I keep in mind pondering final yr when we set sail on a catamaran journey across the Exumas, Bahamas that it was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Properly, quick ahead one yr later and that “once-in-a-lifetime journey” changed into a second-in-a-lifetime journey, this time across the British Virgin Islands. While you discover an incredible solution to journey, it’s laborious to need to do it another means.
I’ve acquired so many questions since our journey to the British Virgin Islands on a catamaran that I wished to have a spot to reply all of these and lay out our journey from begin to end! If you happen to’d wish to see movies from our travels [from the boat we were on to the activities we did, make sure to watch this Instagram highlight where it is all captured]! Let’s dive into this journey of a lifetime 😉…
We had been on Serenity Yacht Charters and identical to our journey on Penny Jo Crusing Charters to the Bahamas, it was nothing wanting unimaginable. If you happen to’ve by no means vacationed on a Catamaran, it’s such a distinct [more submersive] means to soak up the islands. Serenity is a brand new Bali 4.8 catamaran that has 5 bedrooms with queen beds [all with their own bathrooms], a totally stocked kitchen, a eating space with unimaginable views 24/7 [the wall that went up and down to create an open-air dining environment was our favorite], and loads of out of doors areas to lounge [our hot spot was the front of the boat where there was ample space to lay out, play cards, drink our coffee at the table, get a YouTube workout video in [let’s be real – this only happened once] and chill out as we sailed to every new vacation spot! There may be additionally a big space to chill out up prime on the Fly Bridge which is an superior spot to soak up the sunsets from, cocktail [or mocktail] in hand! The perfect a part of the constitution? The employees. I believed it was so superior that each our Captain and Chef had been ladies aboard Serenity. They had been each so form, enjoyable, {and professional} at their jobs! From ensuring you dock up at the entire hottest spots, to cooking up your whole mouth-watering, want you had a full-time chef at dwelling meals, mixing up your favourite drinks, and cleansing up after you, they’re there for no matter you want! Now that my associates, is what trip is all about.
We traveled with my girlfrind and her husband so there have been 4 of us + the captains. The boat has 4 rooms obtainable [as our captain and chef occupied one] so you might journey simply with 8 [4 couples or adults and kiddos] and be comfy!
Oh, however the meals. Elena was our chef onboard and once I say her meals had been higher than some that we skilled at eating places, I imply it. All the pieces she made was scrumptious – each the style and the presentation had been spot on. Previous to our trip, we acquired a really detailed desire sheet to fill out to point what kinds of meals we like for breakfast, lunch, and dinner together with drink preferences, snacks, how we like our espresso, once we favor to eat, and so forth! They be sure each single element is catered to your liking beforehand in order that while you’re on board you may be assured they are going to have the whole lot you want. They even went so far as to make me a distinct meal at any time when seafood was served as a result of I’m not a seafood lover whereas the others had been AND stocked up on additional BBQ chips for me half means by means of the journey as we realized Child S cherished some BBQ chips that week 😉
NOTE: ALL FOOD AND BEVERAGES [ALCOHOL INCLUDED] ON BOARD ARE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF YOUR TRIP!
ALL ACTIVITIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF YOUR TRIP!
That is what made crusing on Serenity much more particular. Our captain, Tina, knew precisely the entire finest spots to go [and the best days to take you to avoid the busy crowds]! What differed between this journey vs our Bahamas journey was that our stops had been typically extra habitated than a few of our stops within the Bahamas. I cherished that we had a mixture of days to easily chill off the again of our boat within the picture-perfect clear waters [on board they have paddle boards, underwater scooters, snorkels, wakeboards, etc] to stops on the coolest [we’re talking coolest] seaside bars, caves, and different daily we couldn’t imagine the journey we had been on. I’ll go into extra element on the actions we did under
Listed here are a number of of our favourite stops and scenes from alongside the best way! Seize your favourite drink and prepare to sail away with me..your surroundings awaits!
On our first day at sea, we stopped on the Virgin Gorda baths and it was my favourite off-boat exercise we did. You stroll by means of all types of baths, caves, and find yourself on a seaside. If you happen to’re within the BVI, you must go right here!
This was one in all my favourite stops for a drink — SabaRock. It’s a restaurant, bar, outlets, resort, and simply an superior place to hang around.
We completely cherished docking at Jost Van Dyke for a day – the water was crystal clear, the seaside was the whitest sand, and there have been so many enjoyable bars and eating places you might take pleasure in! We made certain to get the signature Painkillers at Soggy Greenback and had lunch at Hendo’s Hideout!
One other favourite bar – Willy T’s at Norman Island. It’s a boat, simply floating away, but in addition a bar. That they had nation music blaring which I cherished and the folks watching was prime notch [spoiler alert: it’s common for people to jump off the top deck without any tops on…] like I mentioned, nice folks watching 🤣
Whereas in Norman Island, we additionally hit up the caves that you just’re in a position to snorkel by means of which was a cool expertise! I like that we bought to expertise the entire issues [for free!] that folks on cruise ships need to pay to expertise!
A enjoyable little cease alongside the best way in Jost Van Dyke – Cunning’s for drinks and a few souveniers!
You need to cease at CocoMaya for dinner in Tortola – the surroundings was unimaginable and the meals was scrumptious! Definitey a should!
WHAT IS THE COST TO DO THIS?
It depends upon what number of are in your group, however in case you have 8 visitors [the max] it’s $26,000 for the group. Sure, it’s a dearer trip, nonetheless, if you happen to break up that 4 methods and take into account your meals, drinks, actions, Wi-Fi, and different added advantages, it isn’t that totally different than an all-inclusive charge. It’s undoubtedly a luxurious trip and you’re feeling like you’re taken care of 24/7! You possibly can see all charges right here!
SEA SICKNESS: DID YOU EXPERIENCE IT AND WHAT DID YOU TAKE FOR IT?!
Needless to say I used to be in my first trimester of being pregnant when crusing so to say I used to be a bit nervous was an understatement, nonetheless, I had zero points! The good factor in regards to the British Virgin Islands is that there are 60 totally different islands which suggests they’re all comparatively shut collectively. Due to this, we weren’t crusing daily for lengthy durations. Nearly all of the time you’re docked and off the boat both within the water or on land which helps! Moreover, we had been in a position to sleep each night in sheltered areas so that you wouldn’t really feel the boat transfer in any respect in a single day. My girlfriend is liable to seasickness so the primary day she realized that she did must put on the patch behind her ear for good measure, however happily, the remainder of us didn’t expertise seasickness. As a preventative, we took less-drowsy Dramamine chewable tablets daily. My greatest tip: take drugs as a preventative and if you happen to’re ever feeling sick, keep exterior wanting on the horizon!
WHERE DID YOU FLY INTO?
There are two totally different routes you’ll be able to go to get to Serenity which is docked in Tortola – we took a method and our associates took the opposite means! Each labored out nicely for every of us! Shawn and I flew from Chicago to San Juan, Puerto Rico the place there we took a bit puddle jumper over to Tortola! It was a couple of 30-minute taxi journey from the airport to the marina! Our associates flew into St Thomas and took the ferry [about a one-hour ferry ride] to Tortola after which a fast taxi journey from there!
HOW MUCH TIME ARE YOU ON THE BOAT?
Like I mentioned above, the precise sail time daily was fairly quick [our longest was around 3 hours one day] so the remainder of the time we had been both off the boat doing issues, within the water swimming, consuming yet one more scrumptious meal on board, or simply kicking again stress-free with a ebook and drink in hand.
COULD YOU DO THIS TRIP WITH KIDS?
Sure, you might – however I might be cautious of what ages. Serenity recommends youngsters 12 or older. You’d need them to be good swimmers as a result of numerous your time is spent within the water and you’ll need to be sure they’ve actions for on the boat to remain busy with [if they aren’t good relaxers]. There are video games on board, and likewise wi-fi in order that helps!
IS THERE WI-FI ON BOARD AND CAN I MAKE CALLS?
Sure, and sure! They’ve web on the boat so that you’re in a position to be related whereas on board! We have now Verizon and had the every day journey move [I believe for $10/day] to have the ability to make calls and textual content.
HOW CAN I BOOK?
Straightforward! All you must do is contact Serenity Yacht Charters and they are going to be in contact with you to speak about dates, pricing, and many others! I can’t advocate our time with them extra – they are going to care for you from begin to end to make sure it’s a journey of a lifetime!
WHAT SHOULD I PACK? ANY TIPS?
To start with, no matter garments you suppose you’ll want, lower it in half [and then maybe in half again] and that must be about proper 😉 We lived in swimsuits and coverups all day daily and solely ate dinner off the boat thrice for the week. I might advocate one sandal [I always rely on Tory Burch Millers for sandals that you can dress up or down] as you actually gained’t want sneakers in any other case. The one different shoe I wore had been water sneakers [we bought these!], a water-proof telephone bag if you’d like to have the ability to take your telephone with you within the water, Dramamine, sunscreen [non-aeresol], sun shades, books, and no matter else you need on your week! I did carry all of my make-up together with a hair dryer, curling iron, straightener, and many others! One huge tip – carry a mushy duffel bag as an alternative of hardshell baggage as you gained’t have room on the boat to retailer the laborious baggage however a duffel you’ll be able to fold up and put in a drawer!
Right here’s a take a look at a number of outfits I wore in the course of the week [we typically always showered and got ready before dinner every night]!
Daytime Outfits
While you discover a swimsuit that you just love so you purchase it [and wear it in every single color]…that’s me with this one!
Belted Swimsuit [size up one]
In fact coverups had been a should – listed here are a number of I wore on the journey:
Amazon Inexperienced Coverup // Sun shades
Black Romper Coverup [true to size] // Sun shades
Summersalt Coverup [true to size, wearing in small] // Sun shades // Shawn’s Swimsuit [true to size]
Night Outfits
It seems I solely have images from two of our evenings, oops! However this provides you with a glimpse into the kind of outfits we wore for the night on the boat!
Costume [true to size, wearing in small] // Denim Jacket [true to size, wearing in small]
My Costume [true to size, wearing in small]
Misc. Objects To Pack
As soon as once more, it was an incredible trip and I’m so grateful for the week away we had within the British Virgin Islands aboard Serenity. The BVI’s had been attractive [I often felt like we were in Hawaii] and are undoubtedly value visiting. You’ll not remorse happening this journey! Off to daydream about these waters and surroundings over again….
Founder and creator of LIY, Erin turned her dream of a passion weblog right into a full-time profession which she now runs alongside the LIY workforce! When not in entrance of her pc display screen [with a La Croix or wine in hand] or in entrance of a mirror taking mirror selfies, you’ll find Erin spending time on the water, cuddled up along with her two pups and husband most definitely watching the newest Shark Tank episode, or getting misplaced in a straightforward seaside learn.
