We would all like to travel in a bubble to a nice destination that protects us from today’s world. If you are thinking about chartering a private crewed yacht on your next vacation, you have found the perfect bubble of safety. With catamaran and motor yacht charters fulfilling this specific need to vacation away from the crowds, it has also become increasingly obvious that everyone truly needs to ensure future travel investments with trip insurance to cover their health and peace of mind. We can help you stay on top of yacht charter travel in the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Belize, Croatia, and Greece. In this month’s article, we explore how people feel about traveling right and how many are insuring their trips.
The lively term "bubblecation" was recently coined in St. Lucia as part of a marketing campaign to encourage Caribbean residents living in Nevis, St. Kitts, Saba, Statia, French Saint Martin, Dutch St. Maarten, Anguilla and St. Barths to come together to form a Caribbean Group of 8; recognizing that through a joint collaboration they can amplify their presence and create new travel possibilities and fresh itineraries for consumers. The pent up demand is out there, the interest is there, and the bookings are coming in now. We think it's really an encouraging time despite those pesky worries. The underlying message is that there is no better place than the Caribbean for travelers who are ready to venture forth when the time is right.
Allianz Travel recently conducted a survey with a definition of travel as the following: A trip to a destination that is more than 100 miles from your home and lasts for at least 2 nights. They surveyed 4,300 of Allianz’s U.S. travel insurance customers between June 1 and 29, 2020. The results are in! They learned that more than four in ten Americans plan to travel before the year is out.
Forty-four percent of those surveyed said that they anticipate traveling before the end of 2020, while 30 percent were unsure when they’d travel next, and lesser percentages pointed to sometime next year or even later.
There was also a subtle correlation noted between respondents’ ages and when they would see themselves traveling next. Older Allianz trip insurance customers were more likely to lack an estimate as to when they’d take their next trip, compared with younger customers. Specifically, 31 percent of those ages 55 and over said they don’t know when they’d travel again, versus 26 percent of those under the age of 55 who said the same.
Among those under the age of 55, 25 percent of respondents were planning to travel anywhere from one to three months from now, compared with 17 percent of older customers who answered the same.
When asked about the mode of transportation they’ll use when traveling next, 65 percent of Allianz customers said they’d be going by air.
Among those who saw themselves flying, 36 percent planned to fly domestically, and 28 percent would choose a domestic destination. For those looking to leave the U.S. mainland, beach vacations in Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Mexico tied with trips to Europe were the top destinations.
“Our survey has found that our customers are eagerly awaiting the day that they can resume traveling to their favorite destinations,” said Daniel Durazo, Director of Marketing and Communications at Allianz Partners USA. “While our customers plan to enjoy domestic trips now and in the near future, international trips will be on many a wish list in 2021. In fact, the majority of our customers who say they don’t plan to travel this year have indicated that their next trip will be to an international destination.”
Although travel insurance products don’t generally cover pandemics, Allianz has made several temporary adjustments to its policies during this unprecedented period, including coverage for trip cancellations, trip interruptions, and emergency medical care for travelers if they come down with COVID-19. It has also temporarily approved refunds of travel insurance premiums purchased by customers whose travel suppliers have been forced to cancel their vacations due to the pandemic.
One interesting development that many people are not aware of is that the insurance companies have tightened down in the past few weeks on their restrictions to purchase a Cancel at Any Time Policy. The Allianz Cancel At Any Time policy with 80% reimbursement on a verified claim must be purchased with 24 hours of the first deposit on a vacation booking, not 14 days. Amazing, right? The insurance company is quick to clarify that if there is a claim on a Cancel at Any Time policy, they will require a copy of your bank statement showing when your account was debited for the first deposit on your trip. As a result, you'll have to act fast if you want this type of policy. Each couple joining you on a yacht charter vacation who does not legally live under your roof will also have to make an immediate decision if they want the same coverage. But with that being said, anyone can purchase regular trip insurance that will provide coverage if their doctor determines that they test positive for COVID and is unable to travel at the time of their charter.
Need a trip insurance quote? We're here to help.
Yacht Charters Guru is a registered agent with 2 trip insurance companies: Allianz Global Assistance and AIG Travel Guard. In all honesty, we had never put much thought into purchasing our own trip insurance until January 2020 when we had an aging parent with health issues.
Just fill in the form below for an instant no-obligation quote from Allianz Global Assistance.
News from the British Virgin Islands:
Premier Andrew Fahie said the British Virgin Islands is more confident in its border reopening efforts now that the Cuban medical team has commenced duties at the BVI Health Services Authority.
The 22-member team that comprises internist doctors, intensive care specialists, and nurses, emergency response doctors, as well as those trained in infectious diseases, just ended their mandatory 14-day quarantine and all tested negative for COVID-19.
“The team is now going through orientation and will join healthcare professionals at the BVI Health Services Authority to augment medical services and further strengthen the territory’s resolve in the fight against COVID-19,” Fahie said in a media release from the Office of the Premier on Tuesday afternoon, August 11.
He continued: “We anticipate that the addition of the medical professionals to the team will assist the territory in opening up with a greater sense of confidence in the fact that adequate specialized treatment capacity will now be available in the territory.”
After testing more than 1,500 persons for the COVID-19 virus using the popular PCR testing method, the BVI has recorded a total of nine positive cases, with seven recovered, one deceased, and one active case as of August 13, 2020.
Promoting the Caribbean as a safe tourism option for long-stay visitors during the coming winter season is an interesting initiative put forth by Kedrick Malone, former director of tourism for the British Virgin Islands
In a recent conversation, he outlined his "COVID-19-free" Caribbean winter destination idea and how the region could become a model for the coexistence of health and economy during these times.
"Let's rethink this now," Malone said. "Many families in the colder flu zone states and countries are anticipating a second wave of the virus. Many parents are working from home as schools are likely to continue remote learning programs, but internet services and Zoom calls in many parts of the Caribbean are comparable to those in metropolitan [areas]. Spending extended periods in the Caribbean with its outdoor activities and offerings could be a viable option for families this winter." Quite an interesting thought, isn't it?
CREWED CHARTER HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS
The Crews:
Check their temperatures twice each daily and send a daily report with their temperatures and guest health to the cabin cruise manager
Ensure COVID-19 measures are observed while onboard and on excursions
Purchase packaged food where possible and sanitize food before bring onboard
Wear masks and gloves while preparing and serving food
Masks are worn when social distancing cannot be observed
The Yachts:
Disinfecting with ecologically friendly formula and disinfecting of the interior after the return of each charter and before cleaning staff enter the boat, as outlined by WHO and ECDC
Disinfecting of all inside surfaces with disinfectant and mattresses/pillows/blankets sanitized between charters
There is a second disinfecting with ecologically friendly formula and disinfecting of the interior after cleaning is completed
Finally, we disinfect the boat exterior and lockers including cushions
RECENT VIDEOS: See Our Visit Aboard these Yachts!
Catamaran Anastasia is a 62' Privilege catamaran offering crewed yacht charters in the British Virgin Islands and USVI. She has an extensive list of fun water toys including sea scooters! The yacht accommodations up to 7 guests in 1 Master King Suite, 2 King cabins, plus an additional single berth. Anastasia offers a nice flybridge, large seating & lounge area on both the forward deck as well as on the stern. Up to five dives per week are available onboard for certified scuba divers. Luxury amenities are included in the bathrooms & spa showers.
Everything is so specialized onboard this light-filled yacht. From the cuisine by a trained Chef to the cocktails to the itinerary, each and every detail will be customized to your own charter desires, guaranteeing incredible memories of a lifetime.
⭕️ BROCHURE & RATES: https://bit.ly/CatamaranCharterAnastasia
Winning AGAIN: Best Multihull over 57’!! 67’ CATAMARAN NENNE a Victoria 67, newly built and launched in 2017, she's the newest addition to Fountaine Pajot's Flagship fleet, their top-of-the-line luxury cruising cats. Accommodation for 10 guests in 5 cabins which are all en-suite: 1 King, 3 Queens, and 1 Twin which can be configured to a King upon request. Each cabin has independent A/C, Sony and Apple flatscreen LED TV with access to an onboard server film library with over 500 films, Bose HiFi music system, high-quality bed linens and towel sets including nice thick NENNE-branded beach towels. The very large Master Cabin has a desk/dressing table and a comfortable couch. equipped with a large array of water toys including, snorkel gear, kayaks, stand-up paddle-boards, wakeboard, adult and children's waterskis, a range of towable inflatables, plus a 100hp tender for towing. For guests interested in scuba diving, you won't find a better choice than NENNE as she offers a premium dive experience with a complete assortment of top-of-the-line equipment & an onboard dive compressor.
Captain Donald is a licensed PADI Dive Instructor and loves to share his passion for diving and favorite local dive spots with guests. Captain & Chef Donald & Audrey Harper along with First Mate Dennis have established themselves as one of the top crews in the Caribbean charter market, evidenced by 16 charter yacht show awards in categories including Best of Show, Culinary, Table-setting, and ECO-friendly. The most important accolade this crew receives on a regular basis is numerous rave reviews from their guests. Enjoy seeing our video from our visit aboard the yacht!
BROCHURE & RATES: https://bit.ly/SailNenne
About Us:
We're former charter crew team, Captain, Chef, and owners of an Award-winning 72' sailing yacht 18 years. With over 300 charters in our logbook, we currently represent privately crewed Caribbean sailing luxury yacht charters as professional CYBA yacht charter brokers. Recently, we interviewed over 120 catamarans, motor yachts, sailboats, and professional crews. We're happy to work together as a team to promote charter vacation yachts offering modern conveniences & unlimited pleasure.
What should you expect from a luxury crewed yacht charter in the Caribbean? It's "ALL about you, ALL the time" onboard a privately crewed charter boat! It's surprisingly affordable too! Far away from overcrowded cruise ships, all-inclusive charter yachts allow you to explore some of the Caribbean’s most exclusive areas and delight in the natural, unspoiled beauty of secluded islands, hidden coves, and secret dive sites. Sail to a nearby island every day & snorkel around your own private beaches; enjoy your favorite cocktail while watching the sunset on your own private yacht; indulge yourself with 5-star gourmet cuisine that is prepared with Caribbean flair and served in the most beautiful surroundings you could ever imagine. We love matching the right crew & yacht with you!
6 Reasons Why We are Qualified:
1. As Members of the Charter Yacht Brokers Association, we maintain contact with the yachts to keep abreast of the very latest information on crew/yacht conditions and new yachts entering the arena.
2. We stay on top of local and Federal Government to keep informed about changes in our industry, as well as involving ourselves with the changes in the environment in which we offer charters.
3 We engage in open dialogue with local publications to help keep the government and the public aware of this important industry in our islands.
4. We attend multiple charter yacht industry shows in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, go aboard each of the yachts, meet the crews, attend association meetings and seminars. We'll happily share our notes about changes to the boats and crews and confirm any newly added features and upgrades as well as re-fits to the boat’s decor like new carpets, interior and exterior soft goods & fun new water-toys.
5. As a seasoned charter yacht Owner & Crew, we have access to the "inner circle" and know all the insider facts.
6. We've developed a longtime friendship with vendors of services such as local taxi drivers, ferry companies, good places to stay on land, great restaurants, and much more.
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