Picture the perfect Caribbean vacation. Perhaps a beachfront villa rental offering seclusion and relaxation comes to mind, or maybe it’s a small-ship luxury cruise promising multi-island exploration. Now imagine a five-star tropical escape that lets you effortlessly experience both. Exclusivity and freedom—that’s the winning formula of the best vacation you’ve probably never heard of: a fully crewed, all-inclusive yacht charter with The Moorings.

Accommodating six to 10 guests—ideal for a family or group of friends—the luxurious motorized sailing yachts operated by The Moorings specialize in flexible itineraries and personalized gourmet cuisine. The state-of-the-art catamarans used for the company’s all-inclusive charters are all under five years old, built to stringent specifications, and feature air-conditioned staterooms with queen-size beds and en suite bathrooms. These sleek vessels are crewed by an experienced captain and a gourmet-trained chef, typically a couple, who will share their love for the islands as they become your personal tour guides on an unforgettable bespoke Caribbean vacation.

Flexibility is key to all crewed voyages with The Moorings; in the Caribbean, charters are available in the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, the Bahamas (the Exumas and the Abacos), Grenada and several other locales. Spot a gleaming white-sand beach you’d like to visit? You can. Want to linger at a snorkel spot teeming with colorful sea life? No problem. Eager to sip a cool cocktail or two at the best beach bars in the BVI? Go for it! That’s the beauty of a luxury yacht charter with The Moorings: Guests, no matter their experience at sea, are free to create the itinerary of their dreams and then relax while an experienced captain makes it a reality. Beyond the Caribbean, island-lovers can also book a crewed charter with The Moorings in the Greek Islands, Croatia, Sicily, Sardinia, Tahiti and Belize. 

The extraordinary freedom of an individually curated sailing means your all-inclusive vacation unfolds exactly as you want, from a freshly prepared breakfast enjoyed on deck at sunrise to lazy afternoons swimming in picturesque coves, posing for keepsake photos at the Baths on Virgin Gorda (after the cruise ship crowds have left, of course), or marveling at blissfully remote Anegada, where you’ll feel as if you’ve arrived at the edge of the world. In the off-the-beaten-path Exumas, skim over the surface of some of the clearest, most dazzling blue water imaginable or hang out with the islands’ world-famous swimming pigs. Sun-kissed and utterly relaxed, you’ll wind down with unlimited wine and cocktails from your catamaran’s fully stocked bar as you savor the sunset and an incredible dinner prepared to your personal preferences (vegetarian, pescatarian, or lactose- or gluten-free, for example), which have been ascertained via a pre-cruise questionnaire. 

The Moorings has more than 50 years of experience in private yacht charters, and all crewmembers are trained to provide a consistent and reliable luxury experience for their guests. Your home away from home will be one of the company’s exclusive crewed vessels, which range from 45 to 58 feet in length and feature sleek, modern interior décor and ample outdoor space for relaxation. Options include The Moorings 4500, sleeping six guests; The Moorings 5000, sleeping eight guests; and The Moorings 5800, sleeping 10 guests.

Your intimate and low-key Caribbean yacht vacation can be as active or relaxing as you wish. Guests seeking to explore and play have access to water toys, including kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, inflatable tubes and snorkel gear. While some travelers opt to disconnect while sailing, those who wish to stay in contact with friends and family back home still can, because each of The Moorings’ luxury catamarans is equipped with Wi-Fi.

While island-hopping in the BVI, it’s also possible to experience the more social aspects of the yachting lifestyle with a visit to Virgin Gorda’s North Sound, where legendary resorts such as the Bitter End Yacht Club and Saba Rock cater to yachties with a welcoming ambience and live music. But if a private beach picnic with chilled Champagne is more your style, your captain can make that happen too. 

“The best-kept secret in travel is that a crewed yacht charter with The Moorings offers the luxury of extraordinary experiences and access to places you might not ordinarily see—places that are certain to make you say, ‘Wow!’” says Ian Pedersen, senior marketing manager for North America for The Moorings.

If this sounds like the kind of Caribbean escape that celebrities regularly indulge in, it is. But you don’t have to be famous to appreciate the privacy and exclusivity offered by a sailing charter with The Moorings. It’s easy to book a charter to celebrate an anniversary or milestone birthday, or enjoy a multigenerational family vacation (children are welcome). The company’s crewed catamarans are bookable by the day, with a five-night minimum. All-inclusive rates start at around $20,000 for a seven-night sailing accommodating six passengers. The Moorings is also a full-service travel agency that can arrange your flights and transfers. With one phone call or online consultation, you can ensure that your next Caribbean vacation will be luxuriously carefree, perfectly curated and truly unforgettable.

The post The Ultimate Caribbean Vacation: A Crewed Yacht Charter with The Moorings appeared first on Islands.

With resorts, restaurants, and watersports and activity operators spread across 60 islands and cays and 600 nautical miles, the British Virgin Islands offers the Caribbean’s biggest diversity of settings and experiences. Whether you’re looking for an active getaway packed with sailing, scuba diving, paddleboarding, snorkeling and hiking, or a more relaxed vacation with beach bars and spa sessions, this destination has it all. Choose one island or hop between several to taste a few flavors of this unspoiled destination.

 Most trips start on the island of Tortola, home of the international airport as well as most of the BVI’s yacht-charter operators. Tortola also serves as a great base for those who want to opt for day trips to nearby islands while calling just one resort home for the week. Tortola has the most ferry options, connecting guests to Anegada, Jost Van Dyke and a long list of other nearby islands. Here, you’ll also find a handful of scuba operators that take you diving on all the famous sites, from the Caribbean’s historic shipwreck, the RMS Rhone, sunk in 1867, to Angelfish Reef, a playground for sea turtles and eagle rays. Choose a resort such as Long Bay Beach Resort, which has it all—modern, airy ocean-view studios and suites as well as oceanfront villas, plus an upscale restaurant, beach bar and coffee shop to keep you satiated during your stay. Tortola packs its own attractions as well, from the hike up Sage Mountain National Park, the highest point in the Virgin Islands, ziplining, shopping to live music at Quito’s Gazebo on the beach of Cane Garden Bay. Cane Garden Bay is a hub of culinary offerings, watersports, amazing cocktails and one of the best sunsets anywhere on the planet!

Nature lovers and watersports enthusiasts tend to find their way to Virgin Gorda, the third-largest island. On Virgin Gorda, you can explore The Baths National Park, a must-see natural wonder where giant basalt boulders as large as 40 feet in diameter have collided together to form high overlooks, hidden grottoes, secret pools and a labyrinth of passageways, all set against impossibly clear, turquoise water. Virgin Gorda is also home to the beloved Bitter End Yacht Club, known equally for its fleet of sailboats, paddleboards, kitesurf and windsurf boards and gear, and much more, all available to guests for use or lessons. BEYC also just launched new overwater, high-end marina lofts, letting you start the day paddleboarding straight from your room and then take in the sunset from your own deck overlooking the North Sound. Honeymooners also name Virgin Gorda a favorite, where booking the five-star Rosewood Little Dix Bay guarantees that you will enjoy pampering, yoga, the Sense Spa and upscale accommodations with outdoor showers, all amid a natural setting that highlights the tropical landscape and bluewater views. Known for its upscale and luxurious villas well-suited to family and multigenerational travel, Oil Nut Bay, reopened since 2020, delivers a next-level experience, with chefs for hire, a marina, and more than 400 acres of wild space. Virgin Gorda also has a new property, The Inn at Cornucopia, an intimate adult-only getaway with five rooms and breakfast included.

Anegada, the outpost of the bunch, lying some 85 miles to the east of Virgin Gorda, is reachable via ferry from Tortola and Virgin Gorda, a 7-minute flight from Tortola, private sailboat or motoryacht charter. It’s where the annual Anegada Lobster Festival is held annually on the weekend of American Thanksgiving in November. Foodies are encouraged to give the turkeys a break and head to the Anegada Lobster Fest. This event brings together unique outdoor activities, including an island-wide scavenger hunt, plus culinary celebrations highlighting the delicate flavor of this Caribbean favorite. Come for Anegada Lobster Fest to indulge in the best lobsters anywhere and stay for the off-the-grid escapism of this nature-forward isle. Here you’ll find some of the Caribbean’s most rustic and unique accommodations at Anegada Beach Club, where thatched-roof palapas offer a glamping experience steps from a white-sand beach. This resort may be rustic, but it’s not without pampering: The on-site pool bar and grill serves local favorites, including conch fritters, blackened fish tacos, and an Anegada-style pizza with lobster, bacon and sweet peppers.

Heading back west to the backside of Tortola, facing the Atlantic, you’ll find the island of Jost Van Dyke. Easily the most popular day trip among boaters, it’s known for its gently sloping white-sand beaches and epic beach bars, including Soggy Dollar Beach Bar on White Bay, the center of the daytime action. The drink of choice is the Painkiller cocktail, mixing together rum, cream of coconut, pineapple and orange juice, topped with fresh grated nutmeg. Grab lunch—the menu includes a Caribbean lobster roll, a mahimahi wrap, burgers and veggie burgers—and spend the day meeting fellow travelers, tossing a football or frisbee in the gentle surf, or playing the ever-so-addictive ring game. If you’re having too much fun, you don’t have to leave. Stay the night at The Hideout—a new boutique seven-villa resort—a high-end experience on White Bay, or bed down at White Bay Villas, with 20 units offering traditional Caribbean style and unbeatable sunset views.

In between the main islands are several private-island resorts and endless secluded beaches.

Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, a little hop to the north of Tortola, is an upscale boutique hotel known for a two-tier pool with a waterslide, 55 marina slips, and the clifftop Ixora Spa, which is also open to non-hotel guests.

Saba Rock Resort has a vibe all its own. A stone’s throw from Virgin Gorda and the BEYC, this restaurant and hotel, reopened in 2021, offers a fresh, clean surf style at the hotel, with rooms right on the water where you can tie up your paddleboard or other boat. Many people also come for an elevated dining experience, sitting overwater while tucking into sushi, mussels served with anchovy butter and paprika mousse, or lamb with blue cheese and truffle sauce.

There’s a lot to see, taste and experience in the British Virgin Islands. With any visit, you’ll not only find a hidden gem of a beach or snorkel spot that becomes a quick favorite that you know you’ll return to, but you’ll also happen by a restaurant or resort that you can’t wait to try next time. It’s the sort of place where your list of what to explore only grows with each trip to these islands.

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When snorkeling becomes a passion, a quick excursion off a resort beach or a crowded boat tour to a generic site isn’t enough. Avid snorkeling enthusiasts want pristine reefs away from the crowds, where ideal conditions and diverse ecosystems provide hours of in-water enjoyment. This is exactly what they find at Wakatobi Resort.  

Wakatobi is a beachfront oasis located on a small island in Indonesia’s Southeast Sulawesi region, home to some of the world’s most pristine and biodiverse coral reefs. The resort is surrounded by a private marine preserve widely known as a premier diving destination. But unlike some scuba-centric meccas, Wakatobi is equally attractive to avid snorkelers. 

To understand Wakatobi’s appeal to snorkelers, you don’t need to look beyond the beach. Directly in front of the resort, a swath of shallow water stretches for more than a mile to the left and right of the dive center. This is the famous House Reef, which has been named the world’s No. 1 shore dive.

The House Reef encompasses several hundred acres of sand flats, grass beds and patch reefs that hold thousands of unique species of marine life, from fascinating subjects like grazing sea turtles to treasured finds such as pygmy seahorses and pipefish. Snorkelers have 24-hour access to this shallow-water playground, with easy entry from the beach or the resort’s jetty. Because the House Reef is both easily accessible and monitored by Wakatobi’s attentive staff, it is an excellent option for novice snorkelers and children alike.

Snorkelers can also take advantage of Wakatobi’s taxi boat service. This fleet of small launches carries guests to and from the more distant areas of the House Reef.

The shallows of the House Reef extend some 200 feet from shore, at which point the marine landscape suddenly plummets into the ocean’s depths. Here, steep coral- and sponge-encrusted slopes and ocean walls transport snorkelers into an entirely different world, where creatures such as frogfish, stonefish, crocodilefish, blue-ringed octopus, moray eels, blue-spotted stingrays, ghost pipefish, shrimp and goby pairs can be seen along the upper lip of the drop-off.

The resort’s jetty is a great place to kick off snorkeling adventures on the House Reef because it provides easy access to the water regardless of tide conditions and shelters a wide variety of marine life. It’s not uncommon to see giant clams and colorful anemones around the jetty, and the clear water provides unparalleled views of the upper rim of the reef.

Snorkelers have been known to devote entire days to exploring the House Reef, but that is just the beginning of Wakatobi’s appeal to snorkelers. One of the defining characteristics of many dive sites within the resort’s marine preserve is a dramatic reef profile that begins in water less than 6 feet deep, then plummets into the depths in a series of slopes and walls. This juxtaposition of shallow and deep terrains creates unique opportunities for snorkelers. Rather than being consigned to a separate boat that visits a limited range of sites, snorkelers at Wakatobi are welcomed aboard the resort’s fleet of spacious dayboats, with access to more than two dozen sites where reefs begin in the shallows.

When divers and snorkelers share the same boat, it creates unique opportunities for couples and families. A diver with a snorkeling partner can enjoy the same site, with one staying shallow while the other goes deep. Young snorkelers can enjoy shallow reefs in the company of a parent or one of the resort’s attentive dive guides while other members of the family dive on the same site. Often the snorkelers are able to see the divers descend in the clear, sunlit waters.

One of the most popular nearby snorkeling destinations is Turkey Beach, about a half-mile south of the resort and accessible by either water taxi or dive boat. The primary reason guests flock to Turkey Beach is its resident population of majestic sea turtles, which can often be spotted right along the edge of the reef’s drop-off, along with eagle rays and humphead parrotfish.

Exceptional in-water experiences are just one of the reasons why snorkelers love Wakatobi. Ashore, guests enjoy a true tropical island getaway, with picturesque Indonesian-style bungalows nestled into a beachfront coconut grove, and luxurious private villas perched on the shore to deliver sweeping ocean views.

Wakatobi’s hospitality team takes great pride in delivering personalized five-star service and warm welcomes. For team members, it is a point of pride to anticipate guest needs and exceed expectations by going above and beyond. The resort is also family-friendly, with dedicated nanny services and a stimulating children’s program. 

In addition to snorkeling and diving, guests can enjoy watersports such as stand-up paddleboards and kayak tours along the coast. Seasonal trade winds create an opportunity to learn the sport of kiteboarding, and Wakatobi has created a dedicated kiting center, providing equipment, instruction and support for everyone from first-time kiters to experts.

Land activities include hikes on nature trails surrounding the resort, bird-watching sessions, village tours on nearby islands, and cultural activities such as Indonesian cooking classes. There is an on-site spa offering a range of massage services and treatments, a library and lounge, and available internet and phone services for those who need to stay in touch with the outside world.

Mealtime is a particular favorite at Wakatobi. The resort’s dining room provides beach and water views that create a relaxed atmosphere. The culinary team is known for creating exceptional menus that showcase a tempting range of both international and Indonesian cuisines. In addition, the chefs are happy to fulfill special requests and can accommodate a range of special dietary needs. As an added treat, Wakatobi has a dedicated team of pastry chefs that concoct mouth-watering culinary confections daily.

Another highlight of daily life at Wakatobi is the stunning sunsets, which are best viewed from the iconic Jetty Bar located at the far end of the resort’s pier. It’s the ideal place to enjoy an evening libation while watching the sun sink below the water. 

A final reason why Wakatobi appeals to both divers and snorkelers is the convenience of travel. Unlike many remote island destinations in the Indo-Pacific region, getting to Wakatobi doesn’t require long layovers and multiple land, sea and air connections. When guests arrive at Bali’s international airport, they are greeted by members of the Wakatobi concierge team. All details of entry, arrival and baggage transfer are handled by the team as guests enjoy an overnight rest. The following morning, guests are escorted back to the airport to relax in a private lounge as they await a private guest flight that delivers them directly to Wakatobi’s airfield in about two and a half hours.

Interested in visiting Wakatobi Resort?

For those interested in experiencing Wakatobi Resort for themselves, we have fantastic news. The resort has recently reopened for year-round bookings. In addition, an excellent opportunity for avid snorkelers to experience the resort is with the Snorkeling Report’s Wakatobi excursion, which still has space available for its 2022 trip.

In addition to the impeccable service, amenities and gourmet dining provided to all guests, this excursion includes four days at preselected snorkel sites away from the resort and one guided night-snorkeling session on the Wakatobi House Reef.

You can learn more about the upcoming excursion here.

Contact the Wakatobi team directly at office@wakatobi.com or inquire here.

The post Why Wakatobi Resort is a Must-Visit for Avid Snorkelers appeared first on Islands.