How The Moorings Is Making Private Yacht Charters A Reality For Many

Confession: as much as I appreciate all things associated with luxury travel (hotels, spas, restaurants, and otherwise) like everyone else, when it comes to the world of yachting – I feel displaced, and completely out of my comfort zone. The mere mention of the word conjures visions of gargantuan, gleaming vessels; sparkling, azure waters only accessible by the one percent; and perpetually sun-kissed beauties for whom Louis Moinet, Krug, and Hermes is a way of life (not just a one-off purchase).

Which is exactly why the idea of sailing the high seas – okay okay, around the British Virgin Islands – with The Moorings intrigued me so. But first, a primer: founded in 1969, the company is among the most established yacht charter companies servicing the world’s most beautiful coastal destinations (like the British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Thailand, the Mediterranean, and Belize). The Moorings offers both barefoot and crewed experiences, and their fleet is extensive and ever-expanding. (In fact: a 4500 Catamaran for sailings in the BVI was unveiled this past spring.) They were also recently named as an Official Charter Supplier of the upcoming America’s Cup, arguably the world’s most esteemed international sailing event.

But back to my experience. In mid-February, we (and by we I mean three girlfriends and I) spent four nights and five days blissfully bopping around the British Virgin Islands on a crewed (with a captain, chef, and skipper) yacht charter, aboard the Moorings 5800 Legacy, a 58-foot Catamaran. So, without further ado, below I share all the reasons why and how Moorings embodies chilled-out luxury. And the best part? It might not be as spendy as you’d imagine. Read on.

The vessel

Manufactured by Robertson and Caine (a leading Catamaran producer), the 5800 Legacy is a spacious, split-level Catamaran featuring six cabins (all outfitted with private bathrooms). All the cabins stay breezy and cool with generator-powered A/C, so you’ll always feel comfortable – no matter where you find yourself on the boat. The kitchen is stocked with everything you need to dine well afloat: refrigerator, freezer, 4-burner gas cooker, and microwave. (But since we had chef Katie onboard, we respectfully steered clear of her work space.) There’s two spacious decks (main and upper), perfect for eating, drinking, or just chilling out. (Typically, we'd take our meals on the main deck, and snacks and drinks on the upper.) And as of this year, Wi-Fi is complimentary on all Caribbean charter yachts.

The accommodations

As mentioned earlier, the 5800 Legacy has six air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms. Two cabins are located on the main deck, and the additional four are below. Immediately after boarding, I wandered around the boat and settled for a cozy lower-level nook, which snugly accommodated my queen-size bed. (I appreciated the little extra bit of privacy "downstairs.") As to be expected, my cabin was tiny (but also adorable). And after just one night, I got used to (and eventually looked forward to) leaping into bed for a good night’s sleep. Like with any hotel, my room and bathroom were properly (and discreetly) tidied up by our always-chipper skipper, Sean, on a daily basis.

Eating and drinking

It’s an interesting (and wonderful) situation to be in, when all you have to do is show up barefoot on the deck of your boat for all your meals, snacks, and drinks. Before the yacht, all guests are asked to fill out a questionnaire, covering their preferences in regards to food and drink, right down to how light and heavy each meal should be. Meals were always a group, sit-down affair, yet super relaxed. Also, every meal was thoughtfully prepared, globally inspired, and thoroughly delicious (think lobster mac and cheese, black bean tacos, and grilled ahi steaks). But I have to admit: my favorite part of the day was something we playfully dubbed "afternoon snacks." Whether it was a big bowl of chips (hello, Munchies Snack Mix) or a heaping pile of crispy loaded fries, I relished the afternoon tradition (with a diet Coke in hand, of course). Rum-filled boat drinks (courtesy of Sean) come sundown were always a treat, too.

Activities

Your schedule – which is all dependent on what you want to do – is agreed upon between you and your captain at the beginning of your trip. And our captain, an affable, easygoing British gentleman named Martin, took our group exactly where we needed to be, and when we needed to be there. From a hike on Norman Island to world-class snorkeling at The Indians (an uninhabited small archipelago of islets), our group experienced the very best of the natural beauty of the BVI. And with Martin navigating us day to day, all we had to do was simply step off the boat (or plunge into the turquoise waters).

The bottom line

All of the above sounds like some kind of wonderful, right? And way out of reach, right? Well, here's the thing – it might be more reasonable than you think. For example: when you plug in a 5 night, crewed yacht charter on the Moorings 5800 Legacy in December (peak travel season) on the company's website, the highest quote you'll see is for $18,327. When you divide the amount by six (for one person per cabin), and then divide that amount by five (for every night on the boat), the amount comes to $610.90 (per person, per night). While this isn't chump change for most of us, think about everything the cost covers: accommodations, all meals and drinks (including alcohol), and most importantly, a fully-crewed boat that will whisk you away to wherever you want within your destination. No doubt, an experience like this is truly luxurious – but it's also one that's reasonably within reach.