QWEST - Another great diving & sailing yacht charter

Thanks to Kim & Rich for another wonderful yacht charter!

Here are comments from our most recent clients aboard the s/v QWEST. Qwest is a 49-foot sloop which specializes in 2-person sailing vacations. Both Kim and Rich are dive instructors and diving is included in their rates.  As an added bonus, there is Jasmine, their feline cruise director :)

Sheri & Robert were celebrating their 20th anniversary...

Qwest yacht charter - November 2009

How did you enjoy your charter?

The entire experience was fantastic!  Could not have been better.

Did you find your crew to be helpful, accommodating and friendly?

All of the above. Kim and Rich are fantastic people.  We really enjoyed their company and their musical talent.

Was the yacht comfortable, clean and well maintained?

Great ship...very comfortable

How would you describe the quality and presentation of the meals served on board?

Exceptionally good. Kim was very creative in the galley and Rich was a master griller.  We enjoyed Kim's presentation of each meal and looked forward to every meal, even the beach picnic. 

How did you find the services offered by Paradise Connections?

Very informative, responsive and helpful.  Everything was perfect.

Would you be interested in taking another yacht vacation in the future?
Definitely

If so, would you like to charter the same yacht and crew?

Definitely

Did you stay in a hotel before or after your charter?

Yes

If so, which one and what are your comments?

At Home In The Tropics.  Fantastic!  The Inn is perfect.  It was a short, tho stair intensive walk to town which we grew accustomed to the first day.  The owners are very helpful and terrific people. The amenities were great.  Rooms and food excellent.

Are there any further comments or suggestions you would like to make to enable Paradise Connections, the yacht, or crew to better serve you and other clients in the future?

None that we can think of

May we use you as a reference?

Of Course

Thank you all for making our 20th Anniversary Vacation a fantastic and memorable one!
- Sheri & Robert, November 2009

By the way... QWEST is available for CHRISTMAS and NEW YEARS!

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book Qwest
View Qwest's online brochure and brochure #2
Visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

Visit to sail dive charter yacht, Trimaran OPUS

Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters for your next sailing vacation

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Visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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Motor Yacht ANALISA lowered rate for holidays 2009

The motoryacht ANALISA has decided to drop their premium for Christmas and New Years weeks for the winter 2009/10 season.

The holiday weeks are available for charter in the Virgin Islands for their regular winter 2010 rate of:

• 2 guests = $12,420/wk
• 3 guests = $14,145/wk
• 4 guests = $15,870/wk
• Add 2 children under the age of 12 for an additional $850.

Analisa is a 60-foot Hatteras motoryacht and can accommodate up to 4 adults and 2 children.

See their brochure for more details and then contact Paradise Connections to book your family's holiday vacation.

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book ANALISA
View Analisa's online brochure
Visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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Catamaran Yacht Charter Special Offer - AMARYLLIS

The charter yacht, catamaran AMARYLLIS, has a special of $1000 off their regular rate for any full-week charter taking place during the month of January 2010 (not to be combined with any other special, i.e. one child free or free rendezvous dive). Yacht charter location is the US & British Virgin Islands.

Amaryllis is a Privilege 45 catamaran, owned and operated by Laura & Bruce Masterson. This charter catamaran is fully air conditioned and accommodates up to 6 guests in 3 double cabins.

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book s/y AMARYLLIS
View Amaryllis' online brochures: Brochure 1 & Brochure 2
Visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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Charter catamaran MAROLANGA prepares for new season

We received an email from Gus & Marcella, owner-operators of the Catana catamaran, MAROLANGA. They plan to "splash" tomorrow and they are looking forward to getting out of the boatyard and back into the water.

Here's a photo of Gus from earlier this week polishing the hull.

We look forward to seeing them next week when we sail over to St. Thomas, USVI.

Marolanga is currently open for both CHRISTMAS and NEW YEARS !!!

I know, we are really surprised, too. Don't miss out... Marolanga is an excellent choice for a family sailing vacation for the holidays!

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book s/y MAROLANGA
View Marolanga online brochures: Brochure 1 & Brochure 2
Visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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Virgin Islands Yacht Charters for Christmas & New Years

UPDATED: November 6, 2009

UPDATED: November 3, 2009

UPDATED: October 28, 2009

UPDATED: October 13, 2009
We have some other yachts we can suggest as well, so if nothing here quite suits your fancy, let us know and we'll see what we can do for you.

If you are interested in other Caribbean locations, pop us a line or give us a call :)

UPDATED: Sept 11, 2009 - Quite a few changes have been made in the 2 days since I worked on this post... There have been a few confirmed bookings and some new holds. Since the holds are not confirmed, we still offer those yachts as we can always challenge the other party. We have updated the info below.

Now that Labor Day has passed, we expect to be receiving our standard flurry of post-summer inquiries for holiday charters.

s/y Sandcastle

There are still some good boats available for this coming 2009/2010 holiday season for Christmas and New Years in the Virgin Islands (rates & availability as of 2009/09/09):

We have some other yachts we can suggest as well, so if nothing here quite suits your fancy, let us know and we'll see what we can do for you :)

* ~ * ~ CHRISTMAS CHARTERS 2009 ~ * ~ *

The 2009 holiday season is now over (Happy New Year) so we have edited this post to save space as the material is no longer relevant.

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your sailing vacation
Visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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RECIPE : Charter Motor Yacht FLAME Virgin Islands

We received this recipe from Barbara of the Charter Motoryacht FLAME, a 65-foot Feadship in the Virgin Islands.

Shrimp and Lobster Risotto with White Truffle Oil
(serves 6-8)

This is one of our favorite recipes; even Wayne eats it!

Wayne loves to kill "anything that swims, walks or crawls across the ocean floor" but really would prefer a hot dog for dinner!  He does, however, love this risotto so I think that speaks volumes!

Wayne, the lobster hunter --- Wayne, Hot Dog gourmand

I am always looking for ways to showcase the lobster Wayne brings home and this is a great favorite of our guests.


Shrimp and Lobster Risotto with White Truffle Oil
(serves 6-8)

4 tbs butter
2 tbs olive oil
10 oz Arborio rice
7 +/- cups stock (see attached recipe)
12 oz white wine
1 cup shallots
3 cups lobster and shrimp, cut into 1" chunks and cooked halfway
1 cup asparagus tips
1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese
White truffle oil

Stock:

In a large stockpot:

• Combine 8 cups water, about 30 shrimp shells, 1 or 2 lobster shells, 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped carrot, 1 chopped celery stalk, handful of parsley, handful of thyme. 
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30-45 minutes or until broth is flavorful. 
• Strain, pressing vegetables to release all flavor. 
• Keep at a simmer.

Risotto (takes about 20-25 minutes)

• Melt butter and olive oil, and sauté shallots and rice briefly.
• Add wine and cook, stirring constantly, until almost all absorbed.
• Add stock by the cupful, stirring until each cup is absorbed before adding the next.
• When rice is almost done (a little too al dente), stir in asparagus, then seafood.
• Finally, stir in 1 cup parmesan cheese and stir in white truffle oil to taste (add by the 1/4 teaspoon until it is to your taste.  White truffle oil is VERY strong, use sparingly).

Serve as a main course or with a baked filet of grouper or snapper.  Garnish with remaining parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

Bon appetit!

Jake loves shrimp, lobster and fish!  He waits on the roof, watching for Wayne to come home from hunting. If Wayne is not wearing a shirt Jake knows there might be goodies in the dinghy and will come tearing off the roof to greet Wayne at the ladder!

Barbara

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FLAME
View Flame's online brochure
Visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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Special Offers / Discounts : Yacht Charters

We would like to remind you of some special offers that are still in effect on yacht charters... Don't miss out!

ICARUS EXPIRED See previous blog post View online brochure

VICTORIAN ROSE EXPIRED See previous blog post View online brochure

CRYSTAL CLEAR EXPIRED View online brochure

CATALYST ECONOMIC BAILOUT option for 2-person charters! Save $500. The only difference is that you will have a crew of one. Alan will be Captain, Chef, and Dive Instructor. Offer good for Summer 2009 and Winter 2009-10, too! View previous post View online brochure

ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXPIRED See previous blog post View online brochure

COCONUT EXPIRED COCONUT now includes standard ship's bar! See previous blog post View online brochure

MAROLANGA EXPIRED See previous blog post View online brochure

IRIE EXPIRED View online brochure

PROMENADE Discounted rates of only $15,990 for up to TEN guests, for charters taking place on open weeks between November 15 and January 29, 2010 - Includes Thanksgiving week & New Years! See details Previous blog posts View online brochure

RUNAWAY EXPIRED See details View online brochure

We hope you'll be able to take advantage of one of these special offers. You deserve it!

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book your yacht charter

Visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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