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CREWED CHARTER REVIEW
Name: Mr. John Mahony
Yacht: BEL AMI with Dave and Anne
Charter Dates: December 22 - 29, 2011
Broker: Gail Hartman
Area Cruised: Virgin Islands
We hope your charter lived up to your expectations. We would love to know some of your impressions about your yachting vacation. Please answer the following questions and add any comments you may have.
1. Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
Yes.
2. Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
Yes
3. Was the yacht well ventilated?
Yes
4. Was the food good and well presented?
Yes
5. Did you like the area you sailed?
Yes
6. Could we at Virgin Island Sailing, Ltd. have helped you further in any way?
No
7. May we post this review on our website?
Yes
8. Additional comments on your charter?
My 2 daughters and I had an excellent adventure with Dave and Ann. We were well taken care of and all our needs and requests were accommodated. Dave is an outstanding captain and is extremely knowledgeable about the Islands and beaches we visited. Ann is a delight to be with and cared for our every need. Together they are the perfect team for chartering and sailing the Virgin Islands.
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2216 Lakeshore Drive Nokomis, Florida 34275
www.visailing.com, Email: info@visailing.com
Phone: 800.382.9666, 941.966.9387 Secure Fax Numbers: 866.813.1230, 212.500.0028 |
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CREWED CHARTER REVIEW
Name: Mr. Allen Cook
Yacht: BEL AMI with Dave
Charter Dates: April 22 - 29, 2011
Broker: Ellen Stewart
Area Cruised: Virgin Islands
We hope your charter lived up to your expectations. We would love to know some of your impressions about your yachting vacation. Please answer the following questions and add any comments you may have.
1. Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
Big smiles and lots of hugs throughout the week!
2. Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
Exceptional
3. Was the yacht well ventilated?
The gentle breezes each evening lulled us to sleep...
4. Was the food good and well presented?
Beautifully displayed and Captain Dave has a real flair for the gourmet!
5. Did you like the area you sailed?
We covered so many of the islands it was just perfect!
6. Could we at Virgin Island Sailing, Ltd. have helped you further in any way?
No, you were more than accomodating and helpful. I was late in making my decision to book and you were so patient and kind with me in every detail. Thank you so much!
7. May we post this review on our website?
Yes
8. Additional comments on your charter?
There are big events in life that you should celebrate. Our 25th anniversary was one of those times. I chose to go sailng in the Virgin Islands mostly due to the fact that my wife loves to sail, and the other fact that we really needed a stress free getaway. Four kids, our jobs, and life gets tiresome sometimes.
We have traveled to most of the world so we know exceptional service. From the first call I made to Ellen and the team at VISailing, I knew that I could count on first class service. Their quick response and friendly smiles ( you can feel the smiles through the phone), was a joy. I had so many questions and they answered them all
Ellen narrowed our yatch choices and recommended the beautiful yatch the BEL AMI, with Captian Dave Goodman.
As soon as I had my paper work in order Captain Dave called me. He was so attentive to my preference form. He emailed me and called me many times to make sure that we were on the same page.
I was having a difficult time finding a place to stay our first night there. We were to start our trip on Friday but we had to fly in on Thursday. We needed a place for the evening. The places I wanted to stay required 5 to 7 nights minium. I was disappointed. I shared with Captain Dave my dilemma and he suggested that he pick us up at the airport and we spend the night on the boat! WOW! What a great relief for me. So, he and first mate Anne greeted us at the airport...all smiles and camera in hand to take our first photo of the week together. As we drove to the boat, Anne and Dave shared with us their extensive knowledge of the island of St. Thomas, and informed us of the events that we could attend after our week of sailing was through. We were spending two extra days there. They took us to the boat, we changed, rested for while, and then attended a wine and cheese tasing event in the harbor, they also gave us a guided tour of the place. I knew it was going to be a great week!
The next day our trip began. We sailed out to Buck Island and Captain Dave and Anne took us snorkeling. He went with us showing us the hidden cannon, where the turtles live, and other points of interest. He was truly a great guide. We went snorkeling everyday and Dave was always with us. Showing us the points of interest and helping us in and out of the dinghy! HA HA
Our first night began with a complimentary bottle of chamagne! ( Thanks Ellen!)
Captain Dave made reservations for us earlier in the day at the Secret Habor resturant. Dave also plays the accordian and there was a special band there performing that night. Dave played with them and he was really great. Although he was having so much fun with the band, he reassured us that he was there to serve us and that we were his first priority. He lived up to that statement all week long and even after the trip was over.
We were able to sail to most of the Isands. Captain Dave discerned that we were high energy folks and we could do some serious traveling. So, we went from St. Thomas, to Virgin Gorda, to Anegada, Bitter End, Peter Island, St, John, and a few more. It was just what my wife and I wanted to do. They made sure that we had the perfect balance of land and sea. We had our first Carribean lobster on Anegada, and a great big burger at Norman Isand! The baths at Virgin Gorda were truly a site to see and Captain Dave and Anne made sure we spent some quality time there. It was fabulous!
One special thing that happened was that I requested to have a private table on a private beach the night of our anniversary. Captain Dave took the time to give me several leads to contact. I called Peter Island and they could accomodate us with this special request. The difficult part was that I wanted it to be a surprise for my wife. Captain Dave had to do some real thinkng and manuvering to allow us to sail freely and yet remain in close enough proximity to Peter Island that we could make it there for Tuesday eveing the night of our anniversary. The weather was a little windy to say the least and we anchored out in the harbor area. Captain Dave realized that this was going to be tricky gettig us off and on the boat for our special evening. So he decied to go into the dock area and request a slip for the evening. This would have been and extra cost to us. We were so touched when he was able to secure the slip and he paid for it himself! He told us Happy Anniversary! We were just beyond words and before dinner that evening, he also gave us a complimentary bottle of champagne! How generous can a captain be?
I could write a lot more but I think you get the picture. Captain Dave and Anne were the consumate host. I can hardly remember a time that I have been as pampered and cared for as this trip.
I just have to mention one more thing. When we said good-bye on Friday of course we were a little sad. We had such a great week together. I mentioned before that they had told us about events on the island during our last two days there. The big event that was happening was Carnival. Lucie and I decided to go check it out. We were a bit lost, not really knowing much about the event. As we were walking along the side walk, Captain Dave and Anne were taking a safari traxi to the Carnival. They saw us and waved, then to our surprise they came to greet us and took us to the event with them. We met so many of their friends and it was a truly wonderful evening.
They recommed several resturants for us and one was Room With a View. They did not know that this is one of our favorite movies. We had our last night there dinnig at Room With A View and relishing the wonderful week we had. It was just one the best travel experiences I have ever had in my life!
I could go on and on, everyday the meals were a wonderful surprise. Captian Dave and Anne made us feel so very important and special. I think we have gained new friends.
Hats off to VISailing! Thank so much Ellen for recommending BEL AMI and Captain Dave and thanks so much Captain Dave and Anne for taking such good care of us and giving us a trip that we will talk about the rest of our lives!
Allen and Lucie Cook
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2216 Lakeshore Drive Nokomis, Florida 34275
www.visailing.com, Email: info@visailing.com
Phone: 800.382.9666, 941.966.9387 Secure Fax Numbers: 866.813.1230, 212.500.0028 |
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