Specials going on … take advantage
Highlight of the Month.
BVI Voted Best Caribean Destination
British Virgin Islands voted Best Caribbean Islands destination
BVI News( Best of BVI, Gourmet News)
Brandywine Bay Restaurant and Capriccio di Mare in Tortola, British Virgin Islands have been recognized by Fodor´s Travel, the foremost name in travel publishing, as a 2010 Fodor´s Choice selection. This distinction represents a remarkable achievement and recognizes both Brandywine Bay and Capriccio di Mare as leaders in their field for service, quality, and value in the 2010 year.
Since 1988, Fodor´s Travel has been awarding the Fodor´s Choice distinction to only the very best hotels, restaurants and attractions around the world. Every year, Fodor´s writer’s experience, examine and evaluate thousands of hotels, restaurants and attractions in their travels across the globe. While every business included in a Fodor´s guide is deemed worth a traveler´s time, only fifteen percent of those selections are awarded the very highest, Fodor´s Choice designation by Fodor´s editors.
Congratulations Davide Pugliese owner and executive chef for Brandywine Bay and Capriccio di Mare, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
We have plenty of new and different charter opportunities available this summer.
- New Member INFINITY, a Simonis 50 cat, is chartering in Belize.
- GAZELLE, a new Gunboat 66 will be in New England this summer, and Central America next winter.
- CATATONIC, a Lagoon 44 cat, will be in New England later in the Summer.
- New Member MISS KIRSTY, a Sunreef 62 cat, is in the Greek Islands this summer.
- OTEKA, another Lagoon 44 cat, will be in the Turks & Caicos Islands this summer.
- AKASHA and New Member CATSY both have charters booked for July in the Leeward Islands, more would be nice!
- Morgan 41 sloop DREAM MAKER will be in the Grenadines this summer.
- PARADISE, the Irwin 54 cutter, will be in the Grenadines from July through October.
- The Tonga Islands in the South Pacific are the new base for the Leopard 45 cat TWO if by SEA.
- LADY ANGELE, the 6 passengers CT ketch, will be in New England this summer.
- SWISH is available in the BVI or the Leeward Islands this summer.
- ZINGARA will be available down island to the Grenadines in the Autumn. ZINGARA is available for New Years from Antigua
- New Member 123Relax, a Beneteau 50, will be based from Margarita Is. for Grenadines or Venezuelan charters this summer.
- GOOD NEWS, the Marquises 56 cat with 2 large master suites, is available throughout the Caribbean this summer.
- SCORPIO. The Sovereign 54 sloop will be based in the Grenadines, but available Caribbean-wide.
And finally...
- Leopard 47 Cat COOL CHANGE is based in St. Vincent and the Grenadines year-round, but she’ll be in the Virgins for Oct. - Nov.
Discounted Rates - BVI Crewed
Now discounted 10% listed rate below
Winter/Summer: All inclusive rates 2 guests$10,000 3 guests$ 10,750 4 guests $11,250 5 guests $12,000 and
6 guets $12,500
* not including Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years weeks
NORDIC LADY Nordic Lady stimulates her charter business offering a 25% discount on all charters confirmed prior to 3 November, 2010
2 guests = $11,500 less 25% ($2,875 savings) = $8,625
4 guests = $14,500 less 25% ($3,625 savings) = $10,875
Expires: 03/Nov/2010
New locations SunFunBVI now offering Bareboat and Crewed Charters:
Croatia
Cuba
Martinique
St Martin
USA – Chesapeake
Bahamas
Greece
Homeland Security
DHS Announced the implementation of the ESTA is a new fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). ESTA applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel to the United States, and VWP travelers are encouraged to apply for the authorization as soon as they begin to plan a trip to the United States. It is anticipated that ESTA will became mandatory on 12 January 2009
The Road Town FAST FERRY now features 9PM departures from Red Hook, St. Thomas, to Road Town, Tortola, Thursday through Sundays From the Premier and Minister for Tourism Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE has confirmed the start of a late ferry from Red Hook, St. Thomas as Government continues to explore options for increasing visitor arrivals in the Territory.
Road Town Fast ferry Now Features 9Pm departure from Red Hook, St Thomas USVI , see Fast Ferry web site _ http://www.roadtownfastferry.com/
Honourable O’Neal told the Department of Information and Public Relations that Road Town Fast Ferry has begun offering the late ferry service and is expected to continue to do so for the duration of the high tourism season. As of now, the service is offered Thursdays through Sundays at 9:00 p.m. with the actual time of departure from Red Hook dependent on the arrival time of last flights out of the United States mainland.
British Virgin Islands New Diving Site
Wednesday, September 23 – The BVI Tourist Board (BVITB) has welcomed the latest addition to the Territory’s tourism product, specifically the addition to the dive area known as Wreck Alley.The cargo vessel, Island Seal that capsized near Brandywine Bay since August 25, 2006 and later moved to Road Harbour, was last week taken to its final resting place, joining a number of other wrecks located at Wreck Alley.
Marine Marketing Manager of the BVITB Ms. Abigail O’Neal said, “Any addition that enhances the tourism product in an environmentally conscious way is always welcome.”
The Island Seal was the fourth wreck purposely sank in the area for diving and Ms. O’Neal spoke of efforts being made to promote diving there. “The Tourist Board is now working closely with the BVI Scuba Operators Association to promote Wreck Week which will be observed from June 12-19, 2010. It is part of our ongoing collaboration as we recently hosted along with the scuba operators, a press trip for ten leading dive journalists who were already impressed with the product and extremely excited about the new wreck,” she stated.
The relocation of the wreck represents the culmination of years of work, first to salvage the vessel and repair it and then to dispose of it.
Government secured the services of local company, Husky Salvage and Towing, which worked in close collaboration with the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (VISR), BVI Tourist Board and BVI Scuba Operators Association.
According to Director of the VISR Captain Baboucar Sallah, his department in turn consulted with the Conservation and Fisheries Department. “A couple of sites were chosen and the VISR used that information to advise and request Government’s permission for the derelict to be used as a dive site or a fisheries aggregation device by sinking it at an appropriate location,” he told the Department of Information and Public Relations.
"Initially we decided to sink it on the north of Tortola but it was subsequently decided that in light of the sea and the weather conditions and the condition of the derelict, it might be better to choose a site within the Caribbean Sea that is just south of Cooper Island where it could be used as a dive site,” Captain Sallah added.
The VISR Director described the relocation as a fairly complex operation but one which was completed without incident. “It was a difficult, intricate and complex operation to refloat the vessel, keep it buoyant and make it amenable to moving from where it was across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to the final resting place,” he stated, adding that “There is knowledge and skill in the BVI to deal with that and the operation was completed without incident.”
The relocation of the wreck is in keeping with Government’s commitment to appropriately manage the environment in a manner that does not compromise the ability of future generations to enjoy the same privileges we do today.BY GIS Originally published: September 23, 2009 07:04:00 PM