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To Book a Charter:
1. Contact Us
for availability, travel recommendations andpayment instructions. 2. Download our Charter Contract (MS Word .doc), sign and return with deposit payment (Check or EFT). 4. Check the Travel Tips section below for more information. |
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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. Chartering in
Las Aves means flying to Bonaire. American Eagle
and Air
Jamaica both offer service from the US with connections in
San Juan or Kingston. Curacao and Aruba are also
possibilities with several daily flights each to Bonaire. Flights
to Bonaire are notorious for luggage problems. As much as possible, try
to pack a complete carry-on bag with all your essentials. Luckily, Las
Aves charters require a very minimal wardrobe.
Upon Arrival...
Your captain will meet you at the airport and
accompany you for the short ride to Safari. 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
has the final word in all navigation and safety decisions.
Currency...
The U.S. dollar is accepted in Bonaire and Curacao. Most major
credit cards are accepted in the larger establishments. Personal
checks are not however, as they can take a month to clear.
In Las Aves, the only thing you can buy is fish from the
occasional passing fishermen. Sorry, they don't take American Express; they operate on the barter system and are
always willing to trade their catch for cigarettes or
beer.
Customs & Immigration... A passport is required. Forget about what you may
have
read about getting into Bonaire with a birth certificate or
driver's license. You'll probably 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.
Safari 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 and makes
sense for hygienic reasons as well. Fins however, are bulky and should
be brought only as a last resort. The fins on-board are
rear-entry type and require reef shoes or booties that also protect
your feet while exploring rocky areas ashore.
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 and Safari's laundry facilities will keep things fresh.
Don’t forget to bring:
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 Safari.
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.
Medical Facilities...
For minor conditions Bonaire has adequate facilities.
Major problems will require evacuation to Curacao, a short distance away. While chartering in Las Aves, the
Coast Guard Station's infirmary is available for treating emergencies.
In addition, Safari carries a complete first-aid kit. For
divers, a chamber is available 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. Your chef
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) good for most shots. Video cameras
present similar difficulties when trying to protect your equipment and
maneuvering about the boat...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. Safari has 110 V
outlets available for charging.
Safari uses powered speakers that allow you to plug in your MP3
(any brand) directly. If you forget to bring your own music, the boat's
player has over 3000 tracks of various styles.
Working Relationships...
Your captain and chef live aboard Safari full-time and as such, you are
really guests in their "floating 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.
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, Safari has satellite
e-mail (text only) on board and a cell phone. 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 Bonaire.
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 !
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