sailing the exumas
I remember thinking last year when we signed Zuri 3 up for crewed charter service in the Exumas, that it will be tough to give the reigns over to our captain and chef and be guests on our own boat. Well, it turns out that we easily took to being pampered and sailed around to the most glorious places in the Bahamas. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip for our guests who joined us and we totally understood why people would want to take a vacation on a luxury yacht with a crew.
I’ve received so many questions about crewed charter since our trip on our Bali 5.4, Zuri 3 that I wanted to put some of the highlights in a blog. If you’d like to see more videos from our time onboard, make sure to check in on Instagram sailing_Zuri3 and Catamaran Guru Facebook Page Let’s dive into this trip of a lifetime 😉…
THE BOAT: If you’ve never vacationed on a Luxury Crewed Catamaran, you will be delighted by the sheer luxury of being served and guided by an experienced crew with local knowledge. Zuri is a new Bali 5.4 luxury catamaran with two staterooms and two double cabins with queen beds and their own en-suites. It has a fully stocked galley, a dining area with incredible views and spacious entertainment areas. The best feature of the boat is the tilting door that opens the entire boat up to the elements to give you an unrestricted view of the crystal clear water, the dolphins, stingrays and turtles. Our favorite spot to watch the sunset was the fly-bridge where Jana served us cocktails and appetizers every night.
THE FOOD & ADVENTURE: The best part of the charter? The crew. Not only are they consummate professionals but they are the best guides and showed us some incredible dive spots where we caught lobsters for dinner, visited secluded beaches where we sat around a fire enjoying a cocktail and gathered coconuts from which we drank our favorite rum cocktails. Our chef Jana’s culinary skills are incredible and when she was not cooking or blending drinks, she made sure that our beds were freshly made every morning and our cabins looked and smelled like a spa oasis. The experience surpassed anything that we could have imagined!
Impressions of a "virgin" charter guest
Our guests who joined us on Zuri have never experienced a crewed charter before and was blown away! This is what Schalk & Anel le Roux had to say: “We went on a unforgettable cruise on Zuri 3 in the Bahamas at the end of 2023. We are from South Africa and had an opportunity to spend a week on a world class luxury catamaran Bali 54 Zuri 3.
We arrived at Nassua airport and a local uber took us to Palm Cay Marina where we met our crew, Captain Andre and Chef Jana. What an awesome couple. Words cannot describe the passion they have for the sailing and even more for the guests on board. From the time that we arrived, where we were welcomed with drinks and snacks, right up until our last day, Jana impressed us every second of every day! The food was divine and we just couldn’t (and didn’t want to) say NO! Master CHEF at its best! Well done Jana for the exceptional culinary delights we experienced from morning to night – an experience and memory which will last a lifetime.
Our Captain’s local knowledge of the Bahamas was very impressive. He almost knew the wildlife by name…. where to sail, snorkel, fish, where the perfect white sandy beaches were…… he knew it all like the back of his hand! I was lucky enough to assist with some of the deckhand duties which was awesome to say the least. Even though we had no sailing experience, we felt right at home and comfortable on Zuri 3. She may have been built for sailing but to us she felt like a home! She is so spacious and luxurious with a touch of adventure, all rolled into one amazing vessel!
The ultimate treat, however, was that we had the two Gurus onboard – Steve and Stellie from Catamaran Guru. The amazing stories, their experiences and the lifestyles of proper and genuine “yachties”. It was like going to the moon and back, something you have to experience to be able to understand and appreciate. It was a privilege to be able to learn and experience the vessel with them.
Thanks to Our Captain Andre, our Chef Jana, our Gurus and Monica, each one of them gave us an experience of a lifetime and showed us how life should be lived!”
How to get the best experience from a crewed charter
Crewed catamarans may
not be as costly as one might expect, especially for a family or a group of friends sharing the cost. It is generally all inclusive (crew services, meals, open bar, activities, etc.). Prices start at $4,000 per person per week (not including tip), and rise from there depending on the level of luxury you desire, the size of the yacht, and the charter location. Here are some more tips and insights that might help you decide.
Join the Zuri 3 charter crew in the Bahamas!
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