We love this sailing yacht for charter. Not only is Andromeda la Dea a high quality build, manufactured by Perini Navi, but the crew are great and besides being well trained for top service, are lots of fun. Andromeda is cruising this summer in the Mediterranean where there are countless great cruising itineraries. Read below for more information on this excellent charter yacht. Read the rest of this entry »
We always recommend when chartering in Alaska to charter on a yacht that does only Alaska. This means the tried and true yachts that have been chartering in Alaska summer after summer, as they know where the whales are bubble net feeding, and they know where the salmon and halibut (the Barn Door Halibuts) are swimming. These are Alaska outfitted yachts, meant for Alaska, that truly do Alaska, which is the way to see this truly spectacular area. Normally these yachts are booked a year in advance. For the first time that we have seen in years (and we have been booking charters in Alaska for over 20 years), there are prime weeks still available on our favorite yachts for charter in Alaska for this summer, 2009. Read the rest of this entry »
Once again we attended the Marmaris Yacht Charter Festival to see our favorite charter yachts and Gulets in Turkey, renew crew friendships and to see new additions to the charter market for the southern coast of Turkey. We were very pleased with the show this year and pleased with a number of the yachts and Gulets that we saw. There were over 60 yachts and Gulets entered into the show, so we were kept very busy. Read further for our thoughts and overview on this show and the yachts and Gulets that we loved. Read the rest of this entry »
Hidden back in the original village of Datca, about a 5 minute drive from the new coastal town of Datca, Turkey, surrounded by privacy walls is the luxury hotel Mehmet Ali Aga Konagi. The hotel is housed in a Turkish mansion, built originally in 1809 by Mehmet Ali, who was the wealthiest person in the Datca Peninsula. The mansion was allowed to deteriorate until the early 2000, when the property was bought and renovated into the hotel that it is today. Many of the original details were kept, including the wall and ceiling paintings, and the rooms are furnished with antiques. Inside the original mansion is still the family Turkish Bath, still in use today, heated by wood fires. We visited, were shown many of the rooms and the Turkish Bath and had a lovely lunch of traditional Turkish foods. We recommend this as a stop for lunch or dinner or even a Turkish Bath on any itinerary that includes Datca. Read the rest of this entry »
The ruins of Knidos, Turkey or Cnidos, an ancient city of Hellenic, Roman and Byzantine cultures, are located just on the very tip of the Datca Peninsula in Turkey. With the ancient harbor still intact, you can cruise right into one side of the ancient harbor, anchor and wander these extensive ruins, literally “in the wild”. We just visited Knidos, and anchored in the ancient harbor overnight while cruising on the Gulet Mare Nostrum from Marmaris to Bodrum. And for a magical evening, dined on deck with the marble of the ancient ruins and amphitheatre gleaming in the moonlight around us. In the morning, we went ashore and wandered through these extensive ruins just sitting in situ as they have for centuries. Read the rest of this entry »
Whether you begin, end or just visit while on charter, Bodrum, Turkey is a great port to include in your yacht charter itinerary. Not only is there a good anchorage, there is stern to dockage available along the quay and a large marina. And, if you want to be slightly out of town, there are three additional marinas available. We prefer to be in town though, as where else can you anchor or dock in the lee of a medieval castle, built by the Knights Hospitaller? And right next to the castle is the Bazaar with its many shops and fresh seafood restaurants with seating overlooking the anchorage. However in our mind, the highlight is touring the Castle which houses an Underwater Marine Archaeology Museum with artifacts excavated from various shipwrecks in the nearby waters. We just toured the Castle and Museum for the third time and continue to be amazed and see something new each time Read the rest of this entry »
