5 Things I Learned on Our First Catamaran Charter

One year ago today, the Caribbean was our destination for our very first catamaran charter. Best. Vacation. Ever! I’ve been asked countless times about how we arranged our vacation, how we planned our itinerary, and how we liked it. So let’s count it down: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…liftoff! Or in this case, sail off into the sunset with these 5 Things I learned from my first Caribbean sailing vacation on a catamaran charter.

We tried our first catamaran charter in the Caribbean, and I’m SOLD! We’ve done all-inclusive resorts and big boat cruises, but we had never tried vacationing on a catamaran before. From snorkeling to fishing to beachcombing, the Caribbean islands were our playground. This had to be my favorite way to tour multiple islands and enjoy total control of our itinerary and utter privacy. As if anyone needs arm twisting to try this! But just in case someone is on the fence, I’ve come up with 5 things I wish I knew before we sailed away on our catamaran charter.

Disclosure: Thank you to iYachtClub for hosting my family to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and based on our personal experience.

5 Things I Learned on My First Caribbean Sailing Charter

1. Think about where you want to sail.

Chart a course to…wherever you want! That’s the beauty of a chartered catamaran. You are the captain of the destinations selected. Sure, we sought input from our captain Denise. She took our desires into account like wanting to find great snorkeling spots, see the Baths on Virgin Gorda, sail to Peter Island since it was our honeymoon spot, and try some new to us islands.

My suggestion: formulate some tentative plans but be open to their expertise. We were able to see much more than I imagined in 6 days: St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Peter Island, Scrub Island, Norman Island, Cooper Island, Guana Island, Marina Cay, and Jost Van Dyke. There’s nothing like being able to moor at a buoy mere feet away from these islands. My absolute favorite spots where we overnighted were White Bay at Jost Van Dyke, Marina Cay, and Cane Garden Bay in Tortola.

2. Do your homework on the charter company.

Choose wisely on the charter company. That means checking their reviews. See if they have a testimonials page on their website. Are they easy to get a hold of and ask questions? We chose iYachtClub located in St. Thomas, and they made it so easy to make all the arrangements.

Also consider where the charter companies are located. Major benefit: Travel to and from the US Virgin Islands as US citizens means no customs! Keep in mind that even when sailing, checking in and out of customs is required. That was a unique experience to present our passports in Tortola to sail in the British Virgin Islands.

Ask questions about crew personalities and which crews are best with kids. We hit the jackpot with Denise, our captain and chef. This dynamo went out of her way to plan a few theme nights, one of which we dressed up as pirates with eye patches and makeup…the works! We even had a bottle of “rum” filled with apple juice.

3. Pack light and be prepared to be barefoot a lot.

• • We didn’t need half the clothes we brought because we lived in bathing suits and cover ups.
  • Also no need to overpack on shoes-we stayed barefoot on the boat. Most boats prefer that guests stay sans shoes. However, I would recommend a pair of flip flops and water shoes.
  • Do NOT forget rash guards and sunscreen. But if you do, most catamarans have plenty on hand. Keep in mind the sun is even more powerful reflecting off the Caribbean waters.
  • Use duffle bags because they are much easier to stow than suitcases.

4. Small on Space but Big on Fun.

We spent so much time outdoors either off the boat, on the netting or in the dining and lounging area aft on the catamaran that our only time in the cabins was sleeping. Our catamaran had 4 bedrooms, so each of our kids had their own cabin. They were in heaven because they weren’t having to share a bedroom. The common spaces outdoors where we ate and inside for lounging were comfortable and relaxing.

Most charters are incredibly family-friendly with lots of water toys like kayaks, stand up paddleboards and fishing rods. My favorite: the water hammock. Lounging never felt so good!

Take advantage of locations that are only accessible by boat. For instance, we jumped off the top deck of the Willy T’s, a bar/restaurant located off Norman Island (which has since been relocated offshore of Peter Island.)

5. Embrace Being Unplugged.

Between all the water and the lack of signal, electronics didn’t mix well, so we kept their use to a minimum. The only reason we needed ours was to take photos and play music. Unplugging was a such a blessing. Even better, Mom and Dad aren’t the bad cop for the phones not working.

We all came in knowing we would be off our phones and into our activities. My son learned how to tie knots and hoist the sails from Denise.

My daughter and I spotted a sea turtle together while snorkeling (followed a few minutes later by a small shark). None of that would have happened had we been glued to electronics.

So, now it makes sense why I couldn’t recommend a catamaran charter more highly! It’s one of the best vacations we’ve ever experienced because of the adventures, the scenery, and the family quality time.

Disclosure: Thank you to iYachtClub for hosting my family to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and based on our personal experience.

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