Catamaran Marolanga Gets a Vacation!

Gus & Marcella, owner/operators of the catamaran Marolanga, were surprised by their children who gave them a vacation in Italy as a birthday gift. They are currently in Italy, enjoying family, sights, and Italian cuisine. Gus and Marcella will return to Marolanga and be ready to charter in mid-September. They are one of the few charter yachts available in the Virgin Islands throughout the summer season.

Here is reminder of some of the new improvements invested in Marolanga:

• Air Conditioner / Generator
• New 14ft. dinghy with center console
• Hardcover roof for sun protecting the cockpit
• Big stainless steel grill outside
• Automatic ice machine
• Coffee/Espresso machine
• New dishes and silverware
• Flat screen DVD player in each guest cabin with hundreds of DVD's for every desire (kids included!)
• Portable Sony play station (PSP) with games
• New TV/DVD player and CD player in salon
• Computer with internet access in most areas of the VI
• 2 fly fishing rods, 2 spinning rods, 1 trawling rod (Gus is an avid fisherman)

View Marolanga's electronic brochure: CLICK HERE

Visit Paradise Connection's web site: CLICK HERE

American Airlines Fall Fare Sale to Caribbean

For those of you who are sitting on the fence, regarding a sailing vacation this autumn, perhaps this will help: American Airlines is having a Fall Sale.

• Fares are valid for outbound travel August 7, 2006 through December 11, 2006. Return travel must be complete by December 13, 2006.
• Tickets must be purchased NO LATER than 11:59 p.m. August 16, 2006 (CDT). (Tickets must be purchased at least 7 days prior to departure or within 1 day of making reservations, whichever comes first).

Consult American Airlines for details.

This is a great offer because this falls into the "summer rates" category and some yachts have lower rates during this time.

Contact PARADISE CONNECTIONS YACHT CHARTERS for your sailing vacation plans. There are still some excellent yachts available for the holidays (see posting below)...

Another Cabin Cruise Week : PROMENADE

The 65-foot trimaran Promenade has added another cabin cruise to their busy calendar.


Kerry now has two weeks dedicated to cabin cruises for next season.

• November 26 to December 2, 2006
• January 28 to February 3, 2006

These are all-inclusive, 6-night charters for $3900/cabin (double occupancy, not each person).

See additional postings about Promenade below...

Visit Promenade's electronic brochures:

• Brochure #1
• Brochure #2

Contact PARADISE CONNECTIONS YACHT CHARTERS for more info.

Schooner Bonnie Lynn Day Sails

BONNIE LYNN, the beautiful 72-foot schooner owned and operated by Earl and Bonnie MacKenzie, gives each charter the personal touch. According to guests who booked a one day charter for a family celebration, ”We could not in any way have had a better day for our 50th anniversary!! Bonnie Lynn is a wonderful boat, plenty of room and a comfortable sail.”


Bonnie Lynn has two available dates this August for a daysail charter in Maine. We hope that someone will be able to take advantage of this rare opportunity.

AVAILABLE FOR A DAY SAIL - up to 24 passengers

• August 18 in Rockland, ME
• August 20 in North East Harbor

Options include:

• 10am to 4pm with lunch - $2,400
• 9am to 9pm, lunch and dinner - $3,000

Rates given are approximate. For more information, contact Paradise Connections: CLICK HERE for contact info.

DRAMALESS : Weekend specials in St. Maarten / Martin

TREAT YOURSELF - Take a break, unwind in style, and leave life’s daily drama behind.

DRAMALESS

For total relaxation and impeccable service, take advantage of a DRAMALESS weekend special in St. Maarten. Their 19-foot Mako tender is included in the charter rate.

DRAMALESS is an 82-foot Hatteras with 3 crew, that can accommodate 6 or 7 guests in three cabins.

Hurry, offer valid only for charters taking place in September and October 2006.

SPECIAL RATE:

• 3 days for $8,000 plus expenses
• 4 days for $10,500 plus expenses

Click HERE for their electronic brochure.

Contact PARADISE CONNECTIONS YACHT CHARTERS for more information.

Mediterranean Sail Boat Charters Summer 2006

There are still some sail boats available in the Med for yacht charters this summer (2006). If you'd like a Mediterranean sailing vacation, consider these fine yachts:

DULCINEA

Dulcinea is a 63-foot sloop with prime dates still open. They have accommodations for six guests in three double cabins with individual TV, radio/CD player and A/C controls. Captain Teal Standen and his wife Anna, do a first rate job pampering charterers. Guests who sailed with them last fall wrote: “We just came back from Italy and the trip was great! Dulcinea is a beautiful boat! Teal and Anna were fantastic, very kind, attentive, and humble. Anna is a great passionate cook and Teal a very responsible and caring skipper. We had a great time with them.”

WEEKLY RATES: $15,000/2 guests $16,000/4 $17,000/6 (plus all expenses)

LIARA

Liara is a 65-foot sloop with good family accommodations in three cabins: queen master cabin aft with ensuite heads; forward double guest cabin which shares head with the third guest cabin that has upper/lower single berths. Captain Ross Appleby and Chef Laurie Ward know the best spots in the Mediterranean from East to West! Regarding recent yardwork, Liara's owner reports, “She’s looking really terrific! We just painted the entire hull, installed a brand new, quieter generator and got brand new high tech sails.”

WEEKLY RATES: $18,500 for up to 6 guests, plus all expenses. Available in Western Med from 4 -21 August 2006, and after 5 September in Monaco.

FRUITION

Fruition is an 80-foot ketch, which accommodates 6 guests. The aft, full-width master cabin has a private entrance from the cockpit. There are also two guest cabins, each having a pair of large twin lower singles (not bunks). All cabins have ensuite head/shower. Lots of space for relaxing : the roomy cockpit, panoramic deck saloon and spacious lower saloon.

WEEKLY RATE: $17,900/2 guests, $18,900/4, $19,900/6 (plus all expenses).
Fruition is available in Palma from 10 August 2006 onwards.

Contact PARADISE CONNECTIONS for more information:

• Click HERE to send us an E-MAIL
• Click HERE to visit our web site www.paradiseconnections.com

Willy T's - The end of an era

Well, it's true... I heard about it earlier this week and just had it confirmed via email from the Willy T's... Due to a recent near-fatal accident, jumping off the William Thornton Floating Restaurant and Bar will no longer be allowed.

How is one to earn their free t-shirt?

The Willy T's will be closed September through the first week of October 2006.

I'm sure they'll come up with something before the new season starts up...

Catamaran Douce France 2006-2008 Pacific charters

Join the 138-foot catamaran, Douce France, on her world tour.

DOUCE FRANCE offers flexible accommodations for up to 12 guests in six identical en suite cabins, convertible from two twin beds to one king. The attention of her international, professional crew of 8, including a scuba instructor, ensures your charter will be most memorable. The 250 bottle cave à vin of select wines will please the most discerning guest and compliment the French chef's culinary skill. An atmosphere of luxury and elegant décor, surrounded by a world of beauty and adventure.

• 2006 July - September : Polynesia
• 2006 October - 2007 March : New Zealand
• 2007 April - September : Fiji
• 2007 October - December : New Zealand
• 2008 January - March : Indonesia
• 2008 April - June : Thailand
• 2008 July - September : Sri Lanka
• 2008 October - 2009 January : Seychelles & Madagascar
• 2009 February.... Red Sea...

Click HERE for their electronic brochure. Brochure #2. Brochure #3.

RATES:

$99,000 for up to 12 guests, plus all expenses (food, alcoholic beverages, communications, fuel, marina dockage)

• July 2006 through March 31, 2007 (inquire for Christmas rates)
• April 28 - June 30, 2007
• September 1 - December 14, 2007

$109,000 for up to 12 guests, plus all expenses (food, alcoholic beverages, communications, fuel, marina dockage)

• April 1-27, 2007
• July 1 to August 31, 2007
• December 15, 2007 to January 15, 2008

For more info, contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters: Click HERE

Rates, locations, and availability subject to change.

Book your 2006-7 holiday yacht charter now

CONTACT PARADISE CONNECTION FOR CURRENT HOLIDAY AVAILABILITY

Bullwinkle knows what boat he'll be on for Christmas! Do you?

Check out current special offers on crewed charter yachts. 

CLICK HERE FOR SPECIAL OFFERS

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters

For more yachts, visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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Trimaran PROMENADE News: Sail Dive Charters in BVI

Here's some news from recent happenings aboard the charter yacht Promenade, a 65-foot trimaran, owned and operated by Kerry and Bazza out of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. An excellent choice for a sailing and diving vacation.

A few days ago, Kerry sent us this: "Muskmelon was nice and flat and Bazza and I went for a dusk dive out in the mud to see what we saw, I took my camera along, and LOOK what I found!!!! This is the first time that i have seem one of these!!!! We probably took about a hundred pictures of this batfish. I did not want to come up! This is quite a rare find."
Look at the lips on this guy! What an expression!

Kerry recently received her underwater housing for her new Nikon digital camera. Looking forward to some more excellent photos from Promenade.

Here's another interesting bit about Kerry and her turtle friend: "Yep, he never has been too scared of me, but the last couple days he has really let me come close to him. Yesterday he sat there for ten minutes while I stroked underneath his shell!! The neat part was that he went up for air and then came back down and laid beside me again, so I really knew I had made a friend!! I don't think I have ever had such a pleasing experience in the water."

Promenade a large 65-foot trimaran, with a fun crew and is a wonderful boat for families and groups. Besides being the ideal dive boat, they also have lots of water toys for other activities, plus the boat is so spacious that it is not difficult to find a quiet spot if you so wish. Promenade is air conditioned and has 5 guests cabins; three cabins have Queen berths, while the other two can be configured either as Kings or as two Twins. Promenade has a 14-foot dinghy with 50HP motor, waterskis, kneeboard, tube, several kayaks, 5-person banana, snorkeling gear, fishing equipment, projection TV/VCR/DVD in the salon, a portable DVD player, Game Boy, Play Station 2, iPod friendly, dedicated guest computer for email access, compressor to fill scuba tanks, and much more. Promenade has a Dive Instructor aboard so anyone can dive... give it a try!

Here are some more photos from a recent charter aboard Promenade.


This is a photo of the foredeck to try to show how much room there is aboard this 65-foot trimaran. She has a 35-foot beam (width).


Promenade is one of the few charter yachts which has a commercial fishing license for the British Virgin Islands. They usually do catch and release, but I believe this fish might have been dinner.


Rays are just soooooooo cool. They sure make a big splash when they jump out of the water.


Group shot in front of the famous Wreck of the Rhone.

Photos courtesy of s/v Promenade. Thanks, Kerry!

To view Promenade's electronic brochure, CLICK HERE.

Please contact PARADISE CONNECTIONS for more information.

BARGES - SPECIAL DISCOUNTS

Several canal hotel barges are offering special discounts for October and/or November 2006 barging holidays.

$500 per person discount off the current rate for:

• October 2006 Departures: Three French barges in the regions of Burgundy and Provence, plus SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER in the Great Glen of Scotland... say hello to Nessie!
• And two for the month of November 2006 for Provence France, including ANJODI.

Where no cabins are booked on a cruise, a minimum of 4 passengers are required to guarantee the cruise.

For more information on this special and anything else that may come to mind, contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters: CLICK HERE

Catamaran Pentesilea

UPDATE: Hans & Ruth have sold their catamaran PENTESILEA and we no longer offer this yacht for charter...

We just received an email from Hans & Ruth, owner operators of the fabulous charter yacht PENTESILEA, a Privilege catamaran.

"I have to tell you a fish story which happened on our last charter. We are securely anchored in a lovely bay. One of the teenage guests is napping/reading in the aft cabin, with the deckhatch open to keep her cool. Her Mom is standing back in the cockpit with one of my famous painkillers in her hand. Suddenly this large silvery thing comes flying thru the air, lands on the open deck hatch and slams it shut, bounces off and lands on the cockpit sunning mattress. Teenager hollers : "what the h…..," Mom shrieks…."wow look at this". The fish is frightened to death never having been on Pentesilea and with a mighty kick gets off the boat back into his/her environment. As I charge out to the cockpit to check on the ruckus, mom is laughing so hard and points to the wet spot (made from the fish and not mom) on the sunning mattress. I guess it was true; it was not the painkillers fault."

This summer's plans for Pentesilea besides polishing and varnishing, will be new interior upholstery.

Pentesilea is one of our favorite catamarans and charter yacht crew. Pentesilea is fully air conditioned and accommodates up to six guests in three cabins with ensuite heads. They will take a young child as a 7th guest, inquire. Lots of toys and lots of fun! Good rates, too. Pentesilea also includes a 2-tank, rendezvous dive for their guests.


For more information on yacht charters CLICK HERE to contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters.

French Canal Barge EMMA - updated web site

This week we have updated our web site for the French canal hotel barge, EMMA, who cruises along the canal du midi, France.

We have two new pages: Guest comments & Rates.

Here's a new photo of EMMA that Liz just sent us!


CLICK HERE to view our web site for EMMA.

For more information, contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters: SEND US AN EMAIL

French Barge LE PREMIER - One week left for 2006

We had a note from the French Barge LE PREMIER this morning, letting us know that they only have one week left for their 2006 season: August 27 to September 2, 2006.

This beautiful hotel barge cruises along the Dijon - Escommes region of the Burgundy Canal (Canal de Bourgogne, France)

View LE PREMIER's online brochure: CLICK HERE

For more information on Le Premier or other boats, contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters: SEND US AN EMAIL

THREE MOONS: Rendezvous Diving and Island Tour

Beginning with the winter 2006 season (December 16th), THREE MOONS, a 72-foot Irwin 8-passenger ketch, will be offering diving and an island tour.

- FREE: two, 2-tank rendezvous dives for certified AND non-certified divers. This is a private dive trip with only Three Moons guests aboard.

- FREE: 3-hour scenic tour of Virgin Gorda and the Baths with a private driver. This includes a visit to the Baths, lunch overlooking the Baths at Mad Dog's Restaurant, a visit to Little Dix Bay, a drive to the tip-top of Virgin Gorda with panoramic views of the surrounding islands. The land tour ends in the North Sound, Virgin Gorda, where you will meet up with Three Moons.

To view Three Moons' electronic brochure, CLICK HERE

Three Moons $1000 discount for selected weeks in November and December 2006: CLICK HERE

For more information, contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters: CLICK HERE