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Big Blue Excursions, St. John

We recently had the chance to meet Sharp & Margaret Kemp of Big Blue Excursions during our recent trip to St John and just love their story. Here’s the abbreviated version.


Sharp grew up on the coast of North Carolina on and around boats. As he grew, he developed an insatiable desire to be on the ocean and to travel. He began working and hopping around the Caribbean and Central America searching for perfect waves to surf and places to go fishing any chance he got. Once, while surfing in Costa Rica, he met a girl named Margie who had a passion for sailing, surfing, and traveling as well. She was living in the Virgin Islands.

Margie is a 100 ton master captain. Like Sharp, she grew up on and around sailboats and with her family, experienced incredible sailing adventures around the world. The longest leg was the four thousand mile intense journey across the Bearing Sea from Russia to Alaska. She also sailed across the English Channel in a tiny little boat with some old salty dogs at age 19. She said it was some of the gnarliest sea conditions she’s ever seen. At 26, when Sharp and Margie were married, she had been working as a sailboat captain for years in the islands.

They moved aboard their 46’ Pan Oceanic cutter to live, laugh, surf and sail their way around countless islands in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean. In 2016 they sailed more than 13,000 nautical miles from their home on St. John through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific Ocean to Australia. They really enjoy creating new memories and meeting new people.

Upon their return to St John, they purchased a boat excursion company named Big Blue Excursions – a mere 2 months before not just one, but two Cat 5 hurricanes hit the Virgin Islands…

Even though they lost two of their boats in the storm, this couple exudes an infectious positivity, pleasantness and zest for life, possibly, in part, derived from the amazing things they’ve seen and experienced. Although rightfully a bit frustrated with the wait time for insurance reimbursement, Sharp and Margie look forward to re-building and expanding their brand and company on St. John and with the unique experiences they offer, I know they will. Even thought the tourism traffic in the VI is not yet back to where it was before the hurricanes, they are experiencing strong bookings and great reviews.

Your day, your way, your pace is Big Blue Excursions motto. We had the pleasure of spending a day on the water with them on their boat “Gypsea Girl”, during our recent stay in St. John. When asked what we most wanted to see and do, we said “everything”! We ended up requesting some time in Jost Van Dyke to check on the progress since the hurricanes and then asked Sharp – our captain for the day, to choose the remainder of the days itinerary.

We met Sharp at 9am on the St. John National Park Dock for our full day excursion. Margie was there to welcome us too, but was unable to join us for the day. After an introduction and safety tips, we were off to explore.

Honeymoon Beach, St. John

We headed out, passing the scenic St. John north coast as Sharp passed on interesting information on the different beaches and landmarks as we cruised by.

The rest of the day was spent exploring and enjoying beach and beach bar time on White Bay and Great Harbour Jost Van Dyke,

Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke
White Bay, Jost Van Dyke
Gypsea Girl in White Bay

checking out beautiful Sandy Spit (even without any foliage!),

Waiting for lunch at Pizza Pi, Christmas Cove, USVI

and enjoying a delicious Blumin’ Onion pizza at Pizza Pi in Christmas Cove, St. Thomas (delicious pizza made on and picked up from a boat!). To top off the day, we spent some time snorkeling on the south side of St. John in Rendezvous Bay before heading back, sun kissed and full of the day’s adventures. Captain Sharp packed a lot into our day just as we had requested, and we enjoyed every minute of it.

If you’re heading to St. John or St. Thomas soon (Big Blue Excursions can arrange pick-ups in St. Thomas too), be sure to give Sharp and Margie a call. They offer full and half day excursions for your group of up to 11 people and will tailor a VI adventure just for you. Although all of the Big Blue Captains can take you to not only the well-known spots, they would absolutely love to show you the hidden VI gems that not everyone gets to see and experience. Want to snorkel all day? No problem. Island hop and catch a lobster? Check. Lounge on beautiful beaches and visit the local beach bars? Yep. Your day, your way, your pace!

Contact Big Blue Excursions to set up your perfect Virgin Islands excursion!

By phone: (340)201-3045
Email: [email protected]
Online (includes a 10% discount!) Click the Book Now button on the lower right of page: BIG BLUE USVI

 

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Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

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Our Windstar Experience Aboard the Star Pride – The Ship


The Star Pride, one of Windstar Cruises luxury yachts, was recently our home away from home for a week as we traveled south from San Juan, Puerto Rico to embark on a new adventure. We’d taken many cruises before on larger ships, but we were really looking forward to experiencing a cruise on a much smaller luxury yacht.

Well, we were not disappointed. Our week with Windstar was wonderful and it was quite different in many ways than other cruises we’ve taken. From absolutely seamless transfers to and from the airport to walking right on the ship during embarkation (no lines at all!), our embarkation was effortless. The relaxation began the moment we arrived.

Here are just a few of  the reasons why we enjoyed our Windstar Experience.

Rooms, or should I say suites? The Star Pride is an all-suite yacht. There are 64 Ocean Suites with large picture windows, 36 Balcony Suites with French style balconies, 4 Classic Suites with private verandas and 2 Owners Suites with private verandas. We were able to preview all suite categories on board the Star Pride and all were spacious and comfortable.


We had a balcony suite for the week and it was spacious, well appointed and relaxing. Amenities in our room included a Queen size bed with luxurious linens, a stocked mini-bar/refrigerator, a flat screen TV and DVD player, a safe, robes & slippers, a full sized bathtub and L’Occitane Bath amenities.


Sitting area in our suite
Plenty of room in the walk in closet
Spacious bathroom
Chocolate covered strawberries awaited our return from a fun day in Les Saintes, Guadeloupe

We loved opening up the sliding glass door to the balcony to hear the waves, feel the breeze and watch the wildlife (we saw a large pod of dolphin swimming alongside our ship the first morning!).

Morning on Martinique from our balcony

Size and guest to staff ratio. The Star Pride can accommodate 212 guests and has a staff of 151. With a ratio like that, you definitely feel pampered and taken care of. Our cruise was slightly less than full due to cancellations after the hurricane and an itinerary change (valid concerns after hearing about the destruction Irma and Marie left behind, but alas, the guests that cancelled missed out – the Caribbean IS open!).

Star Pride in St. Barts – one of the islands hit hard bay the hurricanes, but recovering very well

Potentially another benefit to the high guest to staff ratio – many of the staff members greeted us each time they saw us by name after meeting us for the first time and even remembered our food and drink preferences. I’m not sure how they do it, but the personalized touch did not go unnoticed and it made us feel a bit like celebrities!

Open Bridge Policy. Windstar Cruises has an open bridge policy while at sea, and we really enjoyed being able to stop by the bridge to talk to Captain Ricardo Pinzon or his crew, see the charts, pinpoint our location and have the crew identify different islands in the distance.

Tuna Tartare appetizer prepared by Chef Mario Pagan

Dining experiences. Yep. We’re foodies and the Star Pride offered some of the best cuisine we’ve had on vacation. AND on our particular cruise, Puerto Rican Chef  extraordinaire, Mario Pagan, spent the week aboard as part of the James Beard Foundation collaboration with Windstar, offering a cooking demonstration on Puerto Rican influenced dishes and preparing one of the entrees each evening. The menu on Star Pride changed daily and we’d have a hard time finding something to complain about with anything we ordered.

Delicious Bison Salad

Another dining highlight was the on-board deck BBQ. Offered one evening towards the end of the cruise, the staff assembled an incredible smorgasbord of delectable delights, including Caribbean lobster, other seafood delicacies and delicious grilled offerings prepared right on the deck under the stars.

A look from an upper deck at just a few of the watertoys available at the Watersports Marina 

On board Watersports Marina. The Star Pride has a retractable water sports platform off the back of the boat. From the private platform, guests can enjoy a variety of watersports including kayaks, SUP boards, Hobie Cats, waterskiing snorkeling, jumping on the over-sized water trampoline and lounging on the water mats.

Private beach for the Windstar Beach Party

BEACH PARTY! Windstar features a private beach party on all of its Caribbean itineraries and during our cruise, it was on the island of St. Lucia.


Excited for this event, we headed out early to a pretty beach close to Pigeon Island State Park to enjoy the festivities and were some of the first guests to arrive. The Star Pride crew pulled out all of the stops on this one. We spent a lovely afternoon enjoying the St. Lucia sun and sand, food, drinks from the bar, and watertoys brought over from the ships watersports marina. It was a beautiful day of fun in the sun.


Size DOES matter. Truly a big benefit in our book is that due to the size of the Windstar yachts, they can sail into smaller ports and hidden coves so that you can really experience the destination, but not necessarily experience the crowds.

Enjoying live music and champagne

Do as much – or as little – as you like. Whether we wanted to spend the day lounging in the sun on the deck, or wanted to try a bit of everything including yoga classes, trying every piece of equipment at the watersports marina, getting a seaweed wrap at the Windspa, working off some calories at the Fitness Center, listening to live music on deck at sunset or checking out a late night movie and ordering room service popcorn, we could do as much or little as we wanted.

Happy Hour in the Star Bar before our sail-away from St. Lucia

Enjoy happy hour on the deck during the sail-away parties. Each evening, when the Star Pride pulled away from port, we would assemble in the Star Bar on the upper deck for happy hour with new friends we’d met on the cruise and to enjoy the sail away song, Conquest of Paradise, as we said that last goodbye to another beautiful island.

We’ll be covering a few other highlights of our Windstar Experience (such as the itinerary and excursions) in upcoming posts, so stay tuned for more. Would we sail on Windstar again? Absolutely. In fact, we think the Tahiti cruise may be calling our name…

Did you miss Our Windstar Experience Aboard the Star Pride Part 1?

To find out more about this and other Windstar itineraries, contact Windstar Cruises.

We thank everyone at Windstar Cruises for inviting us to sail with them on the Star Pride. Although we were sponsored by Windstar to take this cruise, the views are solely our own and we only recommend products or services we believe our readers will enjoy.

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Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

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10 Most Visited Rum Therapy Island Blog Posts of 2017

As 2017 draws to a close, we looked back to see which of our island posts were visited the most during the year. 2017 was a difficult year for many islands in the Caribbean due to hurricanes Irma and Maria and many of our posts were written before the storms. We hope to visit and update the BVI posts this coming year!

From #10 to #1, the 10 Most Visited Rum Therapy Island Posts of 2017 are:


#10 – 5 Days on Staniel Cay, Part 3 – Off the Cay


#9 – What to See and Do in Philipsburg, St. Maarten


#8 – The Swimming Pigs of the Exuma Cays


#7 – Floyd’s Pelican Bar, Jamaica


#6 – Best Beaches of the British Virgin Islands


#5 – Siesta Key Rum Distillery Tour


#4 – Swimming with Sharks on Compass Cay

 #3 – Barhopping on Jost Van Dyke

#2 – 10 Great Bars You May Not Have Heard of in the BVI


#1 – The Ultimate Rum Therapy Playlist

Have a safe and Happy New Years! We look forward to sharing more island travel highlights with you in 2018!

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Our Windstar Experience Aboard the Star Pride

Windstar’s Star Pride

When we were invited to embark on a Windstar Cruise aboard their beautiful ship, Star Pride, we were not only very excited to experience a small ship luxury cruise, but we, in typical Rum Therapy style, were also hoping to see some new beautiful beaches, explore islands we’d yet to visit, and learn about local rums (and rhums) and local rum cocktails.
Check, check and check and a whole lot more.

Chef Mario Pagán during a cooking demo

This particular cruise would also welcome aboard Chef Mario Pagán, one of Puerto Rico’s premier chefs and part of the James Beard Foundation. Chef Pagán would not only provide a cooking demonstration on preparing Caribbean dishes with a Puerto Rican influence, he would additionally prepare a signature dish each night during the cruise. 

Originally, our cruise was to originate in San Juan, Puerto Rico and visit the islands of Culebra, St. Barths, Montserrat, St. Maarten, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke. Unfortunately, hurricanes Irma and Maria made an unwelcome visit to each of these islands in September, causing Windstar to make the difficult decision to change the itinerary to allow time for the islands to heal and recover.

**On a side note, although a few areas received substantial damage from these storms, much of the Caribbean was not impacted. Don’t be afraid to make travel plans for 2018 as the Caribbean IS open and even some of the hardest hit islands are beginning to welcome visitors back and with OPEN arms!

Beautiful Scenery in St. Lucia

Anyway, we were informed that our itinerary would change, and this new itinerary would allow us to visit several islands that we’d not seen! We’ll be covering our adventures in a series of subsequent posts, but suffice it to say for now, we had a wonderful time and can’t wait to share it with you.


Find out more! Read Part 2 – Our Windstar Experience Aboard the Star Pride, The Ship

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Two Tickets to Paradise – Best Holiday Gift Ever?


I don’t know about you, but finding two tickets to paradise in my stocking would probably be the best holiday gift ever! Do you need help putting together the perfect tropical vacation for someone on your “nice list” this year? We can help! 

Antigua

We’ve been working on this for some time, but now we’re ready to let everyone know. Rum Therapy has added a new component – Rum Therapy Vacations! We’ve been making recommendations on accommodations, locations, cruises, islands, areas of interest and things to see & do based on our travels since our inception in 2010, and are now able to help you get there! We specialize in travel to the islands of the Caribbean, Bahamas, Hawaii and Mexico as we’ve traveled extensively to these areas, and hope to add Tahiti and the South Pacific to the mix soon.

Paradise Island, Bahamas

Who could take advantage of our services? Anyone who wants to vacation in paradise, but just doesn’t know which area would be best, what type of accommodations are available, whether to cruise and which cruise line would suit them best, or those individuals that are too busy to spend hours searching the internet for deals and would simply like to have someone make all of the arrangements so that they can just pack and go…

Most services booked through us (such as booking a cruise, all-inclusive or luxury resort) don’t cost you a penny more than booking through an online search engine, yet you will be provided with personalized service (we’ll search for the very best rates and packages for you), personal care during the trip (we’re here to help in case something isn’t quite right when you get there) and sometimes perks such as upgrades! Additional services, such as putting together a complex package (including transfers, excursions, multiple legs, etc.) are available for a small fee to cover the time to coordinate it. We will always be up front if there may be an additional fee.

What services do we offer? We can help you put together a vacation to a resort that you’ve been dreaming of, from an all-inclusive to a private island luxury resort. Thinking of cruising? We can help you decide what type of cruise line would be right for you and assist in choosing an exciting itinerary.

Windstar Cruise in St. Lucia, (courtesy of Windstar Cruises)

Want to put together a trip for a group of people or a family reunion? Let us take care of the details so you can just relax and enjoy. And – we will include a list of Rum Therapy recommendations of things to see and do in the area(s) you will be traveling to including great beaches, attractions, local rums or rum drinks and places to explore!

Floyd’s Pelican Bar, Jamaica

How do you gt started? Email us at [email protected] and let us know the following:
1. Name
2. Phone number and best time to call
3. Email address
3. Travel dates or range, if flexible
4. Type of vacation, ie., cruise, all-inclusive, luxury resort, group travel
5. Where you would like to travel
6. Approximate price range per person
7. Anything else we should know. The more info you can provide, the more we can tailor a package to suit your needs!

Once we receive your information, we will put together some information and give you a call you to chat about the different possibilities.

Ready to put 2 tickets to paradise in someone’s stocking (or your own)? Use our expertise to arrange your next tropical vacation by emailing us at [email protected] today!

Providenciales, Turks & Caicos

(an affiliate of Avenues of the World Travel)

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Destination: Antigua

Destination Antigua! Do you like beautiful beaches? 

Coco Beach, Antigua
Are you looking for your next island getaway? Here are a few things to know about Antigua:
~ Antigua, along with Barbuda, is an independent Commonwealth nation that lies in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea at the southern end of the Leeward Island chain. Other islands close by are Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis.
~ The beautiful island of Antigua is approximately 108 sq. miles , has a population of about 80,000 and is fringed by gorgeous beaches. 365 of them to be exact. One for each day of the year!

View from Shirley Heights, Antigua
What to do on Antigua:
~ Enjoy a beach or two!
~ Take in the stunning view from the Shirley Heights overlook. If you visit Shirley Heights on a Sunday afternoon, you will be treated to the weekly Sunday BBQ with live music and a party that goes on into the evening!
~ Spend a day hiking and exploring the historic forts of Nelson’t Dockyard. Enjoy the views over lunch of the scenic harbor and beautiful boats!
~ Stop at a fruit stand in the southern part of the island and try an Antigua Black Pineapple – so sweet and delicious, or other locally grown produce!
~ Go shopping in St. John’s at the Public Market and the Arts & Craft Market for Antiguan products made by local artists.
~  Sample some delicious English Harbour Rum!

Black Pineapple on Antigua
Some of the Best Beaches & Beach Bars:
~ Jolly Beach (west) Beach Bar: Castaways
~ Dickenson Bay/Runaway Bay (northwest) Beach Bar: Anna’s on the Beach
~ Pigeon Point Beach (south) Beach Bar: Bumpkins
~ Ffrye’s Beach (west) Beach Bar: Dennis Cocktail Bar
~ Turner’s Beach (west) Beach Bar: Turner’s Beach Restaurant
~ Half Moon Bay (east) Beach Bar: Harry’s Bar
~ Long Bay Beach (east) Beach Bar: Barrow’s Chill-Out Bar

There are many ways to experience the beauty of Antigua, but here are a few featured properties and cruises. Rum Therapy Vacations would love to help you plan and book your Antigua vacation! Ready to start planning? Email [email protected] for more information on any of these hotels, resorts or cruises, or to find one that would suit your needs even better! 

Hotels:
Curtain Bluff Resort – 72 rooms on a dramatic bluff, this resort is surrounded by tropical gardens and two sandy beaches.
Carlisle Bay – this 5 star resort with a private beach is near St. John’s and will absolutely pamper you in tropical luxury.

All-Inclusive Resorts:
Jumby Bay Resort – this private island all-inclusive resort features two beaches, Jumby Bay Beach with pristine, white sand, and Pasture Bay Beach, an untouched wild beach set aside as a protected nesting site for the Hawksbill Turtle.

Hermitage Bay – surround yourself in all-inclusive luxury! With tropical gardens and a white-sand beach, this intimate hotel is located on Antigua’s west coast.

Galley Bay Resort & Spa – this adult only all-inclusive faces a secluded, long, tranquil beach, and offers peaceful holidays for adults in West Indian-style beachfront rooms and Tahitian-style lagoonside cottages.

Cruise Vacations that make a stop in Antigua:
Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, Princess, MSC, Disney, Crystal, Windstar

Are you ready to see Antigua? Email me at [email protected] to start planning your next vacation!

Long Bay Beach, Antigua
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Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Itineraries


With the recent catastrophic hurricanes in the Caribbean, our thoughts have been laser focused those impacted by the storms instead of what we usually (constantly) focus on – vacation. Ok, and rum. Rum and vacation.

But, with a Windstar cruise on our horizon, thoughts began to cross our minds about the impact of the storms on our cruise (and many others), as our original itinerary was scheduled to take us from Puerto Rico to Culebra, Montserrat, St Barths, St Martin, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke… With almost all of these islands taking such an awful hit, are cruise lines cancelling, rescheduling or rerouting upcoming cruises?

Truth be told, we would love to have continued with the original itinerary. As soon as it is humanly possible and we aren’t getting in the way of recovery, we want to take our vacation dollars back to the islands and islanders that have sustained such damage. They will need the tourism dollars and, well, we long to spend time again on those islands. We want to see the progress and experience every new little beach bar and re-built restaurant and go sailing again. The beaches are still beautiful and the foliage is starting to regenerate, so as soon as we aren’t using resources needed for re-building, we are there. But…in the meantime, cruise lines have made changes to their itineraries necessitated, I’m sure, by the safety and enjoyment of their guests, and that includes our upcoming cruise. 

Where will be be stopping now? From Puerto Rico we will sail off to Martinique, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Montserrat and St. Barths! We’ll be stopping at two islands that we have not had the pleasure of visiting yet and are excited for the opportunity to tell you about the experience of sailing on a small luxury cruise ship.

So for now, our changes in latitude will include changes in itineraries, but the changes will widen our tropical experiences and open our eyes to other tropical treasures.

Have the hurricanes caused you to make changes in your vacation itinerary? Tell us about it!

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Where to Donate (Hurricane Irma)


Here are links to organizations we have heard of that are providing support in the way of humanitarian assistance to those in need on the islands so drastically affected by Hurricane Irma. Please do a little research and make sure you feel comfortable – wherever you donate. You want your donation money to get to the people who REALLY need it! We are not including “Go Fund Me” accounts at this time as we have no way of checking their validity, although I’m sure there are some that are very honorable.

Apparently what is needed right now are the basics, food, clothing, personal hygiene items, generators, communication systems, housing, transportation, medical, etc. Please contact us to let us know of other reputable organizations that we should add to the list.

As time goes on, we’ll add links to any organizations that might assist in rebuilding. Right now it’s essential to help with what they need to get through the next few weeks and months. Thank you!

British Virgin Islands:
Richard Branson Hurricane Fund – no fees, all monies go to helping those in the BVI
BVI Recovery Fund British Virgin Islands Government
VISAR Organized by Tania Paine
Convoy of Hope (Irma BVI) Recommended by Nancy Richardson, Tortola

Virgin Gorda:
Virgin Gorda Relief Supply Fund Organizer: Casey McNutt

St. John, USVI:
The St. John Foundation Recommended by Russ Ballou
Love for Love City Kenny Chesney

St. Thomas, USVI:
US Virgin Island Relief Fund organized by Tim Duncan who grew up on St. Thomas (he is matching funds up to 1,000,000)
Adopt a Family, USVI send a care package to hurricane victims

Anguilla:
Help Anguilla  Recommended by Nori Evoy, Anguilla Beaches

Barbuda:
The Coco Point Fund; Barbuda’s Recovery from Irma  Recommended by Barbudaful

 

All Islands Affected:
Global Giving
Red Cross
The Salvation Army

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5 Reasons to Book a Virgin Islands Sailing Vacation

Have you been dreaming of exploring the gorgeous Virgin Islands? Have you ever thought of a sailing vacation on a beautiful catamaran in the Virgin Islands? Well, here are 5 great reasons to book a sailing vacation in the Virgin Islands now!


1. You can experience a sailing vacation without knowing a thing about sailing!

The internet is full of gorgeous photos of sailboats and catamarans skimming the beautiful blue water of the Caribbean… Have you ever wished you could experience that but don’t know a thing about sailing? Well you can! There are several options available when chartering a sailing vacation, including a full charter with a captain and cook, a half-board, which includes a captain and cook and half of your meals (for those that want to enjoy more of the local cuisine) or a captain only charter, in which the guests provision the boat and do their own cooking. Your charter broker can discuss the options and help you decide what is best for your group!


2. You get to experience multiple islands

There are literally hundreds of locations to visit in the Virgin Islands. Exploring this area on a sailing vacation means that everyday you will get to see something new, beautiful and exciting!

You will probably visit at least one new island a day which gives you the chance to see more than a land only vacation.


3. You can go where bigger ships can’t go

On a chartered sailing vacation, you can get to places you won’t be able to reach by a much larger vessel, which means you can see many of the best attractions minus the cruise ship crowds.


You can enjoy your own private beach or cove for the day, snorkel an isolated reef – or, start your own party at a secluded beach bar!


4. Flexibility

A sailing vacation offers a lot in terms of flexibility. Need a catamaran that sleeps 4 or 20? Do you want to snorkel everyday? Do you like to sleep in or get up early? Do you want to check out as many beautiful beaches as possible? Do you have special dietary needs? Do you really want to try a Roti, or a Painkiller?


Are there certain locations you’ve been reading about (perhaps on the Rum Therapy website!) that you’d really like to experience? Are you looking for a quiet family vacation or do you have a group of close friends that likes to find a party? Your charter broker will help to match you with the perfect crew and vessel to maximize your sailing vacation experience.

5. It’s a good vacation value

Regardless of which charter option you choose, a sailing vacation offers a lot in terms of vacation value.


Many things are covered in the price of a charter, including mooring fees, fuel, and cruising permits, as well as meals & beverages (depending on your charter choice), water toys and a crew with extensive knowledge of the area so that you will get to sample the best of the islands!

Ready to go sailing?


This article was sponsored by Certified Charter Broker Laura Jagielski of Denison Yacht Charters. There are many advantages to using Laura as your charter broker.  Because Laura lives in St.Thomas, she can provide an extra level of concierge service.  She knows all the must see spots throughout the Virgin Islands and will arrange your transportation to and from your yacht.  She will be there to personally greet you at the  dock when you begin your charter, ensuring a great send-off.  In addition,  she will meet you at the end of your charter to answer any questions and assist you with your departure. NO detail is too small. She is dedicated to ensuring that your trip exceeds your expectations.

Contact Laura to help you set up your Virgin Islands Sailing Vacation!
Email: laura@denisonyachtsales.com Office Phone: 340-473-0073

The Denison family has been trusted in the yachting community since 1948 when Frank Denison founded Broward Marine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Mr. Denison landed a United States Navy contract, with the first flight of four, 144′ wooden minesweepers, for the Royal Dutch Navy under a NATO contract.  Since then the Denison family has manufactured and sold more yachts over 70 feet than any family in the industry.  The Denison company is not only a powerhouse when it comes to yacht brokerage but also a trusted name in the charter yacht world.  With offices all over the world from Hong Kong to California to Florida to the Virgin Islands, the crew at Denison would be honored to show you how three generations of yachting expertise can be an asset to your yachting experience.

This is a sponsored post. Although we were compensated by the company who sponsored it, the views are solely our own and we only recommend products or services we believe our readers will enjoy.

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10 Ultra-Luxurious Caribbean Resorts

Talk about palm tree paradise… The following is a list of 10 Ultra-Luxurious Caribbean Resorts that will pamper you in luxury, offer world class amenities, stunning beaches and over-the-top service. Sound great? All are on our list of places we’d love to experience, but we may have to save up for…um, a little while. Click on the name of the resort to see photos and find out more about these incredible resorts.

Turks and Caicos

COMO Parrot Cay
Parrot Cay is an award-winning Turks and Caicos luxury resort set on its own private, beautiful island. Popular with celebrities, this toes-in-the-sand ultra-luxurious resort sits on 1,000 acres with a mile-long white sand beach. All rooms, suites and beach villas have soothing interiors along with COMO’s outstanding service, holistic therapies, yoga, diving and world-class cuisine.

Jumby Bay, a Rosewood Resort, Antigua
Set in one of the most beautiful, undisturbed places in the world, Jumby Bay, this Rosewood Resort is an island of simple pleasures. A couple of miles off of Antigua and reachable only by boat, this island paradise has no cars in sight, white-powdered beaches and winding bicycle paths and is a one-of-a-kind hideaway known, quite simply, as one of the finest resorts in the Caribbean.

Antigua

Amanyara, Turks and Caicos
Amanyara is a secluded sanctuary that embraces the best of the Caribbean. Managed by Aman, the world’s most exclusive hotel brand, this super luxurious resort on the island of Providenciales in Turks & Caicos offers 40 timber-shingled guest pavilions and is blessed with a stunning sugar-white beach.  Enjoy some of the world’s best wall and reef diving in the crystal clear water. The resort enjoys a contemporary layout and design and is open to the sights and sounds of the crystal clear turquoise sea.

Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
A 74 acre private island north of Virgin Gorda owned by Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Records. Did you know you could stay here? On selected weeks of the year, you can book an individual room – or you can rent the entire island paradise for 33 of your closest family and friends! Necker Island is unquestionably one of the most idyllic places in the Caribbean.

British Virgin Islands

Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
Built in harmony with Caribbean nature by owner and architect Nick Troubetzkoy, the bold architectural design – individual bridges leading to exceptional infinity pool sanctuaries and rugged stoned-faced columns reaching towards the sky – makes Jade Mountain St. Lucia one of the Caribbean’s most mesmerizing resort experiences. With the fourth wall entirely absent, Jade Mountain’s rooms are stage-like settings from which to embrace the full glory of St. Lucia’s Pitons and the beautiful Caribbean Sea.

Eden Rock Resort & Spa, St. Barthelemy
With its breathtaking setting, the iconic Eden Rock exudes elegance in the heart of the Caribbean. This luxurious retreat built on a rocky promontory is surrounded by white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and a lovely coral reef full of wild sea life. The hotel offers 34 highly individual accommodations and world class dining at ‘The Sand Bar’ and ‘On the Rocks’ restaurants, both masterminded by the world famous Master Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.Rosewood Mayakoba, Quintana Roo, Mexico
A serene oasis surrounded by emerald jungle and pristine white beaches, Rosewood Mayakoba is a Riviera Maya resort that defines a private world of rare luxury and refined beauty. Enjoy a place where there is never any rush to get anywhere and upon entering the property, guests instantly enter relaxation mode. Ahhh…
 
Paradise Island, Bahamas
 
One & Only Ocean Club, Paradise Island
Located on a beautiful beach on Paradise Island, Bahamas, the One & Only Ocean Club received a multi-million dollar reno which updated one wing and added a new 125 ft infinity edge pool on the stunning beach. Love to golf? No problem. Tee it up on the resorts 18 hole, par 72 golf course with gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean.
 
Bellmond Cap Juluca
Belmond Cap Juluca, is an idyllic luxury beachfront retreat on the exquisite island of Anguilla. Set on Maundays Bay, a mile-long white-sand beach and lapped by crystal clear waters, Belmond Cap Juluca is an island escape brimming with Caribbean magic.
 
Bellmond Cap Juluca, Anguilla

Pink Sands Club Canouan
The Pink Sands Club Canouan is an exclusive island retreat on the island of Canouan in the Grenadines, with luxurious suites and villas offering high-end dining, non-motorized water sports, infinity pool with a 3-tier tanning deck, Jim Fazio-designed golf course, tennis center, and spa with overwater glass-bottomed treatment palapas. An exquisite and ultra-luxurious island escape.
 
Have you vacationed at any of these luxurious Caribbean resorts or have them on your “list” of places to visit? Tell us about it!
 
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