Captain Tyrone was more interested in his phone and spending nights off boat on Tortola then sailing the loop. I am a return guest and this trip was the exact opposite of my previous trip with them. From a dirty and in need of repair Lagoon, unfriendly crew and inept management (Tammy) Festiva has gone down hill. Two people cut/punctured their feet on board due to sweeping debris into the stairwells for the bedrooms. Zero assistance from crew other than pointing to a poorly equipped first aid kit. Only 4 snorkeling stops in total vs 2-4 per day on last trip. Decent breakfast and dinners with lunches lacking. Find other options, Festiva appears to be in a downward spiral. read more

DO NOT RECOMMEND We sailed with Festiva in the BVI's the week of November 22, 2025. This review comes four weeks after completion of our trip due to the conversation we've been attempting to have with management. This was our third trip with this company. We were returning guests that brought friends along to join us in what was one of the best holidays we had ever taken; unfortunately, this was not the case this time around, not even close. I honestly don't know where to begin as there are so many things to mention. From the start Captain Tyrone was aloof, dismissive and uninformative. The first 24 hours onboard we had an alarm, like a smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm, going off every 30 minutes. We woke up First Mate Compton to address the situation, since Tyrone was not on the boat and no where to be found, and were told there was nothing he could do about it. After a sleepless night, once our captain returned in the morning, we asked three times for the situation to be rectified. We were brushed off, told it was a bilge pump, told to try turning off the AC the told, "it's a boat, it makes noise. We owned a boat, this was not normal, it was an alarm, neither one of our crew cared. Only after writing an email to Tammy in the office was the situation addressed. Tyrone simply disconnected the alarm, which we found out later was a high water alert, and had to be in good working order to legally be underway on this vessel. After getting annoyed about the fact we had to contact management with our concern Tyrone proceeded to be argumentative and rude through the rest of the week. We moored around Tortola for 3 nights, at least 2 more than we should have, so, we're guessing, Tyrone could sleep at home, since he was off the boat every one of those nights, all night. Not only did we have no way of reaching him, he disappeared with the dinghy, our only way of getting off the boat if there had been an emergency since there was no life raft. We did not go to any good snorkel spots, stopping at maybe 4 over our entire week. We were told half way through our trip that we could not go to most of our anticipated bays and beaches because the anchor was broken. Why were we on a catamaran with a broken anchor? Or was this just an excuse out of sheer laziness? This was not the only thing malfunctioning on the boat; we had broken cupboards, no shower off the back, torn seats, and general uncleanliness. Our meals were very basic, mostly sandwiches for lunch and a bag of chips for snacks. Compton did make a couple of lovely dinners, but the service was not what we expected, not what was advertised and not what we paid for. Our captain told us we could not get more Baileys as requested, "once it's gone, it's gone" was the answer we got. This was not our previous experience, we are dumbfounded that this could even be the same company. The other two couples on the boat were great. We only just met when we boarded and had a great week with them, thank goodness. They were in the same situation as us, returning customers who brought friends. They, too, were regretful and embarrassed they brought along others since this vacation was nothing like the one they had experienced in the past. There were many other little, and not so little, things that occurred, this post could go on and on, but I'll leave it here, for now. After returning home we all wrote separate letters to Tammy expressing our disappointment. A week later we got a blanket email back from her stating that she received a very different story from the crew, that we had been difficult to please, and essentially called us liars, all 8 of us. Interesting that she received similar letters from guests that started as strangers, had sailed with them before, had genuine concerns with service and safety and she still chose to dismiss and insult each of us. We have now written a lower, as a group, to the "higher ups" and marine agencies that regulate safety on the water. We presently await their response. We will be review posting again accordingly. read more

Festiva Sailing Vacations was an absolutely awful experience. I had sailed with Festiva two times previously, so I know what a great trip should look like. Unfortunately, Festiva no longer offers a great vacation. The service was poor and the boat was unsafe. Captain Tyrone did not communicate with guests and, incredibly, left the boat for three nights to sleep on shore, leaving us stranded without a lifeboat or proper supervision in case of an emergency. A depth alarm went off every 30 minutes throughout the night, making it impossible to sleep. The first night, Captain Tyrone did nothing. The following day, he simply unplugged the alarm instead of fixing it--an action that is illegal and dangerous. The boat itself was old, tired, and poorly maintained. We were given a screwdriver just to open our closet. The front seats were torn, the anchor was broken, and overall the vessel was far from being in proper working condition. The "gourmet meals" advertised were extremely disappointing. Sandwiches were served for three lunches, and appetizers consisted of chips and Wheat Thins. Festiva advertises a seven-night, all-inclusive sailing trip, but this was absolutely not all-inclusive. We were never served anything from the bar--only told, "There are the drinks, help yourself." Once something ran out, that was it. We ran out of Bailey's on day one, and guests were simply told there would be no more. Chef Compton slept in the galley every night, which felt unprofessional. Both Chef Compton and Captain Tyrone were frequently on their phones and disengaged from guests. The captain's only apparent goal was finding a mooring ring for the night, often placing us in busy vessel lanes where snorkeling was not possible and swimming felt unsafe due to passing boats. For the amount of money this trip costs, there are many catamaran companies in the British Virgin Islands offering far superior experiences. I witnessed this firsthand during our trip. Sadly, Festiva no longer meets the standards it once did, and I would not recommend them. read more

If I could give this a 0 star rating I would. To say that we were disappointed in this trip is being very generous. Based upon our previous trip, we invited our friends to join us this time because it was so amazing. The other couple had an amazing time on their previous trip and also invited their friends to join on this trip because of their previous experience. At this point, neither of us would take this trip with this company again and would not recommend it to anyone else. Our wishes for snorkeling and swimming were ignored; no communication for itinerary and our requests were not taken into consideration. Captain Tyrone was off the boat almost every night which meant we had to wait to leave until he returned in the morning (taking the dinghy and no life raft on board) and couldn't do what we wanted because of "timing". He barely interacted with us and didn't give us necessary information regarding the Baths costing money even though he said he was aware of this after the fact; Two passengers injured with no concern; lunch was lacking at best; complete lack of service on this trip that was embarrassing. Representative of company denied any issues occurred because the crew's version differed significantly from the 8 people on board's listing of issues. No effort to resolve any issue. We know what it could be as we have done it before and this was pathetic. read more

Day 4 everything is amazing now. Most beautiful places I've ever seen. Chef Foods amazing captain great fun and informative read more

Festiva Sailing Vacations - Sana Rock - Boat Charters Near Me - Tortola, Virgin Islands

Just got back from sailing vacation and was nothing short of disasster. Contacted the company upin return with no solutions. Everything from chef peeing off the back of the boat, smoking and no hand washing to food being left out on the table in the heat with flies for extended periods of time to food allergies (oluves) not being honored and being told to pick them off the salad. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Woukd never recommend this company, EVER!!!! read more

This is one of our all time favorite vacations! You get to relax every day in your bathing suit and go snorkeling, walk on sandy beaches, discover turtles and beautiful reefs full of fish. You get your own captain and 5star Chef on board. All you can drink and they buy your favorite liquors. They take excellent care of you and your new friends you met on board. Highly recommend! read more

The boating experience was delightful. The company paid attention to detail and the crew was amazing. Great quality food, drinks and activities. I would especially recommend Captain Ron and Chef Max. read more

We had a great experience! We are very laid back. Boat was in great shape, clean & tidy! Chef was exceptional! Sam was an awesome trained captain. He has a unique style but fit in great with our crew! We felt safe always and entertained! Would hop on the Katelynn Lee with Sam & Kneesha tomorrow if I could!! I have already recommended to a couple friends! I am sure there are fancier more Below Deck experiences but we loved our trip! As close to perfect as it could have got! Only regret was our Lobster Dinner, when we go back would do Lobster Pot over the Pink Flamingo...just our groups personal opinion! Great trip with great people! BVI's are breathtaking and miss them already!! read more

Donna great vacation we loved the catamaran experience! Captain Sam was great. He had good eye for weather and safety always front & center. He kept us laughing and was so fun! Our chef Kenosha was the best! She prepared the most amazing meals! read more

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The BVI's are an amazing place to visit! Don't make the mistake my group did by chartering through Festiva. Communication was TERRIBLE! The first night we arrived our Catamaran didn't leave the dock - because Festiva did not have the necessary paperwork. We are paying big bucks to be on the water and sailing and we slept next to a dock next to a freeway - scary and a shitty view. When we complained we were told it is what it is. We started our journey the next morning and we're super excited! 4 rooms on the boat, 2 people per room - and dammit one of the rooms smelled like sewage. We were told it was because we were sitting at the dock and to relax. It never ceased to smell like sewage the entire trip. When we compained to our Captain he sort of waved his hands and was like whatever .... I'm not sure who you are BUT NO ONE WANTS TO SLEEP WHERE IT SMELLS LIKE SHIT! Our Captain was a terrible communicator. Daily he would sit in the main cabin and talk on face time or on the phone - while our group entertained ourselves wondering when he was going to take us to shore, can we get off the boat here, is it safe? TIP: MANAGE your CAPTAIN! Tell him what you want to do everyday - be specific with what YOU want - not what works for him. When we went into the water - our Captain did nothing to help us find snorkeling gear, paddles, etc... If anything we felt like a total burden. HIGHLIGHT OF OUR TRIP: Our CHEF SEBASTAIN cooked some of the most amazing meals from a small kitchen area! We feasted on Tuna, Tenderloin, Halibut and everything was yummy, yummy, yummy!! I will definitely be returning to the BVI's and sending friends ....but never again will I recommend or suggest using FESTIVA. When we complain about the sewage smell or spending the night at the dock we were basically told to eat sand. FESTIVA: we spent a lot of MONEY $$$$$$ with you and the only thing we wanted was not to smell SHIT, and to know what and where we were going. These are small asks and I am super bummed you couldn't fulfill this minimum requirement. If I could insert my middle finger here I would.... read more

perfect! Captain Derek and Chef Max were both exceptional. Max created the most amazing meals, even with my finicky eating habits. Derek kept an eye on the weather to ensure we had smooth sailing and the best snorkeling. An adventure of a lifetime. read more

We had a wonderful time aboard the "Emily Pearl". Our captain Massa & chef Fanny were a fantastic duo! Both are very professional, courteous, accommodating & are genuinely wonderful people! I can't say enough about the amazing experience they provided us from the gourmet meals to the beautiful stops along the islands! This would rival any 5-star hotel out there in both food & service! I would definitely recommend this vacation to anyone...tell them to request Massa & Fanny!!!! read more

Boat was excellent. Max our chef was amazing. We were able to set our own itinerary so that was good. Be aware of the gratuity expected at the end. It is extremely high per cabin. Feel like this was a hidden cost until right before the trip. read more

I've been sailing as a captain myself for 18 years in the BVI but, this was my first time to sail with a charter company with a captain and chef. I would strongly recommend this if you want to relax and do nothing but veg out. Big plus for the crew. I have celiacs disease and our chef was extremely accommodating and made sure I had plenty of food options even making sure I was able to eat ashore. Our captain was great he made sure there was plenty stops that would maximize everyones trip. Both the Captain and Chef were very fun and we laughed a ton. If I had one wish for this trip it would've been that we had maybe a few less stops and more actual sailing time from point A to B. This is just a personal preference for me. As a sailor would've loved to put up the sails a bit more. Killing the motor for added quietness Is a big plus for me. With all this being said it was an amazing trip and I would love to sail with this company and crew again. Leslie & David Wise read more

We've sailed with Festiva twice, & while there were many strong points, there were also a lot of negatives, which have prevented us from taking another trip with them. First, we've traveled a lot in the Carib; mostly all-inclusive resorts, or B&Bs, so the sea approach is definitely a great way to change perspective/see more. Festiva does a nice job of offering a floating all-inclusive, with an intimate atmosphere of few guests, which is far higher-end than even the best stateroom on a massive cattle-style cruise ship. 1.) Our 1st Festiva trip was to the Grenadines back in 2008. I will skip names & just say we were hosted by a Capt, then in his 40s & his girlfriend, then in her late 20s. My husband & I were the age of the girlfriend. The other guests were grandparent-age (big age gap), but we were able to find much in common & make fun conversation to enjoy each other the best we could. Meals were very good, drinks were always available, & we even learned a new cocktail which we have enjoyed many times since. The Grenadines are magical, & our hosts were good at setting up activities on land, with people who took care of us just as well as our Captain & Hostess did. Overall great time, but a few odd things happened, worth noting. - One was the trip to "Happy Island" (a tiny manmade island by Union Island). Miscommunication from our hostess ended with the whole boat leaving on the water taxi without me, & I never got to go. Hubs was told I'd be right behind them, but that never happened, so we got separated & I was left alone. - The timeshare spiel. After we'd settled into our routine, we were handed cocktails one evening, as usual, but were then cornered into a long, painful presentation about timeshare opportunities on board Festiva yachts. It was frustrating b/c it felt like a sucker punch; no one had warned us & that is not what was advertised. After 1hr it ended & pressure mostly did too, but things were a bit uncomfortable from then on. Boatmates were as uninterested as we were, especially with the whole bit about going to a bank on St. Vincent, withdrawing 5 figures in US cash, & handing it over then & there. Creepy. - Hostess offered to take pics of us, for us, b/c she had a nice new camera. Great. When I emailed post-vacation to ask for them, I got a reply saying she'd send them but she never did. We tipped according to Festiva's own advice, & compared it w/ boatmates. Who knows what happened, but we never got meaningful pics that we could have asked someone else to take on our own camera. 2.) Our 2nd trip was more recent. We went to St. Maarten/Anguilla/St. Barths. We were hosted by a 50s-ish married couple from Italy. This trip was filled with a LOT more issues. - At first, we felt hosts were the moody type of Europeans, who act like the whole world is bothering them. However, the woman seemed to focus her attitude on me. Ostensibly, the reason was b/c I have some allergies, & she had to adapt her cooking accordingly. However, she was really being manipulative & cheap (do they pocket $ saved on groceries?) by refusing to make seafood for everyone else, & scapegoating it on my diet needs. She gave us nasty cut-up hotdog casserole on one occasion, among other really gross, cheap dishes, that were not fit for the class of service advertised by Festiva. Even the kids' buffet at Club Med would not serve hotdog casserole & a week at CM is half the price of Festiva. - Boatmates this time were wretched. Grandparents again, 2 couples, longtime "friends" (husbands were profs at Wesleyan). They seemed ok at first, but the intellectual snob bs soon began. You could tell the wives covertly hated one another; an uptight/bossy/humorless RN who wore the pants, & the other was a passive housefrau, who let her misogynistic husband treat her like a dope. The RN also hated the misogynist (like Peggy Hill v Cotton) & so on. They insisted on NO a/c, & on playing opera the whole week. As mentioned, I have allergies. I asked repeatedly for a/c, but Capt did nothing (probably b/c he pocketed $ for it). Opera is fine, but not all week in the Carib. Please. - Hosts didn't keep the deck clean, & did a dirty job of cleaning dishes. Never once changed sheets or towels. Gave very little time ashore, with ZERO tips on sightseeing. Despite great weather, only one snorkel for 5min in dangerous waves. Why were they even there? Sullen attitude. Sat around whining about Amanda Knox to Americans. Really? - No timeshare spiel this time, but that's the best I can say for the week. - At the end of the trip, hosts suddenly started sucking up for a tip (literally in the last 6 hrs of the week). Ridiculous. The 2nd trip was VERY different from the 1st. We felt scammed out of our money. It was 1-star hotel worthy. It was unacceptable & we got no response from Festiva after our survey. Thus we haven't returned. Another reviewer also had a great 1st trip, but bad 2nd trip, which we suspect is a pattern (2nd trip is the real Festiva). read more

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This is a hard thing to rate. We had a SUPER great experience, personally. But there are SO many factors affecting this that I would have trouble giving a 5 star. We had TERRIFIC weather and calm seas. Our Captain & First mate were great... some might not be as great. Our first mate's food was really good... some could not be. And everyone - more or less - eats the exact same thing... you'd better hope you like it! We were mostly happy with our itinerary, but we ASKED to go to Anegada and were overruled by the other guests... are you OK with that happening? We are 40... our other shipmates were late fifties, early sixties and mid-seventies. This was fine with us, would it be with you? Festiva DOES try to put you on a boat with like-minded people: are you a partier? do you just want to nap & read? Be very specific. Likewise, make SURE you go into detail about what foods you like and don't like... what sodas or juices or beers or mixed drinks you drink... they will do their best to accommodate. If you DON'T like something, write it down. The rooms are SUPER tiny and the bathroom/shower combo even teenier. The toilets? Think "camping"... you hand pump your waste down. Air conditioning only comes on when moored i the evenings. Our Captain did a GREAT job of mooring far enough from land that we were able to avoid mosquitos... thank GOODNESS!!!! We got the sail through timeshare, so it was "free". But we paid $700pp to fly there and something like $1400 for the "all inclusive" food & drinks, plus gas, captain, first mate etc. You will have to buy 2 dinners on your own and tip the crew at the end. We loved the BVI (british virgin islands)!!! Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda (The Baths) are awesome! We also LOVE the USVI (St John's in particular)... if you can fly in & out of St. Thomas and spend a few days AFTER your sail on St.John, you won't be sorry! Anyhow, we would do this again - we would like to try Cancun and Greece and St. Vincent and the Grenadines - but it is not for everyone so proceed with caution. read more

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This catamaran vacation exceeded my expectations ! It was my husband and my's first trip of this kind. The boat had everything we needed, actually more. The beds were comfortable. The food was great, space to enjoy everyone and privacy. Not one worry, our captain was always in control, but never controlling. He is a very kind man. We did the St. Maarten sail. The beauty of the sea is as seen in pictures. Absolutely gorgeous, warm, some with fish, turtles and healthy coral, some like a swimming pool and you can see 30 or so feet down. Our captain Dominique has years of experience, no matter the distance or wind, he is in full control, and you know it. I am amazed at how much he knows about the boat. The inner works. He is kind, professional, humble, and caring!! Our chef Fanny, wow, her food was delicious, impressive presentations, but most of all her love and passion for cooking was baked in each meal. I still am impressed what she was able to make with a small kitchen. In fact when we had a night on land to eat my husband and I were looking for pizza or burgers (which we rarely eat) because we didn't think anyone could match her cooking. We did have French Caribbean food one night on the island and we were right, our chef was better. I like the intimate setting of the boat, there was one other couple with us, and we had a great time, good fit, time to share and space for privacy. All in all I would take this trip again because of the crew. We love St.Maarten area, and the boat, but this crew is amazing, the two work so well together, they are fun and peaceful to be around. Never imposing, but always available. Yes space is small, but not really when you think about it, you have 360 degree ocean view, fresh air, travel from island and bays. I loved packing light, bathing suits, sundresses, cover up, and personal items that's all you need. We can hardly wait to go back !! read more

It is with mixed emotions that I write this review. My husband and I have recently returned from our first and more than likely, last trip with Festiva. On our first night our crew informed us that we were on the last trip of the season and the very last trip prior to their retirement. In our minds, we felt it could be great and the crew goes all out (as this was their last trip) or this could be terrible and the crew doesn't care. Well, we found ourselves closer to don't care. Minus the towels that were neatly placed on our bed, we found all of our extra towels thrown in the cabinet, unfolded. By all means, this was a minor offense. However, my husband also found blood stains on our sheets and pillowcases and long hair strands in our bed. Since it was after midnight and the crew was already asleep, we asked our friends for the use of their extra blanket. Unclean sheets are a major issuel. We spoke with the crew in the morning and received an apology from the hostess who insisted that the sheets were cleaned. Not once, did our hostess offer to swap out our sheets. My husband had to ask for the removal and replacement of all of the sheets in our room. Unfortunately, our disappointments did not stop here (and what follows is not an exhaustive list). I am a vegetarian and have been for 7 years. I allow seafood as a permissible source of protein in my diet. My preference form for the charter specifically stated "Please instruct the crew that I do not allow meat - beef, pork, poultry - to touch my food. I become physically sick. If there is open grilling or cooking, the cooktop/grill must be cleaned first. I eat fish and dairy products." Although this was specifically expressed on my preference form, I rarely saw seafood as an entrée onboard (2 dinners, 2 lunches). Given that this was a cruise in the Caribbean, I truly expected a bit more seafood and was utterly disappointed when I was served tofu, veggie burgers, veggie hotdogs, and bean burritos throughout my stay. I did not experience the "island gourmet" that is specifically expressed on the website. As an added bonus, the Captain cooked my veggie hotdogs on the same grill with the other guests' Filet Mignon, Never mind the fact that I spent the wee hours and early morning on the toilet, they had Filet Mignon! While the Captain grilled the steaks my husband advised him to not cook my "dogs" on the grill and he ignored us! Catering to a special diet does pose challenges. I assumed that providing the option of seafood as a viable source of protein on my menu on a Caribbean vacation would not pose many challenges for the crew yet somehow it did. Additionally, the website states that our itinerary would include sailing to Anguilla, St. Barths, St. Martin/Maarten, and Prickly Pear Cays. The Captain never mentioned Prickly Pear Cays throughout the trip and we were diverted from St. Barths due to weather. This might have been okay until we found out that the second boat that traveled with us diverted and went to St. Barths without us! Not that St. Martin isn't beautiful, but spending a trip that we expected to travel to several locations at one location is not acceptable nor what we paid for. Lastly, the generation gap between the crew (65) and guests remained overwhelmingly apparent throughout our trip. We are young adults (20's and 30's) and we enjoy our party time very much. We truly expected a combination of island nightlife and daytime fun. But, we found ourselves remaining on the boat more often than not. Because of the mediocrity presented by your crew, we found it difficult to truly garner the experience we were expecting out of a vacation in such a lovely place as the Caribbean. Although our trip was at times delightful, what should have been a joyous occasion turned into a list of complaints, disappointments and opting to "make due" with the situation. We travel often and have been around the world and in several Caribbean locations. This is not how we expected to remember a trip that came so highly recommended. read more

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We had the most wonderful week, possibly the best vacation we've ever had on Festiva! Our captain Roy and chef Fiona were wonderful! They both made our trip and amazing experience! My husband and I has been a member for many years and we took our daughter and her husband, they were absolutely blown away of the beauty of all the islands the sailing adventure and the welcoming Captain and mate/master chef we had fulfilled all of our expectations! In our mind, there is no vacation that could possibly be better then these! We can't wait to go back again!!!! read more

This is my most favorite vacation! Truly. Total fun and relaxation for a week. And I took only a knapsack. We have sailed with this group for 7 years I think, and it has always been wonderful. Just follow the wind, read, eat good food prepared as I wish, take walks on the most beautiful beaches, snorkeling... all carefully coordinated by a skilled and relaxed skipper and mate. We have sailed with Jeff and Claudia, Stuart and Jenny, Patrick and Pascale, and Guy and Roz, all excellent. This trip was on Smitten Kitten, an old friend, with Xavier and Lena. I had been around St. Maarten, Anguilla, and St. Bart's before, but never like this. Finding quiet spots away from the crowds and noise. And it was relaxing. We spent extra time at Columbier, my favorite spot. "We can go where you want," said our Captain. "Its your vacation!" The cabins are spacious and comfortable and there was a/c when we wanted it. We motored and sailed and laughed. We tried new cocktails (vodka and ting), played a new game (5 second rule), shopped a little, watched the stars. Thank you and thank you again. See you next year! read more

Our chef and captain made our trip exceptional. They went above and beyond to make sure our trip met all of our needs. I highly recommend Chef Julien and Captain Massa. read more

In May of 2022 there were 6 of us on a boat. Roy was the captain. Fiona was...whatever...first mate, chef, etc. SHE IS THE MOST RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL PERSON I HAVE ENCOUNTERED. I've taken 5 or 6 trips on Festiva...even did the Greek Isles. I know what to expect and how things work. Fiona didn't give a crap about accommodating any one of us. At one point she even scolded us for having snacks in the afternoon. She never fixed one--which she should have. She even tried to limit our access to drinks. I could go on and on. Since our trip I've communicated with others who had her. A lady from the UK told me Fiona even pointed at knife at one of the passengers on their trip....yet she still has a job?? I imagine they're having a hard time getting employees like the rest of the world but should that issue ever get resolved bed they aren't going to have customers. SO many people are complaining and NO ONE from their customer service, who is Tammy Stone, ever returns calls. NEVER and to NO ONE! We should get our money back...and not a free trip cause I'll not use Festiva again. read more

We have just returned from an amazing trip in the BVI with Festiva's Captain Roy and Chef Fiona. It was everything we had hoped it would be - relaxing, snorkeling, sailing (not motoring) everyday, kayaks and SUPs provided and excellent food. They provided a wonderful itinerary and stopped at the best ports for our family of 5! We are so lucky to have had this adventure! read more

Based on Festivas response to my review, I contacted them directly. What a disappointment! All we received in return was a two sentence reply. If anyone can recommend other by the cabin charters we would appreciate it. Heading to Martinique with DYC. We will see how it goes read more

They delivered everything they promised and then some, from the Hotel selection prion to boarding, transfer to the port, the entire cruise experience and the final transfer to the hotel were timely, efficient and friendly. The Captain was very experienced and knowledgeable, he took the time to explain everything that was asked to him, from navigation to tips around the Greek islands, he even gave us sailing lessons! The lady chef was outstanding, every meal was perfect and delicious, she always explained what each dish was and asked us how would we like it, asked for suggestions and she was always very accommodating. The ship condition was second to none, the crew was very professional and the weather was excellent. I am not exaggerating, this was by far our best sailing trip, it was better than the one we took over the BVI's 5 years ago. You can't beat the value. read more

We've done two charters with Festiva Sailing Vacations in the BVI and have not been disappointed on either charter. We look forward to doing another charter in the future. Great food, great drinks, great people, great service! Clean and well equipped yacht, experienced and knowledgeable Captain James and Chef Alysia. Our first charter was with Captain Matt and Chef Maddie both were excellent! Maddie's food top notch! We look toward a possible charter in the Greek Isles. read more

This was amazing. The crew Kip and Roy were great. Our trip was the second week in November and the weather was perfect. The food was great, the captain was knowledgeable, and made the trip lots of fun. We were a party of 4 and had a couple on the boat that we didn't know. They were great people, but I could see if you ended up with someone with different personalities it may be more difficult. This is similar to a RV, so... it's a smaller area with people you are around a lot. The showers are get wet (turn the water off), wash with soap and shampoo, and (turn the water on) rinse. Conserve water. You can't put your toilet paper in the toilets, it goes in the trash, but our crew was very good about keeping everything clean and picked up. THIS WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE and I would do it again. I only put these things in this review so you would know what to expect. read more

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This is my second time to sail with Festiva. I will return again for another sailing adventure as this trip was really relaxing and enjoyable. The captain and cook did all that was "required" to help us enjoy our vacation. I wish the internet wasn't available to the crew. The cook when she was not preparing our meals was "constantly" on her phone and not attentive to the guests needs. The captain did a great job showing the guests the local spots for snorkeling and shopping. The available budget for the trip, I noticed since my first cruise, has been tightened. The constant worry not to use fresh water was a concern for all the guests. We also never had sufficient ice to keep the drinks cold. The ice bags were purchased as needed to keep the chest "just cool" and was never "ice cold". The limited budget was felt by all guests. We were told that only "one" bar of soap was provided. We all had to go ashore to buy supplies such as soap and other extras (few cans of red bull) that were deemed too expensive to supply on the all inclusive week. The guests all were surprised that the meals were not as plentiful as expected. All the food each sitting was entirely consumed with no seconds available. The afternoon snack provided was chips and cookies which didn't satisfy our desires. We made it a point to eat ashore in the afternoon as much as we could because we were really hungry! I will make it a point to make sure the next cruise is stocked with EVERYTHING we need. Hopefully it will be a 10 as an overall experience, as I'm expecting for the price of this type of luxury vacation. read more

beautiful boat (when it ran) gorgeous island but terrible experience! Chef? More like the worst summer camp cook ever! Cabbage a rice for dinner? Can tuna for lunch? Seriously! We slept in coves that were so awful we could not even go outside our cabins! Bug infested & nasty water!!! all the other chargers park in beautiful coves together. we only had hot water half the time and our boat literally was so compromised we were traveling 1-2 miles per hours. Awful! Such a nightmare!!! read more

This is a wonderful experience. We have sailed the BVI 4 times, this was my favorite sailing trip. We had not hired a captain for our prior trips as one of our crew is an expert sailor. Captain Steve and Chef Andrea made all the difference. Captain Steve has excellent knowledge of the islands, he brought us to great snorkeling spots, pointed out hiking opportunities and he is resourceful. Our food on board was outstanding and varied. The entire crew preferred food on board to most of the area restaurants. In addition, Chef Andrea is a pleasure to be around. Ask for them, your sailing vacation awaits you. read more

Just returned from a great trip. Captain Paul and First Mate/Chef Jody were a pleasure to sail with. We went with another couple we knew, and met another couple on the boat. We all got along great, so kudos to Festiva for making a good match. Captain Paul handled the itinerary, and we were never disappointed with his choices. Jody was a superb cook. Our meals were fantastic. The couple we met and sailed with owned a restaurant, and they were blown away with the food service. The snorkeling was great, the sailing was relaxing, and the islands were beautiful. If you've never spent time on a boat, its good to understand that certain amenities are not like being in a hotel, at home, or on a megayacht. Bathrooms are small, toilets (heads), require some careful use, and attention. Use of fresh water has to be carefully rationed. Do yiur homework and be informed, and you wont have a problem. This was by far the most relaxing and rewarding vacation we have taken. We shut off our phones, and stayed away from email. Wifi was only accessable 2 times when near a marina that had free wifi. So we all give it a 5 star rating. We will do it again. read more

Outstanding trip to St Maarten with Festiva aboard the Barleycorn. Captain Dom and Chef/First Mate Bea were the absolute best. The food was the highest quality and plenty of it, if you went hungry it was your own fault. The Captain is a skilled sailor and he made the trip an out of this world experience. Festiva did a great job preparing us for our adventure and would go back in a second. Great job! read more

As a group of 6, we had the absolute best time on our recent st.martin sail with captain Xavier and fanny. They were very professional, courteous, fun; and accommodating both on the boat and helping us with shore excursions. Fanny is a wonderful cook with so many options of cuisine each day and captain x had so much knowledge of location, snorkeling spots, and great suggestions for on shore dining.. we would love to return for another trip with this same crew!! read more

My wife and I went on their catamaran in the British Virgin Islands some twenty years ago. I remember it as if it was just yesterday. That is how horrific the experience was. After reading recent reviews I would say Festiva has not changed. It was a terrible experience then and that is due to the caliber of staff, which was horrible! It was brutally hot and they do not provide a/c although they can put it on. They will not, probably because it costs too much for fuel. They also only had cheap wine, no quality! And they did not want to give out simple snacks like potato chips. We got along with all the passengers on board and enjoyed the actual experience, especially the snorkeling. So the point is that it was the staff that was a problem. They were nasty, aggressive, rude, combative and down right hateful. Of course this was twenty years ago, but it sounds like not much has changed I would love to re experience this type of vacation however the chances are slim to non existent. I just would not want to ever go through this again. My advice, find a different vacation experience! read more

This was the most amazing 7 days of our lives! We went to celebrate our 20 year anniversary. Our Captain Cyril and Chef Beverly were absolutely incredible! They were fun, professional, and knowledgeable about the BVI's. Beverly and Cyril took extra steps to prepare and cook each meal. Beverly even went over and above by making us lobster omelettes, by saving her own lobster dinner from the night before for breakfast on our anniversary. The two of them absolutely, hands down, compliment each other, and really make guests feel right at home, even on a sail boat. We felt very lucky, as we did not know the other two couples, the captain, or chef, but now we are friends for live. I could on and on, but you need to experience it for yourself. Houston, Texas read more

Festiva Sailing Vacations - Boat Charters Near Me - Tortola, Virgin Islands

The trip and staff were great! Food was 5 star! Only negative was that nowhere in their literature did it mention that we couldn't flush any toilet paper. We were to put used toilet paper in our cabin bathroom in an open garbage pail that would be emptied every day. Had I known I would have brought ziplock bags with me. Also, on a "luxury" vacation I would expect a clean bath and hand towel every day. Especially as they never dried. They only gave us fresh towels one time after the initial clean towels. I also saw urine stains in our cabin bathroom on the dark brown paneled wall behind the toilet. Other than that, the vacation was great! read more

My wife and I cruised the BVIs with Festiva last week. There were many positives and negatives that I'll briefly outline here. Pre trip I had a very hard time communicating with Festiva personnel. That seemed a little odd being they should have been in "earning my business mode." I ultimately booked with a travel agent who was fantastic to deal with. I still had questions I wanted answered by Festiva but my phone calls and emails to them continued to go unreturned. Don't bother getting to the Marina early. The restaurant does have a nice view and the food is not bad but the service is exceedingly s-l-o-w. The pool water doesn't look right and is not inviting. We didn't go in and didn't see anyone else dare to either. There is no shade by the pool or anywhere else, except the restaurant. There is no beach. You can't get on the boat until the charter starts at 5, and that's understandable. Our captain was Mike and chef was Amy. Can't say enough good things about Amy. She's a sweetheart with a very nice personality. The food wasn't just amazing, it was presented beautifully. Captain Mike was a knowledgeable and capable captain but he's wound a little tight. We often felt like we had to walk on pins and needles in order to not upset him in some way. It shouldn't be like that, especially when you're paying this kind of money for a cruise. On one occasion he dropped us at the nearest dock where we had to take a $50 round trip cab ride to get to where we wanted to go when he could have just dropped us there by taking a bit longer trip by dinghy. Perhaps there was a valid reason for this but he never explained it. The seas were calm and the skies blue so it wasn't the weather. It really seemed like he just wanted to get rid of us ASAP so he could have a respite on the boat without us. Whatever. The cabby was a character and the ride was scenic so it all kind of worked out. The boat was kept tidy and I appreciated that. There was plenty of booze. We were offered new towels and sheets mid-week. Some guests complained about the mattresses but I found ours reasonably comfortable. Some of the snorkeling was very nice and some just so so. The scenery was always amazing. Turquoise waters and forested islands towering out of the water. Sandy beaches here and there. Don't miss the beach at The Baths, it's called Devils something. It's so beautiful it looks fake. I think Captain Mike needs a little break. Maybe it's that he's been dealing with some difficult guests for too long and just assumes that everyone is difficult. All the guests on our boat were friendly, capable, fun, not demanding, and easy to get along with. If he had a hard time with us, I'd really like to see him with some truly difficult passengers. I don't believe anything we said or did justified his short, often rude responses. He did seem to warm up a little by mid-week, but not enough. In his defense, it's not an easy job. But still, when you know your salary is being paid by your passengers, it would pay to be more friendly and accommodating. So to sum it up, it was a great trip with the exceptions of the communication problems with Festiva and the captain sometimes being testy. Would I do it again? No. If I was to do something similar, I would charter a bare boat and do it myself. I'd trade the comforts of a captain and chef for the complete freedom of going where and when my friends and I want and not having to deal with a sometimes difficult captain. read more

Very nice vacation experience Perfect except for the quantity of food served and the cheap beer and wine choices. One slice of French toast and one scoop of eggs with fruit for breakfast On shore dinners ranged at $100 Limited wine and drinks on last two days read more

We had an amazing time on or 7 day trip to the BVI's. Steve was our captain and Andrea was our chief. They both were so professional yet they were very easy to get along with and we had so much fun hanging out with them and learning about the areas we were visiting. they made us feel very welcomed and safe. Our boat was a 45 ft brand new 2019 catamaran. The food was amazing and we had PLENTY to choose from for Drinks. We got to see so many different places. I never got bored and they were so great in making sure our needs and wants were met. The only part I didn't care for was the day we spent on the island of Anegada. I just didn't think it was as pretty as the other places. We did have an amazing lobster dinner on the water there that night but I didn't think we needed to spend a whole day there. Everywhere else we went was amazing and I didn't want to leave. Andrea also shared with us about an opportunity in White Bay to get a massage on a floating barge which was absolutely amazing and the highlight of the trip for me. I thought this was a great very affordable way to travel and see this magical place. We are so blessed to have had this amazing experience thank you again- Julie read more