We are experienced yacht charterers, as we have been many boats with many different crew. First of all, the boat. Zingara is a perfect layout for 8 or 10 people (we had 10). There is plenty of space and different areas on the boat to spread out. Not only that, but she is provisioned well with many toys and activities. The SCUBA equipment in particular is new and very nice, which is important. The new owners have put money into the boat and it clearly makes a difference. Nice linens and towels, in addition to the little things that make a boat nice are all on board. Of all the boats we have chartered, Zingara offers the most for the best value.
Now, on to the important part of any charter, the crew. I can say unequivocally that this is the best crew, across the board, and that each one of the four individuals on board with us were the best at what they did of any crew we have ever had.
Let me start with the chef, Teej. We had very different tastes in our group, from kids who only wanted kid food, to adults who will settle for nothing less than the best fine dining. We also had a few picky eaters and a shellfish allergy. At the end of the trip, EVERYONE of the 10 of us said that EVERYTHING they ate from Teej was the best food they have ever had, not just on a boat, but anywhere! Teej was so good that all of us are fighting over having him come to our homes when the charter season is over to cook for us personally. The meals were all creative with great flavors, and perfectly proportioned (except for the monster cookies). Teej never said no; if one of the kids wanted a PB sandwich, it would appear. Everything, from breakfast to lunch to appetizers to the amazing dinners and deserts, were Michelin star quality.
Next, Kieran. The hardest thing to do in a confined space for a week is to keep the kids (ages 7-14) entertained and interested. Kieran did that wonderfully. At every stop all of the toys were instantly in the water and Kieran was ready to go with whatever they wanted to do. And he never got tired, if they wanted to be on the dingy for 4 hours, Kieran was there with energy and a smile. The new things he introduced us to were great, including the HaliJump, the SubWing, and the secret cliff jumping pool, all highlights. And I havent even talked about SCUBA yet, Kieran was awesome with the SCUBA, encouraging dives every day. By the end of the trip, he had certified two new divers, gave resort lessons to two more, and did multiple dives with the three pre certified divers. From beach dives to more advanced, everyone LOVED the diving. I can not say enough about Kierans great spirit, temperament, and energy.
Kieran was accompanied by Michelle, who is simply wonderful. I will start with the diving, Michelle loves to dive too and she was involved with all the dives. It was helpful to have both Kieran and Michelle on dives as we could break up the group based on skill level. From the boat standpoint Michelle was always on the spot. There was never a towel out of place, a glass half empty, or what you needed not instantly available. The fact is, Michelle is just a VERY nice person, and pleasant to be around at all times. She was warm and made the entire group welcome and comfortable. And, she was pretty funny!
Finally, Captain Lee. From the time we got on the boat, everything was about us, and what we wanted. There was never a no said the entire time we were there. Not only that, but any side comment was heard, and acted on. So when one of us wanted something to eat that wasnt on board, Lee snuck away and that afternoon it was on board. He truly listened and cared about us and what we wanted. He put together a great trip and at each stop showed us new and interesting things (remember, we have been to the BVI many times). Lee is so pleasant to be around and was really vested in making sure that each one of us was having a great time. It was clear that Lee was passionate about us, and passionate about Zingara. That passion was infectious and really made each of us have the trip of a lifetime.
The personality of the crew makes a charter, and when 14 people are together for 7 days on 80 of boat, it is the personality of the entire crew that makes the trip work, or not work. Not only did this crew make the trip work, but they made it the best trip we have ever taken, both for each individual, and as a family. I would highly recommend this crew to anyone looking for a wonderful week in the Caribbean.
Anonymous Family