More post-charter reviews provided to Charter Yacht Brokers:

“1. Was the crew friendly and accommodating?

Jen & Sam were incredibly warm and welcoming with our group from the first minute we met Sam to pick up our luggage to the last moment when we sadly got off of the Starfish and warmly hugged them goodbye. They could not have been more friendly, accommodating, professional and FUN! We wanted to fully include them in our experience. The more they got to know us, the more they happily obliged and understood who we were as both individuals and couples. We were happy that they were also able to enjoy some down time during our trip. They are truly a wonderful and extremely hard-working couple!

2. Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
YES! The entire party was very impressed at the cleanliness of the boat as soon as we stepped foot on it. The beds, pillows, and bed linens were fantastic, and we all slept like babies each night. Both bath towels and beach towels were also great and plushy. Jen worked tirelessly making sure our bathrooms were always clean, beds were made every day, and things were hung up properly to dry.

3. Was the yacht well ventilated?
The yacht was very well ventilated. The nights were quite comfortable with the A/C running and even a couple of nights that we were heading onto an island for dinner, they turned the A/C on while us ladies were getting ready which was also quite comfortable.

4. Was the food good and well presented?
The food . . . OH MY! I don't know how they manage to prep and cook in such a small area but between Jen's cooking/baking/prepping skills and Sam's grilling skills, the food was 5-star all the way! We all had different likes and dislikes and there wasn't a meal where we weren't accommodated. The Mediterranean flare that Jen included in her meals was stupendous. She even baked mini chocolate souffles for dessert one evening - who does that?!?! As soon as we boarded, a delicious shrimp orzo salad was prepared for our lunch. We devoured it and knew we were in for a real culinary treat the rest of the charter. Their lobster tails were BETTER than the ones we dined on in Anegada. Even happy hour finger foods were delicious, and we NEVER went hungry thanks to their "snack" stash! Presentation was something else that we all were super impressed with. For dinners they set the table with fresh linens and a different set of plate ware and stylish centerpieces. Jen is a master at plating - the portions were always perfect and looked beautiful! Even her fruit platters for breakfast were gorgeous. They even prepared some fresh catch for us that our fishermen on board caught during our trip.

5. Did you like the area you sailed?
Having done a lot of research and spoken to numerous people that have sailed the US & BVIs before, we had an idea on where we wanted to go. We took Jen & Sam's advice on the how and they also gave us several choices on the best way to see the important points on different islands. We appreciated all of their extensive knowledge and suggestions on where to go, what to see, things to do, etc. It seemed like every day the views got more beautiful, the water got clearer/bluer, the beaches got whiter, the sand got finer, etc. We loved our snorkeling experiences and were glad to have Sam guide us through the areas. It was such an amazing learning experience for all of us and now that we are familiar with the areas, we will know for next time what we want to see again and what doesn't need to be revisited.

7. Additional comments on your charter?
The Starfish was an amazing, comfortable, and super clean catamaran. We really enjoyed the bean bag chairs on the hammock. It was a treat to be able to sit up there while we were sailing and really take in the gorgeous views, work on our tans, read a book, enjoy adult beverages, take naps, snap countless pictures of the views, and even get cool splashes now and again. I cannot comment enough on the food . . . all of the meals, from the simplest egg scramble to the more complicated Mediterranean eggs benedict for breakfast, were DELISH. Jen even put together both white and red sangrias for happy hour for the ladies which was great and her painkillers were the absolute best! As our week was drawing to a close, we were running out of a few adult beverages and they were able to quietly accommodate us through their connections with the other crews that were sailing in the same area. We are ALL early risers (pretty much after the sun started rising) and they were so accommodating with having coffee and tea started for us each morning. Everything we could have wanted, they were prepared to offer us. Even water - staying hydrated was SUPER important and we never went without fresh and cold drinking water. They even provided insulated drinking vessels for us which we were not expecting. We all came on board with our YETIs and did not need them. I do not think there was anything they didn't think of to make our stay amazing! Sam took us off the boat on some sight-seeing/touristy adventures on several islands. He was a great tour guide and was always ready to snap a picture of the 6 of us no matter how many times we asked for that. He is also very knowledgeable on the snorkeling areas and guiding you through the coral. It made navigating the areas stress-free. Jen was always ready to accommodate anything we needed morning, noon, and night. She really worked her butt off making sure everything was 5-star and it showed. We all really enjoyed hearing about their background and sharing our backgrounds with them. We cannot say enough on how wonderful they are - truly a class act! For all of us, this was a trip of a lifetime. We were super excited and, to be 100% honest, our expectations were very very high. Jen & Sam EXCEEDED our expectations!”

— Richard H. (Note: their group of 6 recently returned for a 12 night charter on Starfish!)

Post-charter review provided to Charter Yacht Broker:

“• Generally, how did you enjoy your vacation?
My wife and I were thrilled to death. We sailed with another couple and had planned and researched for months leading up to this trip. We are very fortunate to have cruised all over Europe on some beautiful liners, and this trip was absolutely 110% first class all the way. A vacation is good because of the company you keep, the ship itself, and the extras along the way and Sam and Jen hit all the boxes!

• Was the the crew friendly and accommodating?
Our group is 55ish. We found Sam and Jen to be flexible, accommodating, and totally prepared to meet our needs during the 6 night trip. I think that the amount of prep time that Jen puts in pre-cruise makes all the difference. She had our preferences in terms of food all laid out and then was able to be flexible if we through her a curve ball on a particular day. Equally, Sam knew of the islands that we had hoped to hit, and was very open if we wanted to stray from the plan.

• Was the yacht clean, well ventilated, and in good working condition?
The Yacht was immaculate. The A/C unit was strong at nite, the fans in the room and the position of the portals/hatches that opened all made for a comfortable nite’s sleep. You could tell that Sam and Jen invest in the Boat every year, and look after it. From the grout lines, to the bathrooms, to the bedding, and the outside spaces all aspects of the boat were looked after. Plus, the Bean Bags on the front tramp were awesome for sailing!!

We think it is worth mentioning that the Wi-fi on this ship was exceptional. We had a signal throughout the whole trip. We have been on luxury cruise liners that couldn’t compare to this access. Also, the sound system was first class throughout the boat.

• Did the crew do a good job of familiarizing you with the yacht and her workings?
We were greeted by Sam on the dock at Virgin Gorda who took us onboard to an immediate lunch. At the Lunch both Sam and Jen addressed mandated nautical items, as well as rules of the boat so to speak, and our itinerary. Best advice they gave: Drink a lot of water every day!! And then Jen provided color coded thermos’ that we filled every day. A concern we had going in with any crew would be how we interact with strangers in a relatively small space. Sam and Jen were awesome in this regard. They kept in the background so to speak yet were totally accessible for any questions, concerns, and needs we had. As the first day or two passed, they read us extremely well and by the end of the trip, the four of us can all say that we made two wonderful friends.

• Could you describe the quality of the cuisine? Did the menu meet your needs and expectations?
This was one of the primary reasons we chose Starfish. All of us are Foodies. The sample menu that Jen puts online is the real deal!!. Each dinner was eating at a five star restaurant. The portions were generous; the wine selection wonderful and the food was hot and personally prepared. Our advice is to take advantage of the prep call that Jen and Sam make with you before the trip as they really listen and customize the cruise to your preferences. From Filet mignon in a mushroom demiglace; to scallops in a to die for Truffle sauce we were served fine dining each and every night. This was a reason we chose Starfish, and this is a reason we would sail with Jen and Sam again. We would also comment that during all meals Jen and Sam worked like a true team to make the meal seamless from pouring wines, to taking dishes, offering seconds, grilling on the bbq; and especially Sam’s creative centerpieces!.....

• How did you like the area in which you cruised?
This was somewhat setup in advance through the call that Jen and Sam made to us a few weeks before the trip. We chose to start from Virgin Gorda so that we would be sailing with the winds and all four us agree that each day that we sailed from 45min to 2 hours (depending on the island) was far and away the best part of each day ( and believe me we had a lot of fun).

• How did you like the pace and itinerary of your charter?
Our day was relaxed. Always included a sail after breakfast. We chose to see a different port each day because we wanted to see as much as we could for the next time we do this to decide where we would focus. Sam and Jen understood, and also mixed in snorkeling spots along the way to include that activity. Once anchored, the water toys could come out, we swam, went to the beach, bars, etc. Depending on what we had in mind in terms of bars, Jen planned her dinner. Very user friendly. She presented us with options and let us decide. Sam was always available to bring us in to the beaches/bars on the skiff.

• Any additional comments?
I think that besides the catamaran being top notch in terms of lay out, engineering, etc; it was the crew that made the trip. The level of engagement, flexibility, professionalism, and sincerity was everything we could have hoped for and then some. We were very glad we chose the food package option. It was awesome. When you add up the costs of eating in the BVI, we all felt our 5 star experience was a great value. Look forward to rebooking, and all felt a real connection to Jen and Sam..”

— Jay B. (Braintree, Massachusetts)