We have been lucky to take a trip with our friends aboard the sailing catamaran COOL CHANGE about chartering in the Grenadine Islands in the South Eastern Caribbean (Windward Islands). We are happy to reproduce the article here. Thank you guys very much for all this valuable first hand information.
Booking Charters in the Grenadines may appear a little complex to the uninitiated yet in practice it is no different to any other booking. Once one becomes aware of the best ‘hubs’ for airlines and being familiar with the easiest down-island routings as well as embarkation and disembarkation points it becomes a breeze.
The Grenadines offer something very different to what charter guests may have encountered in other areas.
One way to familiarize oneself with the area is to take a look at the annual magazine ‘In and Outs of the Grenadines’.
There is also an excellent DVD production entitled ‘The Caribbean You’re Looking For’, this DVD is available without cost and can be obtained from the addresses above.
The local airline, SVG Air in association with Mustique Air and TIA 2000 also produce a magazine named ‘The Grenadine Air Alliance’ It showcases both The Grenadines as well as Grenada. Further information relating to it’s availability can be obtained by emailing SVG Air’s CEO direct at paul.gravel@svgair.com
Scuba Diving:
The Grenadines is well known for it’s scuba diving with most of the Islands
offering reputable ‘rendezvous diving’ operators. ‘Cool Change’ will be very
happy to arrange diving wherever and whenever your clients may require that
activity, even up to the day before the dive. The average price for such a dive is
around $ 90.00 USD (two tank dive). Upon your request we will be happy to supply a list of dive operators.
Meeting the Yacht and Itineraries:
Typically ‘Cool Change’ will collect guests in St Vincent where the yacht will be anchored at Young Island Cut. The Captain will be on hand to greet the guests at the airport. In most cases this would be an evening start in which case we offer a complimentary first night on the yacht. If the guests choose to eat aboard on the complimentary night they will be required to eat one evening meal ashore later during the charter.
The Best Way To Get There: Airline Hubs to use
a) When heading South down-Island the choices are:
St Lucia Hewanorra International Airport served by major US airlines plus
international airlines such as Jet Blue, Delta, American Airlines, US
Airways, Air Canada, Westjet, British Air, Virgin Atlantic plus others.
Connect to St Vincent using SVG Airlines who operate a daily service.
https://flysvgair.com/st__lucia_schedules_and_fares.html
Barbados International Airport served by most major US airlines as well as
international airlines such as Jet Blue, Delta, American Airlines, US
Airways, Air Canada, Westjet, British Air, Virgin Atlantic plus others.
Connect to St Vincent using SVG Airlines daily service departing 1600 hrs
http://flysvgair.com/barbados_schedules_and_fares.html
b) When heading Northwards up-Island.
Grenada International Airport served by American Airlines direct flight
from Miami and Delta Airlines direct flight from New York JFK besides
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic from the UK.
We strongly recommend avoiding Liat Airlines if at all possible due to unreliable
service, if there is an improvement we will notify you. (sic)
Fees and Taxes:
Park Fees in the Tobago Cays are EC$ 10.00 ($3.75 USD) per person per overnight.
Tobago Cays EC$ 40.00 ($ 15.00 USD) per night if on a mooring ball.
Grenadines Cruising Taxes are EC$ 35.00 ($ 13.25 USD) per person per week.
Grenada Cruising Taxes are EC$ 75.00 ($28.50 USD) for the yacht.
Mustique Moorings (compulsory) EC$ 250.00 ($ 94.50 USD) for up to 3 nights.
Itineraries:
The guests may choose to spend the first day or so at the resort ‘Young Island’ www.youngisland.com perhaps doing an island tour and learning more about St Vincent before setting off for the Grenadines. Should they wish to stay on the yacht during this period, complimentary first night will still be given however, the charter should be extended beyond a week to allow for the extra days spent in St Vincent.
First Port of call will be Bequia followed by Mustique (if requested), Canouan Island, Union Island, Palm Island, Petite St Vincent, Mayreau Island and The Tobago Cays.
The routing is flexible and can be rearranged to suit the guests’ preferences.
Guests will disembark to fly back to their original ‘hub’ airport from Canouan or Union Island.
There are small airports on Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Union, and Carriacou served by small inter-island carriers such as SVG Air.
Contact Details:
Visit the COOL CHANGE website: www.sailcoolchange.com and book through us at www.boatbvi.com
Miscellaneous:
Booking a charter out of Grenada is easy and convenient. There is however one consideration and that is traveling north from Grenada requires a crossing from Grenada to Carriacou. The trip takes around 6 hours and once leaving Grenada mainland we have to sail past ‘Kick ‘em Jenny’ an undersea volcano. The sea between Carriacou and Grenada can be quite rough due to the volcano and is not recommended for sailors without strong stomachs.
So we have the perfect answer, fly direct to Grenada then use SVG Air from Grenada to Carriacou
https://www.festival-cannes.com/fr/
These flights are numerous and very reasonable at $41.00 USD per person one way. Cool Change will collect guests in Carriacou and clear customs into The Grenadines at Union Island, a short sail. The charter route will be focused on the lower Grenadines around Tobago Cays, Union, Petit St Vincent and Canouan, should the guests wish to sail up north to Bequia and Grenada we will be happy to oblige. Flying into Grenada from the USA is via American Airlines direct from Miami or choose Delta direct from New York. Europeans can use either British Air or Virgin Atlantic.
While in Grenada, you may wish to book into one of the local resorts and spend a day or two touring the Island (recommended) before setting off to board Cool Change in Carriacou.
For dive enthusiasts, there is the opportunity to connect with local dive operators in Carriacou to dive some unique spots in the area.
