This summer we went boating.  Not on the M/V Capt. Vic but on a small pleasure boat.  It was so much fun feeling the wind in my hair and listening to the kids scream when their Dad was going a bit fast.  While boating we got to enjoy our beautiful Virgin Islands where the weather is usually great: the warmth of the sun, the turquoise blue waters, the view of the sandy beaches. It all left quite an impression that is memorable. 



More importantly, it was family time that I enjoyed.  At home, we are all hooked up to our devices, cell phones, iPods and iPads or the good old TV.  No one is talking. But when we went boating, the outdoors provided the perfect backdrop for conversations. We didn't swim, snorkel, or waterski, although all of these are perfectly good activities to enjoy while boating.  Instead, we just island hopped and enjoyed the beauty that is the Virgin Islands, both US and British.

Stay safe while boating.  Luckily our driver is a bonafide boat Captain.  But if you don't have a licensed driver you can always take lessons and learn how to maneuver a vessel.  Your family will enjoy the adventure.  Let us know about your boating experiences by commenting below.

Crewed motor yachts are yachts that you charter for a vacation without needing to have any sailing experience. With the crewed charters, you don’t have to do any work in handling the yacht or navigating the waters of the location you choose. You can choose to have a luxury charter where you have exquisite surroundings and meals prepared by a chef. Waiters bring you drinks and the members of the crew will provide instructions for water sports if you need any. Crewed motor yachts range in size from yachts that can only take 2 passengers to ones that can take up to 12 or more.

A crewed motor yacht charter is an excellent choice for a family vacation. Children are welcome on these yacht charters, but none of the crew will be assigned to looking after them, even with luxury motor yacht charter. Parents are expected to keep the children entertained and to bring whatever they need for enjoyment aboard with them. Crewed motor yachts are perfectly safe for children, but like any location, you do need to keep them within your sight at all times.

When you choose a luxury motor yacht charter, you have a personal chef to prepare your meals. However, before you arrive to meet the yacht, you will already have informed the company about your food preferences through the food preference sheet. This sheet also includes a list of beverages for you to choose from, which include soda, wines and alcoholic beverages. The chefs of crewed motor yachts take great care to prepare meals that you will enjoy and only use the freshest ingredients. In the case of fruits and vegetables, the chef of a crewed motor yacht charter may buy foods at the various locations.

Whether or not you experience any seasickness on crewed yacht charters depends on you. It is probably a good idea to take some form of seasickness medication with you so that you can thoroughly enjoy being on a luxury motor yacht. If you are new to vacationing on a crewed motor yacht charter, be sure to let the crew know so they can choose routes that will cause you less discomfort. If you smoke, you will have to limit your habit to the outside areas of the yacht. Since the interior of the yacht consists of close quarters, yacht charter companies do not permit smoking inside.

With crewed motor yachts you have comfort and style. You do not have to bring anything with you and all the linens, dishes and utensils are there for you to use. Both the exterior and interior of these yachts are roomy so you can sit back and enjoy the charter in comfort. You don’t have to worry about the wind because the motor will take you to your destination on time. You can enjoy air-conditioning with luxury motor yacht charters, although most of the charter yachts do have this feature included. Depending on the location and type of charter, some crewed charter yachts include scuba diving equipment, kayaks and other equipment you would need to enjoy a variety of water sports.