ZINGARA

I wanted to take a moment to share a review of the Zingara, where we stayed, and I’d love for this message to be passed along to both the crew and the boat’s owner.
The boat itself was fantastic, but what truly made our stay unforgettable was the crew: Lee, Reece, Ed, and Margy. What an incredible team. With five kids on board, they went above and beyond every single day, and we couldn’t have hoped for a better crew.
Margy’s attention to detail, her quiet presence, and the way she would set the table differently three times a day – we truly felt like royalty. Reece was a powerhouse of energy and talent. There’s nothing he can’t do – he’s smart, hardworking, endlessly enthusiastic, and always one step ahead. He kept the kids entertained non-stop, which was honestly impressive. I have no doubt he’ll make an exceptional captain one day. My son Eliott will still be talking about Reece ten years from now, I’m sure of it.
And Ed – what a chef! Every single meal was delicious, and we’re already missing his cooking. Always working quietly in the background, never stopping – thank you so much, Ed!
And finally, Captain Lee. His calm, reassuring presence and deep experience gave us complete peace of mind throughout the journey.
Thank you to the entire crew for your patience, your kindness, and your resilience with our lively group. We will never forget this vacation. The owner of the Zingara is incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated, hard-working, and thoughtful crew who take care of the boat as if it were their own.
As business owners ourselves, with over 500 employees, we can confidently say: we’d hire each and every one of them without hesitation.

Jason was excellent, he really paid a lot of attention to detail. He spent time learning us quickly and turned every day into a dream full of endless activities that we thoroughly enjoyed! I don’t think it would be possible to find a better captain than Jason.

Reece, Margy, and Ed were the perfect combination of crew members for this boat. Ed’s food was exceptional, every meal was truly a 5-star experience. Reece worked around the clock to make sure we were all having the best time possible. Margy’s attention to detail was unbelievable for someone her age. The cleanliness of the boat and the quality of the drinks was impeccable! The food and drinks may have been the biggest surprise of the trip. Everyone in our group was impressed with every aspect of the food and drinks on this trip!

We loved the yacht, plenty of room for our group of 9 to spread out and it was super clean and comfortable. The itinerary was awesome, we had a perfect mix of beaches, snorkeling, hiking, and sailing. We would not change a thing! It was a perfect balance of sports and leisure activities, we packed a lot into each day so we were never feeling like we needed to do more.

It was the most memorable trip of our lives, we can’t wait to start planning the next one!

The Van Dyke party

Our family recently enjoyed an incredible week-long charter on the Zingara in the British Virgin Islands. It was spectacular! From the moment we stepped aboard, we were greeted with warm smiles and exceptional hospitality from the crew.
The sailing catamaran yacht itself was a beautiful – spacious, luxurious, and impeccably maintained, it provided the perfect setting for our family vacation. The cabins were comfortable and well-appointed. The multi-story deck was our favorite spot, where we spent countless hours soaking up the sun, enjoying meals, and marveling at the breathtaking scenery. It was particularly fun when we travel “under sail” – what a neat experience!
What truly made this trip special was the crew and the chef. They went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and enjoyment. From preparing delicious meals and drinks tailored to our preferences to organizing fun activities like snorkeling, diving, tubing, beach picnics, they made every moment special.
The itinerary allowed us to explore the best of the BVIs. Each day brought new adventures, from visiting secluded beaches and vibrant coral reefs to experiencing the local culture and cuisine. The crew’s knowledge of the area and their ability to customize our journey based on our interests made the trip even more memorable.
In summary, our yacht charter on the Zingara was an extraordinary experience that exceeded all our expectations. The combination of a beautiful yacht, an amazing crew, and the stunning backdrop of the British Virgin Islands made it a vacation we will cherish forever. We highly recommend this charter to anyone looking for a luxurious and unforgettable getaway.

The Sullivan’s

We had a fantastic vacation aboard the Zingara! We were expecting it to be a great trip, but it exceeded our expectations. The catamaran was roomy, including 5 guest bedrooms each with their own bathroom, large front and back decks, and interior lounge area with a bar, table and sofas. It also was well equipped with all the amenities we could ask for. But what made our experience truly amazing was the crew. They did a fantastic job in every aspect and ran the boat seemingly effortlessly. Chef Ed’s meals were always something to look forward to and never disappointed. Reece seemed to never stop working including helping with diving, snorkeling, the fishing lines and of course his singing and guitar playing. Margy’s attentiveness to us was amazing, including never letting our drinks get empty and somehow keeping all the cabins cleaned and clothing folded, as well as making her famous Margy’s Painkillers! Captain Jason was phenomenal with his running of the boat, knowledge of the Caribbean waters and islands, helping plan our itinerary and keeping ahead of the weather, as we didn’t have a bad day even when they were calling for “iffy” weather. The entire crew went above and beyond every day of our trip. Leaving the Zingara the last morning, the 10 of us traveling together truly felt like we gained 4 more friends on the trip. We can’t wait to meet up with all our friends again on another charter!

Ulla,
Thanks for following up. We thought our last trip we booked with you was a trip of a lifetime and never thought we could get better. This trip was even better, by far. Maybe because it has been 2 years and of course we certainly enjoyed the last trip, but this boat and crew was over the top. They certainly customized the trip to us and what we wanted to do. Hugh was an amazing Captain and our personalities all meshed so well. His friend Maxine did a great job with the food. We couldn’t have asked for anything better. Every meal was over the top perfect. I really think the highlight of our trip was Gaby. She brought everything to our table every meal and made whatever drinks we wanted anytime. I don’t think you could ask for any better combination of crew having 2 couples serving us all the time. Kyle was the first mate and dive instructor and Gaby’s back up. The boys wanted to wreck dive, so Hugh and Kyle took us to 3 wrecks We didn’t want to spend a lot of time in bars but did want to spend time at the beach and go to the Soggy Dollar, so they took us there.
I think their true colors came out when Nicole hurt her shoulder. They handled it so well, ALL OF THEM, Hugh got her quickly to the doctor and Gaby rode along and stayed with her, Hugh then repositioned the boat so when Nicole got back from the doctor, we were all seated and ready for dinner. Nicole is recovering just fine. We can’t think of anything we wished we would have known before we went. If you get a chance to send any more clients on this boat, please do, I can’t imagine anything better.
At the end of the trip we all sat around the chart of the BVI and outlined where we had been for the week. We then took the chart with us and it will be framed on our wall at home. It’s something that Hugh does with his clients every trip. What a great way to end the trip.
In the end we felt like we spent a lifetime that week with the crew.

Thanks for your help setting this all up. We hope to book again someday.

I wanted to provide some feedback for you on our recent trip on the Zingara. We had a fabulous time, and it was an exceptional vacation for us all.

We were very worried after our last trip with Captain Lee and Cami, we would never be able to replace the experience. However, Captain Hugh is so young and energetic. He is light-hearted, but very serious when it comes to the safe operations of the boat therefore you feel a ton of confidence in his capability. Perhaps since he is only 24 and recent to the charter business there is no burn out. As you know so well charter clients can be so demanding, and I am sure after a period of years the lifestyle would wear on most anyone. I think this Captain is really excited to make a career of this, and I sensed his ambition and desire to create a great experience for us. The day trips planned were wonderful, and we found the suggestions of things to do very helpful. The logistics of our day trips were well coordinated, and we had a fabulous and diverse experience. The kids of course also loved the water sports, spontaneous snorkeling, and random treasure hunting hikes along various rock formations.

Maxime the chef is one of the more talented I have encountered in terms of both presentation and food quality. I have been on a yacht called the Victoria Del Mar several times (170 feet I think), and I would match Max’s food with that experience. Every meal was different and all home made and fresh ranging from fresh pasta and homemade bread all the way to elegant seafood dishes and beautiful salads. She is also a total delight to be around, and did things like made cookies with my kids in the afternoon. She was very detailed and sure to have everything on the provisions list.

Gabi and her are quite the pair. Gabi never hesitated to get us anything we needed, and she always took the time to check on us wherever we may be on the boat. She has an incredibly warm personality. Her table settings for all three meals of the day were gorgeous, and she spent umpteen amounts of time teaching my daughter how to fold napkins and set the table. She also spent a lot of time making seashell necklaces with Elizabeth.

Kyle assisted us around the boat and off the boat. He was always there lifting and helping us move my 84 year old Dad in and out of the tender. He is a very quiet professional, and makes anyone feel well cared for on the Zingara.

This is an exceptional crew. They cooperate and work together beautifully, and it is evident in the joy and positive energy they have each day. My kids are still sending videos and crying about missing them so much.

A HUGE THANK YOU Captain Hugh and your crew, wonderful words of praise for them!

I wanted to provide some feedback for you on our recent trip on the Zingara. We had a fabulous time, and it was an exceptional vacation for us all.

We were very worried after our last trip with Captain Lee and Cami, we would never be able to replace the experience. However, Captain Hugh is so young and energetic. He is light-hearted, but very serious when it comes to the safe operations of the boat therefore you feel a ton of confidence in his capability. Perhaps since he is only 24 and recent to the charter business there is no burn out. As you know so well charter clients can be so demanding, and I am sure after a period of years the lifestyle would wear on most anyone. I think this Captain is really excited to make a career of this, and I sensed his ambition and desire to create a great experience for us. The day trips planned were wonderful, and we found the suggestions of things to do very helpful. The logistics of our day trips were well coordinated, and we had a fabulous and diverse experience. The kids of course also loved the water sports, spontaneous snorkeling, and random treasure hunting hikes along various rock formations.

Maxime the chef is one of the more talented I have encountered in terms of both presentation and food quality. I have been on a yacht called the Victoria Del Mar several times (170 feet I think), and I would match Max’s food with that experience. Every meal was different and all home made and fresh ranging from fresh pasta and homemade bread all the way to elegant seafood dishes and beautiful salads. She is also a total delight to be around, and did things like made cookies with my kids in the afternoon. She was very detailed and sure to have everything on the provisions list.

Gabi and her are quite the pair. Gabi never hesitated to get us anything we needed, and she always took the time to check on us wherever we may be on the boat. She has an incredibly warm personality. Her table settings for all three meals of the day were gorgeous, and she spent umpteen amounts of time teaching my daughter how to fold napkins and set the table. She also spent a lot of time making seashell necklaces with Elizabeth.

Kyle assisted us around the boat and off the boat. He was always there lifting and helping us move my 84 year old Dad in and out of the tender. He is a very quiet professional, and makes anyone feel well cared for on the Zingara.

This is an exceptional crew. They cooperate and work together beautifully, and it is evident in the joy and positive energy they have each day. My kids are still sending videos and crying about missing them so much.

My wife and I just finished a 6 night charter on the Zingara with our 4 adult kids and their significant others. Our party of 10 was completely comfortable with the 5 suite floor plan. My wife scheduled our cruise and we were both a little cautious about a 24 y/o captain and young crew but could not have asked for a better experience. Hugh was an absolute professional who takes great care of the passengers and the boat. Safety was always his priority. Gabi and Kyle catered to our every need and it was fantastic to have 2 scuba instructors on board. And then there was the food…. Maxime is a fantastic chef who blew us away every day with her amazing meals, 3 times a day!
This was the sixth charter for my wife and I, two in France and four in the BVI. There were none better or even as good as the Zingara. Congratulations on your magnificent sailing yacht and fantastic crew.
All the best,

This was our first family charter ever and we have already decided that we need to go on another charter on Zingara. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute. It is truly like sailing in a 5-star hotel, only you have beautiful sunny days sailing on crystal clear waters. The crew, the meals, and all the activities were top notch. The amenities are all as described and even better. Who can resist being waited on by staff ready to provide all requests expertly and always with a smile? None in the family wanted the trip to end. We could have stayed another week if we could have.
The Aguera Family

We just returned from an epic adventure on board Zingara. Captain Cami was very professional and extremely knowledgeable with every detail of Zingara. She tailored our vacation so that we could sail, allowed us to explore islands and take us to some of the best dive spots in the BVI’s. We were so appreciative of her efforts helping us obtain our BVI entry approvals and PCR testing for return to the US.
Our chef Katie was outstanding! She worked countless hours in the galley preparing delicious meals and snacks for us. Katie made each meal using local foods and even grows fresh herbs on board! The highlight at each meal was of course dessert. We are still raving about Katie’s banoffee (banana and toffee) pie!
Alex and Uri, our deck hand and stewardess and dive instructors were so fun and entertaining! They had many interesting stories to share about their world travels and took the upmost care of us. Uri was always ready to take us wakeboarding and water skiing whenever we wanted. Both Alex and Uri are exceptional divers. They put those of us who were beginners at complete ease and built our confidence and appreciation of sea life. The best part of each afternoon was trying Alex’s “cocktail of the day” which was her own unique concoction and a huge hit with all of us! Zingara is beautiful, in pristine condition and is very spacious even for our party of 9, but the warm and friendly crew on Zingara was what made our vacation truly unforgettable and a trip of a lifetime!
The Stern Family – June 2021