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Combining both the speed of a motor yacht with the shallow draft of a catamaran sailing yacht, on a crewed yacht charter on board Damrak II, you can enjoy exploring your charter location  in style, moving easily from yacht charter anchorage to yacht charter anchorage. You can virtually step ashore from the stern  of Damrak II due to the shallow draft of this yacht.  Comfortable for yacht charter for 8 guests in 4 guest staterooms, each with ensuite bath, the extra beam of this power catamaran provides a spacious interior, which is well decorated with a true luxurious feel.  The large top deck includes exterior dining, a sunning area, a top deck Jacuzzi and room to store water toys.  The easy water or tender access off of the aft deck or the pontoon stairways to the water are another added advantage of a yacht charter cruise on board a power Catamaran as offered by a yacht charter on board the charter power catamaran Damrak II.   Here at Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters we are standing by to help you with a great yacht charter vacation on the charter power catamaran Damrak II.

At 65 ft, with 3 guest staterooms, the beautifully manufactured Oyster charter sailing yacht Neki, just launched in 2010 is an outstanding yacht charter choice for up to 6 guests. With a shoal draft of only 6 ft., Neki is able to access many anchorages on a crewed yacht charter itinerary that other sailing yachts in the same size range cannot and is able to be sailed comfortably through shallow area yacht charter destinations such as the Bahamas. Neki is a sloop rig for performance sailing; however is a center cockpit monohull for sailing comfort while underway. Fully air conditioned inside, and very well appointed, with a Captain and private Chef, Neki is sure to please for an on board crewed yacht charter. Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters is standing by to help make your charter on board the charter yacht Neki a very special experience.

S/Y Andromeda La Dea, a 154’ Perini Navi is a great yacht charter choice for a yacht charter either in the Caribbean this winter or in the Western Mediterranean this summer for a lovely sail on a crewed yacht charter itinerary created just for you.  The charter yacht Andromeda La Dea is comfortable for up to 8 guests in 4 staterooms, each with ensuite bath.  On your yacht charter on board, enjoy the top sun deck Jacuzzi in a quiet anchorage or aft deck dining in the expansive aft deck living area with bar.  Take a look at the Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charter slide show for full photos of the interior and exterior living areas on board, and cuisine as prepared just for you by your gourmet Chef, all to be enjoyed on a crewed yacht charter on the charter yacht Andromeda La Dea cruising on a yacht charter itinerary through some of the best yacht charter cruising areas in the world.

Beautiful Waters of the Caribbean

A vast expanse of crystal clear waters await for a crewed yacht charter through the islands of the Caribbean; an outstanding yacht charter destination choice for your next crewed yacht charter. The Caribbean proper as defined for a crewed yacht charter location extends from the top of Puerto Rico to the bottom of Grenada, within which are a number of yacht charter cruising areas and yacht charter itineraries for a great crewed yacht charter vacation in this beautiful location destination. Each yacht charter cruising area is serviced by an international airport; however each yacht charter cruising area has a unique history for a fabulous yacht charter with a feel of being away from it all.

The Baths

Consider the U.S. or British Virgin Islands or even the Spanish Virgin Islands including Puerto Rico for a crewed yacht charter. The U.S and British Virgin Islands offer the most protected cruising waters in the Caribbean. With over 18 islands in very close proximity, a crewed yacht charter itinerary can include a multitude of different anchorages to explore and enjoy. The British Virgin Islands offer an English feel on shore and are less developed than the U.S. Virgin Islands. There is an international airport on both St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Highlights of the area are The Baths and The Bitter End on Virgin Gorda, the pirate treasure caves on Norman Island, and exploring the Wreck of the RMS Rhone by snorkeling or scuba diving.

St. Martin Beach

The yacht charter cruising area of St. Martin to Antigua includes islands that are part of the Leeward Islands. Around St. Martin are the islands of St. Barths and Anguilla in very close proximity, so that a crewed yacht charter itinerary could start and end in St. Martin and include all three islands. There is an international airport in St. Martin for arrivals and departures. Further “Down Island” are the islands of Saba, Eustacia, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda. There is an international airport on both Antigua and St. Kitts. These islands all have an international feel ranging from a decidedly French chic feel in St. Barths to a colonial English plantation feel in St. Kitts, Nevis and Antigua.

Trafalgar Falls Dominica

The French West Indies and Dominica offer an excellent cruising itinerary through these islands. There is an international airport in both Guadeloupe and Martinique. On the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique and the Isles des Saintes, including Marie-Galante, a fresh baked hot French baguette is easily available in the early morn. Dominica, also known as the “Nature Island” offers many interesting activities ashore, including river rafting and hunting the Dominican “Mountain Chicken” for photo opportunities. Basket weaving is an art on the island of Dominica where you can purchase your own “man catcher” to take home.

Tobago Cays Caribbean Water Colors

St. Lucia, the Grenadines and Grenada, are part of the Windward Islands and are reflective of the Caribbean in the last century, as time moves very slowly in these islands. The Tobago Cays in the Grenadines offer some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. The island of Bequia has a long history of whaling and boat building, while the islands of Mustique, Petite St. Vincent and Palm Island offer some of the amenities of top end resort islands. Visit Mayreau where electricity was finally introduced in the 1960’s. Grenada, the “Spice Island” has a long history of spice plantations which produce coffee beans, vanilla pods, nutmegs, cocoa beans, and cinnamon bark, all which can be found fresh for purchase in the local market.

Life in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is a yacht charter location destination of warm clear water of various beautiful shades of blue and green offering hours of water fun including snorkeling and scuba diving; however also a myriad of different on shore experiences as each island has a unique history and feel. Choosing a crewed yacht charter is the perfect way to explore a number of islands in the location destination of the Caribbean on a crewed yacht charter itinerary.

Greek Island Village Anchorage

Imagine cruising on a crewed charter yacht through the crystal clear waters of a charter yacht location like Greece!  With over 6000 islands to visit on a crewed yacht charter itinerary in the Greek Islands, there is something for everyone.  Greece is a yacht charter destination that is a perfect location to visit on a crewed yacht charter, as many of the islands and many of the myriad of anchorages available can only be visited by a private charter yacht.  On a yacht charter through the Greek Islands you might find yourself the only visitor to a remote island or enjoying the isolated splendor of your own anchorage with no one else in sight.  Combine visiting islands in Greece that can only be visited by private yacht charter with visiting islands in Greece that we all know and love such as Santorini and Mykonos on your own private yacht charter on your own unique yacht charter itinerary, cruising where you want, when you want.

The over 6000 Greek Islands are divided roughly into five main island chains of the Ionian, Saronic, Cycladic, Sporadic and Dodecanese Island groups.  History through the many centuries from ancient to modern times has left a mark on each and every island and island chain, leaving something new to learn and see around every corner. 

Sunset over Shipwreck Beach, Zakynthos

The Ionian Islands, in the Ionian Sea, are located along one of the major ancient trading routes and so have a strong Venetian feel as many of these islands were owned by the city state of Venice for over 300 years.  A minimum of one week is best to cruise from the southernmost island of Zakynthos to the northernmost island of Corfu.  The Ionian Islands are considered to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world which is certainly true about Shipwreck Beach on Zakynthos, assuredly one of the most beautiful beaches to be found worldwide.    

Local Island Taverna

The Saronic Islands are close to Athens for a lovely yacht charter cruise in generally protected waters.  After boarding your charter yacht, within a couple of hours, you will be cruising into a whole different world; life in the Greek Islands.  The Saronic islands are very close to the Peloponnesian Peninsula mainland of Greece also offering lively harbors and historical sites to visit. 

Blue Domes of Santorini

The Cycladic Islands are probably the most well known and photographed of the Greek Islands and include the islands of Santorini and Mykonos.  With a distinctive style all their own, the Cycladic Islands are covered with white cubist style “sugar cube” buildings with windows, doors and domes painted cobalt blue, a signature of the Cycladic Island style.  Windmills are also common in these islands as this island group is exposed to the sultry Meltemi Winds that blow across the Aegean Sea.  If the Meltemi Winds, which can blow at anytime, blow too strongly, cruising on a crewed yacht charter in the Cycladic Islands might not be possible for your charter itinerary.  So while the Cycladic Islands can be the intended itinerary of any Greek Island yacht charter, this itinerary is not a guarantee as the Meltemi Winds, if blowing too strongly, may require another itinerary to be chosen for a cruise through the multitude of Greek Islands that are protected from the Meltemi Winds. 

Local Island Church

The Sporadic Islands are in the northern Aegean Sea and are probably the most remote of the Greek Islands, and therefore are the most traditionally reflective of age old Greek Island life.  The beautiful on location scenes from the recent hit movie “Mama Mia” were filmed on several of the Sporadic Islands.  The Sporadic Islands are set further apart from one another and require more cruising, however the untouched nature of these islands is well worth the extra effort. 

Rhodes Castle of the Grand Masters

The Dodecanese Islands are located along the Turkish Coast, and have a long history of interaction with this mainland, usually in confrontation and battle.  In fact the islands are so close to the Turkish mainland that they can be seen from Turkish villages and beaches.  Crusader castles can be seen dotting the island landscape along with ancient ruins.  These islands were also well known for sponge diving, and played a significant part in the religious history of this area.  Try a charter cruise along this string of Greek Islands only or include some of the Turkish mainland in a yacht charter itinerary when exploring and enjoying this area.   

With over 6000 Greek Islands waiting to be explored on a crewed yacht charter, the sky is the limit for choice of itineraries of what to do and see on a fabulous yacht charter cruise through the islands of Greece. 

Antigua Yacht Charter Show

Each December a large yacht charter show is held in Antigua for industry only and this December was no exception.  The yacht charter industry and the crewed yachts available for yacht charter in the Caribbean this coming winter all gathered in Antigua December 5th – 10th.  The charter yachts, with their crew on board are lined up in various marinas open for review, including taste testing of much of the on board cuisine.  Each show, a Charter Chef’s “cookoff” is organized as a Culinary Challenge for judge’s review.  The Culinary Challenge is divided into size ranges, as on board galleys and galley equipment certainly vary between 50’ yachts and 200’ yachts.  Each year prizes are given also for table settings, and for one special ingredient to be well showcased within the cuisine.  This year the one special ingredient was coffee.  An additional one time prize was added this year for table settings for use of the 50^th Antigua Yacht Charter Show theme.  Below are all of the winners in the various categories for the Chef’s Culinary Challenge for Charter Chef’s on board charter yachts at the Antigua Yacht Charter Show.

CHEF’S CULINARY CHALLENGE

If you are having trouble viewing this Blue Jeannie video please click here

Always a beautifully manufactured and finished yacht, the 64’ Oyster, Blue Jeannie, just launched this year in 2011, is no exception.  Here at Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, we were on board Blue Jeannie this month in Antigua and were very pleased with the yacht, finish and the lovely charter crew on board, Andy Armshaw and Alli Rea.  We feel that Blue Jeannie is an excellent addition to the worldwide yacht charter community as a beautiful, comfortable, performance sailing yacht available for crewed yacht charter in the Caribbean this winter and the Mediterranean this coming summer.  We know that Andy and Alli will take excellent care of you, and we feel certain that you will fully enjoy a crewed yacht charter on the Oyster sailing yacht Blue Jeannie.  Following are photos we just took this month while on board Blue Jeannie in Antigua, where we found the yacht dockside, with a gleaming exterior and interior.   

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Kekova Island and the Kekova Bay area are filled with centuries of old ancient ruins of various civilizations, most easily explored, seen and enjoyed by yacht charter along the southern coast of Turkey.  Several days can be spent in the Kekova area, hiking over land through hundreds of ruins, Lycian style sarcophagi, and Byzantine church remains.  And for a unique view of ancient ruins, as an earthquake dropped much of the ancient Kekova Bay settled area just under the surface of the water centuries ago, snorkel over the ancient ruins of building foundations, harbor fronts, and mooring areas, littered with tile and other shard remains left on the sandy bottom of the bay, from life in that area so long ago.  This pictorial review is a taste of the ancient ruins on Kekova Islands and in the Kekova Island area of that which can be seen and enjoyed on a crewed yacht charter in this fascinating area along the coastline of Turkey. 

One More Toy

The 155’ Christensen Motor Yacht, One More Toy, available for crewed yacht charter in the Caribbean this winter and the Mediterranean this coming summer has always been known for outstanding cuisine.  Recently, at the 2011 Antigua Yacht Charter Show, Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters was treated to a terrific lunch on board the charter yacht One More Toy, where Chef Eric Sarnow, as usual, created an outstanding meal.  A Chef for over 20 years in some of the finest restaurants in both the U.S. and France, Eric has been featured in restaurant guide books, regional publications, as a guest chef on TV on numerous occasions, won several prestigious awards and has contributed some of his own personal recipes to well known cook books.  As a charter guest on board the charter yacht One More Toy, you will be pampered on board throughout your charter with the cuisine created by Chef Eric.

Lobster in White Wine Butter Sauce

Our meal started with a poached Caribbean lobster tail, napped with a delicate wine butter and cream sauce, which was light and lovely, while full of rich flavor.  The lobster tail was garnished to appear as if there was a small lobster on the plate swimming in a pool of cream sauce.

Caribbean Jerk Pork Tenderloins with Mango Salsa

The main course was tender pork medallions sautéed in a Caribbean Jerk sauce, with rich Caribbean flavors, a pleasant reminder of exactly where we were, in the cooling Caribbean breezes, floating on crystal clear blue green waters, on the aft deck of the crewed charter motor yacht One More Toy.  To counter the complex spiciness of the Caribbean Jerk sauce was a salsa of fresh local mangos set on top of the pork medallions.  Plates were all completely cleaned by the assembled guests.

Apple Tart Tartin and Homemade Ice Cream

Desert was individual Apple Tart Tatin, with caramelized apples on a delicate crust setting in a caramel brown sugar sauce.  To the side was a scoop of homemade coconut ice cream, the perfect compliment.

Taste buds were tantalized with a myriad of flavors, however all was light enough for one to feel fully satisfied, without feeling over fed under the hot Caribbean sun, which is a testament to a great Chef and shows a complete understanding of food and the environment in which the food is being served.  Lunch on board One More Toy was a taste treat of cuisine that will be sure to please any Charterer that charters One More Toy in either the Caribbean or the Mediterranean for an outstanding charter.  

Damrak II

Here at Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, we were just invited to eat on board the charter yacht Damrak II, a 70’ power cat built by Sunreef Yachts, and the charter cuisine was fabulous. The Chef on board the charter yacht Damrak II, Sharon O’Connell, known as Shaz, is a Chef we have followed through various charter yachts before Damrak I, and now Damrak II, and have always been delighted with her on board cuisine.  For any gastronomically inclined Charterer, a yacht charter on board Damrak II with Shaz as Chef is a mouth watering yacht charter experience sure to please.  Following are photos and a description of our on board lunch on the charter yacht Damrak II.

Deconstructed Seafood Caesar Salad

First course for lunch, served on the lovely covered aft deck, open to the cooling Caribbean breezes, was a De-constructed Seafood Caesar Salad.  Beautifully presented, Shaz had made “flowers” of the romaine lettuce that were served holding homemade Caesar Salad dressing, set on top of a fresh olive oil and garlic sautéed “crouton”, topped by a parmesan cheese crisp.  Set to the side were beautifully sautéed shrimp and scallops garnished with anchovies, and orange ginger sauce. 

Baked Homemade Ravioli with Salsa and Salad

Main course for lunch, following the first course, was homemade baked ravioli; with fresh pasta dough stuffed with chicken, wild mushrooms and mozzarella, accompanied by pesto and aged balsamic vinegar sauces.  To the side was an Italian flavored tomato salsa and a salad featuring purple potatoes with a blue cheese dressing.  All tasted as great as it looked.

Dessert - Watermelon Granita with White Chocolate Custard

Dessert was hard to beat, served with refreshing watermelon granite beside a white chocolate custard on top of a brown sugar biscuit topped with strawberry and raspberry sauce and whipped cream.  And after dessert the cheese and fruit plate was presented with coffees and teas, which included one of the best cheeses we have ever tasted, Boursault Triple Crème French Cheese, beautifully soft and ripened.  

After Meal Cheese and Fruit Platter

Any charter guest on board Damrak II with Shaz as Chef is sure to be as delighted as we were, here at Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, with the on board cuisine throughout the charter.  Damrak II, a new build power cat is a perfect yacht to charter this winter in the Caribbean and this summer in the Mediterranean.