Reviews

Charter dates: 05/17/2025--05/24/2025
Name on Your Reservation: Christine Smith
Are you the Lead Charterer or a Guest? Guest
Yacht Name: Valium 55
Virgin Island Sailing® Team
Please answer the following questions about your experience working with the VI Sailing team.
Rating of VI Sailing Team: 5
Is this your first time booking with a charter broker? Yes
How was your experience working with your broker to book the yacht? Somewhat Easy
After booking the yacht, how was your experience working with the Concierge Team? Very Easy

Name on Your Reservation: Steven "Joe" Marinello
Are you the Lead Charterer or a Guest? Lead Charterer
Boat Name: Beachcomber
Charter Company & Yacht
Please answer the following questions pertaining to the charter company and the yacht you chartered.
Rating of Charter Company & Yacht: 5
Upon arrival and during your charter, were the staff of the charter company friendly and accommodating?
Yes they were very friendly and accommodating.
Did the staff do a good job familiarizing you with the yacht and its equipment?
Yes. I got a very good familiarization with the boat. One complaint...is whoever began prepping the boat turned on the engines and left them running for about three hours with shore power attached. That was fuel I was obviously charged for...and made inspection of the engine compartments needlessly uncomfortable and brief.
Was the yacht clean and in good working condition?
The yacht was mostly clean. It could have been a little cleaner. Found some dental floss on the floor of a head, two of the heads had a bit of human waste on underside of seats and three of the beds had to be made up by us. I would have expected all beds to have been made up. Other than that...the boat was VERY clean.
Was the yacht's cooking and cleaning equipment sufficient?
The yacht's cooking equipment was just adequate. Needed a few more pot lids (for the pots on board), a few sharper knives (none of them were sharp and the sharpener on board was not useful), needed a couple spatulas as well. Other than that, lots of good pots, dishes and glasses.
Was the yacht well ventilated?
Yes.
Additional comments about the charter company and yacht you chartered?
Charter company seemed top flight really. Everyone we came into contact with was great. Very helpful and professional. Their technical support was responsive and helpful. The yacht was brand new. It was fantastic...BUT the intake to the generator seems to be a weak spot on the Fountaine Pajot Aura 51. On a mooring ball, multiple nights in a row, seaweed got sucked into the generator raw intake and clogged the seacock valve/line. The basket was full as well...but that was doing its job. Whatever mechanism shields the outside of the intake allows seaweed through easy enough that I had to clean the basket about 6 times...and remove the tubing from the seacock valve and blow the seaweed back out of the boat with the dinghy pump...once at 3am. Otherwise beautiful boat.
Cruising Area

Did you like the area you chartered in?
YES! Loved it!
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May we post this review on our website? Yes
It is our pleasure to keep you informed of relevant specials / updates for your next charter. When do you plan to charter next?
Apr/May 2026

Charter dates: 05/12/2025--05/19/2025
Name on Your Reservation: Steven "Joe" Marinello
Are you the Lead Charterer or a Guest? Lead Charterer
Boat Name: Beachcomber
Charter Company & Yacht
Please answer the following questions pertaining to the charter company and the yacht you chartered.
Rating of Charter Company & Yacht: 5
Upon arrival and during your charter, were the staff of the charter company friendly and accommodating?
Yes they were very friendly and accommodating.
Did the staff do a good job familiarizing you with the yacht and its equipment?
Yes. I got a very good familiarization with the boat. One complaint...is whoever began prepping the boat turned on the engines and left them running for about three hours with shore power attached. That was fuel I was obviously charged for...and made inspection of the engine compartments needlessly uncomfortable and brief.
Was the yacht clean and in good working condition?
The yacht was mostly clean. It could have been a little cleaner. Found some dental floss on the floor of a head, two of the heads had a bit of human waste on underside of seats and three of the beds had to be made up by us. I would have expected all beds to have been made up. Other than that...the boat was VERY clean.
Was the yacht's cooking and cleaning equipment sufficient?
The yacht's cooking equipment was just adequate. Needed a few more pot lids (for the pots on board), a few sharper knives (none of them were sharp and the sharpener on board was not useful), needed a couple spatulas as well. Other than that, lots of good pots, dishes and glasses.
Was the yacht well ventilated?
Yes.
Additional comments about the charter company and yacht you chartered?
Charter company seemed top flight really. Everyone we came into contact with was great. Very helpful and professional. Their technical support was responsive and helpful. The yacht was brand new. It was fantastic...BUT the intake to the generator seems to be a weak spot on the Fountaine Pajot Aura 51. On a mooring ball, multiple nights in a row, seaweed got sucked into the generator raw intake and clogged the seacock valve/line. The basket was full as well...but that was doing its job. Whatever mechanism shields the outside of the intake allows seaweed through easy enough that I had to clean the basket about 6 times...and remove the tubing from the seacock valve and blow the seaweed back out of the boat with the dinghy pump...once at 3am. Otherwise beautiful boat.

Charter dates: 05/12/2025--05/19/2025
Name on Your Reservation: Steven "Joe" Marinello
Are you the Lead Charterer or a Guest? Lead Charterer
Boat Name: Beachcomber
Virgin Island Sailing® Team
Please answer the following questions about your experience working with the VI Sailing team.
Rating of VI Sailing Team: 5
Is this your first time booking with a charter broker? No
How was your experience working with your broker to book the yacht? Very Easy
After booking the yacht, how was your experience working with the Concierge Team? Very Easy
How would you describe the information provided in your Vacation Planner?
Check as many as apply: - Thorough
- Informative
- Easy to Understand
How would you rate the frequency and content of communication from our team? Good Amount of Communication
Additional comments about working with the VI Sailing team to plan your vacation?
Absolutely the best! All praise...no complaints! Thank you
Would you book your next yacht vacation with Virgin Island Sailing®? YES!!!

Name on Your Reservation: Donna Cohen
Are you the Lead Charterer or a Guest? Lead Charterer
Yacht Name: Devine Sailing
Yacht & Crew
Please answer the following questions pertaining to the yacht you chartered and the crew.
Rating of Yacht & Crew: 5
Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
The boast was Sparkling Clean and remained that way during the entire trip thanks to Colbin and Teagan.
Was the yacht well ventilated?
Yes
Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
We could have not picked a better crew! We absolutely loved them!
Was the food good and well presented?
Teagan needs to write a cook book with photos. Not only was the food delicious, but her presentation of the food was over the top!
Cruising Area

Did you like the area you chartered in?
It was perfect
Would you like to add any photos or videos to your review?
We may post these on our website with your review and / or use these for marketing purposes.
Use This Link to Upload Videos to Your Review
Afterwards, please be sure to click Submit on this review page.

May we post this review on our website? Yes

Charter dates: 05/02/2025--05/08/2025
Name on Your Reservation: Donna Cohen
Are you the Lead Charterer or a Guest? Lead Charterer
Yacht Name: Devine Sailing
Yacht & Crew
Please answer the following questions pertaining to the yacht you chartered and the crew.
Rating of Yacht & Crew: 5
Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
The boast was Sparkling Clean and remained that way during the entire trip thanks to Colbin and Teagan.
Was the yacht well ventilated?
Yes
Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
We could have not picked a better crew! We absolutely loved them!
Was the food good and well presented?
Teagan needs to write a cook book with photos. Not only was the food delicious, but her presentation of the food was over the top!

Charter dates: 05/02/2025--05/08/2025
Name on Your Reservation: Donna Cohen
Are you the Lead Charterer or a Guest? Lead Charterer
Yacht Name: Devine Sailing
Virgin Island Sailing® Team
Please answer the following questions about your experience working with the VI Sailing team.
Rating of VI Sailing Team: 5
Is this your first time booking with a charter broker? Yes
How was your experience working with your broker to book the yacht? Very Easy
After booking the yacht, how was your experience working with the Concierge Team? Very Easy
How would you describe the information provided in your Vacation Planner?
Check as many as apply: - Thorough
How would you rate the frequency and content of communication from our team? Good Amount of Communication
Additional comments about working with the VI Sailing team to plan your vacation?
In preparing the list of provision, it would have been helpful to know if we needed more quantities of adult beverage we could add them later. We very much overstated our request not knowing that was possible.
Would you book your next yacht vacation with Virgin Island Sailing®? Yes

Name on Your Reservation: Hague
Yacht Name: On A Whim III
Yacht & Crew
Please answer the following questions pertaining to the yacht you chartered and the crew.
Rating of Yacht & Crew: 5
Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
Yes as an almost new boat it was exceptional but I give credit to the crew for keeping it that way.
Was the yacht well ventilated?
Yes and the AC worked great
Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
Yes. The crew, Alex and Renee were very welcoming and accommodating for us. The worked hard and succeeded in handling all details large and small.
Was the food good and well presented?
The food was excellent and met our diet requirements.
8. Additional comments about the yacht and crew?
Great boat and great crew.
Cruising Area

Did you like the area you chartered in?
Yes. We have chartered in the area once before and the BVI continues to enchant us.
Would you like to add any photos or videos to your review?
We may post these on our website with your review and / or use these for marketing purposes.
Use This Link to Upload Videos to Your Review
Afterwards, please be sure to click Submit on this review page.

May we post this review on our website? Yes
It is our pleasure to keep you informed of relevant specials / updates for your next charter. When do you plan to charter next?
We probably will not charter again for several years.

Charter dates: 05/01/2025--05/08/2025
Name on Your Reservation: Hague
Yacht Name: On A Whim III
Yacht & Crew
Please answer the following questions pertaining to the yacht you chartered and the crew.
Rating of Yacht & Crew: 5
Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
Yes as an almost new boat it was exceptional but I give credit to the crew for keeping it that way.
Was the yacht well ventilated?
Yes and the AC worked great
Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
Yes. The crew, Alex and Renee were very welcoming and accommodating for us. The worked hard and succeeded in handling all details large and small.
Was the food good and well presented?
The food was excellent and met our diet requirements.
8. Additional comments about the yacht and crew?
Great boat and great crew.

Charter dates: 05/01/2025--05/08/2025
Name on Your Reservation: Hague
Yacht Name: On A Whim III
Virgin Island Sailing® Team
Please answer the following questions about your experience working with the VI Sailing team.
Rating of VI Sailing Team: 5
Is this your first time booking with a charter broker? No
How was your experience working with your broker to book the yacht? Very Easy
After booking the yacht, how was your experience working with the Concierge Team? Very Easy
How would you describe the information provided in your Vacation Planner?
Check as many as apply: - Thorough
How would you rate the frequency and content of communication from our team? Good Amount of Communication