CHARTER EXPERTS, LLC TERMS & CONDITIONS
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (“Terms”) CAREFULLY AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, REMEDIES AND OBLIGATIONS AS WELL AS A SECTION GOVERNING THE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF DISPUTES. THESE TERMS ALSO CONTAIN A LEGALLY BINDING RELEASE, WAIVER OF LIABILITY, AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK. By creating a username, a login, clicking submit, using the services of Charter Experts, LLC d/b/a Virgin Island Sailing® (“Broker) or by accessing Broker’s website, you agree that you have read, and acknowledge your acceptance of these Terms. The Terms are subject to change at any time without notice at Broker’s sole discretion. Additionally, any transaction for which you have made payment shall be governed by the form of Terms in effect at the time of such payment notwithstanding any subsequent changes hereto.
If you are obtaining a quote, information, booking travel for and/or securing or procuring a Charter (as that term is defined in Section 1 below) for more than just yourself, all references below to “Charterer” or “you” (and derivations thereof) shall be read to mean you on behalf of yourself and each individual within your group for whom you are obtaining a quote, information, booking travel for and/or securing or procuring Charter.
These Terms shall be read together and construed, to the fullest extent possible, to be in concert with any other agreement by or among Broker and Charterer. To the extent they cannot be so construed, then in the event of any direct conflict between these Terms and any other agreement by or among Broker and Charterer (including but not limited to the agreement executed by Charterer for a Charter Reservation (as that term is defined in Section 1 below), these Terms shall prevail.
- Prepaid Charter Reservations. Typically, Broker negotiates charter rates in advance with the yacht owner or charter company (“Charter Provider”) to obtain cost-effective rates, and facilitate reservations and availability for yacht charters, excursions and travel (the “Charter”). Broker also provides services to you by facilitating the booking of reservations for consideration and receives a commission from the Charter Provider (the “Broker Fee”). The Broker Fee is included in the pre-negotiated Charter rate provided to you, plus taxes and other fees where applicable. You agree that your payment is for the total amount set forth in the applicable Charter agreement (which Charter Provider may refer to as a Charter Contract, Charter Agreement, Booking Terms & Conditions, Instructions and Terms for Accommodations, as well as other derivations) provided to you by Broker (“Charter Agreement”). Upon execution of the Charter Agreement and receipt of the applicable deposit, you will have made a reservation for the Charter that authorizes Broker to facilitate the Charter on your behalf (“Charter Reservation”), including making payment arrangements with the Charter Provider. You further agree that Broker is a third-party beneficiary to the Charter Agreement and shall have the right to enforce such agreement to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights hereunder or under the Charter Agreement.
Broker retains the Broker Fee as compensation in arranging your Charter Reservation. The Broker Fee varies based on the amount and type of Charter and/or services provided by Broker. By making a Charter Reservation, you accept and agree to the relevant cancellation and no-show policy of the Charter Provider set forth in the Charter Agreement. Cancellation and no-show policies vary for each Charter. Carefully read the Charter Agreement and additional information provided to you by Broker. It is expressly agreed by Charterer that the Broker Fee is earned at the time the Charter Reservation is made. Late payment, wrong credit card or debit card details, invalid credit or debit cards, or insufficient funds are for your own risk and account, and you will not be entitled to any refund of any prepaid amount unless the Charter Provider expressly agrees otherwise under the Charter Agreement or in some other signed writing.
- Charter Rules and Restrictions. Additional terms and agreements will apply to your Charter Reservation and any purchase or rental of equipment or other items, supplies, provisions and travel you may select. Please read those additional terms carefully. In particular, if you have purchased airfare, please ensure that you read the full terms and conditions of carriage issued by the supplier. You agree to abide by the terms of purchase imposed by any supplier with whom you elect to deal, including but not limited to payment of all amounts when due and compliance with the supplier’s rules and restrictions regarding availability, charges, fares, and use of products and services.
- Payment. All payments must be made by personal check, bank/wire transfer, ACH payment and/or with a major credit card unless otherwise expressly stated. The total price for the Charter Reservation will be billed in U.S. Dollars unless otherwise stated. Some banks and credit card companies impose fees for international transactions. If you are making a reservation from outside of the United States on a US credit card, your bank may convert the payment amount to your local currency and charge you a conversion fee. This means the amount listed on your credit or bank card statement may be in your local currency and therefore a different figure than the amount provided by Broker for the Charter Reservation. In addition, a foreign transaction fee may be assessed if the financial institution that issued your credit card is located outside of the United States. Booking international travel may be considered to be an international transaction by the financial institution or card company. The currency exchange rate and foreign transaction fee is determined solely by your financial institution on the day that it processes the transaction. If you have any questions about these fees or the exchange rate applied to your booking, please contact your financial institution. Broker shall not be liable to you for any such service, conversion, or exchange fee.
Broker expressly reserves the right to cancel your Charter Reservation if full payment is not timely received as set forth in the Charter Agreement.
- Cancellation and Rescheduling. You may cancel or change your Charter Reservation as set forth in the Charter Agreement by and among you, the Charter Provider and/or Broker. Please note that some Charter Providers do not permit changes to or cancellation of reservations after they are made, or after a certain date, as indicated in the Charter Agreement. You agree to abide by the terms of the Charter Agreement with respect to your Charter Reservation. Broker will not be responsible for reimbursing Charterer for any previously tendered deposits or payments by Charterer and disclaims all liability for the failure of a Charter Provider to refund or return any such funds.
- Credit Card Transactions and Chargebacks. If for any reason, any Charter Provider is unable to provide the Charter, or any part thereof, for which you have contracted, your remedy lies against the Charter Provider, and not against Broker. However, Broker will use reasonable efforts to assist you and Charter Provider in reaching a resolution to a dispute between you and the Charter Provider. In the event that your payment has already been transferred from Broker to Charter Provider or to an escrow account, you agree that you will not seek a chargeback against Broker for such amounts transferred. You further agree to indemnify and hold Broker harmless from and against any liability, loss, damage or expense (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) that Broker may incur in connection with chargebacks against Broker or under the Charter Agreement and your performance thereunder. If Broker incurs any costs, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, to recover any payments charged back by your credit card company or other financial institution, you agree that you will be liable for these costs. If your payment is declined for any reason, you agree to settle any amounts owed to Broker via money order, cashier’s check, personal check or bank/ACH transfer immediately.
- Broker Responsibility. Broker makes arrangements with the Charter Provider. Broker additionally makes additional arrangements with other suppliers for the various components and other services that comprise your Charter (“Charter Suppliers”). Broker is not an agent of these Charter Providers or the Charter Suppliers (and the Charter Providers and Charter Suppliers are not agents of Broker). Broker expressly disclaims any liability for the actions or omissions of the Charter Provider and the Charter Suppliers. The Charter Providers and the Charter Suppliers reserve the right to refuse service to you at their sole discretion. Broker assumes no liability for the acts of the Charter Provider or the Charter Suppliers in refusing service. Broker is not responsible for schedule changes and does not offer compensation for those changes. Broker is not responsible under any circumstances for any injury or damages you may suffer, in connection with sea, air or ground transportation, hotel accommodations, or other travel or excursion services arranged by Broker.
You understand Broker is not the source or supplier of the Charter or other travel services you requested and acts solely as a broker for the Charter Provider and the Charter Suppliers. You agree that the Charter Provider and Charter Suppliers whose names appear in the information supplied to you are those who are solely responsible for providing the Charter you purchase. You consent to and request the use of the Charter Provider and the Charter Suppliers and agree to not hold Broker responsible should any of them: (i) fail to provide the Charter or travel services you purchased, whether or not such services are listed in the Charter Agreement or otherwise, (ii) fail to comply with any applicable law, or (iii) engage in any negligent act or omission that causes you any sort of injury, damage, delay or inconvenience.
By using Broker’s services, you waive and release any claim against Broker, its affiliated and subsidiary companies, and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors, and agents, arising out of or in connection with any loss of or damage to property or injury to any person caused by reason of (i) any defect, negligence, or other wrongful act or omission, or any failure of performance of any kind, by any Charter Provider, Charter Suppliers, or any other provider of sea, airline, hotel, ground transportation or any other travel provider connected to or otherwise associated with the Charter, (ii) any claim for inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, mental distress or other similar claim, (iii) any delayed departure, missed connection, substitute accommodation, termination of service or change in fares or rates, and (iv) overbooking, flight or other travel cancellation, lost or misconnected personal property, or any claim arising out of the air transportation portion of your travel, and (v) or any other claim arising out of or otherwise related to the Charter Agreement or services provided by the Charter Provider and the Charter Suppliers.
Excepting only liability that directly arises from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Broker, you will not hold Broker responsible for any injury, damage or loss you may suffer while on a Charter, whether incurred on the Charter or in connection with any other rental, purchase, excursion or activity, regardless of the relationship of any of the foregoing with the Charter Provider or the Charter Suppliers.
- Your Responsibility. By booking a Charter with Broker, you agree to defend and indemnify and hold harmless Broker, Charter Provider, Charter Suppliers, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any and all claims, causes of action, demands, recoveries, losses, damages, fines, penalties or other costs or expenses of any kind or nature, including but not limited to reasonable legal fees, arising out of or in connection with: (i) your breach of these Terms or the documents referenced herein; (ii) your violation of any law or rights of a third party; or (iii) your use of the Broker website.
You will review your Charter Agreement and travel documents for accuracy upon receipt. You understand that it is your responsibility to review the accuracy of all details in the Charter Reservation provided to you, and that you may contact Broker if you have any questions.
You assume full and complete responsibility for checking and verifying any and all passport, visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements of your destination(s), and all conditions regarding health, safety, security, political stability, and labor or civil unrest at such destination(s).
You understand that Broker recommends purchasing travel insurance to cover certain risks inherent in travel such as supplier bankruptcy and the inability to travel due to a medical or personal emergency.
- No Warranties. All Charters, products, services, advice and information is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied to the fullest extent permitted under the law, including but not limited to, warranties of title or implied warranties of merchantability, satisfactory quality or fitness for a particular purpose. Without limiting the above, no warranty or guarantee is made (i) regarding the acceptance of any reservation request or Charter Reservation; (ii) regarding the availability of Charters, or any other product and/or services through Broker; (iii) that the use of Broker’s website will be error-free; or (iv) regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability or quality of any information, content, data, service, advice or merchandise provided by Broker or through Broker’s website.
Broker has no special knowledge regarding the Charter Provider’s or Charter Supplier’s financial condition, unsafe conditions, health hazards, weather hazards, or climate extremes at locations to which you may travel during or otherwise in connection with your Charter.
- Limitation on Liability. In no event shall Broker, Charter Provider, Charter Suppliers, and/or their respective affiliates, or any employees, agents, officers, directors, members or managers of any of the foregoing (“Broker and Charter Releasees”), be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of, or in any way connected with, your access to, display of or use the Broker’s website, the Charter or services provided to you in connection with the Charter (including, but not limited to, your reliance upon opinions of the Broker), whether based on a theory of negligence, contract, tort, strict liability, consumer protection statutes, or otherwise, and even if Broker and/or any other of the Broker and Charter Releasees have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
If, despite the limitation above, Broker or the Broker and Charter Releasees are found liable for any loss or damage which arises out of or in any way connected with any of the occurrences described above, then Broker, Charter Provider, Charter Supplier and the Broker and Charter Releasees will in no event exceed, in the aggregate, the greater of (a) the Broker Fee, and (b) One-Hundred Dollars (US $100.00).
The foregoing limitation of liability reflects the allocation of risk between the parties. The limitations specified in this section will survive and apply even if any limited remedy specified in these Terms is found to have failed of its essential purpose. The limitations of liability provided in these Terms inure to the benefit of Broker and/or its providers.
The foregoing does not affect any liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.
- Limitation on Time to File Claims. ANY CAUSE OF ACTION OR CLAIM YOU MAY HAVE ARISING OUT OF RELATING TO BROKER’S SERVICES OR THE WEBSITE MUST BE COMMENCED WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUES, OTHERWISE, SUCH CAUSE OF ACTION OR CLAIM IS PERMANENTLY BARRED.
- Waiver. No waiver by Broker of any term or condition set forth in these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or condition or a waiver of any other term or condition, and any failure of the Broker to assert a right or provision under these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
- Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be eliminated or limited to the minimum extent such that the remaining provisions of the Terms will continue in full force and effect.
- Governing Law and Mandatory Venue. The laws of the State of Florida govern the rights and obligations of the parties to this Agreement and the interpretation, construction and enforceability thereof. You agree that any action or proceeding initiated by Charterer against Broker shall be brought solely in the federal and state courts of Hillsborough County, Florida, and you submit to the jurisdiction of those courts and waive any objections to the exercise of personal jurisdiction over you by those courts. In the event any action or proceeding is initiated by Charterer in a court outside of Hillsborough County, Florida, Charterer agrees to pay Broker’s costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees associated with defending such action or proceeding and waives any and all defenses to the transfer of said action or proceeding, whether jurisdictional or otherwise, to a federal or state court in Hillsborough County, Florida.
CHARTER EXPERTS LLC DBA: VIRGIN ISLAND SAILING is registered with the State of Florida as a Seller of Travel. Registration No. ST45760.
VI Sailing Concierge Team –
Name on Your Reservation: Geoff Blair
Are you the Lead Charterer or a Guest? Lead Charterer
Boat Name: Dorothea
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?
The Navigare staff were friendly and helpful. A great crew.
Did the staff do a good job familiarizing you with the yacht and its equipment?
We had a complete briefing though it did gloss over a few details, perhaps because our flight had arrived late. All the essentials were covered, however a few advertised small things (no bug spray as part of the welcome package, no binoculars on the boat, no offer of a handheld VHF which we only realized we needed later).
That said, the staff were very supportive and friendly and got us on the water with all the assistance we needed – we were very confident operating the boat after their briefing, and they were great helping us on and off the dock.
Was the yacht clean and in good working condition?
Yes, Dorothea is an excellent charter boat. Everything worked very well. Very minor troubleshooting was required ie. resetting a breaker, but the briefing had prepared us for this, and I don’t consider this unusual on a cruising yacht.
Electrical, lighting, and especially the Yanmar 45hp diesel engines performed perfectly every time.
It should be noted that the VHF is mounted in the salon, and we strongly recommend you get a second handheld VHF radio to take to the helm station to avoid having to relay messages from below to the skipper at the helm!
Finally you should know that the guest heads (washrooms in starboard hull) are not fitted with a shower head: they are toilet-only. The plumbing is there for a full ‘wet head’ but no shower head fitted! That said, the owner’s suite (port hull) has a wonderful and spacious full shower setup which can be shared with the whole crew. Other minor points: no microwave (we didn’t miss it) and no bow thruster, both of which were on the Yacht Overview.
Was the yacht’s cooking and cleaning equipment sufficient?
Yes. Everything we needed to cook on board, including stove/electric planchette/charcoal grill.
Was the yacht well ventilated?
Yes, excellent AC throughout the yacht. The salon AC circuit breaker had to be reset a few times, but I don’t consider that unusual with 6 x AC circuits running (4 stateroom, 2 salon). The staterooms (bedrooms) were kept quite cool and sleeping was very comfortable!
Additional comments about the charter company and yacht you chartered?
Navigare appears to be a top-tier charter company. Dorothea is still a fairly new boat and in great shape. I definitely recommend Dorothea as a comfortable sailing cat for 4-6 people!
You should consider updating the Yacht Overview with a few corrections from what we saw:
– there is only one(1) shower not three(3) as advertised, as the guest heads are not fitted with shower heads
– there is no microwave in the boat, although the overview says there is
– there is no bow thruster on the boat, although the overview says there is.
Cruising Area
Did you like the area you chartered in?
Yes, the BVI were great! We found the December winds fairly strong (15-20 knots, gusting over 20 knots), though all moorings were well-protected. Navigation is easy and safe – all line-of-sight – as long as you pay attention to your chart/chartplotter. The islands are uniformly beautiful, with a laid-back culture and plenty of variety, from secluded and peaceful to vibrant and social. And everyone is friendly!
Would you like to share your itinerary or a vacation highlight with us?
We only had 5 nights, alas, but felt we made the most of it:
1 – Scrub Island (book a slip to get the full run of the resort, pools, etc)
2/3 – BEYC in the North Sound (2 nights – fantastic experience with Sunchaser Scuba, cocktails at Saba Rock, dinner at BEYC, and a day spent exploring Virgin Gorda via the free BEYC ferry to Gun Creek where you can get a taxi / tour guide)
4 – Jost Van Dyke (snorkeling/lunch stop at Monkey Point en route, then a mooring Boatyball in Little Harbour and a taxi to White Bay and the Soggy Dollar)
5 – Norman Island and the Willy T for an easy trip back to Nanny Cay on our last day.
Highlights:
– Booked a slip at Scrub Island Resort to get the full run of the resort
– Combination of cocktails at Saba Rock and dinner at BEYC was great – and you could reverse that for variety.
– Took a taxi tour of Virgin Gorda: we started at 11am but could have gone to 12 noon, lunch at Hog Heaven, a few snapshot tourist locations, then the Baths around 1:30pm. Big cruise ship crowds still around, so we killed an hour in the bar/restaurant and the crowds were gone after 2:30pm!
– Left our evening stuff with the taxi who picked us up at the Baths around 5pm, changed after the Baths, and got dropped off at Cocomaya in Spanish Town for dinner – the best meal we had in the BVI…then taxi back to Gun Creek for the free BEYC ferry.
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 have a charter planned with you – Moorings 464PC – in April 2026!
VI Sailing Concierge Team –
Name on Your Reservation: Rolf Blizzard
Are you the Lead Charterer or a Guest? Lead Charterer
Boat Name: Dorothea
Charter Company & Yacht
Please answer the following questions pertaining to the charter company and the yacht you chartered.
Rating of Charter Company & Yacht: 4
Upon arrival and during your charter, were the staff of the charter company friendly and accommodating?
Everyone was friendly and helpful. It does take a good bit of time to get things done. I realize that it is “Island Time,” but these are precious moments that we have paid for. Would like to see a little more assertiveness on getting our needs met. Avril and her team are all pros and we love working with them. We came back on a Wednesday and it was obvious that they probably have a skeleton crew on those days. Overall, a good four star experience. To get that five if we could get a little faster response, it would be a home run.
Did the staff do a good job familiarizing you with the yacht and its equipment?
Much better boat briefing this trip. Shanda was awesome.
Was the yacht clean and in good working condition?
The boat was clean and in great working order. We had no mechanical issues the whole trip. Probably the best mechanical experience we have had in our 12 trips. Only issue was a bilge pump that we had to “wake up” each morning but otherwise great.
Was the yacht’s cooking and cleaning equipment sufficient?
The cooking and cleaning equipment was sufficient. I would be careful about cross-checking the amenities that are offered. On our boat it was stated that there was a microwave. When we got to the boat, there was no microwave and I asked the staff about the same. They said the boat did not have a microwave however when I went back and checked the paperwork that you guys had sent it clearly indicated a microwave was present. A very first world problem that we did not want to hold the trip up, but I would caution you on making sure that the equipment that is promised is actually on the boat. If that changes, I would rather the company be upfront about it being missing rather than making out like it was never supposed to be provided.
Was the yacht well ventilated?
The yacht was well ventilated and the air conditioning worked great. Only a slight issue in the mornings with it, filling up the bilge and having to wake up the bilge pump. Not a major issue as it only impacted the air conditioning in the salon. Room air conditioning were top shelf.
Additional comments about the charter company and yacht you chartered?
Again, we were happy to be back with Navigare. We have used them more than any other company in the BVIs. The boat was a fantastic design. I would be cautious about Navigare getting a little complacent with their continued growth. Patrice was outstanding with recommendations on our arrival back to the base after the trip. She had a lot on her as she was the only one in the office that day. Dock staff could use a little brushing up. It may have been just the fact that there was a limited number on our return day. We would not hesitate to use Navigare and we would certainly want to make sure that we had the newest version of the same boat. It was the highlight of the trip.
Cruising Area
Did you like the area you chartered in?
Loved it.
Would you like to share your itinerary or a vacation highlight with us?
Cooper > Leverick > Saba/BEYC > Anegada > Marina Cay > Little Jost > JVD/White Bay (2 nights) > Norman
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.
Add Photos to Your Review
IMG_0862.jpeg
IMG_1282.jpeg
IMG_1314.jpeg
IMG_1356.jpeg
IMG_0866.jpeg
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?
Next 24 months