Thursday, May 8, 2014

Slip Aweigh Charters, Caribbean Charter Specialist.


 



Internet browsing can be a little scary at times.
Here's some reasons you can trust the information you receive from me and other CYBA Charter brokers.
Why is Slip Aweigh Charters LLC proud to be a long term member of CYBA?
Margo Rose, Owner and President

 For a long time, a charter yacht vacation was often the seen to be only within the reach of the rich and famous. Not so today….
With a much wider availability of different sized boats/yachts, the crewed charter yacht fleets are bursting at the seams with yachts available for seemingly every vacation budget.
You might ask, “What is the difference between a ‘boat’ and a ‘yacht’?
Answer: Really nothing. All yachts are boats, but all boats are not “yachts”.  
Envision: A tugboat? That is not a yacht by any stretch.
Reference to the term “yacht” usually means: A boat which has all the comforts and amenities and much more than just any boat. But it doesn’t necessarily mean, expensive.
Old timers say: “Any boat built and operated specifically for pleasure cruising”. We’ll agree with that.  And that's why we offer boating vacations on “yachts”. From 37’ to 190’, we offer cruising pleasure for your vacation aboard.
But as vacationers begin their search, it is clearly apparent that the use of a CYBA certified charter yacht broker is imperative to avoid a vacation that does not meet their expectations. The Charter Yacht Brokers Association has launched a campaign to alert potential charter clients to "LOOK FOR THE LOGO", the CYBA logo, when booking a charter yacht vacation.
A Charter Yacht Broker who is a CYBA member has met a stringent set of requirements that verifies the broker's business acumen and ability to find the perfect yacht for a charter client. While many charter guests book through a CYBA broker, there are many stories of guests that have been duped by a glossy brochure or fancy web page that does not accurately portray the charter yacht. It is a well known industry fact that not every boat is for every client, and without the services of a CYBA member, charter clients run the risk of booking the wrong yacht and even yachts with questionable safety practices. A  charter broker colleague recalls getting on a prospective yacht charter boat and seeing exposed electrical wires, the smell of diesel fuel and dirty bilge water and rusty bathroom sinks. Regrettably, that boat still solicits clients through the internet and at travel shows armed with glossy brochures where prospective clients do not know any better. And with our ear to the ground after 12 or so years as Charteryacht owners and crew in and around the Virgin Islands ourselves, we’ve seen our share of shenanigans.
The "LOOK FOR THE LOGO" campaign allows my clients to know that they are booking with someone who has their best interests in mind. Further, the charter yachts themselves know that CYBA brokers have a set of industry standards that they must recognize and adhere to.  CYBA brokers, like Slip Aweigh Charters, LLC will look at all the charter yachts in the shows BUT, at the end of the day, will only offer those which meet our high standards.  It is through attendance at these shows that we attain firsthand knowledge of hundreds of yachts and take the time to meet crews that will be hosting their clients. Also, as a CYBA member, we have access to a protected Escrow account that holds client funds for their charter vacation.
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Slip Aweigh Charters, LLC has chosen to focus on charter yachts in the whole Caribbean basin. This has been our “backyard” area for almost 12 years so we’ve chosen to specialize in charters there.
As our CYBA President, Trish Cronan, says that if clients "look for the CYBA logo" they will be working with a professional who is fully qualified to make recommendations based on a client's needs. For more information on the CYBA organization, visit cyba.net. There you will find Slip Aweigh Charters LLC listed as a proud member. 
And thank you, Trish, for allowing me to paraphrase from your very well written article.
 
View this video. Click on the link….It’s fantastic!
You’ll see a family frolicking on their wonderful vacation in the Virgin Islands on one of my favorite yachts: Catatonic, Lagoon 44. You can visit her HERE also.

Here is all we want to hear at the close of one of our clients' vacation:
“I again want to thank you for all your help and good advice prior to our vacation. You led us in the exact right direction. I have given your name to some friends
who are considering chartering. I know you will take good care of them”.
Brian, Palma, George and Donna

Excerpt from my “How’d We All Do?” questionnaire sent at the close of each charter:
Question: What did you like least about your charter vacation? Answer: “Leaving!We were afraid we would not like being on a boat for a week But all doubts were erased. We had a great time!”
The Reids

“Margo, we had an absolute blast. You were great in helping me to figure out the trip so I could surprise Eric……a great time!”
Joan M.

“I had the best week of my life!”
J. Suhr
Vacations are precious, stress-free times of your busy lives.  Our aim at Slip Aweigh Charters is to make sure your time aboard is all and more than you envisioned.
So, join these folks on deck, and enjoy!! See you aboard soon.




Picture complements of Greenboat catamaran charter yacht in the BVI.
Visit this one HERE