) look at north-south.

http://www.nsyv.com/

during hurricane season, they have a reduced rate, and give 14 days for the price of 7. nice time to visit, as the crowds are greatly reduced.

most everybody really packs bunks into the boats. if you want much bunk space, you have to shop.

it is hot. really hot. i think they lie at least 10degrees f.

We are looking for a captained vessel, not bareboat.

Id really like to go to genadines and i feel BVI is somewhat bland. Maybe im wrong, if so please correct me.

We are looking for a captained vessel, not bareboat.

Id really like to go to genadines and i feel BVI is somewhat bland. Maybe im wrong, if so please correct me.

grenadiens
"The prevailing winds will be from the North East at 15-25 knots. For a certain period after Christmas the wind will be 20-30 knots, these are the "Christmas winds".

have you and your group frequently sailed in 20 knot winds? even in a cut down rig and a 50' boat, that's a lot of wind.

i have never sailed there or been there.

i have sailed bvi (and usvi) about 10 times. always in summer, always for 2 weeks. it is well set up to keep cruising people occupied for a couple weeks. there are a lot of places to stop.

it is much better set up for an interesting trip than any of the other islands we have visited(probably a dozen or so), as you can move around, and each anchorage is a destination site of its' own. it does get crowded in high season. there is plenty of wind in summer.

grenadiens
"The prevailing winds will be from the North East at 15-25 knots. For a certain period after Christmas the wind will be 20-30 knots, these are the "Christmas winds".

have you and your group frequently sailed in 20 knot winds? even in a cut down rig and a 50' boat, that's a lot of wind. i cannot imagine a bunch of barely sailors out in 30.

i have never sailed there or been there. i have been to the ABC's, (scuba, never sailing), the wind is around 20 knots, and the seas are 20-30' rollers.

i have sailed bvi (and usvi) about 10 times. always in summer, always for 2 weeks. it is well set up to keep cruising people occupied for a couple weeks. there are a lot of places to stop.

it is much better set up for an interesting trip than any of the other islands we have visited(probably a dozen or so), as you can move around, and each anchorage is a destination site of its' own. it does get crowded in high season. there is plenty of wind in summer.

grenadiens
"The prevailing winds will be from the North East at 15-25 knots. For a certain period after Christmas the wind will be 20-30 knots, these are the "Christmas winds".

have you and your group frequently sailed in 20 knot winds? even in a cut down rig and a 50' boat, that's a lot of wind.

i have never sailed there or been there.

i have sailed bvi (and usvi) about 10 times. always in summer, always for 2 weeks. it is well set up to keep cruising people occupied for a couple weeks. there are a lot of places to stop.

it is much better set up for an interesting trip than any of the other islands we have visited(probably a dozen or so), as you can move around, and each anchorage is a destination site of its' own. it does get crowded in high season. there is plenty of wind in summer.

I didnt know the winds were so strong. As i said i wont be captaining the boat but i think those winds may make for a not so enjoyable experience if im going in Feb.

How is the weather in BVI in winter? I was under the assumption that the islands of the BVI's are a lot less "cultured" in both scenery and attractions than some of the other islands. Is that true?

well, ABC, most of the bahamas, san salvador, caymans, turks and cacios, raotaan, belize(coastal), florida keys, usvi, DR are not extremely scenic or cultured.

the knock against bvi started about 30 years ago when we first went down there. they were an all black society. and it is a well known fact that black societies are not very "cultured". it was an unbelievabily great place then. you did not need a cab. someone would pick you up if they were going that way. groceries and food and wine were minimal(same was true on most of the other islands).

that world is all gone. there are a number of $1000-2000/night resorts, and the cruise lines and the windjammers both visit. there are excellent grocery/wine stores, and gourmet dinners are available. there are even wine dinners.

the scenery is adequate, and some of the beaches are superb. cane garden bay is gorgeous, dead man's bay and white beach on peter island are great beaches, and they have very little use. cooper island has a great beach. there are a lot of others, as the place is pretty big, and most of the people collect in 3 or 4 places(bitter end, the baths, jost van dyke)

i think feb is crowded, but do not know.

for extremely uncrowded and very lovely beaches, there is the south side of st. johns. may not be legal to go there. we have chartered out of usvi, covered st johns, then gone to bvi(also a hassle).