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.

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

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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.   

 Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbor 50th Antigua Yacht Charter Show 

With over 115 yachts registered and over 300 International Yacht Charter Brokers in attendance, the 50^th Antigua Charter Yacht Show is underway in English and Falmouth Harbors in Antigua.  Starting Monday morning and running until Friday afternoon, yachts are lined up at the docks, and open for the International Yacht Charter Broker industry that has flown in from all corners of the world to come on board and inspect the yachts and meet the crews.  This is also the week when the worldwide industry convenes in one place for Trade Organization meetings, other meetings, and seminars on regulations and various charter locations.  This year is one of the biggest shows ever, with the largest amount of new yachts being introduced to the yacht charter industry.  Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters is in attendance and busy visiting various yachts and learning the latest in industry information for worldwide yacht charter.  We are delighted with the new yachts entering into charter that we are seeing at this show, and with revisiting some of our favorite yachts and crews.  Worldwide yacht charter should be busy this coming year, with charters for next summer already being booked in various worldwide charter locations such as Italy, Greece, Croatia and Turkey.

St. Martin - Grand Casse

Cruise around the Caribbean island of St. Martin on a crewed yacht charter and experience an island of two nations.  Sixty percent of St. Martin or Saint-Martin is owned by France and forty percent of St. Martin or Sint Marteen is owned by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  For this little tropical island is an island owned by two countries, and life ashore reflects the life, culture, traditions and even the languages of these two parent nations, all waiting to be explored on a crewed yacht charter of the island of St. Martin.

St. Martin Beach

St. Martin is a duty free island, so after immigration, expect to walk right out to your waiting charter yacht, if you decide to begin and/or end your charter in St. Martin.  There is also an international airport on this island, with many very good flights in and out.  Duty free is across the island, whether French or Dutch, and so shopping, especially on the Dutch side, where there are many discount shops, reigns supreme on this island.  However also reigning supreme are the beautiful beaches and waters surrounding this island of two nations. 

St. Martin

The French side of St. Martin is anchored by the town of Marigot, and everything is typically French, including fresh baguettes baked every day and typically French boutiques and shops where everyone speaks, what else? French.  And there are very good French restaurants and cafes.  The Dutch side is anchored by the town of Philipsburg and is chock a block full of stores selling discounted duty free goods, especially electronics, cameras and jewelry.  At night, on the Dutch side the casinos come alive and the air pulses with music from the various night clubs.  The French side offers a night life as well, especially around Grand Casse, however this night life is quieter and is offered by the many restaurants and bars right on the beach, where dinner and drinks are enjoyed under the stars accompanied by the sounds of the waves as “music to the ears”.

Orient Beach, St. Martin

There are many great beaches in St. Martin, including Orient Beach, clothing optional in some areas, Terres Basses, and Happy Bay, and several small little islands off of St. Martin such as Pine Island and Tintamarre that are great to visit, if only because you can on a crewed yacht charter, and perhaps have a picnic lunch. 

Nearby, and easy to include in a crewed yacht charter itinerary starting and or ending in St. Martin are the islands of Anguilla and St. Barths.  Enjoy the dual nationalities of this little tropical island of St. Martin on your next crewed yacht charter. 

Antigua Yacht Charter Show

Once again the Antigua Yacht Charter Show commenced in early December, this year as the 49^th annual, always for industry only show, and was felt by all to be an outstanding show.  After several years of a split show in Antigua and St. Martin, this year the industry was reunited under one venue in Antigua, altogether once again.  Industry members flew in and yachts were  delivered in from worldwide locations with all gathered together in one place to kick off the 2010/2011 Caribbean yacht charter season.  In total there were 119 yachts in attendance and both Missy Johnston and Carolyn Titus from Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters were there for the show to gather all of the information on yachts and crew for this coming and other charter seasons. 

Antigua Yacht Charter Show 2010

Here, at Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, we were very pleased with the quality of yachts being shown and the great crews that were on board presenting the yachts for charter, all ready to offer great charter service for this coming season.  There were yachts both large and small, from Nemo, the 47’ Catamaran for 8 guests chartering in the Grenadines in the winter and Greece in the summer at a great charter price to Kogo, the 235’ Explorer Motor Yacht and Maltese Falcon, the unique 288’ Perini Navi Sailing Yacht.     There were great new yachts to be seen, just entered into charter, including Aiyana, an 82’ new launch sailing yacht from Alia yachts with 3 guest staterooms to Exuma, the new 163’ Motor Yacht launch from Perini Navi, with 5 guest staterooms, built with a unique hull design for stability underway (we cruised on board and we can vouch for true stability at 17 knots).

Antigua Yacht Charter Show 2010

One nice aspect this year were the number of older yachts that have now been refit, with new Owners and a new program on board, offering great charter at an economical pricing as a give and take, with a bit off for age, while still a great charter offer after refit.  We really like Monte Carlo, a 132’ 1988 Amels Motor Yacht back out in charter again for 8 guests with a year around Caribbean program, including on board diving, an on board masseuse and  great chef, and Shalimar, 1996 118’ Benetti for charter for 10 guests. 

Antigua Yacht Charter Show

We liked the energy exuded from the industry at this show, the overall interest in offering great charter and great charter service.  Here at Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, we feel that there is an outstanding group of yachts to choose from for yacht charter in the Caribbean this coming season and are very excited about this upcoming Caribbean charter season and worldwide yacht charter.    

Antigua Yacht Charter Show

In July 1995, the volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat rumbled to life after lying dormant for all of recorded history. The island of Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory located in the Leeward Islands, which are part of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea and is easily visited by yacht charter on a charter out of Antigua. Montserrat is known as the “Emerald Isle” of the Caribbean, both for the constant green color of the hillsides from a high level of rainfall and the many Irish who settled there over the centuries. However the volcanic eruptions starting in 1995 have changed this island forever.

Montserrat Village destroyed by volcano eruption

Montserrat Volcano

The eruptions, which began in July of 1995, destroyed the Georgian era capital city of Plymouth and almost 2/3rd’s of the population of Montserrat were forced to leave the island. The eruptions continue today on a much reduced scale and has affected the docking facilities in Plymouth and the nearby W.H. Bramble airport, which is still closed. An exclusion zone exists from the south side of the island north to parts of the Belham Valley.

Monserrat Home buried by mud in volcano eruption

When visiting now on yacht charter the anchorage of Little Bay is open, depending on the weather, as there is no breakwater. Visitors are no longer allowed into the capitol city of Plymouth. However a great view of the volcano and the hot boulders spewing out of the center can be had from the now opened Montserrat Volcano Observatory where not only is a spectacular view of the volcano available; there is also a museum on the eruptions and island impact. And when touring stop to visit the village of Brades which now is serving as the capitol city, while construction proceeds for a new capitol city in Little Bay on the far northern end of Montserrat and out of range of any further eruptions.

Montserrat Volcano at Night

A new airport, called Gerald’s was opened 8 years after the 1995 eruptions which reconnects Montserrat to the rest of the world by air, however the easiest way for yachtsmen to visit Montserrat is by yacht, as the island is only 30 miles from Nelson’s Dockyard and Falmouth Harbor in Antigua, an easy day sail. And visiting the Montserrat while on charter is one of the few opportunities today to see a volcano in action. Watching the volcano after sunset is even more spectacular. Consider including an overnight stay in Montserrat in your next charter itinerary of the Leeward Islands.

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This December marked another industry only yacht charter show in Antigua; the Antigua Yacht Charter Show. This show was the biggest Antigua Show in the last few years, with over 100 yachts. The show was also very busy. Industry members in general felt that the charter marketplace had picked up considerably which is good tidings for the general vacation and travel marketplace. And perhaps is a good omen of an upswing in the economy.

Mega Yacht Top Sun Deck

Yacht Katya

The Antigua Yacht Charter Show was well attended by worldwide Yacht Charter Brokers. And both crewed motor and sailing yachts were on display from 50′ to 254′ in three areas in English and Falmouth Harbor; Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua Yacht Club, and Falmouth Marina. Lunches and dinners were offered on many of the yachts for a Broker opportunity to sample the Chef’s food and service on board.

Eagles Nest for Charter

Highlights of the show were the over 5 yachts there that were over 200′, with Samar at 254′ the largest in the show. The new 92′ catamaran Rafoly was there along with several other large catamarans for review. There were a large number of yachts new to charter, that have crossed the Atlantic for the winter season hopeful of a good busy charter season. We were pleased to see of the sailing yachts: Swallows and Amazons a newly launched 77′ CNB sailing yacht, Gadget, refit 64′ Hinckley once owned by Walter Cronkite, Inukshuk and 82′ Nautor Swan and Liara a 104′ Southern Ocean. For the powerboats, we enjoyed Life’s Finest II, a 135′ Custom, Katya, a very attractive 150′ Delta ,and Utopia, 204′ Feadship.

J-Boat Ranger for Charter

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Some people say that there are more monkeys on St. Kitts than people, and that is probably true of Nevis, for both islands have a population of Green Vervet Monkeys in the tens of thousands. Originally these monkeys were brought to both St. Kitts and Nevis by French plantation owners at the turn of the 17th century as pets for the plantation owners’ wives and families. This monkey is also referred to at times as the Old World Monkey as this monkey has been found in ancient Egyptian history and have even been found depicted in the frescos excavated at Arkitori on Santorini in Greece, a settlement dating from 2000 BC. Today, while visiting St. Kitts and Nevis on yacht charter, if you hike up into the mountains you are sure to see signs of these monkeys if not several of the monkeys themselves peering at you inquisitively through the foliage.

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts – Sugar Cane Fields

Both St. Kitts and Nevis were important colonial plantation colonies, first growing tobacco and then growing sugar cane for sugar production. And, along with the growth of the plantation life and work style came the increase in slave labor in these islands, with slaves brought to the Caribbean from Africa. The Green Vervet Monkeys, so called due to the greenish cast of their fur, inhabits much of Africa and were brought on these slave ships from Africa to the Islands, where they quickly adapted to the similar weather conditions. First brought in as pets or items of trade, these monkeys, over the years became feral and multiplied in the mountains and rain forests of these two islands to the point of being, sometimes, a pest to agriculture concerns on the islands.

Baby Green Vervet Monkey

Green Vervet Monkeys are vegetarians, and weigh anywhere from 8-18 pounds, standing anywhere from 10-18 inches high. While an actual count is impossible, estimates place the number of Green Vervet Monkeys living on St. Kitts at around 40,000 and the number of these monkeys on Nevis at around 30,000. Nevis offers a Monkey Walk for the interested, however if you hike into the interior on either island, especially at dawn or dusk, you will probably see one, if not several, of these monkeys living wild on the mountainsides of these two Caribbean islands, when visiting while on your Caribbean yacht charter.

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Being in St. Barths for New Years is like being in San Tropez in August along the French Riviera: its the place to see and be seen and a week long social and tropical whirl. And just like San Tropez in August, quite a bit of the action in St. Barths for New Years is all along the docks and on the visiting yachts. These yachts, which are all lined up down the quay stern to, are partially private yachts and partially yachts under charter. As you too, can charter to be on board a yacht in St. Barths to enjoy this New Year’s celebration.

Gustavia, St. Barths

While dockage stern to in St. Barths for New Years is not a guarantee, there is plenty of room in the harbor to anchor and come ashore to the quay in the ships’ tender. There you can mingle with the other yachtsmen, visit with friends, and make new friends. Of course the quay is not the only party on St. Barths. The more well known establishments like Maya’s and Nikki Beach and even at the Le Select, the first bar on the island, made famous by Jimmy Buffet and “Cheeseburger in Paradise” all have a New Year’s Eve celebrations in their establishments, and are busy all week. However to see a collection of outstanding yachts all in one place, be sure to be down on the quay in St. Barths on New Year’s Eve.

Beach Front Restaurants and Bars

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