We wanted to do something special and memorable for our oldest son's college graduation this year and combine it with our family summer vacation. Being from the central US, most vacations in the past have been mountain/cabin camping and motorcycle riding trips. Renting a 48 ft catamaran and having 8 people, plus captain and skipper in tight quarters was a bit of an unknown. However, by the time we completed our 2-day trip, every one of our family and friends couldn't stop talking about how fantastic the experience was. Before the trip, Captain Terry Mentor reached out to me and asked if there was a particular plan I had in mind. I indicated we'd like to do some snorkeling, island exploring and if the winds permitted, learn the ropes of sailing. Once on board and under way, Captain Terry and skipper Troy were great. For our two-day trip, including two nights at anchor, we headed toward the Marquesas Keys, about 20 miles west of Key West. On the way there we stopped at several different reefs and had a fantastic time with the family snorkeling. We say rays, dolphins, hammer heads, sea turtles and lots of fish. The first night the ocean was absolute glass, and we viewed the beauty of the sun setting into the ocean. A couple of the kids even slept out on the trampoline. The next morning we experienced the sunrise and another day of snorkeling and exploration. In the afternoon, skipper Troy lowered the dingy into the water and took us onto one of the islands. In the shallow waters we saw some sand sharks and then traveled into the central lagoon of the island. Later we visited a shipwreck and explored the remains. Each night Captain Terry and Skipper Troy were part of the family games and storytelling, they fit in nicely. The initial boat check-in and final check-out process went smoothly and everything, including the boat were as advertised. All in all, this was a unique family experience away from it all with beauty, adventure and encounters with unique marine life we will remember for years to some. We would all do it again, only next time we would go out longer. Thank you Blue Ocean Yacht Charters and Captain Terry! read more

0 stars. Ordered food from Blue Ocean Yacht Charters to be delivered to the Shelley Kay. The order got "lost," so we had to go out of our way to another dock to have the food delivered, cutting into our ability to go snorkeling elsewhere. After a 700 dollar order, they provided a measly 100 dollar credit. Don't use them, as they aren't the luxury experience they claim. You can do far better with a company that treats their customers well. read more

Unfortunately, this did not turn out to be the trip we had hoped for when we booked what appeared to be a well maintained catamaran. Without making a novel sized post, some of the myriad issues we faced included: -One of the heads (bathrooms) was backed up and they did not have the piece needed to fix it. *It smelled for all 4 days* and we could not use that half of the boat due to the smell. That means we went from everyone having plenty of space and 4 bedrooms and bathrooms, to cramming into 2 bedrooms on the other side of the boat. -There was no propane in the tank to use the kitchen oven and stove, and the backup canister was empty too. The grill had enough gas to get about halfway through cooking some chicken before it gave out. They didn't have tanks available to replace them so we couldn't use the kitchen or cook the groceries we bought. -We never got clear instructions on where to find the boat. We had to wander around the marina with all our luggage and groceries for 20 minutes before finding it ourselves. Eventually we were met by the guy checking us in, who was very friendly, but that doesn't help the fact that we were left without any useful instructions or guidance. The boat wasn't even in the slip that was indicated on our contract, we just happened to notice the name as we were passing it by. -The contract is long, convoluted and poorly written, including fees left and right for every little thing out of your control (even $50 per half hour you check in after 5pm - flight delayed? That'll cost you!). On top of that, it includes an image release stating they can use pictures of you in perpetuity in any form of advertisement they like. When I objected I was told they have used that contract for 10 years - as if the length you use a bad contract makes it as good contract. They did eventually assent to me making cross offs, but not until we were actually at the airport boarding our flight, wondering if we would have somewhere to stay. We alerted them to each of these issues as they arose, plus the fact that one of our party fell on the slippery stairs, which do not have a handrail, as they happened. I followed up with them after we departed and never got any type of response beyond that they were 'talking with the owner about it' and it was 'out of my [hands]' (on separate occasions). Finally, the $1000 deposit that they charged (via ACH, not a credit card hold) was not returned within the timeline I was promised. When I followed up I was told it had been returned 2 weeks prior and to follow up with my bank - it was probably "delayed because of the holidays". Well, my bank has no record of it (surprise!). ACH doesn't take 2 weeks to hit, even "during the holidays". I hope to update this with some good news eventually. For now, we've gotten none. read more

I offer this story from a hotel room, not the Key West, Florida Blue Ocean Yacht Charters boat that I paid to rent for nine days. It's been my practice to do something extraordinary every year for my sister's birthday, so when I saw the Expedia advertisement for a VRBO "luxury" yacht rental with Blue Ocean Yacht Charters in Key West, Florida, it seemed like the perfect option. The pictures of the advertised yacht were simply fabulous, complete with quilted blue comforter and delightfully squared matching navy blue pillow shams in the master bedroom, and equally delightful appointed second bedroom with a queen bed, and a third bedroom with adorably immaculate bunkbeds! $400 a day cost seemed more than reasonable, and I booked and paid the full cost the same day--more than a month in advance (even with a $250 cleaning fee included in the $4818 total). My sister (a code enforcement supervisor with Fulton County, Georgia), our friend (Creative Director at Oracle), and I (Title 1 Coordinator in Maryland) arrived and met with the greeter, Daniel, at the Shrimp Road marina at exactly 3:00, well before the 5:00 check-in cut-off (yes, there was a threat to charge us $50 for every hour we were late). It was immediately apparent that the boat we saw was NOT the boat depicted on the website, from the two rickety, weathered chairs to the marred vinyl-covered table under which they were placed. Upon entering the room on the other side of the door, we were greeted with stifling heat and the smell of open sewage. After several introductory conversations with Daniel, our friendly greeter, I took note of the aged stereo system cabinet, the shelves of which were thickly coated with some white dusty-greasy-grainy substance I am--to this day--afraid to name. I decided to walk below deck to determine if the initial red flags led to further horror. The wonderful duvet-covered beds shown on the website? NO. One bed was covered with what appeared to be a mattress cover, creased and yellowed at the foot of the bed. The other? Covered with a polyester, "plushy-style" blanket one would customarily use UNDER a comforter. The third bedroom? Two bunk beds covered with an envelope-styled, closed-ended brown velvet-like blankets with creased, yellowed pillow covers. Most women's impulse would be to check the kitchen and bathrooms. I am no exception. The small refrigerator next to the deplorably filthy stereo cabinet? The crease at the end of the shelves were coated with a brown slime I didn't have to the courage to touch. The under the inner rim of the toilet still had the residue of left-over guests varied dietary preferences, the floor spotted and grimy, the sinks spotted with cumulative nastiness. Filthy, white-coated shower heads? Check. Filthy, throw rugs? Check. Visibly stained installed carpet? Check. Even the toaster was uncleaned, up to and including the lonely crumb that sat visibly perched on the top of the poster. And YES, I was charged $250 on my initial charges in June when I rented on Expedia. NO, I'm not joking. ALL of this I told our greeter, Daniel, who told us that the unit had been cleaned. We discussed our dismay at the quality and cleanliness of the boat, asked about the lack of air conditioning, and asked about the smell that, combined with the heat and motion of the boat, left us reeling with nausea. I then pointed out a smear of something brown on the wall that led downstairs. After I pointed it out, he reached out and wiped it off (yes, it appeared to be wet, not dry) as if it were a smear of splashed prune juice. Given the pervasive smell we experienced on the boat, I dared not imagine it what it actually was. He was not horrified and kindly continued the conversation--nonplussed. Our conversation continued, and given everything we had seen, smelled, and felt, we informed Daniel, our ever-patient greeter, that we could not stay there and refused to check in. While he initially stated that the cleaners could be brought out again tomorrow, by the end of the conversation, he said they could be called back that day. Our thinking? Kim hilariously phrased it most aptly--even if it were sand-blasted, it would not matter because the filth we saw was clearly cumulative and considered a result of long-term neglect. At that point, we asked for a full refund because the property we were shown was a clear misrepresentation of what was depicted on the Expedia/VRBO website. At that point, he stated he would communicate with the host and we left. We later met with the CEO, James (Jamie, I discovered later) Wylly, who asked to meet with us in the Perry Hotel (adjacent to the marina). I assume this offer was made because VRBO had informed him we had complained (we were on the call at the time we received the text). We agreed to meet with him, and--yes, you guessed it (maybe not)--he ultimately (smiling throughout our anxiety-ridden discussion) offered us a complimentary excursion on the yacht. All refused. read more

An invitation to join friends on a 10-day yacht vacation?... who wouldn't jump at the opportunity! We were as giddy as kids on Xmas eve as we arrived on time for check-in on the infamous "parr-T on" 60 ft luxury yacht, rented from Blue Ocean Charters. They say a picture is worth a thousand words in the realm of authentic marketing. In this case, what we saw on Blue Ocean's website, was literally NOT what we experienced in the check-in process. In other words, luxury, clean, quality decor, functional air-conditioning, modern bathrooms, did not exist on this yacht. We could not wait to pivot from the check in, and request a full refund. This is really about standards, and this establishment needs to up their game. You couldn't pay me to book anything from them. read more

Where to start. We spent 8 nights on Fred's Dream in the Stock Island Marina. We enjoyed one of the most relaxing vacations that we have ever taken on the vessel "Fred's Dream". We arrived in Key West early in the afternoon and within about thirty minutes of landing we were sitting on the back of our yacht with cocktails in hand. Our wonderful host Josh checked us in quickly, going over all the amenities and details on the boat. Our boat was incredibly beautiful, comfortable and accommodated the the three of us quite easily.The adjacent Perry Hotel had just about everything you could need with the newly stocked marina store, restaurants, two pools, showers, laundromat and shuttle/vehicle rentals. An excursion is required with any overnight stay as it says in the fine print and at first it seemed like a scam as it was something that was added on after booking but it was truly one of the best parts of our trip. Even including the cost of the excursion our nightly rate was incredibly reasonable. We were lucky enough to experience more than one day at sea as our family booked a second yacht through Blue Ocean that just so happened to be in the same marina just a few slips down. We selected a four hour sunset cruise with our Captain Dan Schillinger who was a true "Key West" captain as he was incredibly knowledgeable when it came to the history of Key West. I highly recommend booking at least a four excursion and if you have the chance take a cruise down to Key West around sunset. This type of vacation might not be for everyone, but for those of you who find yourselves gravitating to the water whenever you can and for those of you that enjoy truly relaxing it doesn't get much better than this. Skip the hotel room or the AirBNB and get yourself on the water. I know my twelve year old would agree. Call Tim @ Blue Ocean Yacht Charters and start planning your next trip, I know we will be back some day! read more

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First time visit to Key West for girls weekend and we decided to change things up and stay on a yacht docked at Stock Island Marina with access to the Perry Hotel amenities. Happy to say it was a great experience. Our yacht, Key Finder, had 5 bed/baths with enough space inside and out for everyone to hang and/or have space to themselves. Josh was our point of contact at Blue Ocean. He was super responsive and ensured we knew and had everything we needed. The boat was very nice, with all the necessities to entertain and enjoy being on the water including a great sound system. We took the boat out with Captain Jimmy for a four hour cruise which was amazing & the best part is we didn't have to get off the boat when it was over. We kept out party going!! All in all, it truly was a nice experience being on the boat at Stock Marina which has restaurants & convenience store right at your fingertips. read more

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This boat charter was not only amazing but very spacious. My friends and I had an amazing time, we even had multiple people reach out asking about where we were staying. It was the best! Captain Dan and Kylie were both great. They made us feel welcome and comfortable. They showed us around the keys and took us pictures in the best spots while doing the sunset tour. Highly recommend your booking! read more

Blue Ocean Yacht Charters - Celebrating my friends Bachelorette - Boat Charters Near Me - Key West, Florida

This was an amazing experience to stay on the Bella Maggio! It's a beautiful yacht. I have to say the highlight of my trip was the 24 hour excursion with Captain Chazz!! I will definitely be back! read more

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Booking the trip online was a breeze and gathering my friends to celebrate a trip on a ship was also a breeze! The wind was taken from our sails when we finally arrived on the 50' catamaran and began to accumulate ourselves with the ships broken features. Appearances can be deceiving because the catamaran is beautiful but plagued with things that just "don't work" or "couldn't have been fixed". For example, the ice machine didn't work and was completely frozen over, the AC didn't work in one rooms and occasionally wouldn't work in the main cabin/kitchen. Overall the ship is definitely a rental ship with odds and ends that "don't work" or "can't be fixed" in time for your excursion. We were a bit taken aback by all the positive reviews but felt underwhelmed by the ships condition/maintenance. A suggestion when doing your initial walk through, make sure all of the things they offer in the add, are functional. Also, please note the ship does have a bad odor. Not sure if it is something that can be taken care of during maintenance or if it is something that simply "is what it is". You will also need to hire a captain to charter your vessel. I did ask Blue ocean to try and set us up with a fun captain since this was a birthday celebration. We were so lucky to have Captain Petey! What a knowledgeable and fun person. Along with his first mate, Jasmine, we all had a blast and would definitely hire them again! The amenities at the Perry were amazing! Definitely a great option to have when the ship is docked. I do believe this could be a really awesome vacation if the ship had some much needed maintenance. This review was edited to add that Blue Ocean did reach out to try and make things right. They offered a small refund or a larger credit towards a next excursion which was much appreciated as they could have not done anything to compensate for the problems. read more

Had an amazing unforgettable fourth of july weekend on Bella .. we had a group of 9 and the yacht was spacious and comfortable for all. Our excursion with captain Troy was relaxing and fun. Snorkeling and seeing beautiful sea creatures was amazing. I highly recommend! Cant wait to book another vacay with you all! 10 stars read more

Blue Ocean Yacht Charters - Boat Charters Near Me - Key West, Florida

This entire experience was amazing! The yacht was great the experience was so amazing and we all had a wonderful time! Our captain was Britt and him and Dan were wonderful and checked in on us daily to make sure all was going well and to see if we needed anything! I can't wait to go back soon and do it again! If the choice comes up definitely pick this Yacht experience over a boring hotel!! read more

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Awesome trip with Captain Britt and Captain Dan! Great day of snorkeling and then a beautiful sunset. Plenty of room to roam on Bella, a wonderful sailing catamaran! read more

Blue Ocean Yacht Charters - Key West sunset! - Boat Charters Near Me - Key West, Florida

Was not impressed with the boat. The head was broke made for a stinky cruise, the grill was broke , table was broke so was fridge door and stove . The excursion was not what we paid for - and we feel it was over priced Extremely sad because we really were looking forward to having a great enjoyable time. read more

Coming from the land-locked Midwest,opportunities like this aren't as readily available as they are in Florida. All the research and preparation proved worthy of every minute on the Kitty Cat!! From beginning communications with Tim, to our 24 hr sailing excursion with Captain Cathy and First Mate Doug, this experience has been magical. The accommodations are refined, the mattresses are soft and cradle you as you slumber, the Marina is pristine, and we instantly and seamlessly found ourselves living the life of live aboard boaters. Being centrally located in Punta Gorda, FL provided ample opportunities to visit neighboring communities like Sanibel, Captiva, Matlacha, and Boca Grande, chalking this week full of one expedition after another. Many thanks to all that helped make this 30th Anniversary trip one that will top the charts for years to come!!! read more

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Had the most amazing day with Vanessa and Judi! Thank you so so much for the amazing trip to Sand Key Light House.... we had such a perfect day! Your professional demeanor and expertise in sailing made us feel so safe... this is our best memory from our week in Key West!!!!! Cannot thank you ladies enough! read more

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This was the most amazing experience with an amazing Company! The yacht was very clean, we felt safe during our entire stay! The excursion our family took allowed us to see the beautiful ocean waters and the marine life while snorkeling. Having access to the marina facilities, pools, bars and restaurants provided us with plenty to do while we were not on the water! Downtown Key West is minutes away, with easy access to the historical part of this community! We will definitely be back! read more

One of the worst experiences we have had My family and I travel all over the world and have rented many properties Josh who was showing us around the boat showed us very basics and then left and our charter we had to do which we were so excited about was a complete scam and they basically took our money and tip which was required for a 1.5 hour excursion when it should have been 4 hours because it was too choppy when I had asked for days about this and was never told at all it was even a possibility that it would be so choppy and couldn't snorkel. Instead captain jack took us out and came back and asked for his tip and left. Management still hasn't returned my calls or texts and just want to ignore what a bad experience we had On top of that : 1:The ac was not working in half the boat and when we asked josh he said oh was wondering what that noise was and was never fixed 2: we were told three showers and only one in boat when we asked josh he said he would install and then next day told us it was shower head from sink faucet 3: I asked specifically for tv for our family to relax and watch together. Wasn't working in the main area 4: code to marina changed and we were never notified and had to yet again text josh and find out what it was 5: never told how to get hot water and that we had to turn on water heater first 6: the paper work said money loaded laundry card but nothing was on it I've never dealt with such unprofessional company that rents property read more

We had a great time staying on and chartering Moosey. The marina was very nice and staff was super helpful. Such a great adventure experiencing what it's like to live on a boat. We took her out for a sunset cruise with Captain Jimmy and JC and they were great. read more

We stayed aboard Fred's Dream for our honeymoon. What a great decision that was! Very nice, clean and comfortable. Great for a couple. We took a Christmas Eve sunset sale with Tim and it was beyond our imagination. I loved the Marina, very convenient parking and the restaurants were great too. Highly recommend! read more

Blue Ocean Yacht Charters - Boat Charters Near Me - Key West, Florida

Overall we had a great experience on board the Key Finder. Staying on a boat was something new for our group. We all have boats, but have never stayed in one. You do lose some space and amenities when you stay on a boat. So keep that in mind, if you are considering it. The booking process was easy along with the check in process. A staff member met us upfront and walked with us to the boat. She made sure I had her number for anything that may come up or question we had. Every question we had or issue was answered right away. The staff at the hotel was very helpful along with the marina staff. My only advice would be, when you do your charter be specific on what you want to see and do. I went with the captains suggestions and wish we would of did something different. Overall would recommend for anyone who loves the water. We made great memories! read more

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We had a fabulous stay on the Bella Maggio June 7-11, 2020. We are a family of 7 with kids ages 2-13. The boat was clean and well equipped. Check-in was easy. Vanessa met us at the boat and answered all of our questions and showed us around the boat and the marina. She was very friendly and helpful. Everyone we encountered who worked for/with Blue Ocean Charters was top notch. We did an eight hour charter the following day to two snorkel spots and watched the sunset. Captain Dan and first mate Cindy were fantastic! They were great with our kids teaching them about the boat, reefs, and sea life. This was a vacation and experience on my bucket list that I never knew needed to be on my bucket list. We can't wait to stay on the Bella Maggio again. Thank you Blue Ocean Charters for a wonderful experience! We can't wait to do it again! read more

WOW! What an amazing day in Key West with Captain Vanessa and her first mate Judi! The entire process from booking to docking at the end of the sail was seamless. We requested an 8 hour sunset sail on "Aurora," which is a beautiful 44' Catamaran. Captain Vanessa and Judi were attentive, professional, and a giant ray of sunshine who both made us feel right at home. We were able to see all the colors of the water, snorkel, swim, and relax on the boat under the beautiful Key West sky. Vanessa and Judi put our safety as the highest priority and made sure we were comfortable at all times. Great conversation, so many laughs, and memories of a lifetime! I will always use Blue Ocean Yacht Charters in the future. Best Day ever!!! read more

Unprofessional. I booked a charter four months in advance for a bachelorette in Key West. I paid in full $1800 for four hours per their requirements. I did not anticipate a national pandemic in which we, being from states with travel restrictions, would not be able to travel to Florida without a 14 day quarantine. I amongst many in our group are essential workers and as we approached the reservation date began to realize that this was not happening. They were unresponsive to email and voicemail during this time. Finally via text they said that we were able to reschedule and we were not able to be refunded. With an indefinite travel ban in effect for the states we reside the idea of rescheduling is just not reasonable. They refuse to refund my money stating it is not in their policy and they, like the airlines will allow us to reschedule without a fee. I am not sure in their policy if they normally address government mandated shutdowns or if they realize that if the airline does not offer you a refund, it is AGAINST the law. I find it in extreme poor taste to not recognize this as being beyond our control and not a measure of inconvenience. I can't imagine the shady tricks they do without there being a national crisis. My lawyer is handling it. Don't get involved with these people. Plus you should never trust anyone who doesn't know that you spell lose with one o, not two. read more

Amazing charter and rental company. We stayed on the "kitty cat" for 2 nights for a bachelorette party and we actually found the boat to be perfect for 8 girls. Captain Randy stopped by frequently through the weekend to check in on us and accommodated any needs to make our stay comfortable and fun. We chartered the boat for a 2 hour excursion on Saturday and Captain Zach took us for a sail. He, and his 2nd Mate Ben, captained our sail. read more

After almost 2 months of asking for a refund this business refused to give me and my friends our money back citing "the policy" is the policy. All during the COVID-19 pandemic AND the fact that Key West is not allowing visitors at this time. Shameful business owner - buyer beware of what you think you're getting!! read more

We stayed on the Key Finder which was a 50' catamaran which was more than enough for me and my girlfriend. We took a 4 hour sunset charter and hired a private chef which was recommend to us by Blue Ocean. We live in NY so going away while the temps are in the teens was beyond special and much needed. Blue Ocean was there for our every need and Alex the captain and mate David did a amazing job of making our time a memorable one. read more

We enjoyed 2 nights on Fred's Dream. We were welcomed onboard a spotless boat with a bottle of wine. The boat was well-equipped, comfortable and spacious. The a/c kept the boat cool and we had comfortable, hot showers. The best part of our stay was our 4 hour charter with Captain Jimmy. He helped us prepare for the excursion, took us out to a great snorkeling location and we caught several dolphin sightings, a sea-turtle and a breath-taking sunset. It was perfect in every way. read more

Boat was very nice and accommodated our 8 adults for an 8 hr boat tour. Weather was crappy for Jan 2021 but Captain Dan and his first mate, Kiley, still made the trip fun. Captain Dan was very knowledgeable, personable and allowed my husband to help work the boat. First mate Kiley was super helpful, very sweet and lot of fun. Would highly recommend. read more

We had a great time with the highlight being Capt. Dan. The boat was well maintained and our day out on the water was perfect. I would recommend this experience to anyone. Great VRBO option! read more

This is an extremely professional organization. I would highly recommended booking your next vacation with them. I loved the boat and our charter was perfect. We saw dolphins and we got to snorkel in the most beautiful water I have ever seen! read more

We had an amazing stay in October2020 despite Covid restrictions. This is a unique and amazing experience. The Blue Ocean Yacht Charters team was great to work with. I can't say enough for a Stock Island Village marina facility. We not only had access to the marinas brand new heated pool & tiki bar, but also enjoyed the amenities of the Perry hotel which is adjacent to the marina - another heated pool, fire pits, tiki bar & restaurant. We took advantage of it all! We also enjoyed the shower facility which give more room for showering than those on the boat. The entire trip from start to finish was an experience we will remember for a lifetime. We will be back. read more

Our time on Aurora was the best family vacation ever!! What a unique experience. My wife and our four kids (ages 6-12) had plenty of space and the yacht was very well appointed--all soaps, towels, and kitchen stuff covered. The Perry hotel was a major bonus with pool access, beach towels, and an awesome bar with happy hour. Our kids preferred this to a Disney cruise which says a lot if you ask me! We spent five days on the water (one with Captain Vanessa, one overnight with Captain Dan, and one overnight bareboat). Both Vanessa and Dan with first mate Cindy were professional and enjoyable, great with the kids, put safety and conservation first, and taught us a ton! Getting to bareboat Aurora with the fam was a dream come true and our time sailing and snorkeling the keys made memories that we will enjoy forever and will keep us coming back. A big shout out to Tim for working so hard to set our trip up for success from the beginning--he answered all of my questions and always had the best interests of our family in mind. Last but not least, Blayne was great at the docks--super friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand. Great job Blue Ocean!!! We will be back next year God willing!! read more

We booked a boat through Blue Ocean Charters in hopes of traveling to the Dry Tortugas from Key West. With 1 night at the marina and 5 at sea, the price averaged $1000 per day (with a much higher rate for the at sea days). Bad weather kept us from leaving the marina until day 3 (as advised from our professional captains)and we returned 33 hours later due to additional storm effects. Additionally, we had some issues with the Bella Maggio (smelly heads on day 1 due to unpumped sewage, water problems due to 3 separate leaks requiring repairs, repair required on stove). I didn't think my disappointment could reach a new level, until the Blue Ocean representative, Tim, informed us that we would not receive any reimbursement whatsoever. We paid for 5 nights at sea and managed 1, yet they won't reimburse us the difference. That is horrible customer service and we would not recommend this company. read more