Galapagos Cruise Yachts - 3 Ways to Choose the Best One For Your Trip

With so many Galapagos cruise yachts available on the island it's easy to pick a dud for your once in a lifetime trip but there is a way to minimize the risks of choosing the wrong one.

There are about 60 Galapagos cruise yachts plying their trade in and around the waters of those magical islands at the present time. With so much choice available it's very easy to become confused when the time comes to book a cruise yacht for your own Galapagos adventure.

Looking at a list of sixty different cruise boats and all they have to offer and having to choose one for a Galapagos trip that costs a lot of money and will probably only be a once in a lifetime experience for you can be very daunting.

And then of course there are always the cowboy operators and fly by night outfits that inevitably make their way on to the list that you have to contend with too. The bad apples look just like the good ones when viewed from afar.

So how do you make sure that the Galapagos cruise yacht you choose doesn't make you want to walk the plank as soon as you sail over the horizon? Here's three ways which will minimize your risk substantially...

1. Trip Reports

The experiences of past Galapagos cruise yacht travelers will be an invaluable aid in determining what a trip with a specific yacht might be like. If they had a bad experience the chances are that you might too and if they had a great time then all things considered you probably will too.

Of course, trip reports can be subjective on certain levels because people differ widely about what makes an enjoyable trip but if the boat is prone to breaking down, the cabins small and dirty, the food third rate and the sailors a bunch of pirates then that will become evident in a travel report no matter how subjective it is.

So you can learn a lot from other peoples experiences by reading their trip reports and not making the same mistakes yourself.

2. Forums

There are a number of forums on the web where people post their Galapagos cruise experiences and you can pick up some excellent unbiased tips about the standard of particular yachts there. Just do a search on your favourite search engine for "Galapagos forum" and read away. Just remember to pay it forward when you get back from your Galapagos trip by posting about your experience so that others can learn and gain from it.

3. Travel Agents

Their business depends on their reputation so a good Galapagos cruise travel agent will make sure that they only refer people to yachts that are first class because if something does go wrong it will reflect badly on them too.

Good travel agents who know the local scene are invaluable in helping you make the right choice of yacht but beware because not all travel agents are created equal and some of them are in it just for the short term gain. Make sure that the travel agent you use has been in business for awhile and get testimonials from past satisfied customers if possible.

Galapagos island tours trip reports grouped by yacht name give you an excellent idea of what the Galapagos cruise was really like and how the boat and its crew performed.

This is a ranking of the top three Galapagos travel agents based on trip reports and reviews, forums, art

Yachts for the Rest of Us

Yachts are the pinnacles of boat ownership. Owning a yacht, or even sailing on one, is a true luxury experience. A yacht is something that most people only dream of owning. Some yachts are so large and magnificent that they are indistinguishable from luxury cruise liners. The sizes, designs and amenities of yachts range so widely that the price ranges for yachts do as well. High-end yachts can sell for $60 million or more, and even the least expensive yachts will sell in the hundreds of thousands range. Bigger and more expensive yachts are often owned by private companies who use them to throw parties, entertain clients and reward successful executives.

Yachts are like floating mansions. Normally a yacht will include several rooms, and luxury models can include many bedrooms, a family room, office, den, library and a theater room. Only the view from the windows lets you know you are on the ocean.

Even though yachts can be expensive to purchase, they are often available for rental. Yacht rental companies allow customers to use their yachts for an hour, day, week or even longer. This can be a great opportunity to have the yacht experience without breaking the bank. Many people rent a yacht for cruising on the ocean or lake for a few days as part of their vacation.

If you rent a larger yacht, you will normally have an experienced boat captain and perhaps a crew to pilot the ship for you. This can allow you and your family and friends to relax and enjoy the water and the yacht experience. These crewed yacht vacations allow you to live in comfort and style during your vacation. Normally you will have full amenities on the lot, and even a few fun extras like scuba diving equipment or kayaks to enjoy the ocean.

Cookgroup Marketing LLC - All Rights Reserved. This article brought to you by http://www.Your-Boat-Portal.com/ . You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice, author name and URL remain intact. Jason Albright is a contributing editor at Cookgroup Marketing LLC. His background is with lifestyle topics including: Gardening, Outdoor Living, Home Decor & Travel Destinations

Buying A Cruising Yacht

Have you ever dreamt that you would one day own a yacht of your own? I think everybody dreams of one day owning a shiny new boat. If you do get to the stage where you find yourself in a position to buy a new yacht, which being an accomplishment in itself, you should spend with-in your budget and be able to take it anywhere. When you buy a yacht, always look at what comes with the boat and decide if it's everything you want. There are many types of construction and we summarize them below for you:

1. GRP - Almost all cruising yachts out there today are made of GRP construction. GRP material is long lasting, strong, and easy to repair. Osmosis is the only real problem here, as the blisters it leaves can be sometimes costly to repair.

2. Steel - Steel is always a great a idea, as it is by far the strongest material. There have been steel boats ran into reefs and banks and received just a few mere scratches. Even though steel has many advantages, rust is the true enemy here. You must keep all surfaces thoroughly painted, primed, and ready to avoid all types of rust.

3. Aluminum - Although rare in the normal cruising market, aluminum is very popular with the construction of top quality custom built yachts. If you are looking for an aluminum constructed yacht, always make sure that it wasn't constructed by an amateur yacht builder - as this can cause major problems later on down the road.

4. Wood - Even though it's the most traditional building material, wood still has a lot to offer. If you get the right kind of wood, it can last just as long as any other type of material. The maintenance costs are very high with wood, especially if you do your own painting.

5. Ferro-cement - Concrete type boats have been around for a long time. A cheap method of hull construction, it was very popular in the 70's. If done properly, it can be a very strong method of yacht construction.

6. Rigs - The most popular choices of yacht rigs include sloop, cutter, and ketch - in that particular order. Sloop has the virtue of simplicity, while ketch and cutter rigs will split the sail plan into more easily managed areas. A ketch rig can sail under mizzen and headsail alone, while cutter rigs can offer a simple twin headsail with downwind option.

The main question you should ask yourself is "what is essential" and "what is desirable", it is a good idea before you begin looking for a yacht, to make a list of what you must have then make a list of what would be nice to have. There are many additions and add - ons you can get for yachts, although they can get very expensive if you do not plan carefully and purchase in a hurry. It is strongly recommended that when you shop for a yacht, you should always plan out your budget before you even start looking. A nice yacht can cost a lot of money, which is something you may need to save up for. Yachts are great to sail on, especially for those who have a lot of money to spare, so, in conclusion, good luck in your quest and we hope the above comments assist you in your search.

Author: Jenny Gill is an international author with vast experience in a diverse range of subjects, for more information visit www.recreationforallsyte.com

Jenny Gill is an international author with an immense range of knowledge and skills in a wide range of areas. Jenny is a mother and a grandmother and devotes a lot of her time supporting the aged in her community

Yacht Charter in Southern Crete

In the summer the prevailing wind is the infamous Meltemi from the NW ??? WNW. July and August sees the winds at their strongest, force 5 ??? 6 on the northern coast but more often a more gentle force 3 ??? 4. The spring and autumn sees winds form the south, force 2 ??? 4. The southern coast is notorious for strong squalls the blow down from the mountains. There is little in the way of warning and they can be violent close inshore. It gets very hot on the island during the summer months with the average daily temperature reaching 35 deg C in July and August and temperatures as high as 40 deg C are not uncommon.

Nisis Gramvousa lies off Crete???s S coast. There is a sheltered bay on the SE side of the island. Yachts can anchor in the bay or go bows to the quay. There are no facilities but water is available fro a well by the chapel

Palaiokhora is near the SW tip of Crete. Go alongside or bow or stern to in the new harbour on the E side of the rocky headland. Or anchor in either of the two bays to the E and W of the headland depending on the winds direction. There is water and fuel in the village and all provisions can be obtained. The tavernas here are good.

There are anchorages on either side of Ak Mouros. Ormos Loutra to the E where a yacht can anchor of the village and Ormos Foinikias to the W. There are a few tavernas and limited provisions can be obtained in the village.

Further to the W is Skafion. Yachts can anchor of the village in calm weather. There are tavernas ashore and all provisions can be found. The once tiny village is now a booming tourist resort

At Ay Galini yachts can go bow or stern to or alongside the quay. There is good holding on the sandy bottom and shelter from the Meltemi. There is water on the quay and fuel in the town. All provisions can be obtained and there are good tavernas. Another recently developed tourist resort.

Matala is a horseshoe shaped bay on the W side of Ak Latinos. Yachts should only use it in calm weather. Most provisions can be obtained and there are good tavernas ashore. Matala is mentioned in Homer???s Odyssey. Here Menelau???s ships were wrecked returning from the Trojan wars. It was an important port in Roman times.

Kali Limenes is a small bay on the E side of Ak Litinos. Yachts can anchor in the bay in depth of 3 ??? 6m. There is good shelter from the N and W but it is open to the E and S. Limited provisions can be found in the village and there are a few tavernas.

Lerapetrais a medium sized harbour. Yachts can go bow or stern to on the N or W sides. There is water on the quay and fuel from the town. All provisions may be obtained and there are good waterfront tavernas. The town and harbour date back to Minoan times but sadly little of the ancient architecture remains.

Yachts can anchor in the large sandy bay of Kato Zakros. There are a couple of tavernas ashore but the main attraction is the ruins of a Minoan palace at the foot of the dramatic gorge.

Ormos Grandes is a large bay on the N side of Ak Plaka. Yachts can seek shelter from the Meltemi at Kouremenos in the N of the bay. 2 miles to the N of Kouremenos is Vai. Here yachts can anchor of the sandy beach and there are tavernas ashore.

Crete???s cuisine is similar to that found throughout the Aegean. Fish plays a large part in the form of tuna, swordfish, sea bass, urchins, octopus, squid and cuttlefish. You will find beef, pork, lamb and goat. A rabbit stew is a speciality. As is cheese pie and fried cheese (staka). For those with a sweet tooth try yogurt and honey tarts (kaltzounia). Cretan wine is fairly good

Monaco - Luxury Yacht Show Fights Global Warming

The world's leading luxury yacht show in Monaco is to pay for 55 wind turbines in New Zealand - enough to generate power for 45,000 homes - making the event 'carbon neutral'.

Under the watchful eye of Prince Albert, the yacht show is part of Monaco's new stance on global warming, and comes shortly after Prince Albert himself travelled to the North Pole in April to highlight the damage he believes global warming is having on the environment.

'Since Prince Albert came to the throne last year' comments Henri Boulanger of Monte Carlo travel guide http://www.yourmonaco.com, 'Monaco has changed her policy from one of the few countries not to sign the Kyoto Protocol to not only signing it but taking a lead in the battle against global warming. Prince Albert has personally taken steps to show how concerned he is, and by setting the example of going to the North Pole has shown the leadership necessary to encourage Monaco companies to become environmentally friendly, and the Monaco Yacht Show is an example of this'.

The Monaco Yacht Show has bult a reputation over the years as the place for the wealthy to view potential purchases, and this year there will be nearly a hundred yachts on display to those able to afford it.

In total 22,000 visitors are expected to attend with over 500 exhibitors from the yachting world exhibiting.

The mix of wealth and Monte Carlo also means that real estate agents in Monaco will be on full alert. In previous years the Monaco Yacht Show has often proved more beneficial for the realtors than the Monaco Grand Prix .

The Monaco Grand Prix attracts tens of thousands of Formula 1 fans annually to the principality at the end of May, but with some Monte Carlo streets closed, showing property in Monaco can be more problematic than during the Yacht Show.

Monte Carlo real estate specialists Tribune Properties say that the more relaxed atmosphere of the Yacht Show allows potential property buyers to view properties.

'If someone is visiting Monaco for the Yacht Show and has several million Euros available, it's a pretty safe assumption that those buyers will have a few million for a property too, and a luxury yacht and Monaco Real Estate appeal to the same type of buyer', claims Roger Munns, Tribune's Managing Director.

Typical of Monaco Real Estate prices is a two bedroom two bathroom apartment in Seaside Plaza, close to where the Yacht Show is located, at 3,700,000 Euros.


Monaco Hotels

The emergence of the Yacht Show has helped the Monaco economy by drawing the world's wealthy to the principality for four days in September.

Until recently the Monaco Grand Prix in May and the Monte Carlo Masters tennis the month before have been the two main events of the year which boost the occupancy levels of the hotels in Monaco .

With the Yacht Show in September filling the hotels at premium rates, it has proved to be a welcome addition to the calendar of events for both residents and businesses alike, and the Hotel de Paris Monte Carlo will be the scene of many deals being signed over the four days.

This year also saw the first Monaco Flower Show, which it is hoped will also be a tourist magnet in future years.

'In the past Monaco has had the highlights of the Monaco Grand Prix and the tennis, with consistent numbers of visitors the rest of the year,' state http://www.yourmonaco.com, 'but Monaco is becoming much more diverse in what it offers throughout the calendar year. The Yacht Show has been a success, and given a little time the Monaco Flower Show will appeal to a different type of tourist, and might be as popular as the Hampton Court and Chelsea Flower Shows are in the UK. Diversity is the key to sustained tourism, and Monaco is doing it very well.

Despite being the second smallest country in the world, Monaco has attracted many of the world's top business and entertainment people to live there due to her income tax free status, and with Prince Albert at the helm it seems that the principality is beginning to punch above her weight in world politics as he takes the lead on environmental issues', conclude YourMonaco.

Visibility ETO ERP Conference to Include a Yachting Adventure

Visibility Corporation (www.visibility.com) is a leading developer and supplier of business software solutions designed for the unique needs of project-based, engineer-to-order and to-order manufacturers. Visibility's Enterprise Application solutions help midsize manufacturers of complex products operate their businesses effectively. At the 2006 users' conference there is a special treat; participants of the conference are invited for an evening cruise on a 142' luxury yacht through Fort Lauderdales' scenic Intracoastal Waterways, the Venice of America. Climb aboard the richly decorated yacht where we will have cocktails, appetizers and a sumptuous 5-star cuisine prepared for us by world class chefs. Musical entertainment will keep us energized and dancing throughout this four hour exploration.

April 5 through 7, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Visibility Corporation will be holding their annual users' conference titled, "Optimizing Your Technology Investment." Break out sessions including VISIBILITY.net Basics, Workflow, and Configuration will be conducted. Similarly, VISIBILITY 6 Track sessions will include Database Tuning, Optimize V6 Business Processes, and Business Intelligence. There is also an Executive Track that includes Managing Global Enterprise, Business Differentiators, and Financial Consolidation. The event is geared to both current and potential users of the ETO (Engineer-to-Order) ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) technology.

VISIBILITY.net is an integrated ERP solution and more. Offering unparalleled functionality and integrated workflow, this browser-based solution cost effectively delivers the power of .NET-based Web services for use with either a Microsoft SQL Server? or Oracle? database. Conducting business any place, any time, any where is a reality, deployable with unprecedented flexibility.

Visibility www.visibility.com Jaclyn Aldrich marketing@visibility.com 978-694-8000

Getting a job as a crew member on a luxury mega-yacht.

Larry Ellison, Paul Allen and Tiger Woods all have them.

I'm talking about mega-yachts - privately owned floating palaces. In case you aren't already aware, a mega-yacht is any motor or sail powered yacht over 24m in length. They have award winning interiors, the very best navigation equipment available and a permanent compliment of crew who live on board and travel with the yacht where ever it goes.

And the jobs are open to anyone.

The crews are comprised mostly of Australians, Kiwis, South Africans, Canadians, Europeans, South Americans and the odd US citizen. The industry is dominated by hard working travelers, eager for tax free US dollars and the lifestyle.

The lifestyle of being a 'yachtie' and chasing the sun is very hard to beat. Being surrounded by opulence is a lot of fun, not to mention berthing downtown at some of the finest cities in the world.

Most of the work is spent keeping the yacht looking pristine and when the guests are aboard, long hours ensue, but here are some of the benefits:

* Great tax free salary
* All expenses paid including free food, wine, beer
* At least one paid trip home each year
* Travel to some of the best places on earth
* Meeting VIPs, Captains of industry and celebrity types
* Use of the tenders and jet skis

Most of the yachts will move between the US, the Med and the Caribbean, but 99% of them are registered in offshore tax havens such as the Cayman Islands. This allows people of all nationalities to work on yachts located in the US or anywhere else in the world for that matter. The yachts themselves tend to travel together and frequent the best parts of the world at the best times to be there.

The real work only exists when the owners and guests are on board and then it is all about service. The yachts are used exclusively by the owner or chartered out. The number of guests will vary, but it is not uncommon for the owners and several guests to be on board at the same time.

Below are some brief descriptions of jobs available on mega-yachts:

Captain - responsible for the running of the yacht and yearly running budget
Mate - link between captain and crew members from all departments
Bosun - responsible for deck staff
Deckhand - responsible for upkeep of yacht.

Engineer - reports directly to the Captain. Responsible for the myriad systems on board the yacht
2nd Engineer - assists the engineer with engineering tasks and keeping the engine room immaculate.

Head Chef - works with owners/Captain to set menus
Assistant Chef - assists the Head Chef as required.

Chief Stewardess - responsible for entire interior and uniforms for all crew. Like a cruise director in many ways
Stewardess - responsible for keeping interior looking immaculate.

The smallest yachts will have 3 or 4 multi-tasking crew members while the largest have over 50. On some occasions, staff will assist the other departments.

Even though the Yachts are mostly registered in offshore tax havens, as vessels, they still need to comply with the standards set down by the MCA (Maritime and Coast Guard agency - UK).

One of the recent changes is the requirement for all crew members to be STCW95 certified. This course covers survival at sea, fire fighting, first aid and occupational health and safety. Most yachts will require crew members to already have this, although there are still some yachts that will pay for their crew to complete the course.

A word on pay.

Crew on privately owned yachts receive straight salary, but crew on charter yachts - which cost anywhere from $50,000 and up per week to charter - offer tips as well. Usually 10-15% of the total cost, they are usually divided amongst the crew. Charter yachts are hard work, but the money to be made is exceptional.

For the itinerant, hard working traveler, mega-yachts offer a very lucrative way to live in luxury and see the world. As more and more people become wealthy and get into the mega-yacht industry, the demand for crew members will only increase.

Do you want to be out there with them?

Matt Canham has worked on mega-yachts in Seattle, San Diego and Ft Lauderdale. He has a resource site at: http://mega-yacht-jobs.marinerblue.com

EXPLORE THE WONDERS OF ALASKA WITH YACHT CHARTER

INTRODUCTION:

People explore the wonders of Alaska in their voyages with Yacht charters for fishing, glacier viewing, whale watching and exploration into remarkable places of Alaska such as Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords. Yacht charter groups are created with the idea of allowing people to truly experience the indescribable beauty, magnificent wildlife and fishing activities of Alaska's wonders with the comfort of a yacht built exclusively for such purposes.

Yacht charters help you to relax with comfort and make you enjoy the local entertainment including humpback whales, porpoises and sea otters and breath-taking vistas, awful tide water glaciers, etc. Yacht charters help you to spend your carefree days with friends and family with fishing experiences and other joys.

CRUISING AREAS WITH YACHT CHARTERS:

Alaska is one of the few places filled with miles and miles of untamed wilderness. Prince William Sound is one of the crown jewels of Alaska. This place is an expansive area of spectacular features with rugged shorelines and comprises the Pacific and North American plates in the famous "ring of fire" and has a long history sixty million years ago. A journey into the sound is almost like exploring a veritable labyrinth of deep-water fjords, islands, bays, passageways, estuaries decorated with cascading waterfalls and dazzling wildlife .

A journey to this place with the yacht charter energizes and enchants the visitors with its unique features and call people back to marvel the beauty and bounty again and again. Kenai Fjords National Park is another place in Alaska where voyagers should never miss to enjoy glacier carved valleys filled with ice glaciers and earth's most powerful natural forces has worked to create truly magnificent national treasure.

One of the striking features of this place is the Harding Ice field, which is the source of over 30 named glaciers. It has awe-inspiring landscapes with the beauty to enjoy the wildlife.

Seward is the other striking area of exploration. It's extremely charming and picturesque and is most well known for its outstanding small boat harbor and its location in the head of resurrection bay with abundant wildlife viewing and magnanimous fishing opportunism for the voyagers to enjoy this very special marine paradise.

YACHT:

Yacht charters design the yacht with a sharp bow to cut the water for a stable ride. The interior of the Yacht is designed with space and enables the voyagers to fulfill their satisfaction with family and friends. The heavy-duty generator in the yacht also allows full galley with household appliances to fulfill the needs of day-to-day life. Experienced owners chartering in Alaska designed such exclusive yachts especially to the voyagers to feel comfort throughout their voyage.

YACHT CHARTER INFORMATION:

This helps us know about the information regarding the Yacht charter groups. This gives the knowledge about Yacht, Fishing licenses and crew gratitude's. Reservation, Insurance and Yacht costs are the other aspects to be considered.

YACHTING:

Yachting towards a small iceberg makes the voyagers to open their mouth wide to enjoy the reality of yachting. The gently rocking and floating on the placid looking blue waters captures the hearts of the travelers to fantasies. Gorgeous water waves lined with the beauty of Alaska's wonder anchors deeper in the hearts of the voyagers. Yachting helps us to have a better look at lounging harbor seals and a pod of humpback whales that stayed busy feeding for hours together. Such different experiences make the voyagers freeze and enjoy the adventures, which make them, feel enriched with new joy through sealift.

START TO EXPLORE NOW:

Its fortunate to have yacht charters to help the voyagers to enjoy the wonders of Alaska through Yachting. The voyagers are respected with their thoughts to spend their holidays in a different way with the chartering crew. The yacht charters guide their voyagers throughout their journey with all kinds of information's and entertainments to make them feel a different world.

Yacht charters also bring the voyagers with true comfort and safety and fulfill your dreams that will last for a lifetime to be passed to the future generation to enjoy and explore the wonders of Alaska.

Reena Madhu is a SEO copywriter for internationalyachtchartergroup.com,She has written many articles in various topics.For more information visit http://www.internationalyachtchartergroup.com.
She can be reached at reenaamadhu@gmail.com

Yacht Charters Provide a Luxurious Escape

 

Ernest Hemingway, the Nobel laureate author of “Old Man And The Sea,” loved to go on fishing expeditions off the Cuban coast in a sailboat that was well stocked with rum.

James Bond, the legendary British spy, loved to spend intimate moments with his newfound female companion on a yacht near a remote island in the Caribbean.

Away from the maddening crowd, in complete isolation, is what the fictional celebrity, and the celebrated fiction-writer, sought after every hectic assignment – Bond chasing enemies and Hemmingway chasing real-life action.

In real life, the rich and famous all over the world often spend their dream vacations in a boat they own, in faraway seas beyond the prying eyes of the paparazzi and the scandal-mongering newshounds.

Honeymooners, famous or not, also love being alone.

And then, there are the CEOs of mega corporations that hold business-cum-fun excursions on the high seas in luxury motor yachts to strike deals and seal takeovers. Or, just to enjoy their earned holidays.

Dream holidays on a well-equipped, well-stocked yacht are not just for the rich and mighty; they are within your reach, too. Just charter a yacht and sail off to your dream destination.

You can pick your own route, set your own pace, chose your own cuisines, chalk out your own itinerary, make stopovers whenever you feel like, and be the master of the yacht until you return to the shore.

A crew yacht charter vacation is like staying in a villa where you are pampered by a staff, but is unlike a hotel where you are stuck in the same location for the entire week. Your yacht moves on to a new location at your whim and fancy.

A charter yacht comes with a captain and cook. The price, which ranges from $8,000 to $250,000 per week, is linked to the size and type of the yacht and the services they provide. The price is inclusive of the charter meals and wines.

Yacht Charters Info provides detailed information about yacht charters, including Caribbean and Mediterranean yacht charters, as well as luxury, crewed, motor, private, and corporate yacht charters. Yacht Charters Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.