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Day and Sunset Cruises
#75967
11/23/2015 03:41 AM
11/23/2015 03:41 AM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 11 North Carolina
Spltatms1957
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 11
North Carolina
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Long time reader, first time poster. We will be returning to SXM for the first time in 30 years. We spent our honeymoon in Dawn Beach (Sep 1985). We are very excited to make it back this coming March. We tend to like to chill out, but are planning a few activities, including a day & sunset cruise. We have done a little research (including this forum), but wanted to ask for some specific feedback. 'Looking to do the cruises on separate days and could be separate companies. Also, looking for the day cruise to include a trip to a neighboring island. Sailing cruises preferred over power boats. The little research we have done suggests Celine Charters and Random Wind could be good choices. Ideally, the smaller the group the better. Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to provide.
May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live...
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Re: Day and Sunset Cruises
[Re: kish]
#75969
11/23/2015 08:21 AM
11/23/2015 08:21 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 515 Eastern Caribbean
Ritchard
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 515
Eastern Caribbean
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Random Wind is great, but you won't see any neighbouring island that way, it's just too far for a day cruise under sail. The big catamarans go to Prickly Pear which is a nice outing, but they are motoring most, if not all the day.
Last edited by Ritchard; 11/23/2015 08:34 AM.
_______________________
Working hard to be the best yacht bum I can be.
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Re: Day and Sunset Cruises
[Re: Spltatms1957]
#75970
11/23/2015 09:20 AM
11/23/2015 09:20 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 415 Quebec, Canada
extreme
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 415
Quebec, Canada
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We have been with them twice and just loved it ! Maximum of 28 passengers , a fantastic lunch served with wine and a choice of different destinations! Used to be Winner Touch ( destroyed by Gonzalo last year ) now it's a new boat called Solana ! http://www.winner-touch.com/en/
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Re: Day and Sunset Cruises
[Re: Spltatms1957]
#75971
11/23/2015 09:40 AM
11/23/2015 09:40 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,628 Southern Maryland suburbs of D...
Bill_S
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,628
Southern Maryland suburbs of D...
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For the day cruise to another island on a sailboat with a small group we would recommend the Tiko Tiko trip to Tintamare which departs from Club Orient on Orient beach. We have taken it several times and thoroughly enjoyed it each time. You can choose either a day which includes a picnic lunch on the beach or a day which includes a very nice noontime meal cooked onboard and served under the canvas at tables around the stern.
Like Club Orient, the cruise is clothing optional so you can wear a swimsuit if you are reluctant. (We have found through the years that nearly all "reluctant" passengers are no longer reluctant within a half hour of going ashore to the beach...)
Bill
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Re: Day and Sunset Cruises
[Re: Spltatms1957]
#75972
11/23/2015 09:47 AM
11/23/2015 09:47 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649
Brookfield, CT.
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We've enjoyed the Passat on a few different cruises over the years, both all day and sunset cruises and would highly recommend them.
We've also done an all day round the island ecocruise on Quality Time, a good sized cat but while we did stop just off Tintamarre for a swim and some snorkeling, it doesn't do any of the other neighboring islands. The good news, though, for those who enjoy it, once we left the Philipsberg area, most of the trip was done under full sail. The lunch stop was at Calmos Cafe in Grand Case. I Don't recall the price but I'm thinking it was around $95.00 pp and was all inclusive,including transportation to and from your hotel as well as the all day sail with lunch included. The ecotour is particularly nice because it's a large cat but they keep the passenger list at about 26 or thereabout. The libations are free flowing but I wouldn't really term it as a booze cruise if that matters one way or the other. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Day and Sunset Cruises
[Re: Spltatms1957]
#75973
11/23/2015 10:54 AM
11/23/2015 10:54 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,863 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,863
Central Florida!
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As someone else said, if you're looking to do another island like St. Barts or Anguilla, the sailing cats are not going to get you there in time by sailing. You have Tango and Lambada that go to Anguilla, that are 'technically' sailing cats, but the sails are basically decoration. If however you want to go to a 'deserted' island like Tintamarre, you could get there on a boat that actually sails. If you are not into clothing optional or nude cruises, then probably Tiko Tiko wouldn't be for you. If you are up for that though, it is a fantastic choice for an actual sailing excursion, either for the trip to Tintamarre, or around the island, not sure whether they do sunset cruises or not. You'd have to check their website on that. For a boat that does an actual SAILING sunset cruise, check out TTOL sponsor Passaat, or Random Wind. I haven't been on Celine Too, so I don't know whether they actually SAIL or not, but they stay within the lagoon, so your view of the sunset isn't as good as Passaat or Random Wind, that actually sail on the ocean.
Otherwise, I think you will scarcely think it is the same island, from 30 years ago. Enjoy!
Carol Hill
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Re: Day and Sunset Cruises
[Re: Spltatms1957]
#75976
11/23/2015 10:30 PM
11/23/2015 10:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,772 So. Shore MA.
jollymonsrv
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,772
So. Shore MA.
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Farewell cruise on "eagle" out of Phillipsbugh sails around the whole island with many swim stops. Get to see prison from water. Governors home. Lunch in grand case. Late afternoon swim with drinks in water at la Sammana Ck them out. It was a nice cruise and they picked us up at Ocean club and returned us also. Tipped the boat crew and driver but a great day <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />
Last edited by jollymonsrv; 11/23/2015 10:30 PM.
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Re: Day and Sunset Cruises
[Re: jollymonsrv]
#75977
11/24/2015 04:05 PM
11/24/2015 04:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 234 TOTOWA NJ
lina
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 234
TOTOWA NJ
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OUR VERY FIRST TRIP WAS ALSO 1985 Dawn Beach Resort. LOL
lina and piggy
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Re: Day and Sunset Cruises
[Re: jollymonsrv]
#75979
11/28/2015 12:28 AM
11/28/2015 12:28 AM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 11 North Carolina
Spltatms1957
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 11
North Carolina
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Thanks to all of you for the information. Looking forward to making some decisions I am sure we will enjoy.
May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live...
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Re: Day and Sunset Cruises
[Re: Sandy471]
#75981
03/17/2016 11:34 AM
03/17/2016 11:34 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,545 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,545
Ohio
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Passaat will do around 14-16 people or less. If you get your own group they might work with you for 10-12 passengers. We have done this twice in the past, including a sunset cruise 2 weeks ago.
J.D.
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Re: Day and Sunset Cruises
[Re: Sandy471]
#75982
03/17/2016 11:34 AM
03/17/2016 11:34 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649
Brookfield, CT.
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Interesting about the Random Wind number. We used to do private charters under a prior owner and they told us they limited their day sails to fifteen or less for both size and safety so I guess things change.
On the Passaat, I believe their lunch, dinner and sunset sails range between 12 and 15 guests and I think that has more to do with dining space than the size of the boat. We love the Passaat, btw......the most relaxing sail trip we've done over all our years and all our boat trips. Any believe me, there have been a lot of them.......
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Day and Sunset Cruises
[Re: pat]
#75983
03/17/2016 11:52 AM
03/17/2016 11:52 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,545 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,545
Ohio
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Never been on Random Wind but I know when they roll into Mullet Bay it looks pretty crowded. I think this might be with tours off a cruise ship.
Passaat did a private lunch for us with I think 14 people last year and the prior year we had 10-12 people and there were 4 others joined us. This year we did a private sunset sail (best one ever!) for 12 people.
With just Pieter and Mirian running the boat they will not take a large group as it would be overwhelming for them to handle. For Regatta I think Mirian said they would take perhaps 30 people but this was just for Regatta watching.
J.D.
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