Cabin Cruises (Cocktail) - The Caribbean

Grenadines Cocktail from Martinique

on board of a comfortable catamaran
10 days / 9 nights

Your boat:

There is no classification for sailing catamarans, as you know it from hotel bookings. However, there are means of categorizing which are comparable to the “hotel-stars”.

The sailing turns will be held on yachts with four “dolphins”.  Those “dolphins” have been established by us. The categories reach from 1 (=lowest category) up to 5 (=highest category).  The catamarans possess the accurate safety equipment, according to the laws of the particular countries (Tracking system, life raft, life vests, etc). You will sail on board of a gorgeous catamaran, whose length (40 – 50 foot) provides you comfort and stability.  Each guest cabin possesses an “ensuite” bathroom (shower/lavatory). Every guest can take an active part on board, such as helping the skipper to maneuver or helping the cook creating tasty meals, while in the meantime learning something about the Caribbean-Creole kitchen. However none of that is a must.  Everything is prepared to greet a maximum eight guests on board (+ Crew, which is made up of two persons). There is no hostess on board. The cook will take care of preparing and clearing the table before and after meals, he is the deckhand, and apart from that is your contact person for any questions about the life on board.

Provisions:
The meals will be held together, prominently in the cockpit. Drinks on board (included in charge): Soft drinks, sparkling water, still water, ¼ liter table wine for lunch and dinner, as well as an aperitif with white Rum. The menu can vary depending on the choice of the local markets as well as the results of the fishing. 

Please note:
You have booked full board together with the extra: „active kitchen“. You will find a cook on board however, he will be relying on your help at times, since he may have a couple of tasks to do at the same time. It is therefore greatly appreciated, if you take active part in the life on board and help in the creation of the every day life on the sailing yacht. Please remember that this is a sailing trip on a catamaran, not on a cruise ship with a large crew. You may at any time victual yourself further to your liking. We also do not mind, if you bring additional wine, beer or other alcoholic drinks on board. Life on board is interactive. Everybody helps in the kitchen, hoisting the sails and maneuver the yacht.

Your catamaran has a saloon (“living room”) with the kitchen integrated, as well as a cockpit which is protected from wind and strong sun. Most of the interactive life on board will take place here.  

The skipper is very experienced, and knows the local area and the boat extremely well. He will point out places of interest, bring you closer to the country and its inhabitants, and will show you the most beautiful bathing and snorkel areas in the whole of the Caribbean. You will swim and snorkel in turquoise blue water, or relax on white beaches while the cook may be already preparing some steaks on the grill.

The Cabin:
Each yacht has four guest cabins and four lavatory/showers with a basin.  Please note that water on board is not unendingly, therefore it has to be handled with care. However the store is large enough to ensure two showers per day for every guest.

The luggage:
The yachts are comfortable, yet the space in the cabins is limited. Therefore we would like to advise you to leave your hard suitcase at home and to use a carpetbag instead, for they are way easier to stash. If you would like to use a hard suitcase anyway, we will allot you a place where it can be kept.

Children:
Children over the age of eight years may take part in sailing cruises. For children up to twelve years of age, the price adds up to 80% of the normal price. One child will share a cabin with one adult.

Hints and references:
As the flight arrivals usually happen to be in afternoons or evenings, sailing will take place only in the following morning. The first evening is dedicated to getting to know other guests and to settle in. Keep in mind, that the guests arrive on different flights and therefore attain the boat at various times. However we cannot be held responsible if the passenger arrives late due to delayed/cancelled flights. 

You may use the same offer for a private journey, including friends and family only, for an additional charge. In this case, no other guests will be attending.  For more information please contact your tour operator.

We would also like you to know, that pictures in the catalogue or on the homepage, do not necessarily show the boat which you have booked your sailing cruise on. Most of the pictures serve as an examples. We prepare various catamarans for the cruises.

Worth knowing about the sailing trip:
It is necessary to get a valid passport to clear inward in the different islands. (People with non-EU citizenship please contact us).

Euro 75, -- have to be paid into the  “on board cash” prior to embarkation. Following costs are balanced with the “on board cash”:

-Tariff rates for the clearing inward on the various islands during your trip.
-Dock dues
-Tips for pontoon employees, cleaners, chauffeurs and helpers of anchor maneuvers.

Even if your skin is used to the sun: note that on a boat the sun rays are more intense than on land. You will always have a nice breeze on when you are on the boat therefore the strong sun is often felt too late. Thus, it is even more important to be prepared, for it is very easy to get sunburnt or even get a sunstroke, if you do not shield yourself from the sun. A sun hat which does not fall with the first gust of wind is very important. Do not forget your sunglasses either, which are best to be fixed with a string around your throat. A sweatshirt too is advisable, or a shirt with long sleeves combined with long trousers. For the first few days, sun cream with a high sun protection factor should be used.

If you take in medicine: remember to take enough of it, with you from home. On the islands it would be rather difficult to find pharmaceutical which is comparable.

There are no laws that enforce you to take any vaccines for the islands you are going to visit.

Seasickness:
Catamarans sail in a very stable way and are generally straight. Your skipper too will try his best to only pass through calm waters. However it is in the nature of sailing, that waves do occur. If you are likely to get seasick, you can discuss with your pharmacist which medicines are the best to take with you in this case.

Water on board is not infinite. The water however, is enough for every member to take two quick showers per day. In any case your skipper will remind you to be diligent with the freshwater on board.  

Sailing maneuvers and life on board:
To attend one of our sailing cruises, no knowledge about sailing and the handling of a boat are expected. People which are not sportive too can take part and get to know the beautiful islands in this way. The skipper who as a matter of course is a skilled steerman is capable of handling the yacht completely on his own. However you have the chance to learn something about sailing, even though it is not a trip organized for this cause. The skipper will love to share his passion for travelling on the seas with you. He will thus enjoy helping you to gain first hand knowledge about sailing. If you like, you will very soon handle the steering-wheel, execute maneuvers or help with the anchoring yourself. Depending on the meteorological rates during your cruise, you will drive a section under engines.  That means that the anchoring place will be reached by the engines and that the sails cannot be hoisted.

Mobile on board: Normally you do have reception on your mobile during the trip. However this is not inevitably the case. You should ensure with your provider that your mobile will be active for the region you are passing over, prior departure. On the British Virgin Islands not all mobiles do work. However you do have the chance here, to buy a smartcard at your arrival, so that you can call with your cell phone without problems in the BVI`s.

The cabins possess 220-volt connection. You can charge your mobile, photo camera, etc. in the receptacle in the saloon (Navigation). 

Safety regulation:
It is strictly forbidden to carry weapons or drugs on board.

Please note that the yacht crosses various boarders and that therefore the coastguard searches yachts in the fight against drugs, every now and again.  The skipper has the right at any time, to dismiss people from the boat who do not respect the instructions of visiting countries, carry weapons or drugs, disturb the life on board in any way, or put the crew, the guests or the yacht under any kind of danger. The skipper in such a case is obliged to inform the appropriate public authorities. In such a case, or if the guest wishes to leave the boat, nothingof the traveling expenses will be refunded.

Depending on the weather, it may happen that part of the distance has to be covered by the engine. If a hurricane appears during your journey, all preventive measures will be taken instantly.  In case it is needed that due to the hurricane your accommodation has to be continued in a hotel, rather than on the boat. The costs for your room and the provisions will be covered by us. However, the same comfort and standard cannot be guaranteed.

A tropical climate dominates in the Caribbean; furthermore they lie in the trade wind. The average temperature throughout the whole year is around 26 degree Celsius. The average water temperature is 27 degree Celsius, but can go up to 30 degrees Celsius in August or September. In the Caribbean the day starts quite early (Sunrise between 05am-06am local time). Dawn takes place already between 05:30 pm and 06:30 pm.