How to Pack for A Caribbean Charter Yacht Sailing Vacation

So! You've booked a charter yacht in the Caribbean, complete with a crew and now are wondering how to pack. We can help! See the photo? That blue bag is way too big! Leave it at home and pack in a smaller bag bringing only the following: 

 

What to Pack for a Sailing Vacation and Other FAQs...

Even though I usually pack more, I really only need:

5 pairs of shorts

5 T-shirts

3 swimsuits

1 pair of sandals or waterproof reef shoes

If you have a dinner ashore:

Ladies: 1 casual sundress

Men: 1 button down shirt & dress shorts

What kind of luggage should I bring? Please bring soft sided luggage or duffel bags. Yachts prefer that you bring carry-on luggage so that there won't be a problem with lost bags. Space for storing bags is limited. Hard sided luggage can damage the glossy varnished woodwork and floors.

Do I need lots of clothes and dressy attire? No! Remember the old adage — "Bring half of the clothes and twice the amount of money that you think you'll need!" Pack your bag and if it is uncomfortable for you to carry it then you've packed way too much! You will need casual wear such as shorts, T-shirts, swimwear, beach cover-ups and shoes that can get wet with saltwater. A few of the finer restaurants require button-up shirts and slacks for the gentlemen. Rarely does one need a jacket and tie. "Smart Casual" is the rule of thumb for everyone in the Caribbean. Please, no hard sole shoes onboard! Walking onboard a pristine yacht with your shoes is considered bad etiquette. With the exception of exploring ashore, you will be barefooted ALL of the time.

Do I need to pack sunscreen?
No, we have plenty of both on board. If you do bring your own, please don't use oily or sprain on lotions which can cause the decks to become slippery and stain the yachts' fine upholstery. We strongly recommend Coppertone Sport SPF30


Can I bring my CD's and my iPod?
Yes! Feel free to bring any of your favorite tunes! We have an extensive music & video library, but it is always fun to listen to something new. We can even hook up your iPod to our stereo system! Also, you will find many books onboard to read while relaxing on deck.


What about making phone calls from the yacht?
Most stateside cellular phones such as AT&T and Sprint will roam in the British Virgin Islands as well as other islands in the Caribbean. Check with your carrier for roaming charges and availability for both voice and data.

Where can I check my e-mail?
There are lots of new places in the British Virgin Islands where you may go online; but do try to unplug yourself from the world.


Does the British Virgin Islands accept U.S. Currency?
Yes, the BVIs accept U.S. dollars, travelers checks and credit cards in most places. BUT! ATM machines and banks are not located on every island. Please bring a sufficient amount of cash for the week. Banking conveniences in the islands are not as easily available as they are stateside.

Should we dine out? 
Yes! Now don't worry. The cuisine on board for your yacht is five-star excellent and included. Your chef has planned for your every need, your every snack, your every beverage and certainly, your every meal. (Fact: 32 meals are planned for every eight day/seven night charter.) The reason to dine out is to explore and enjoy the unique ambiance of the islands. A raucous lunch at Pirates on Norman Island, a quiet lobster dinner ashore in Anegada, or the fun nightlife & dancing after a Foxy's famous Fri/Sat. night barbeques are traditions of the islands and give you a glimpse of the Caribbean that you will cherish.
If you choose to dine out, yes, you pay the bill, but it will be worth it. Most guests find a lunch and a dinner ashore provide the perfect variation to the week that you will enjoy. You might invite the crew, it would be a special treat, but it is not expected. The point is that you enjoy the islands and experience first hand the culture, flavors and people!


Island Etiquette
As they say, "When in Rome..." You will want to remember that you are visiting a different country. The British Virgin Islands has its own culture and customs that are quite different from the United States. Sometimes we live in such a hectic world that we forget a few common courtesies. A very important rule is to remember in islands to greet the locals with a "Good Morning", "Good Afternoon" or "Good Evening." A smile and a polite greeting may seem very old-fashioned to you, but here it is still very much a part of everyday life. Try it! You will very likely get a broad smile and perhaps even a new friend! In town, the locals generally prefer that you wear a cover-up over your bathing suit. T-shirts and shorts are fine, shoes are optional; but bikini tops are not appropriate.

What other things should I remember?
Bring all your medications. Even some over-the-counter medications that are so easy to find at home are difficult to locate in the British Virgin Islands. If you are concerned about seasickness, then ask your doctor for a prescription for the patch. We have found that using nonprescription acupressure wristbands cures most mild cases of discomfort. Three Moons does carry an extensive first-aid kit. Thankfully, it is rarely if ever needed. Don't forget to bring spare pairs of eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. 


Learn more at: sailthreemoons.com and bit.ly/aWvz9X

The "Best Cheeseburger in Paradise" is at Coconuts Bar & Grill, U.S. Virgin Islands!

Whenever we serve cheeseburgers to our guests on board our yacht Three Moons, we always have to play Jimmy Buffett's song, "Cheeseburgers in Paradise"! How many times have you caught yourself humming that tune while vacationing in the Caribbean? Come on and admit it; if you are reading this, you know you are a parrot head at heart!

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Where do the locals in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands go for the best cheeseburger in paradise? We go to Coconuts Bar & Grill for the BEST & CHEAPEST burgers on the island! You can order a $16.00 burger at any tourist hotel; but we prefer ours to be freshly patted out by hand, served with crispy homemade fries and easy on our wallet!
You'll find the restaurant located behind unassuming blue French doors in an alley (no worries 'mon, its' safe!) at 10 Main Street. Just hang a right at Imperial Jewelers and go to the end of the alley. And don't forget to order a frozen Bushwacker to drink along with your burger!
Can't find Coconuts? Give them a call: 340-774-0099 or visit their site at: Coconutsvi.com

Our Favorite Event of the Year in St. Thomas, USVI is Carnival!

"Everybody love the Carnival, No don't stop de Carnival, Do as you like, but leave my Carnival, All West Indians love their Carnival, Everybody bound to have their fun, No rain at all can stop de Carnival, Not even hurricanes can stop de Carnival because all de Creole de love their Carnival." (Don't Stop the Carnival by Duke of Iron. Calypso theme song for Carnival 1952.)

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Carnival in St. Thomas is the biggest celebrated local holiday of all! Interestingly enough, it seems to be more celebrated than Christmas, New Year's or any other holiday. Held the last week of April through the first weekend in May,  it’s the local event of the year when Virgin Islanders are anxious to display their creativity and talents. We like to attend their calypso competitions, cultural nights, pageantry, steel bands, carnival village and of course the parades! Everyone dances in the streets! The parades last two days beginning with the children's parade on Friday and the adult's parade on Saturday. The event ends into a grand fireworks display at the close of Carnival. What a weekend!

So far, year's Carnival is the best we've ever seen. No, it's not as big as the carnival in Rio de Janeiro; but the dancing in the streets will last for hours! The theme this year was "Let Our Cultural Spirit Enliven Carnival 2011", tipping it's hat to the long cultural history of carnival in the islands. This year's costumes and floats are more elaborate than ever before. It truly an amazing event!
 
Even USVI Governor John de Jongh along with Senators and other government officials will be spotted dancing in front of the bandstands! Great community involvement! You just haven't lived until you've seen the Rising Stars All-Star Steel Band double-decker wagon go down the street hopping and jumping to the rhythm of over 100 steel pans.

The carnival tradition in St. Thomas began in 1912, however it would be 38 years before the festival would become an annual event. In 1952 Ron de Lugo revived Carnival in St. Thomas and the island been celebrating every year since. St. Thomas hosts the second largest Carnival cultural celebration in the Caribbean.

What is carnival? It’s the blending together of many European cultures, as well as African dance and music. Important to the celebration of the Caribbean carnival is the African traditions of parading in costumes and masks and moving in circles through villages in order to bring good fortune, heal problems and calm angry spirits. Carnival is an important way for the people of the Caribbean to express their rich African cultural traditions by creating elaborate masks and costumes. It takes months and a lot of energy and creativity to come up with a concept and develop costumes for the dancers to depict a common theme.

Every carnival hosts a load of food and we are proud to say we literally "ate our way through" the food fair this week. Traditional favorites such as stewed and barbecue chicken, conch and whelks are paired with side dishes running from creamy macaroni and cheese to seasoned peas and rice. The vendors offered savory curries with handmade rotis, pates, steaming hot bowls of ital fare and delicious sweet treats.

If you would like to learn more about Carnival in St. Thomas, go to www.vicarnival.com.

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Does Anyone Know What This Is? Our Caribbean Sea Mystery Solved!

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This week, my curiosity finally peaked! For years, we've been snorkeling here in the Caribbean and spotting these unusual fluted edged circles of sand on the sea floor. What do they feel like? They're sandy and feel like they're held together with something sticky. When it's dry, it crumbles like dry sand. For a long time, I've joked about them being conch poop; but never really gave it much thought until this week. I thought to myself, "There's no reason to allow this mystery to continue as there must be an answer somewhere on the internet". The first thing I did was post the photos on Facebook, guessing that some of our sea-faring friends would have the answer. Their replys were amazingly creative. The irony is that a family member who has only been snorkeling a few times in her life came up with the answer!

This neat thing is a Moon Snail sand collar, or an egg case. There are tiny eggs sandwiched between sand particles. I contacted Dr. Thomas Huelsken, a Research fellow of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) School of Biological Sciences at the University of Queensland in Australia. His research focuses on sand-associated gastropods, particularly Moon Snails

He confirmed our information and told us that size of a sand collar is dependent on two things: 1. the shell size, 2. the foot size. The snails make the collar by rotating around themselves producing the egg collar with their propodium (front part of the foot). Thus, the center of the egg mass is (more or less) identical to the shell size. Usually the center is a bit bigger than the shell because of the constant movement of the snail during egg mass production. The diameter of the collar band is directly related to the size (length) of the propodium. In our case, he assumes (taken my thumb with 2 cm into account) the specimens' shell was 3-5 cm long (1.5 - 2 inches) with a propodium of similar size. From the morphology of the collar, he suggested that we were looking at a Polinices species (P. hepaticus, P. lacteus). These species can grow up to 40 mm shell length and up to 12 cm total length.

So, with one mystery solved...what's next? Hmm...I am sure we will think of something!

5 Favorite Restaurants in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

 
As a yacht charter Captain and Crew, there's one thing we really love to do...eat out! We call it "research & development" for new menus to create for our award-winning galley. But, quite honestly, we love having someone take as good a care of us as we take care of our guests! Deciding which 5 restaurants in St. Thomas are our favorites is quite a dilemma. There are so many talented chefs on this 39 sq. mile island! And like most true artistic people, they tend to hop around a bit, changing restaurants with the seasons. We've tried below to list the establishments that we think are the most consistent with the best staff.

1. Enkai Sushi Bar: Enjoy an array of artisanal sushi, created with made-to-order loving care by owner Katie Lombardo and her amazing crew. Enkai creates a distinct culinary experience by taking the time to know the likes of each of their customers. We purchase our fresh fish from the same place they do and know it's going to be perfect everytime! Click here for more info on their Facebook page.

Some of our favorite unique rolls are:

• Aviones: Spicy tuna, avocado, caramelized plantain, scallion cream cheese, onion crunchies, wrapped in local yellowtail snapper & topped with a hot mustard-sweet chili sauce & daikon sprouts.
• Prism: Futo Maki syle spicy tuna & fresh hamachi paired with artisanal red lettuce, creamy avocado, cucumber, crispy tempura sea beans, ginger mayo, scallion, lemon & lentil sprouts

2. Havana Blue: Havana Blue is like stepping into the cool vibes of Cuba shaken with the refreshing energy of the tropics. Yes, the lighting is blue! Their "Experiential Dining" combines the warm, rustic culture & robust flavors of Latin America with the exotic spices & tangy sauces of the Pacific Rim. Visit: HavanaBlueRestaurant

• Don't miss their signature Cuban mojitos as well as their Ancho Filet: Filet Mignon/ Ancho chile & expresso rub/ grilled asparagus/ cilantro-chorizo mash/ tempura leeks/ cuban espresso reduction...all featured in Gourmet Magazine! 

3. Grande Cru at Yacht Haven Grande: Known for their Mediterranean cuisine with an island flair, this is a sexy restaurant with amazing lighting, ambiance and attentive staff. Their wine bar has no less that 20 bottles of wine offered by the glass as well as daily $5 martini specials. There are lots of creative tapas on the menu as well as big plates offered below. Visit: Grandecruvi.com

• The gorgeous plate above is Pan-Seared Sea Bass atop Grilled Eggplant, Portobello Mushroom Red Pepper and Yellow Squash with a 4-Potato-Arugula Puree and Balsamic Reduction

4. Oceana: A "must-go" restaurant on a full moon evening, Oceana has become one of the island's premier restaurants known for innovative global cuisine created by renown executive chef Patricia laCorte and her culinary staff. We love the feeling of this water side restaurant located in a historic house in Frenchtown at Villa Olga. Visit: Oceanavi.com

• Try the Focaccia crusted oven roasted Chilean Sea Bass with fennel, tomato & chickpea confit, kalamata olive dust with lemon preserve vinaigrette

5. Thirteen: This is the kind of hidden place down a long winding road that's the perfect date spot, or you can head there for a great meal with friends. The view is amazing if you get there before dark. The restaurant overlooks Inner & Outer Brass Island and the North side. There's no website; but you can find them here on Yelp.

• Start with several appetizers such as the Foccacia Bread, P.E.I. Mussels, Crab Cake BLT Slider, and Beef Carpaccio Bruschetta; all are exceptional.
• Try the Crispy Oven Roasted Duck Breast with Cherry Tamarind Brandy Glaze or the Pepita Crusted Grouper with Poblano Cream; both were phenomenal.
• Definitely try the Pavlova or the Pretzel Covered Chocolate Brownie. 

 

 

 

5 Favorite Restaurants in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

As a yacht charter Captain and Crew, there's one thing we really love to do...eat out! We call it "research & development" for new menus to create in our award-winning galley. But, quite honestly, we love having someone take as good of care of us as we take care of our guests! Deciding which 5 restaurants in St. Thomas are our favorites is quite dilemma. There are so many talented chefs on this 39 sq. mile island! And like most true artistic people, they tend to hop around a bit, changing restaurants with the seasons. We've tried below to list the establishments that we think are the most consistent with the best staff.

1. Enkai Sushi Bar: Enjoy an array of artisanal sushi, created with made to order loving care by owner Katie Lombardo and her amazing crew. Enkai creates a distinct culinary experience by taking the time to know the likes of each of their customers. We purchase our fresh fish from the same place they do and know it's going to be perfect everytime! Click here for more info on their Facebook page.
Some of our favorite unique rolls are:

• Aviones: Spicy tuna, avocado, caramelized plantain, scallion cream cheese, onion crunchies, wrapped in local yellowtail snapper, topped with a hot mustard-sweet chili sauce & daikon sprouts.
• Prism: Futo Maki syle-spicy tuna, fresh hamachi paired with artisnal red lettuce, creamy avocado, cucumber, crispy tempura sea beans, ginger mayo, scallion, lemon & lentil sprouts

2. Havana Blue: Havana Blue is like stepping into the cool vibes of Cuba shaken with the refreshing energy of the tropics. Yes, the lighting is blue! Their "Experiential Dining" combines the warm, rustic culture & robust flavors fo Latin America with the exotic spices & tangy sauces of the Pacific Rim. Visit: HavanaBlueRestaurant

• Don't miss their signature Cuban mojitos as well as their Ancho Filet: Filet Mignon/ Ancho chile & expresso rub/ grilled asparagus/ cilantro-chorizo mash/ tempura leeks/ cuban espresso reduction...all featured in Gourmet Magazine!

3. Grande Cru at Yacht Haven Grande: Known for their Mediterranean cuisine with an island flair, this is a sexy restaurant with amazing lighting, ambiance and attentive staff. Their wine bar has no less that 20 bottles of wine offered by the glass as well as daily $5 martini specials. There are lots of creative tapas on the menu as well as big plates offered below. Visit: Grandecruvi.com

• The gorgeous plate above is Pan-Seared Sea Bass atop Grilled Eggplant, Portobello Mushroom Red Pepper and Yellow Squash with a 4-Potato-Arugula Puree and Balsamic Reduction

4. Oceana: A "must-go" restaurant on a full moon evening, Oceana has become one of the island's premier restaurants known for innovative global cuisine created by renown executive chef Patricia laCorte and her culinary staff. We love the feeling of this water side historic house in Frenchtown at Villa Olga. Visit: Oceanavi.com

• Try the Focaccia crusted oven roasted Chilean Sea Bass with fennel, tomato & chickpea confit, kalamata olive dust with lemon preserve vinaigrette

5. Thirteen: Start with several appetizers such as the Foccacia Bread, P.E.I. Mussels, Crab Cake BLT Slider, and Beef Carpaccio; all are exceptional. Try the Crispy Oven Roasted Duck Breast with Cherry Tamarind Brandy Glaze or the Pepita Crusted Grouper with Poblano Cream; both were phenomenal. Definitely try the Pavlova or the Pretzel Covered Chocolate Brownie. This is the kind of place that's the perfect date spot, or you can head there for a great meal with friends. The view is amazing if you get there before dark and overlooks Inner & Outer Brass Island and the North side. There's no website; but you can find them here on Yelp.