We have sailed multiple times with Elizma and Wes upon request. 

We have been doing catamaran charters for over 20 years now and Elizma and Wes are by far the best captain and first mate we have ever had. We have taken full boats with friends, and full boats with our family, including our grandchildren who were 6 months and 2 years old. They have been fabulous on all our charters providing safety, fun and first class meals.

Daina

It is my pleasure to write this recommendation for Elizma Van Wyngaard and Wesley Oakes.
Our group sailed with them through the British Virgin Islands two years ago.
They are a dynamic team!
Very personable, experienced and professional!
They are terrific coworkers that made our charter sail vacation easy, comfortable and memorable!
Wes is an experienced Captain and a knowledgeable sailor. His experience as a divemaster took us on some wonderful dives.
Elizma is also a gem.
As a chef she served outstanding meals and her knowledge of wines was so inspiring when she served a wine pairing dinner.
She also excelled in her first mate boating duties!!
You would be well served with this professional couple! They are among the best!!

Joyce

We had an incredible week sailing the BVIs aboard Cleopatra! Captain Kelton and Chef Jay made it an unforgettable trip for our entire family, including our 4 kids.
Captain Kelton was always game for the next adventure whether it was a sunrise hike or fishing after dinner with the kids. He made sure everyone, kids included, had a blast!
Chef Jay’s cooking was outstanding!! He went above and beyond to accommodate our child’s food allergies in every single meal. He even invited our son into the kitchen to help out, encouraging him to try new foods along the way. In the evenings, Jay would join us for card games, which became a favorite part of the trip for the whole family.
Both Kelton and Jay were warm, attentive, and wonderful with kids. We can’t recommend Cleopatra and this crew highly enough!!

We just got back from a trip of a lifetime aboard the beautiful Cleopatra catamaran in the British Virgin Islands. Captain Kelton and Chef Jay turned what we hoped would be a great vacation into something truly magical and unforgettable. The cabins were immaculately clean—spotless linens, sparkling bathrooms, everything perfectly thought through down to the Jo Malone hand soap . The whole catamaran was luxurious yet comfortable even when things got a little “rolly”. Captain Kelton navigated us safely to each island and ensured we knew exactly where to go and what to do at each stop. Chef Jay is an amazing cook. He didn’t just cook—he created personalized masterpieces tailored exactly to us. Breakfasts were fresh and delicious (the fruit platters with dragon fruit and berry smoothies were my favorite). Meals were light, beautifully plated, and bursting with flavor. Captain Kelton was the perfect complement: calm, expert, and endlessly fun. He suggested the most incredible secluded spots, and took us on amazing excursions to The Baths, beaches on Virgin Gorda, prime snorkeling reefs, and quiet anchorages where we felt like we had the islands to ourselves. Together, Kelton and Jay were an unbeatable team—always smiling, hardworking behind the scenes, dancing, mixing killer cocktails, and making us feel like family rather than guests. The attention to detail was next-level, and their genuine passion for the islands shone through. If you’re thinking about a BVI charter, do yourself a favor and book Cleopatra with Captain Kelton and Chef Jay. We can’t wait to go back. Thank you both from the bottom of our hearts—you made memories we’ll cherish forever, and you will always have family in Texas!

We had a great time on Cleopatra with Kelton and Jay! It was a beautiful week!

Five stars isn’t enough for this unforgettable family yacht trip aboard the Cleopatra! From the moment we stepped on board, everything felt effortless, luxurious, and genuinely special.

Captain Kelton was incredible—professional, knowledgeable, and made us feel completely at ease the entire journey. And Chef Jay? Absolutely phenomenal. Every single meal was intentional, beautifully prepared, and honestly some of the best food we’ve ever had. You could tell so much care and thought went into every dish.

The entire crew was super easygoing, attentive without being overbearing, and truly made every moment feel personalized and memorable. Whether we were relaxing, exploring, or enjoying meals together, everything just flowed perfectly.

We had the best time with our family and made memories we’ll be talking about for years. If you’re even thinking about booking—do it. You won’t regret it!

Our family yacht trip was nothing short of extraordinary—truly a five-star experience in every sense. From the moment we stepped aboard, the service was exceptional, with a level of care and attentiveness that made us feel completely at ease. The staff was impeccable in every detail—professional yet warm, anticipating our needs while maintaining such an easygoing and relaxed atmosphere.

What stood out most was how special they made the entire journey feel. Every moment was thoughtfully curated, and every meal was a highlight—fresh, beautifully prepared, and clearly crafted with care and intention. It felt less like a trip and more like a personalized experience designed just for our family.

This was more than just a vacation; it was a collection of moments we will cherish forever. The memories we made together on this trip will truly last a lifetime. We are so incredibly appreciative of the entire crew for creating such a meaningful and unforgettable experience for our family! Our captain listened very well to our needs and found the perfect peaceful beaches. We couldn’t recommend enough and certainly will be coming back.

We sailed two weeks ago and truly cannot imagine the trip without Captain Kelton and Chef Jay. The entire experience was amazing, but they made it exceptional.

From the moment we stepped on board and were surprised with a birthday celebration, we knew we were in for a special week. Chef Jay prepared incredible five-star meals throughout the trip — every dish was thoughtful, beautifully presented, and delicious. The boat itself was immaculately clean when we arrived and remained that way the entire week. It was also very well appointed and comfortable.

As a former Marriott Director of Sales and Marketing, I spent many years in the hospitality industry and have traveled extensively, so I tend to notice the details and have high expectations for service. Captain Kelton and Jay exceeded those expectations in every way. They anticipated needs, paid attention to the small details, and managed to cater to each of us individually — which is no small task when traveling with eight adults, all with different personalities and preferences.

The BVI islands are all stunning, each with its own character and charm. If I had one small suggestion for future guests, it would be to consider visiting fewer islands and spending more time in the secluded coves. Some of the most magical moments of the trip were enjoying the quiet beauty of those remote locations.

We highly recommend this boat and this crew. Captain Kelton and Chef Jay made the experience unforgettable.

We had amazing trip on Cleopatra with captain Kelton and Chef Jay. They are the perfect team working together seamlessly. And the food!!! Jay was so thoughtful about our requests. The flavors he can utilize in that tiny galley are amazing. So fun to watch him work his magic.

Literally the trip of a lifetime!! We had the best time on the “Cleopatra”. Captain Kelton & chef Jay made this trip PERFECT. They were both so accommodating, always friendly/smiling & always tailoring the trip while making wonderful suggestions. Kelton was incredible at sharing the daily plans with us & taking us on adventures. jay’s food was THE BEST. He took into account allergies and preferences, all while making some of the best food I’ve eaten in years (truly)! I cannot recommend Cleopatra or Kelton and Jay enough. Thank you both for such a wonderful time!

Just returned from a week in the BVIs and can’t say enough great things about this crew and experience!! Captain Kelton and Chef Jay made the trip truly unforgettable. Both were incredibly kind, funny, and knowledgeable about the BVIs, and they went above and beyond to make our trip perfect!

Jay prepared amazing breakfasts, lunches, and dinners every day, catering to everyone’s tastes and preferences. The attention to detail and quality of the meals felt like a true five-star experience. He even made a special carrot cake for one of our birthdays and leaned to make chocolate lava cake after hearing it was a favorite of the group.

Kelton planned a perfect route through the islands, making sure our group experienced everything we wanted, including great snorkeling spots, quiet beaches, sightseeing, and shopping. It was an incredible trip from start to finish. On top of that, he was an excellent bartender who made us amazing tropical drinks.

10/10 highly recommend the Cleopatra and this crew!

Simply incredible. We had the best time on the beautiful catamaran “Cleopatra”. From the minute we boarded and throughout our week on board, everything was perfect. Greeted with welcome drinks, the table laid for the first of many fabulous meals prepared by Chef Jay, and it just got better. Kelton’s daily cocktails were a hit, and Jay prepared an amazing iced Amarula desert/cocktail – there wasn’t anything that was too much trouble!
Kelton would suggest a route for the day with places to swim & snorkel, a walk on land, a stop for lunch/dinner and even shop! Jay would check in with the menu and was attentive to food allergies & dislikes! The catamaran was always clean, the food amazing – the guys both worked so hard and were always smiling!
It was a perfect holiday. Thank you, Kelton & Jay, for the fun, laughter & incredible memories on Cleopatra. You were a great team!

Cleopatra Catamaran was a great boat. However we can’t express how Captain Kelton and Chef Jeandra made a 5 stars review not even close. These guys made our experience one that we will never forget. The Food, the knowledge of the area and most of all the newfound friendships. #BestVacationEver

And if you have seen some of my vacations that says a lot.
Russ and Becky

Our week aboard the luxury catamaran Cleopatra in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands was outstanding, and quite possibly the best travel experiences we’ve ever had. Captain Kelton and Chef Jay were personable, extremely accommodating to our nuanced needs, and paid great attention to detail.

All of Jay’s meals were unique, beautifully presented, and 5-star quality. He took the time to learn our preferences, and was not offended if we didn’t like what he prepared.

Captain Kelton was professional, friendly and flexible, and obviously knew the waters we were navigating. He also made it clear that safety was a high priority.

And it was a joy to watch how well Jay and Kelton worked together. They functioned as a true team, constantly helping each other out and they both anticipated many of our needs before we even asked.

This yacht vacation experience exceeded every expectation. Great food, stunning locations, impeccable service, and wonderful company. We can recommend the Cleopatra with Captain Kelton, and Chef Jay without hesitation.

It was the most amazing trip on the Cleopatra catamaran. The boat was absolutely beautiful and we had everything we needed for the 7 days we spent sailing from island to island. Our captain, Kelton, and our chef, Jeandre, went above and beyond to ensure the best experience for us. Everything they did, from taking us on fun hikes with views that were breathtaking, positioning the boat in the bests areas for snorkeling and swimming, to preparing the most beautiful and tasteful meals and drinks made it a 5 star experience. They took us to all of the beautiful spots we wanted to see and they always had drinks and snacks for us ready on the spot. It was a memorable time we will cherish until next time on Cleopatra.

We had an amazing week on Cleopatra! The eight of us enjoyed every minute of the trip! Captain Kelton and Chef J were incredible! They really made an amazing trip experience even better! The boat was perfect and the food was amazing!

I’ve chartered crewed catamarans 11 times in different parts of the world. This was one of my best experiences. My wife and I were joined by our 4 adult kids. Our captain Kelton and Chef Jay were simply outstanding. They made the trip so easy, fun and tasty. Nothing was a problem for them. They were terrific individually and as a team. Plus I had a great experience with the parent company. You learn more about a company when there are challenges rather than when everything goes as planned. In this case, there was a mix-up on dates that could have been really problematic. They stepped up and handled it in a great way. I met one of the owners, Lynn, who personally came to see us when we disembarked. I told her that they will always be my first choice going forward. I can’t recommend them enough.

TRIP OF A LIFETIME! Made special by Capt Kelton and Chef Arno on the beautiful Soulmates yacht. From the initial call with Derek, promises to exceed our expectations don’t begin to describe our family vacation experience. As a first time private charter family, we didn’t know what was in store, we trusted Derek when he said, give us a chance to show you what The Yacht Vacation Company and Kelton and Arno have in mind. We are a family of 5; 3 teenagers with a wide variety of food favorites, but Arno created so many amazing dishes that never disappointed even our most picky palate. His presentation was 5 star for breakfast, lunch and dinner…his authentic South African desserts were an exciting bonus! With Capt Kelton, there is never a dull moment. Kelton is full of life and exudes passion for the BVI, his boat, his crew and our experience! He spent the majority of his day making sure we were happy, informed and free to enjoy the day as we chose. We celebrated birthdays, priceless family moments, romantic sunsets, and some of the funnest family water games that Kelton and Arno coordinated. Happy to say that my 14 yo daughter gave Kelton a run for his money, she’s very competitive! Kelton and Arno work so well together, it was always “smooth sailing” with them. I highly recommend giving this trip every consideration, most importantly that you request Kelton and Arno to create the magical vacation! This is the first of so many more we plan to enjoy!

My wife and I recently chartered a 7-day catamaran trip to the British Virgin Islands. The voyage on the 54-foot Soulmates far exceeded our expectations—-it was frankly the best vacation we have ever taken! Just about everything was perfect: the scenery, the weather, the food & drinks, the stop-over destinations, and the sailing itself. We have never eaten such exquisite cuisine for seven straight days. Chef Iona was absolutely amazing! Every meal was a culinary delight…from filet mignon, halibut, tuna, shrimp, charcuterie boards….to a bunch of fancy meals that I cannot even pronounce. Iona was constantly in the kitchen whipping up dazzling homemade, fresh, and beautifully presented plates for our group of six passengers. Every yummy meal felt like the most delicious one we had ever tasted. Her crewmate, Captain Stella, was also an incredible host to us. Not only was Stella a skilled and professional expert with the boat, she and Iona were fantastic partners who treated their passengers like royalty. They worked as a well-oiled team to make everything appear smooth and seamless. While Iona prepared the meals, Stella often made superb specialty drinks for the guests. What made this trip so special was their endearing personalities. They accommodated all our special requests, ensured we had everything we needed at all times, and made every special moment feel unique. They truly became part of our group and we even cajoled them into playing music trivia games with us in the evenings. They were kind, sweet, and caring; we absolutely fell in love with them. My wife even cried when we got off the boat at the end of the week because she knew she would miss them. I cannot say enough about how incredibly amazing this trip was…..we are definitely planning to do it again a few more times!

Our incredible trip aboard SOULMATES was made even better because of Captain Stella and Chef Iona. As first time charter guests to the BVI, we put our 7-day itinerary and menu entirely in their hands and enjoyed every minute of it.

Captain Stella’s knowledge of the boat, the area and sailing in general is impressive and puts even the most novice boater at ease. We felt incredibly safe in her hands and loved hearing about her favorite spots and future sailing plans.

We all marveled at how Chef Iona was able to continuously produce such delicious meals in such a confined area. Her food was not only stunning in appearance but absolutely delicious. If you are fortunate to have her as your chef, be sure to request her mother’s scones!

With four couples aboard, we never felt claustrophobic or like we didn’t have enough space. And Stella and Iona felt like an extension of our group.

Don’t hesitate. Book the trip. Make the memories ☀️🌴🌊

Rarely does the actual event exceed the expectations. This exceeded all of our expectations from chef Iona’s meals to Captain Stella’s ability to pilot the boat to fixing door handles. We really enjoyed sharing this experience with both ladies!

Caption Stella & Chef Iona are topnotch professionals! Captain Stella gave us
wonderful suggestions where to snorkel & other activities. Chef Iona prepared
5 star meals. We will sail with them again!!

The trip of a lifetime! Spent 7 days on board Soulmates with Stella and Iona our captain and chef respectively. Every aspect of the vacation was a first class: the gourmet meals, the accommodations, the places visited, the flexibility of the crew, the boat….!
We are sad to leave but have the lifetime memories and are already planning our next trip!
Thanks Stella and Iona!

We had a fantastic catamaran trip for 7 days in the British and US Virgin Islands. Our Captain, Stella, was extremely competent driving the cat and finding the best spots to snorkel. She had a great plan for everyday, with on island adventures as well as finding great snorkeling spots.
Our Chef, Iona, cooked fresh, delicious meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We had a fun cocktail and appetizers everyday as well. She tailored the meals for what we requested. Both Stella and Iona made this trip an amazing for our group and we would book them again!

This was a trip of a lifetime ! Capt Stella and Chef Iona were absolutely amazing. Every day was an adventure. We visited so many beautiful locations and always returned to a fantastic gourmet meal! We couldn’t have enjoyed the boat and crew more. Would definitely recommend doing this.

It was one of the best vacations of my life! Awesome crew! Stella the captain kept everything running smoothly and we ate gourmet food all week. A true week of pampering. I highly recommend this cruise. Soulmates is the best.
Mike

I recommend the yacht trip we just took! We had a wonderful time! It was an amazing experience on a private cruise in the BVI aboard the catamaran, Soul Mates. We worked through Mitch Garvie as our Yacht Charter Consultant. A group of 7 of us went out on the 54 foot Bali, a crewed catamaran yacht. The rooms were comfortable and there was more than enough space on the boat. The trip was a week in January and we were treated to beautiful views, great weather, delicious meals, fun beaches, short hikes, and good snorkeling. We especially liked the Baths and the Bubbly Pool!!! We hit 9 BVI islands and our captain, Stella, and our chef, Iona, made us feel welcome and comfortable. Stella was a very good captain and handled the boat easily, mooring at night in calm waters. Iona was ready to offer us beverages and snacks and prepared meals with all the fine touches of a high class restaurant. I highly recommend these two ladies and the yacht, Soul Mates.

Our trip on the yacht Soulmate was nothing short of magical! From the very beginning of our planning process Mitch Garvie of Yacht.Vacation was wonderful to work with. He was able to connect us with the yacht Soulmate. It was perfect for our group of 7 adults. Our Captain and Chef, Stella and Iona were great. We were in very good hands from the minute we stepped on board. This crew was not only were very skilled at their job but it was a joy to spend 7 days with them. We traveled the BVI and saw all the wonderful things they offer. After each excursion we would return to the boat to find a delicious meal or snack waiting for us . We would highly recommend taking a cruise on Soulmates as long as Stella and Iona are there. It was a fantastic trip!

We had an amazing vacation aboard Soul Mates. The crew is outstanding and catered to every one of our needs. The captain, Stella, did an expert job of charting the course for a perfectly relaxing and adventurous week throughout the US and British Virgin Islands. The chef, Iona, is a food savant, serving delicious and healthy meals throughout the day. Mitch coordinated the trip for us and was in continuous communication, ensuring our trip was worry free. We highly recommend it!!!

SoulMates was an amazing vessel, with a modern design and all the amenities you need. We charted SoulMates for our last family trip before my eldest daughter went to college. The crew, Captian Sofia, and Chef Marisa did not disappoint in making our trip the best vacation of our lives. Not only are they amazing at what they do but they are also amazing people. The food, the activities were all top notch!