Best Vacation Ever – Perfect Moon + The BEST Crew (CJ, Mackenzie & Tilley!)

We just returned from a one-week charter aboard the *Perfect Moon* in the BVI, and it’s hard to put into words just how incredible this experience was—but I’ll try.

First, the yacht itself is absolutely stunning. Spacious, beautifully designed, and impeccably maintained, it felt like a floating luxury resort. Every detail was thought through, and there was always a perfect place to relax—whether lounging on deck with a drink, enjoying the views underway, or unwinding after a full day of adventure.

But what truly made this trip unforgettable—the *reason* this was one of the best vacations we’ve ever had—was the crew: **Captain CJ, Mackenzie, and Tilley**.

CJ is a phenomenal captain—calm, confident, and incredibly knowledgeable. From seamless sailing to carefully planned itineraries, we always felt completely taken care of. Mackenzie brought nonstop energy, humor, and expertise—he seemed to know every hidden gem in the BVI and made every stop more fun than the last. And Tilley… the food was simply out of this world. Every single meal was creative, fresh, and restaurant-quality (or better!). We were genuinely blown away multiple times a day.

The snorkeling was fantastic—crystal-clear water, vibrant marine life, and perfectly chosen spots that felt both adventurous and relaxing. Every day brought something new and memorable.

What stood out most, though, was how the crew elevated every moment. They didn’t just do their jobs—they created an experience. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and genuinely fun personalities made us feel like we were traveling with friends who just happen to be world-class at what they do. The entire week felt effortless because of them.

We’ve been on great trips before—but this was on another level. We’re already talking about coming back, and honestly, we would prioritize sailing again with **CJ, Mackenzie, and Tilley**. They made the trip what it was.

If you’re considering a charter in the BVI, stop looking—this is it.

**10/10. Would give more stars if we could.**

Perfect Moon & Perfect Crew = Perfect Memorable Vacation!

Research no further! This vacation experience exceeded expectations!
We recently returned from a week long sail on the Perfect Moon Yacht. The boat is beautiful. Our crew of CJ, Mackenzie & Tilley, we would HIGHLY recommend requesting. Let me share why and hopefully some of this write up will help inform your decision & itinerary!

We were a group of couples – old college friends – all of us well travelled enough to know when we have experienced something special in a vacation. The Perfect Moon itself is just beautiful. She is one of the few blue colored boats of this type out on the water – which makes her profile one that people on OTHER BOATS take pictures of. The accommodations are tight – but efficient and effective. The interior design of the boat and rooms are modern & sleek, with quality linens and shower items included. The area/space for sun or shade are well placed and the room for dining is perfect.
All of the fun water toys are also provided, and you can save space in your carry on bag because they supply all of the sunscreen, aloe, shampoo, conditioner & body wash.

Speaking of carry on bags…only bring something of that size. All of us (gals included) packed one “overnight satchel” sized bag, a backpack and a tiny bag to go into town with. You are going to “live in” your bathing suits most days. Bringing 3 bathing suits, 3 shorts, 3 t-shirts, bathing suit coverup, rash guard, flip flops, sneakers and 1 or 2 “resort casual” outfits will serve you well. For us gals – packing 2 or 3 sundress were perfect. A few items that were great to have – a windbreaker type jacket/pull over. You can smoosh them flat and they don’t wrinkle. A rash guard (long-sleeved bathing suit type shirt) is so helpful. Shoes that are fast drying & protective (ie: decent flip flops). At least one sun hat or ball cap. Finally, a dry bag for your phones & credit card proved also to be a plus to have.

Regarding the vacation and sail itself…it really did exceed our expectations. As I said, our crew was wonderful. CJ is your Captain, and Mackenzie his First Mate and Tilley is your Chef. The 3 of them make for a fantastic and very likable team. You will feel catered to without feeling hovered over. CJ is professional – but is also very personable and you will feel safe and in competent hands. Mackenzie is equally professional and in constant interaction with your group. He is easy going, extremely knowledgeable, flexible and willing to work with you and your group so your vacation is everything it can be. Tilley as your Chef is nothing short of a wonder. There have been multiple times afterwards that we have texted one another saying how much we missed her, as we were now back in our own kitchens, attempting to whip up some of the magic we all experienced with her food! What she is able to pull together -seemingly effortlessly – for your breakfast, lunch and dinner AND not ever do a REPEAT is nothing short of amazing. PLUS – the quality of the dishes she creates are excellent, and the presentation of each and every meal is worthy of photos in Food & Wine or Bon Appetite. When Tilley does her “food preference intake” with you for your group – she takes it seriously and it is reflected beautifully with what she produces.
I think each of us could gush for quite some time about each of them and what they bring to make them such a great team and as a result – your experience so memorable.

Some suggestions on your itinerary. Since NONE of us had sailed around the BVI’s before – we placed a lot of our faith in their hands for what our route should be. We gave them high level & general ideas of what type of activities we like to do and not do, and the overall “type” of vacation we were hoping for. They did an excellent job translating that into a great itinerary.
They recommended 2 dinners “off boat and in town” – and both suggestions were excellent. It gave us a change of scenery, pace and the ability to experience the local towns. Only one on shore experience that we had we all said we wished was a little different was our day trip to The Baths. When our crew suggested we get up and get to the hike & The Baths early – we are SO GLAD we listened. Why? Because once the passengers from the cruise ships began arriving – the place was an absolute zoo.
Otherwise, each on shore experience was great and memorable for all of us.

Finally, you will not go wrong nor be disappointed selecting the Perfect Moon and this specific crew. Again, coming from a group of people who are all pretty well travelled and can have high expectations – this experience exceeded them. We wish you a bon voyage!

Perfect Moon perfection

We just had an amazing vacation with friends on the Perfect Moon! The yacht is beautiful, and the staff members were phenomenal! Captain CJ and mate Mackenzie were very engaging and their expertise was apparent throughout our trip. Chef Tilley couldn’t have been more friendly and provided us with one outstanding meal after another. We were pampered beyond belief, and had a truly wonderful time throughout. A vacation experience that filled us all with joy and many wonderful memories.

Once-in-a-Lifetime BVI Charter Aboard the Perfect Moon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just wrapped up an unforgettable week sailing the British Virgin Islands aboard the Perfect Moon Yacht with five couples, and I cannot recommend this experience highly enough.

From the moment we boarded in Red Hook to our final farewell at Christmas Cove, Captain CJ navigated us flawlessly through every anchorage — Norman Island, Cooper Island, Virgin Gorda, the Kodiak Queen wreck, Saba Rock, Marina Cay, Guana Island, Cane Garden Bay, and the legendary Soggy Dollar. His knowledge of the islands and easygoing professionalism made every day feel effortless.

First Mate Mackensey was the heartbeat of the boat — handling the RIB tender and lines with skill while also serving up the best cocktails in the Caribbean. He looked after every guest like family and joined us on several dives and fishing adventures.

And Chef Tilly — what can I say? Every single meal was restaurant-quality and beautifully plated, from her shakshuka and tuna poke bowls to panko wahoo, persimmon rose carpaccio, and a surf-and-turf finale that rivaled any fine dining experience anywhere. She’s a true artist.

The Perfect Moon herself is a stunning yacht with incredible spaces, a great aft deck for gatherings, and all the toys you could want (eFoil, paddleboards, snorkel gear, fishing setup).

If you’re considering a BVI charter — book the Perfect Moon and request CJ, Mackensey, and Tilly. You won’t regret a single minute. Already planning for 2027!

Incredible Week

Just completed a week on the Perfect Moon with a boat full of college friends. CJ, Tilley and Mackenzie were the best crew anyone could ask for. They were super accommodating and very professional. The coordination of getting us into the best spots to snorkel, keeping our tummies full of food and our cups full of your favorite beverage. Would highly recommend this crew and boat!!!

Amazing crew, great boat, fantastic time

We had an amazing tour of the BVIs. The boat was superb. The crew was fantastic…extremely professional and got along great with our group. Captain CJ always presented the itinerary and had great information on the islands. He and Mackenzie were always available to help with water sports and gear. Tilley is a fantastic chef—the meals we had were all amazing and she catered to multiple preferences. I couldn’t recommend this crew any more. They delivered a super relaxing trip and are great people. I’ll root for their future success!

The perfect sailing trip

The perfect week with friends on the Perfect Moon. CJ, MacKenzie and Tilley were the best crew ever. The food was amazing and the hospitality and professionalism were beyond measure. I was unsure how I would feel spending a week on a boat at first and I only wish the trip could have been a week longer. Thank you for such a fun adventure. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Bucket list trip to the BVI

We had a great trip March 23-28 on the perfect moon with captain CJ, first mate Mackenzie and Chef Tillie. Team was attentive from our champagne toast and lunch waiting for us on arrival to ensuring we were always hydrated(😉) and even arranging transportation on our last day. They chose wonderful locations for us to visit in the BVI and provided some historical info on the areas. The boat was the perfect size for our group of 6 with lots of different areas to relax together or alone. Boat was well maintained and cabins were a good size with queen beds in most of the cabins(4 with queens and 1 with twin beds). Tillie’s cooking was amazing, healthy with lots of seafood which we had requested. My husband and I have been to the VI several times but this was our first time chartering a boat and will not be our last. We are looking forward to planning our next trip on this boat with this fantastic crew.

Perfect Moon-2026

We ended up on the Perfect Moon by chance at the last minute. The crew, Tilley, McKenzie and the Captain CJ made sure that everything was carefree for our five day cruise. They were in near constant motion to anticipate every need and to prepare for the next adventure.

Every day CJ found the perfect anchorage to facilitate snorkeling, swimming and going ashore to experience different aspects of island life. Each of the crew shared their own stories of the BVI which made some stops more memorable than others.

Each morning Tilley started our day with a freshly prepared breakfast. Each meal is carefully planned and she incorporated our preferences with expertise. McKenzie poured rum punch and Painkillers that outshine the signature bars, he deserves his own t-shirt.

The boat ran perfect and it was always clean which is no small feat.

It is no exaggeration to say this was a trip of a lifetime.

Perfect Moon-2026

We ended up on the Perfect Moon by chance at the last minute. The crew, Tilley, McKenzie and the Captain CJ made sure that everything was carefree for our five day cruise. They were in near constant motion to anticipate every need and to prepare for the next adventure.

Every day CJ found the perfect anchorage to facilitate snorkeling, swimming and going ashore to experience different aspects of island life. Each of the crew shared their own stories of the BVI which made some stops more memorable than others.

Each morning Tilley started our day with a freshly prepared breakfast. Each meal is carefully planned and she incorporated our preferences with expertise. McKenzie poured rum punch and Painkillers that outshine the signature bars, he deserves his own t-shirt.

The boat ran perfect and it was always clean which is no small feat.

It is no exaggeration to say this was a trip of a lifetime.