Whale sightings - Catamaran Mango

The charter catamaran Mango sent us a few photos of whales they saw frolicking about last month.  The whales are kind of small in the photos because they were seen at a distance, but then again, you don't want to be too close :)

See more and read about catamaran Mango on the All About Yacht Charters blog HERE.

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Trans-Atlantic Passage Opportunity

I just wanted to pass along this fantastic opportunity to make a transatlantic passage with a very experienced crew and well-founded yacht.

TransAtlantic Crossing Charter: Yacht ANAHITA May-June 2014
Cross the Atlantic Ocean with Charter Yacht Anahita this Spring

The charter yacht ANAHITA, a 62-foot Dynamique sloop, has an opening for two paying crew on their 6th eastbound trans-Atlantic crossing. This is an excellent opportunity to get some sea miles and a unique adventure. Join Captain Bijan and Chef Roseanne in St. Thomas, USVI for the May 1st departure.

Read more HERE...

Thank You Charter Yacht Trimaran PROMENADE

I would like to thank the charter yacht Promenade, a 65-foot Nigel Irens trimaran, for putting me up (and putting up with me) for the two Virgin Islands charter yacht shows held earlier this month (Nov.2013) in St Thomas and Tortola. It was very much appreciated.

Trimaran Promenade Yacht Charters - Sail/Dive the BVIs - Crewed Caribbean Charter Yacht

Virgin Islands Sailing Vacations

It was great to spend time aboard Promenade (one of our favorite charter yachts). After spending 5 nights aboard, I had a good feel for the boat and a better knowledge of the crew than just a 10-20 minute visit at the annual boat show.

Captain Chad, First Mate Felix and General Dogsbody Chris are excellent. Friendly and attentive but not pushy. The food was good, too! Very accommodating folks.

Promenade has 5 guest cabins and accommodates up to 10 (and possibly 12) guests. They offer all-inclusive charters. Chad is a dive instructor so diving is available for certified and non-certified divers. Promenade has lots of water toys, beach games, power lounger, exercise equipment such and weights and yoga stuff, fishing gear, dancing... etc!

AllAboutYachtCharters has a post with comments from a recent client and lots of information about Promenade, read this post.

They also have a cabin cruise week open beginning February 16, 2014. There are currently 3 cabins available. This is a wonderful opportunity for joining a group and charter only one of the five cabins. Great prices, too.  7 nights = $4000/cabin (price for 2 guests, not each person) or 10 nights for $5000/cabin. See more HERE.

Here's a link to Promenade's online brochure.

Oh yes... Promenade available for this Christmas, too. Special Rates for Christmas week: Only $12,000 for up to 6 guests, add $750 for each additional guest (8 guests=$13,500, 10 guests=$15,000)

Promenade is an excellent choice for families, friends, and corporate charters. Excellent for active groups, party-hearty sorts, those who want a relaxing vacation, or a combination.  Lots of space as it is a 65-foot long and 35-foot wide trimaran.

Thanks again, guys!

Caturday & Simon's Cat

I love Simon's Cat. He "gets" cats. The cat sounds and actions are purrfect!

Simon's Cat in "The Box"

Every cat loves a good box.  Our Amazon boxes never go to waste. They become recycled cat toys and cat beds. Paper bags are very much appreciated, too.

There are two Simon's Cat books available on Amazon.com

Simon's Cat in His Very Own Book

Simon's Cat, Beyond the Fence

On a lighter note, save 40% on this yacht charter

This came across our desk yesterday. I think it's a bit much for the budget of our normal clientele, but maybe it will strike your fancy...

This 246-foot charter yacht  is offering a 40% discount for a 2-month charter this summer...

Accommodates up to 12 guests and has 15 crew.

The little "blurb" on this special offer says:

Take advantage of this amazing offer:
1 MILLION euro for a 2 MONTH CHARTER this summer!
A reduction of almost 600,000 euro on her standard rate!
Special amenities: gym, sauna and beauty center.
Highly talented chef!

So, if you have a million euros that you'd like to have fun putting back into the economy, give it a thought!

See their brochure HERE

XMAS/BOXING DAY MONDAY

I suppose this Monday is a holiday for some people, as Christmas fell on a Saturday, so in solidarity with those folks, let's all have the day off :)

Here's a couple of photos I took this morning from our forward hatch...

December 27, 2010 @ 8:30am - St Croix, USVI

If you'd like to get away from the arctic north and thaw out your toes, here's an opportunity... The catamaran Marolanga still has a cabin available on their special cabin cruise week, January 8-15, 2011. Click here for your quick getaway!

Bob did an Island Gourmand post this morning about New Year's Biscuits... Yummy picture. I hope this is a sign of good things to come next Saturday!

A bit of Amazon.com pimping... We only need two more orders to increase our piddling commission by 1/2%.  Not much, but everything is appreciated :)

Hmmm.... Maybe I should buy the saw guide that Bob mentioned in his Boat Bits post this morning: A tool that makes me happy...

Another basket cat... Charter Yacht Marolanga

Gus and Marcella, owner-operators of the charter catamaran Marolanga, sent us this picture of ship's cat Sasha who also loves a good basket.

Sasha is a beautiful Persian.  Charter guests love him.

Marcella had bought this basket with the intention of it being her new fruit basket but Sasha got first dibs on it.  He's so cute... how could you take it away from him?

 Sasha's home, Charter Yacht Catamaran Marolanga, Virgin Islands

The charter yacht Marolanga is a fully air conditioned, 43-foot Catana catamaran which accommodates up to 6 guests in 3 cabins, plus they have an additional single cabin for kid's use. They love having families aboard and have toys for all ages and an assortment of sizes for life jackets and snorkel gear.

Marolanga is currently available for Christmas and New Years in the Virgin Islands!

Visit Paradise Connections to see more about Marolanga.

You can read a recent post about Marolanga on our Yacht Charter blog.

We have blue sky this morning... doesn't look like rain.  Maybe the weather is improving :)

So It Goes...

Jeannie Kuich : Celebration Of Life & Obituary Announcement

A celebration of the life of Jeannie Kuich will be held at Latitude 18 (Red Hook, St Thomas, USVI) from 4:30 to 6:30 on Wednesday, June 16, 2010.  There will be a cash bar.  Please bring hors d’oeuvres.

In lieu of contributions, please give to the Humane Society of St. Thomas, 340-775-0599 in the name of Jeanne Kuich.

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Jeanne Zimmerman Kuich, St. Thomas, USVI

Jeannie, to her many friends on St. Thomas, died June 9, 2010. She was born October 20, 1936 in Louisiana and lived in Houston, Texas from the time she was two. She left for college in 1954. A graduate of Colorado University in 1958 she married Mike  Kuich in Houston August 20, 1959. Jeannie and Mike moved to St. Thomas in 1967 where they went into the charter business. With Michael she co-owned 5 different sail boats ranging in size from the 50 foot Stargazer to the 84 foot Queen of Sheba. An avid sailor, Jeannie sailed the islands from Grenada to St. Thomas many times. With Mike she sailed to Bermuda 5 times, New England twice, Nova Scotia twice with one trip to Norway and all the points in between.

In 1982 she ventured on a two year sail around the world.

Jeannie is the author of the astronomy book “Soap Operas of the Sky”.  She contributed many articles on Sailing and Astronomy to such publications as Cruising World, All At Sea and the Compass plus she wrote the regular feature "Sky Lights" for the VI Daily News.

Jeannie is survived by her husband Michael Kuich, her step sister Sarah in Houston and her many friends on St. Thomas, the BVI and abroad. Jeannie was an active member of the Audubon Society and EAST.

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Thanks, Sue, for this information.

Friday in St Thomas - Reefco, Opus, Cruiseship

On Friday, we went to Reefco to pick up a package that was quickly sent to us... Thank you US Postal Service.  Priority Mail works great to get things fast to the US Virgin Islands and is so much cheaper and less hassel than FedEx or similar that classifies St Thomas as an exotic, international destination and thus charges you through the nose (what an odd expression!).

Here are photos of the dogs of Reefco...

Edy & Denny's Jack Russell Terrier, Zoe

Tracy & David's Scottish Terrier, Connor

After chatting for a bit, we went to see if Scotty of Hi-Tech Watersports had our dive tanks ready, then we went to visit the trimaran OPUS which is a charter yacht that has a new owner-operator.

Billy bought OPUS in May this year and we were happy to meet him and see how OPUS was doing as we haven't inspected the boat in a few years as it has been out of charter. Looking good!

Billy has lived in St Thomas for over 20 years (thought he looked familiar) and thus has excellent local knowledge for running a charter yacht. He is a dive instructor who enjoys diving (some don't!) and first mate/chef Kimberly is a dive master. We are confident that OPUS will be a successful operation as they fulfill a niche that has been increasingly ignored over the past few years...  A good, affordable multihull that offers diving and fun for 6 guests with 3 double cabins. We have plenty of "luxury" catamarans but not enough of the meat & potatoes variety :) We already have our first charter group booked on Opus! HURRAY!!!

You can see Opus' online brochure: http://www.viewyacht.com/opus/ and contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters for more information.

While chatting with Billy aboard OPUS on his mooring in Elephant Bay, there was a nice sunset.

Then, there was this disturbing sight as the cruiseship was leaving port

They do have powerful bow thrusters... fortunately :)

Too close for MY comfort though, especially if I was that little yellow sailboat.

St Thomas USVI - Lunch with Hanalei Bay

Yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, the charter yacht HANALEI BAY invited us to lunch at Coconuts in downtown Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

Franz & Diane of Charter Yacht HANALEI BAY

It was nice to see Franz & Diane again. We have had many charters aboard Hanalei Bay, plus we have clients aboard for New Years! We know that they'll have a wonderful sailing vacation and an excellent celebration to bring in the New Year.

For information about chartering Hanalei Bay, contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters.

I had the grouper salad which was very nice.  I've been wanting fish for a while.

The waiter took a group photo and said it would be up on their website next week. Franz had twisted my arm to have a Bushwacker so I hope I don't look too whacked out :)

New Hotel Barge Cruise Vacations website uploaded

What did I do this weekend?  I did the happy dance!

After a couple of years of good intentions of creating a standalone hotel barge charter website, I finally did it and uploaded it. You can check it out: www.BargeCharters.Com

Of course, it's not completely finished yet, but the important bits are there and I can tweak it and add more information later.

I have also had to modify links to "European Barges" and "Hotel Barges" on the ParadiseConnections.com website, plus our various blogs. And, then there is the task of submissions to search engines.

Still more to do, but So It Goes...

Hope y'all had a good weekend, too!

JIMMY BUFFETT CONCERT IN ST BARTHS NOV 2009

It appears not to be just a rumour anymore, as Jimmy Buffett is now on the schedule for a quayside concert in Gustavia, Saturday 7th November 2009 at 8:00 pm.

What a great excuse (as if you need one) to have Cheeseburgers & Beers in Paradise! It's only a few weeks until Le Select’s 60th Anniversary is upon us. Join the celebration and attend the BIG anniversary bash November 6-8 2009... Where???? St. Barths, of course :)

What better way to partake of this event than on a boat? Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters and we'll hook you up!

We enjoyed Jimmy's concert in Anguilla a few years ago (we're on the DVD!) and we helped several good folks charter yachts for that Parrothead gathering. They thoroughly enjoyed the festivities in the authentic tropical venue.

Get in the mood & check out Amazon's Jimmy Buffett MP3 downloads for a quick getaway to Margaritaville!

LE SELECT’s 60th ANNIVERSARY - SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• Friday, November 6, 2009
  

11:00 am – Noon: Complimentary appetizers and happy hour
11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Gunslingers Steel Band
5:00 pm: Choir performance by the Chorale du bon Coeur
6:00 pm: Speech by Marius Stakelborough, owner of Le Select, followed by a cocktail reception
8:00 pm: Music by Math’s Connection and The Tremendous Johnsons

• Saturday, November 7, 2009

11:00 am – Noon: Complimentary appetizers and happy hour
11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Gunslingers Steel Band
6:00 pm: Gunslingers Steel Band on the quay in Gustavia
8:00pm: Jimmy Buffett on the quay in Gustavia
10:00pm: Music by New Generation at Le Select

• Sunday, November 8, 2009

11:00 am – Noon: Complimentary appetizers and happy hour
11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Gunslingers Steel Band
4:00pm: Screening of the film “The Friends of Marius” at the Capitainerie (upstairs at the Harbour Office)
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Gunslingers Steel Band
8:00 pm: Fireworks, followed by a closing party with music by Les Romantiques at Le Select

• Monday, November 9, 2009

Marius invites you to discover the Back Street Gallery, Rue Père Dugon, Gustavia from 11:00am to 1:00pm and 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Maybe Bob can get a new hat as his "Tunes On The Dunes, Anguilla 2007" baseball hat is quite a bit past its sell-by date :)

So, come on down & have a good time!  Hope to see you there.