Forums39
Topics39,176
Posts317,620
Members26,630
|
Most Online3,676 Yesterday at 01:00 PM
|
|
16 registered members (Whale Tail, kaba, SXMScubaman, Tom, Manpot, Billtjw, JeanneB, Kmon, Call_me_Ishmael, cabokid, Fletch, 5 invisible),
3,192
guests, and 328
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: warren460]
#124382
03/16/2017 09:36 PM
03/16/2017 09:36 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 49
dcareri
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 49
|
I'm admittedly biased since I have a boat in the DYC fleet in Puerto Rico so won't comment on the service and boats.
The base at Hodges creek is convenient to the airport and the new bathrooms and showers are very nice. However it can get a bit warm and buggy so AC is needed to overnight at the dock and the restaurant/pool area near the hotel (which I believe is closed) is not the greatest.
I chartered with DYC before I joined their fleet and was a satisfied customer.
Dennis S/V Toes in the Water Lagoon 450
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: Lcrich]
#124386
03/17/2017 01:33 PM
03/17/2017 01:33 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214 Toledo, OH, USA
Orange_Burst
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
|
We also had a terrible experience with DYC's. It was a Bali 4.5 that was just 1 year old. We have had 10 year old boats that were in WAY better shape then this one year old boat.
Here is a correspondence I had with a broker after we returned:
We used owners time for the trip with Dream Yacht Charters. Before we left the base I talked to them about a few problems. My husband reviewed all of the problems in our de-breifing, the person only wrote one of them down. He then said to the office personnel that there was just one issue with the boat. He must not have thought the others were concerns. I also sent a note to the owner that we chartered from and he said he was going to follow up with DYC. Never heard back from him. We have chartered many times, and we are not complainers, but this is, by far, the worst boat that we have ever chartered. The boat was only a year old, so we were really surprised how bad of shape this boat was in.
Here is the list of problems.
1) Boat stunk really bad. Smelled like a cross between diesel fuel and sewer gas. I talked to them about this before we left, said there was nothing they could do. This seemed to get worse everytime we fueled up or ran the engine. It honestly made me sick to my stomach, some times it would be so bad we would go sleep on deck. It was the whole boat too.
2) Generator would run for 30 minutes to an hour and then cut off. It would usually restart, but this meant we couldn’t run it at night because someone would have to keep getting up and re-starting it.
3) Port aft AC unit did not work
4) Starboard forward cabin had no lights and the toilet leaked
5) The sliding door stopper was broken. This could have taken a hand or foot off the way it would slam.
Colleen
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: DanS]
#124390
03/17/2017 09:30 PM
03/17/2017 09:30 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 19 Mobile, AL (USA)
EckyEcky
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 19
Mobile, AL (USA)
|
This thread is really depressing.
Those who hear them seldom live to tell the tale...
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: bigbone]
#124392
03/22/2017 08:10 AM
03/22/2017 08:10 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 162 Nova Scotia, Can
Prospector
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 162
Nova Scotia, Can
|
https://youtu.be/SWgWp3MvIQc is a link to a youtube video from "Cruising Off Duty", a sailing vlogger that I follow. His group just returned from the BVI's after chartering with Dream Yacht Charters. It is pretty timely considering this thread. He attempted to join TTOL yesterday so he could tell his story first hand but his email was rejected.
Kim
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: Prospector]
#124393
03/22/2017 08:54 AM
03/22/2017 08:54 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214 Toledo, OH, USA
Orange_Burst
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
|
I didn't get a chance to watch the entire video, but that brings up a good point. We also chartered a boat that was advertised with a water maker, found out the same as these folks, the water maker never worked, and they had no plans on putting it into commission.
Colleen
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: Manpot]
#124395
03/22/2017 09:41 AM
03/22/2017 09:41 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214 Toledo, OH, USA
Orange_Burst
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
|
Manpot said: Interesting the lack of response from Dream..you've got to know they are aware of this thread by now. Time to respond I say.. IMHO I think they have a much bigger presence in other parts of the world, and don't really focus on the BVI's.
Colleen
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: Prospector]
#124397
03/22/2017 04:56 PM
03/22/2017 04:56 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559 Apex, NC
agrimsrud
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
|
Wow... Unbelievable...
Having had some experience placing a boat into a charter at CYOA a few months ago I suspect there are two things going on here.
First, looks like the boat wasn't commissioned but rather the household junk was thrown on and the boat pressed into service. I was on my boat one day during commissioning and I can tell you that a proper commissioning goes through a lengthy check list with every single system including every single light bulb checked. While it's possible that the fridges failed after commissioning I rather suspect they may never have worked properly.
Second, it's entirely possible to have some equipment on a boat that either the owner or charter company doesn't want to expose to the charter guest. My charter company for example does not want the electric winches to operate so they disable them for most guests (and they certainly do not advertise the boat to have electric winches). Assuming someone disabled the water maker the fault here isn't that the water maker wasn't working but rather that they were deceptive regarding the equipment on the boat.
My expectation as an owner is that my charter company is taking care of my boat the same way I would take care of it myself. I know this may be a lot to expect but that's what I want and I feel this is what I'm getting. If I owned the boat in the video I'd come unglued!
Life's short - sail more!
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: agrimsrud]
#124398
03/22/2017 05:24 PM
03/22/2017 05:24 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 925 Michigan
rhans
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 925
Michigan
|
agrimsrud said: Wow... Unbelievable...
Having had some experience placing a boat into a charter at CYOA a few months ago I suspect there are two things going on here.......
My expectation as an owner is that my charter company is taking care of my boat the same way I would take care of it myself. I know this may be a lot to expect but that's what I want and I feel this is what I'm getting. If I owned the boat in the video I'd come unglued! They are. We spent 2 weeks on your baby and it was flawless <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Thank you and CYOA
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: NGAWolf]
#124399
03/23/2017 12:49 AM
03/23/2017 12:49 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 19 Mobile, AL (USA)
EckyEcky
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 19
Mobile, AL (USA)
|
NGAWolf, I've just paid first payment on a boat with them in May. The Charter Gods WILL be with us!!! No negative waves!! That being said, I'm still tempted to copy this thread to my broker and owner just to see if they might light a fire at this place. I would think owners with boats under their management would appreciate knowing what the vibe is out here...
Those who hear them seldom live to tell the tale...
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#124401
03/23/2017 11:28 AM
03/23/2017 11:28 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559 Apex, NC
agrimsrud
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
|
I agree that it's easy to over react. However... having a water maker advertised when it's never been available on the boat is not a boat problem. That's a company problem. And telling the charter guests that the boat has been fully checked out when it's obvious there are issues like the fridges not working - again... a company problem.
Life's short - sail more!
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: agrimsrud]
#124402
03/23/2017 11:38 AM
03/23/2017 11:38 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214 Toledo, OH, USA
Orange_Burst
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,214
Toledo, OH, USA
|
I had heard they went from 17 boats to 66 boats in a 2 year time. They had a hard time getting and keeping good help. NO EXCUSE. Why should the customer suffer because they tried to grow too fast without the proper staff in place.
It was very clear that they boat was not even looked at until a couple of hours before we were suppose to leave. Even though is was at the marina for 4 days prior to our charter. The cleaning staff did a half a** job cleaning the boat too. There was long black hair everywhere! Everyone on our boat was a blond.
This was probably the newest boat we had ever chartered, so we were very excited, it was a big disappointment.
Now, don't get me wrong, we still had a fantastic time, after all we where still in the BVI's!
Colleen
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: stevelon]
#124404
03/24/2017 03:21 AM
03/24/2017 03:21 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030 U.K. and Spain
Jeannius
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
U.K. and Spain
|
stevelon said: It seems as the problems are with the Bali boats. I just switched my charter from the 4.5 to a Lagoon 42.
Steve... The boat will still be a step down from the one you are stood on in your profile photo <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Have a great trip <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: cobradvm]
#124410
03/25/2017 11:02 AM
03/25/2017 11:02 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545 Here and There
rita_irvine
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545
Here and There
|
Here is a response from a good company.
Last charter with BVIYC we had a mechanical issue while at anchor in Long Bay, Mt Point VG. The anchor cranker failed and we called BVIYC.. They called Polo, the mechanic and since it was already afternoon we decided to lay over another night (no boo hoo from me) and he would come the next day. He dinghyed around the point and after a few frustrating hours for him got the anchor up with some VG engineering. He ordered the correct part from BVIYC and we headed to Leverick (our original destination) for the night. Part was there bright and early next morning and we were good to go. On our return to base they had a letter for us apologizing for our trouble and adding a full day to our next charter, no time limit. I am taking them up on their kind offer and our 10 day trip in July is now 11 days.
That is how a class act operation handles problems with boats.
Rita It is better to be happy than it is to be right
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: Winterstale]
#124412
03/25/2017 12:51 PM
03/25/2017 12:51 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,229 Somewhere out there
kneafseym
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,229
Somewhere out there
|
BVIYC is a good company now, years ago they had a nightmare fleet that rivaled North/South, so companies can and do change.
Mike
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: kneafseym]
#124413
03/25/2017 04:47 PM
03/25/2017 04:47 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545 Here and There
rita_irvine
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545
Here and There
|
We have been chartering BVI since 1985. first time with BVIYC was 2007. We are still with them. I can't speak for the boats prior to our using them but we have never been dissatisfied with any of their equipment or office/dock staff.
Prior to using them we used several now defunct operators, TMM and Conch. We would use TMM again if they had the boat we wanted.
Rita It is better to be happy than it is to be right
|
|
|
Re: Dream Yacht Charters - experience?
[Re: rita_irvine]
#124418
04/04/2017 08:39 PM
04/04/2017 08:39 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252 Chicago, IL
Showdavid
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252
Chicago, IL
|
Check out Sailing Off Duty on You Tube. They are video documenting the whole trip. Go to the video which I think has the ferry ride from St Thomas. It shows them checking into and checking out the boat. It seems as though Dream Yacht Charters does not do much in the way of maintenance, nor in trying to rectify the situation.
Dave
|
|
|
|