Friday, November 25, 2005

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NEWSLETTER: NOVEMBER 2005
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Thursday, November 24, 2005

A Few Special Offers & Discounts

ALDEBARAN (More Photos)
- Kid's special: Children under 2 years old are FREE & there is a $500 discount for kids aged 2-6 years old

BLITHE SPIRIT
- For honeymoons, 25th or 50th wedding anniversaries, take $250 off the regular 2-person rate

BRAVEHEART
- Confirm a Winter or Summer charter before January 31, 2006 at the following special rates:
Up to 6 guests=$13,900, $15,900 for 8 guests, $16,900 for 9 guests, and 10 guests=$17,900
(valid for charters completed by 31 August, 2006)

CATALYST
- 10% off current rates for new charters occuring this winter season (through Apr. 30, 2006)

CRYSTAL CLEAR
- Children under 15 years old go for $400/week

ISLAND SKIPPER
- Honeymoon special: $5500/week

PAS DE DEUX
- Confirm your 7-night charter before January 1st, 2006, and save 20%

PHAEDRUS
- Honeymoon Special: $5100/week

QWEST
- Honeymoon and Anniversary Special: $200 off the weekly rate. Also includes a Discover Scuba Diving Course, Premium Champagne, a Gourmet Beach Picnic and a Honeymoon or Anniversary Memory Photo CD to take home
- Last-minute special: $150 off on charters booked less than 30 days out.

VIRGIN VENTURE 2
- For new charters booked for December 2005, receive a $3,750 discount off their normal rate. Christmas, too!
- For new charters booked for January and February 2006, receive a $2,750 discount off their normal rate.
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Selection of Yachts Available for the Holidays

  • Blithe Spirit - Sailboat for 4-6 guests. Open through December 26th
  • Crystal Clear - Sailboat for 4 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Exbury - Sailboat for 2 guests. Open for Christmas in the GRENADINES
  • Fidelity - Sailboat for 4 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Flame - Motor yacht for 6 guests. Open for New Year
  • Hanalei Bay - Sailboat for 6 guests. Open for Christmas, December 19-26
  • Liahona - Catamaran for 8 guests. Open for Christmas through December 28th
  • Marolanga - Catamaran for 4-5 guests. Open for Christmas, December 19-26
  • McGregor - Motor yacht for 4 guests. Open for New Year
  • Odysseus - Sailboat for 6 guests. Open for Christmas and New Year
  • Phaedrus - Sailboat for 2 guests. Open for Christmas through December 28th
  • Quicksilver - Catamaran for 6 guests. Open for Christmas
  • Qwest - Sailboat for 2 guests. Open for New Years beginning after December 27th
  • Sea Walker - Sailboat for 4 guests. Open for New Year
  • Seascape - Motor yacht for 6 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
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*** HAPPY THANKSGIVING from Paradise Connections ***

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Sunday, October 09, 2005

NEWSLETTER: October 2005

GREETINGS FROM THE CARIBBEAN !

We hope that everyone had a great summer. We feel very fortunate that we have had pretty good weather this summer in the Eastern Caribbean.

We are looking forward to sailing up to the Virgin Islands to participate in the November charter yacht shows. It will be nice to see our friends and visit the various yachts. There will be quite a few new boats that will be showing as well. We'll keep you posted!

We won't have as far to sail as we are still in St.Maarten. We had planned to sail south to Venezuela this summer but we were afraid of the reception we might receive as we are Americans in an American-flagged vessel. Thanks a bunch, Pat Robertson.

CHARTER YACHTS AVAILABLE FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Dominique & Michel (Blithe Spirit) feeling a bit of Christmas cheer.
  • Blithe Spirit - Sailboat for 4-6 guests. Open through December 26th
  • Crystal Clear - Sailboat for 4 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Dramaless - Motor yacht for 6 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Exbury - Sailboat for 2 guests. Open for Christmas & New Years in the GRENADINES
  • Fidelity - Sailboat for 4 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Flame - Motor yacht for 6 guests. Open for New Year
  • Hanalei Bay - Sailboat for 6 guests. Open for Christmas through December 26th
  • Island Skipper - Sailboat for 6 guests. Open for Christmas through December 28th
  • Liahona - Catamaran for 8 guests. Open for Christmas through December 28th
  • Marolanga - Catamaran for 4-5 guests. Open for Christmas and New Year
  • McGregor - Motor yacht for 4 guests. Open for New Year
  • Odysseus - Sailboat for 6 guests. Open for Christmas and New Year
  • On Seafari - Motor yacht for 6 guests. Open for Christmas and New Year
  • Phaedrus - Sailboat for 2 guests. Open for Christmas through December 28th
  • Quicksilver - Catamaran for 6 guests. Open for Christmas
  • Qwest - Sailboat for 2 guests. Open for New Years beginning after December 27th
  • Sea Walker - Sailboat for 4 guests. Open for New Year
  • Seascape - Motor yacht for 6 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Ursa Minor - Sailboat for 2 guests. Open for Christmas (Dec.20-26,2005)

OR, SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT...

Spend the holidays in merry old Britain ....
STENELLA - SNEEK PEEK

Stenella is in the boatyard getting all prettied up for the new season... Here's a sneek peek at her new paint job.

Looking good!

KC wrote to tell us that they have given the galley a makeover as well with a new stove, microwave, floor, cabinets, wall covering, lighting, corian countertops, etc. They have also been busy revarnishing the interior, and installing new corian counters and taps in the heads. New upholstery, too! Looking forward to visiting Stenella at the boat show in November.

TAZA MAS IS A PET-FRIENDLY BOAT

BUDDY gives his paw print of approval to TAZA MAS.

Buddy is a two year old pug whose humans do everything possible to keep him happy. A veteran of many charters, Buddy loved his recent cruise on TAZA MAS, particularly the special meals Amy prepared for him, and the ice cubes Tiffany put in his water dish.

Buddy had such a good time he has booked two weeks in June and one week in August.
Rates: $27,000/4 guests, $28,000/6 guests, $29,000/8 guests - for a 7-night charter, Caribbean terms (all inclusive, except bar, cruising taxes...)

CME COURSES : Catamaran GOOD MEDICINE

Good Medicine is a 46-foot Fountain Pajot catamaran which has just entered the charter yacht fleet. Good Medicine is air conditioned and accommodates up to 6 guests in three cabins, each with Queen-sized berths and ensuite head/shower.

A unique feature about this catamaran is that they are offering Physicians' Contiuing Medical Education (CME) courses. This is an audio-visual course which can be viewed aboard in the salon on Good Medicine's 23-inch LCD screen in DVD format. Now physicians can earn 10 AMA Category 1 required CME credits while enjoying sailing the islands with their families.

Courses include:
  • Cardiology: An Evidence Based Approach
  • CME 10: Topics to Improve Your Practice
  • Emergency Medicine for Primary Care and Emergency Physicians
  • Family Practice Review and Update
  • Neurology Update and Review in Primary Care Medicine
  • Cardiology: An Evidence Based Approach
  • NEW: Chronic Pain and End of Life Care— 14 credits, fulfills California requirements!
Each session is a recorded lecture, given by excellent speakers with PowerPoint type presentation as well, followed by questions from the audience it was presented to, then the exam. Each physician on the cruise will receive a syllabus and exam, just as if he/she were live at the presentation.

The program can be presented any time the participants finds it convenient, in 90 minute to 2 hour sessions per day for 5 days... The rest is leisure time!

FREEDOM ANNOUNCES NEW CHEF

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We just received this announcement from Capt. Gary of the trimaran FREEDOM:

I am very happy to announce that I have Jill Thompson as the chef on Freedom. Jill and I worked together on Mauna Loa for a season and had a great time with all our guests.

Jill Thompson, a Texas native, has worked in the restaurant business for the past 15 years. She has traveled internationally to sharpen her culinary skills and has spent a number of years as a freelance chef on charter yachts in the Caribbean. Jill also worked as a chef at the well known gourmet restaurant, Craig & Sally's, in Frenchtown on St.Thomas, USVI.
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DO YOU SKYPE??? TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT !!!


Click on image when you are ready to download SKYPE!

We have been using Skype for just over a month now. We would have used it earlier but they were having problems accepting credit cards. Well, I tried once again to buy "SkypeOut minutes" and it worked! We can make calls for about $0.02 per minute.

We are using WiFi out here in the Simpson Bay Lagoon, St.Maarten and Skype usually works pretty well. Sometimes we get disconnected but not as often as the satellite phone... I'll spare you and won't start ranting about GlobalStar's "service" for now though...

We also use the free Skype-to-Skype service when the other party is also a Skype user. Works very well and we recommend it. PLUS, toll-free numbers (800 numbers in USA) are free and accessible for many countries!

Great for travellers. If you are chartering and your yacht has internet access, just log into your Skype account and talk to your friends and family for CHEAP! Those credit card calls made from your roaming cellphone can be really expensive. You may want to pack your headphones with your swimsuit (and your iPod, too).
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Wednesday, September 07, 2005

NEWSLETTER: September 2005


GREETINGS FROM THE CARIBBEAN
Caribbean Yacht Charters
We hope that everyone has had a wonderful summer. We are currently in Simpson Bay Lagoon on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten, whose motto is "The Friendly Island". We plan to sail "So It Goes" south to visit Martinique and hopefully the Grenadines, before attending the Virgin Island Charter Yacht Shows in November. We will return to St.Maarten for the Charter Yacht Exhibition in December during which we will celebrate our 26th anniversary.

We have been upgrading our communication systems aboard to allow us to go mobile. We have recently installed high-powered WiFi equipment to allow us access to numerous "WetSpots" available and we are using VOIP (internet telephone) when possible. We can also access the internet and download our email using our satellite telephone, if necessary. We have added an external antenna for our GlobalStar satellite phone which has greatly improved reception.

These upgrades will allow us to cruise about the Caribbean and keep up on the islands and the boats (plus have a lot of fun) and still be able to maintain a high level of service to our clients.

We hope to see you on our travels this season.

All the best! Bob & Sheila
*** Please Note That Light Blue Text Denotes Clickable LINKS ***

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR CHARTERS STILL AVAILABLE

You may think it is a bit early to start thinking about Christmas but normally these charters are booked 10 or more months in advance. There are still some excellent yachts available for the holidays. In general, Christmas charters run through December 27 or 28, to allow time for a New Year's charter thereafter.
  • Blithe Spirit - Sailboat for 4-6 guests. Open through December 26th
  • Crystal Clear - Sailboat for 4 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Dramaless - Motor yacht for 6 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Exbury - Sailboat for 2 guests. Open for Christmas & New Years in the GRENADINES
  • Fidelity - Sailboat for 4 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Flame - Motor yacht for 6 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Hanalei Bay - Sailboat for 6 guests. Open for Christmas through December 26th
  • Island Skipper - Sailboat for 6 guests. Open for Christmas through December 28th
  • Liahona - Catamaran for 8 guests. Open for Christmas through December 28th
  • Marolanga - Catamaran for 4-5 guests. Open for Christmas and New Year
  • Odysseus - Sailboat for 6 guests. Open for Christmas and New Year
  • On Seafari - Motor yacht for 6 guests. Open for Christmas and New Year
  • Pentesilea - Catamaran for 6-8 guests. Open for Christmas and New Year
  • Phaedrus - Sailboat for 2 guests. Open for Christmas through December 28th
  • Quicksilver - Catamaran for 6 guests. Open for Christmas and New Year
  • Qwest - Sailboat for 2 guests. Open for New Years beginning after December 27th
  • Sea Walker - Sailboat for 4 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Seascape - Motor yacht for 6 guests. Open for Christmas & New Year
  • Ursa Minor - Sailboat for 2 guests. Open for Christmas & New Years

OR, SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT...

Spend the holidays in merry old Britain ....
BOOK NOW FOR CANNES FESTIVALS
For our entertainment industry clients, we'd like to remind you of the importance of booking early for the various Cannes festivals. It is not only that the supply of available and suitable yachts are dwindling but also remember that there are deadlines for allocation of dock space.
  • MIPDOC: April 1-2, 2006
  • MIPTV: April 3-7, 2006
  • CANNES FILM FESTIVAL: May 17-28, 2006
  • CANNES LIONS: June 18-24, 2006

CHARTER NEWS
  • Irie - Joe and Lynn have decided to sell Irie and retire from the charter life and head for the mountains of Colorado. We will miss this excellent yacht and crew as they are one of the best. But, we are happy to announce that they still have TWO openings in their calendar for their final season! These are December 12-20th and January 17-28, 2006. Don't miss this great opportunity! Plus, Dave Strobel is returning to be the chef for this final hurrah!
  • Chateau will be closing their calendar May 1st, 2006 as they are retiring from charter. Chateau is up for sale, and if the buyer puts the boat back into charter, Ross & Janet might stay on for another year as crew.
  • Lady Jane has left charter. Gary and Jane sailed her up to Florida and they are starting a new chapter in their lives.
  • charter yacht sailing vacation Island SkipperIsland Skipper. Rob and Michele got married this summer. Congratulations, guys! Island Skipper is one of our most popular yachts and they have our highest rate of repeat bookings. Rob & Michele sold Island Skipper this year but they will still be crewing for the 2006 season, and plan to be aboard for the 2007 season as well.
  • Flame - We are pleased to announce that Capt. Wayne is now the Rev. Capt. Wayne (or is it Capt. Rev. Wayne???)... Anyway, he is now an ordained minister and can perform marriages. Flame was always a great motoryacht for honeymoons, but now it's one stop shopping! You can get married aboard Flame or on a beach, and then sail off into the sunset for your honeymoon.
  • Harmony - We received an email from Capt. Jack this morning which he sent while cruising between Ischia and Ponza Italy. This was Harmony's first season charter in the Med and they enjoyed it so much, they'll go back again next year. Harmony (and Sweet Harmony before that) has always had a high rate of repeat clients, so it is no surprise when he tells us that most of his Med charter guests have expressed interest in returning next summer... This is a popular yacht and you must book early! That said, they are still open for the month of February in the Caribbean, plus there are other weeks here and there. Jack says of his Mediterranean adventure that the nicest surprise was the warmth and general good attitude towards them... the second nicest surprise was that the cost of a great pizza an half bottle of wine was $12.00.
  • For Sale French canal hotel bargeFor sale: French canal barge Berendina - One of our friends from St.Thomas is selling their barge that they have been chartering along the Canal du Midi in the south of France. We lived on the French canals for many years on previous boats (Loose Moose) and we really enjoyed the experience. This is a great opportunity for someone, whether for chartering, as a vacation home, or for a liveaboard cruising about the European waterways.
  • DOWN ISLAND YACHTS: What's "down island"? In yacht charter terms, it means destinations south of the Virgin Islands. We would like to highlight a few of our favorite charter yachts which will be down island this season: Exbury, Bonnie Lynn, and Pentesilea. Pentesilea will be in the Virgin Islands through the beginning of February and then heads for points south.
    • UPDATE : We just received an update (Sept. 15th) from Pentesilea. They have revised their schedule: Nov.19-Feb.18 Virgin Islands; Mar.11-Apr.30 St.Martin area; May 1st to July 2nd VIs/St.Martin. Inquire for "down island"
  • EXPEDITION MOTOR YACHTS: Boats of this style are currently the hottest, hippest yachts in the megayacht fleet.
    • Pangaea is 186 feet and accommodates 12 guests in 6 staterooms. Crew of 13. Pangaea is presently chartering in the South Pacific and will continue throughout 2006.
    • Bart Roberts is 265 feet and accommodates up to 20 guests in 10 staterooms. Crew of 14. Barth Roberts will be chartering Winter 2006 in Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, and possibly even the Galapagos if we ask nicely :-)
  • NOT REALLY NEWS... but a reminder... Good communication with your selected broker and yacht is very important. We send a selection of yachts based upon many parameters (dates, number and makeup of group, location, type of yacht, amenities, diving requested, special requests, etc) and our suggestions are not based upon yachts that pay a higher commission rate, or pay for special placement/consideration in our charter program as, unfortunately, is the case with too many brokers. In fact, when we first started as brokers, one experienced fellow gave us the advice to book a certain group of catamarans because they paid a higher commission and not to worry about who the members of the crew were... that they'd be "good enough". Other brokers have proudly told us how they push clients up into more expensive yachts... That's not our philosophy.

    We want you to charter the yacht that is best for YOU. We want you to be happy. We want the boat to be happy. This makes us happy. Happy is good! We want you to come back again, hopefully choosing Paradise Connections as your charter specialist either to book the same yacht, or try something different. So, (sorry this is going on so long) if you want us to send you a different selection of yachts because possibly you've changed your dates or some other parameter, let us know. It's no problem... Don't be embarrassed to ask. Yes, we did do a bit of work to send you the first selection but we are glad to continue the search to find the perfect boat for you. It's what we do. Also, if you see a yacht that looks interesting but we didn't mention (possibly another broker sent it or you see it on the web), ask us. There may be a good reason why it was not suggested (either unavailable, not a good boat, not suited for you, no longer in charter, or possibly the list was long enough). Once again: no problem, mon! Just speak with us. Many times the first list is just a starting/jumping off point and needs refining to find the perfect yacht for YOUR yachting vacation.
SPECIALS
  • CASADOR (68-foot sloop) is offering a $1000 off on full week charters taking place before Christmas week 2005.
  • FANTASY ISLAND (58-foot catamaran) is offering 10% discounts for 7-night charters falling within the following dates: October 15-22, 2005, October 23-30, 2005, December 11-18, 2005.
  • PAS DE DEUX (60-foot catamaran) - Confirm a booking before November 7, 2005 and receive $1000 off the listed charter fee. (Please note that the charter does not have to occur before November, just booked before November 7, 2005.)
  • TWO IF BY SEA (45-foot catamaran) - Introductory Special: Save 10% off the listed rate on bookings cconfirmed prior to November 7, 2005 (except Christmas and New Years, of course)
  • STREETCAR (51-foot Sovereign sloop) - 25% reduction in the price of all 2-person charters that are booked by the end of October 2005, or a -15% reduction in the price of all 4-person charters that are booked by the end of October 2005. In addition, for all charters booked before the END OF OCTOBER 2005, the price will include ONE EXTRA NIGHT FREE (8 nights for the price of 7) as well as a bottle of French Champagne on arrival (one bottle per two adults).
  • ATHOS (French canal barge) is offering a special rate of $2,250/passenger for the week of October 2-8, 2005.

MEET BULLWINKLE

Bullwinkle ships cat sailing felineWe would like to feature a member of the Paradise Connections team... Bullwinkle (a.k.a. Mr.B).

Bullwinkle is a life-long sailor. He was born in a boatyard in Meaux, France where we built our second sailboat, Loose Moose 2. He has thousands of sea miles under his belt (uh... collar!) and is looking forward to meeting you on our travels throughout the Caribbean this coming season. In the photo, he is enjoying his new quilt which was handmade by his Auntie Laura in Washington State.

Drop us a line and let us know what you're up to... even if you are not planning a sailing vacation in the near future, we still like to keep in touch.
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