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Written by Kim Kavin
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Tuesday, 27 November 2007 02:35 |
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"I received a very interesting letter in the mail yesterday from the owner-operator of a sailing yacht that was on display earlier this month at the industry-only charter show on Tortola, British Virgin Islands. I didn't get onboard this boat during the show, so I'm assuming that this man got my name from the show's directory of attendees.
According to the letter, this owner-operator received "a lot of bad feedback" about his yacht from brokers who toured it during the boat show. He is thus disappointed, and is writing in an attempt to clarify the way that he feels brokers and the media should describe his boat to potential clients like you.
He explains that his yacht is 35 years old, was battered in Hurricane Ivan two years ago, and is now up to what he considers "a reasonable standard for the charter business for the lower end of the market." He goes on to say that this is his first year in the charter business, and that he's willing to increase broker commissions beyond their normal rate if they send clients his way.
You've gotta love this guy's chutzpah.
But you absolutely, positively do not want to charter his boat.
The reason that reputable charter brokers (and reporters like me) attend these boat shows is to see firsthand what condition the boats are in, how well the owners and crew compare within their price range, and how well the owners and captains respond to requests for improvements that will enhance people's charter vacations. Many brokers have more than this particular owner-operator's single year's worth of time in the business. In fact, many have been inspecting charter yachts for more than a decade. They know what to look for on your behalf.
It's yachts like this--that are below the standard, with owners unwilling to acknowledge that fact or make improvements--that you absolutely want to steer clear of when booking a charter vacation. And your best ally in that process is a reputable charter broker who knows what you should be getting for your money." |
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Written by Kim Kavin
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Monday, 26 November 2007 03:46 |
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"I took some time out from the St. Thomas charter yacht show earlier this month to wander around the new Yacht Haven Grande with my video camera in hand. This marina is expected to be the premier pick up/drop off location for large-yacht charters in the Virgin Islands, as well as a major cruise ship port.
My camera-work is a bit shaky because I was walking while shooting most of this video, but here's what I learned and saw while I was on site:
[google 7191365882146832600&hl=en]" |
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Written by Kim Kavin
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Friday, 23 November 2007 09:12 |
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"Over here in the States, pretty much everyone has a bulging belly today, one day after the Thanksgiving holiday. There's nothing like gorging on turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and wads of apple and pumpkin pie to remind you that, well, salad is probably a better way to go in the long run.
Yet as uncomfortable as it is to have tight pants post-holiday, it's not nearly as horrid as having the stomach flu--which, I'm sad to say, has happened yet again onboard a cruise ship. This time, it's the Norwegian Cruise Lines' Pride of Hawaii, which reported more than 200 passengers coming down with uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea last week. That's just shy of 10 percent of everybody onboard.
I haven't blogged about cruise ship disease outbreaks in a while, but that's certainly not because things have been hunky-dory. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been nearly two dozen outbreaks onboard cruise ships so far in 2007. That's about two ships per month where guests are doubled over in agony. Certainly not my idea of a good vacation.
It bears repeating that these kinds of disease outbreaks simply aren't seen onboard private yachts because so few people charter together at any one time. It's you, your family, and your friends. That's it. No stranger from a strange land bringing his exotic diseases with him to the cabin right next door to yours.
That's something worth contemplating as you loosen the old belt buckle this holiday season. Food plays a major role in any holiday or vacation. You should try to make sure it's a good role, not one that leaves your tummy in tantrums." |
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Written by Kim Kavin
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Thursday, 22 November 2007 03:06 |
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"Today is Thanksgiving here in the States. It's a day of food, fun and family, as well as a big parade that gets televised from New York City. The last float in the parade each year features Santa Claus, which marks the official start of the Christmas holiday season.
And although that merry holiday is still more than a month away, it's actually time to start thinking about next Christmas if you want to spend it on charter. That's right: Most yachts are booked months in advance for Christmas charters. The biggest, fanciest yachts are often booked more than a year in advance.
If you are considering a Christmas charter in 2008, call a reputable charter broker today to begin the planning process. It's a little pre-holiday gift that you can give yourself: peace of mind that you'll be able to get a great yacht for your vacation.
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Page 374 of 445 |
DJ Parker has been a leader in the charter industry since 1980. She is currently president of the American Yacht Charter Association. E-mail DJ
Trina Howes has 10 years of experience in the charter industry finding great pleasure in creating the best yachting vacations possible. E-mail Trina
Nicole Caulfield is licensed, bonded, and a longtime member of FYBA and AYCA. She brings a unique perspective as a broker, having worked aboard yachts for nearly 10 years. Email Nicole
Beverly Parsons has been chartering since 1969. She is a licensed, bonded broker and a founding member of the professional groups AYCA and CYBA International. Contact Beverly.
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