Before
You Set Sail...
Some
tips to help make your adventure in paradise
"one you want to last
forever..."
Getting There...
Flying to the Islands is much easier then it used to be. If you
decide to charter in the Virgin Islands, your best choice is to fly to San Juan,
St-Thomas. Frequent ferrys also run between St-Thomas and Tortola's West
End. Both locations on St Thomas and Tortola allow Aloha Malolo to anchor very close
by and get you on board quickly.
Chartering
in San Blas means a flight to Panama City then an entertaining and
photo-inspiring 20 minute "puddle jumper" to the islands. Cartagena is
accessible direct from many cities and the best deals can usually be
found on the internet.
Upon Arrival...
Your captain will meet you at the airport or ferry terminal and
accompany you for the short ride to Aloha Malolo. If you decide to spend some
time on island before your charter, then please notify your crew of
your plans and arrange a meeting time and place. You can board at any
time on the first day of your charter.
When
you first come aboard, you'll be shown to your cabin and given some
time to get settled, usually with a welcome-aboard cocktail in hand.
Your crew will explain some do's and don'ts, give a safety briefing and
ask about your special interests for the cruise. Here's your chance to
plot the course for where you want to go and what you want to do,
including taking part in sailing the boat, if you like. Remember,
though, the captain is responsible for the yacht and those aboard and
he has the final word in all navigation and safety decisions.
Currency...
The U.S. dollar is the local currency in all the Virgin
Islands and in Panama, In fact dollars are welcome in all the islands that we visit. Most major
credit cards are accepted in the larger establishments and ATM's are available in most towns. Personal
checks are not however, as they can take a month to clear.
In
the San Blas Islands, the only thing you can buy is fish and lobster
from the
occasional passing fishermen and beautiful molas, jewelry and
handicrafts from the ladies that will visit us in their canoes wearing
their traditional dress. Sorry, they don't take American Express;
they operate on the barter system and are
always willing to trade for cigarettes or liquor as well.
Customs
& Immigration...
A passport is required. Forget about what you may
have
read about getting into other countries with a birth certificate or
driver's license. You may get in, but if traveling
back
to/thru the US, you'll be refused entry.
Stowing Away...
Please bring soft-sided luggage or duffel bags
that can stow easily, hard suitcases will not. Most
charterers traveling to the islands bring far too much. The ideal
maximum amount of luggage per guest is one to two soft bags. Guests
arriving from colder climates should leave winter clothing behind prior
to boarding the airplane if at all possible. While aboard, the items
you’ll use the most will include bathing suits, cover-ups,
T-shirts and shorts, sundresses, and a long sleeved shirt for
protection from the sun and cool nights. Most of the bars and restaurants are
casual dress.
Aloha Malolo is a “barefoot boat”, meaning that shoes are not worn anywhere on board. You should
bring some type of walking shoes such as Tevas (or similar) that are
waterproof and can be left in the dinghy when you come aboard.
A variety of snorkeling gear (masks, snorkels, fins) is available on
board. However, many guests prefer the comfort of their own
equipment. Bringing your own mask and snorkel is fine if you like. Fins however, are bulky and should
be brought only as a last resort.
Make sure your carry-on bag contains basic toiletries, 2 bathing suits,
a pair of shorts, a couple of t-shirts, waterproof shoes, and anything
else you can't live without. If your checked luggage is somehow delayed
or lost, this will prevent any unnecessary delays in starting your
charter. You'll be surprised how little clothing is actually needed
aboard Aloha.
Don’t forget to bring:
- Sunglasses: dark with wrap around protection and preferably polarized
- Toiletries & Prescriptions
- Camera & Charger
- Sun Screen Lotion (no oils please)
- Fanny Pack or Beach Bag
- Extra Film or Memory
- Mask & Snorkel (if you prefer your own)
- Reef Shoes or Booties to wear with fins
- Hats
- Lip Balm w/high SPF
- MP3 if you prefer your own tunes
What you don’t need to bring:
- Formal Clothes (the finest restaurants require only long pants and shirts for men)
- Fins (unless you prefer your own)
- Sailboards, surfboards & SCUBA tanks (may be rented at
time of use)
- Linens
- Bath or beach towels
- Hair dryer (the boat has one)
Please be sure to inform your captain of any special
size or limitation restrictions your party may have. (For example,
special arrangements may need to be made for extra small life jackets
or extra large fins)
Do not bring any illicit drugs, even marijuana. Your captain has too much to lose to
permit their use on the yacht and will terminate the charter without refund if
you bring them aboard. What you do while ashore is your business, but NO DRUGS on Aloha Malolo.
Protection from the Elements...
A well-planned trip makes for a great vacation! The
sun, water and sand, although much looked forward to, can be hard on
the eyes, skin and equipment if not enough precautions are taken.
Sunburns happen very fast on a sailboat with the combination of sun
& water. Make sure that you bring a high SPF (30+) protective
lotion that does not stain towels, sheets, cockpit cushions and
decks. Sea & Ski, Coppertone, and Clinique lotions are
non-staining. Pre-sun and Bain de Soleil are very damaging, and
oils in general are forbidden on board. Despite precautions, you
may develop a painful burn, so bring something long sleeved to wear as
a cover-up, plus a wide brimmed hat or visor. Evenings can be
cool, especially out on the water, so a light sweater or windbreaker
may come in handy.
A hat and good sunglasses providing UV protection
and/or polarization are a must. Additionally, many guests bring a rash
guard (lightweight top or full body skin to wear in the water) to make
them more comfortable and prolong the amount of time they can spend in
the water. A waterproof fanny pack or beach bag will keep
important items dry that will be carried from boat to shore (E.g.
passports, camera, film, medications, etc.)
In the islands, the seas are usually relatively calm and seasickness
rarely is a problem. While there are several steps that can be followed
to minimize this condition, the best preventative may be
seasickness medication. If you feel it may be necessary, check
with
your physician or pharmacist to determine which product(s) will be
appropriate. Our guests have found that Scopolamine patches available
at your pharmacist or through the internet work the best and do not
cause drowsiness.
Medical Facilities...
For minor conditions the Virgin Islands and Cartagena have adequate facilities.
Major problems will require evacuation to St-Thomas/Puerto-Rico or
Curacao, a short distance away. In addition, Aloha carries a first-aid kit. For
divers, a chamber is available on St-Thomas and in Bonaire. Dive
boats also carry DAN oxygen. Travelers medical insurance is strongly recommended.
Going Ashore...
Transportation to and from your yacht will be via dinghy.
Your captain will be happy to arrange for activities on shore such
as island tours, recreational sports and dining out. Such
excursions are, of course, at your own expense.
Your captain will be
able to give you some idea of costs that might be incurred for shore
excursions, taxis, and rendezvous scuba diving, etc. as well as
restaurants if you choose to sample the local island cuisine. Most
chefs will appreciate advance notice if you plan to eat out. If you
invite your crew to join you for dinner ashore as your guests, they
will be delighted to do so. But if you prefer to dine out without
them, they will not be slighted in the least.
After going ashore, your crew will appreciate it greatly if you
thoroughly shake the sand out of your towels and off your shoes before
getting back into the dinghy or onto the boat.
Photography & Music...
Most of you will want to capture your vacation and the spectacular
scenery of the islands. While you may want to bring your nicer camera
and lenses, you will need to take many more protective measures with
them. A small river-rafting bag is a good choice.
If you do choose to bring your nice camera, don’t forget
there is plenty of light in the tropics; making slower speed film with
a finer grain (ISO 200 and lower) is good for most shots. Video cameras
present similar difficulties when trying to protect your equipment while
maneuvering about the boat, etc., but they can be a wonderful way to capture
the beauty of the islands. Make sure you bring a good case to protect
the camera. Whatever type of camera you choose, bring a charger, extra
film/memory cards, batteries and video tapes with you, as they will be
hard to find in the islands, as well as expensive. Aloha has 110 V
outlets available for charging.
Working
Relationships...
Your
captain and chef live aboard Aloha full-time and as such, you are
really guests in their "home". They may ask you, as they
would all guests, to take additional care when using certain
things (i.e. not sitting in the saloon if you have wet bathing suits or
suntan lotion on, etc.), so as to keep the boat nice and clean all
season long. At the same time we want you to feel comfortable and we
are sure that you will feel very much so just keeping this in mind.
You'll savor your own "quiet time" staring up at the starry night sky
or reading a good book. The crew will appreciate being allowed such
times too. After all, they'll probably be the first ones up in the
morning and the last ones to bed at night, working hard to please you.
Tipping your Crew...
If you come to think of the crew as friends (and you probably will),
leaving a gratuity may seem awkward at the charter's end. But
tips usually constitute a major part of their working capital,
and if you've enjoyed their efforts, they'll appreciate you letting
them know in this way. Crewed charter tipping usually follows the
same approach as restaurant tipping. Most guests are comfortable
with a gratuity of 15 percent of the charter fee, even 20 percent if service was
outstanding,
but the decision, of course, is up to you. Giving your crew their
gratuity in an envelope with a note of thanks is a nice way to end the
charter. And for your convenience, personal checks are always welcome.
Communications...
If you must stay in touch, Aloha has ham radio based
e-mail (text only) on board and a cell phone where cell phone coverage is available. The latter is for
outgoing calls only and at your expense. The e-mail system allows
guests to be reachable and
is less obtrusive then a ringing phone. Message size is
limited, however the service is complimentary. Internet access is
also available at various cafés throughout the islands.
Weather...
Finally, in the Caribbean, the climate tends to be excellent
year round, with sunshine nearly every day. The air temperature will
vary little summer to winter, with the average temperatures between
80º - 90º F. The constant trade winds provide
excellent sailing as well as natural “air
conditioning”, with prevailing winds varying between 10 and
20 knots. The seas from the north and east are broken by the island
chain, providing ideal conditions.
Bon Voyage !
