Greetings Sailors! You all are probably aware by now that we include a ton of fun extras on our custom sailing trips. Premium snacks, island inspired cocktails and mocktails, beer, soda, snorkel gear, noodles, swinging hammock chairs, fuel and knowledgeable Captain and First Mate are all a part of the inclusive price that you see when you book. However, there are a few items you might want to bring along. And some other things to tackle in advance that will help the best day of your vacation be a breeze!
First, the day before you board, there are a couple of things to check on. Have you already let Captain Teddy know where you would like to stop for lunch? If so, fantastic! If not, make sure you and your team have an idea of what you want to do. If Pizza Pi is the lunch pick, take a look at their menu online the night before and text Captain Teddy your order so we can ensure a good pickup time. During certain times of the year, it gets BUSY and pick-up times for pizza can be later in the day than we would like.
If you opted to bring your lunch along, we HIGHLY recommend Paulie’s Luncheonette in the Lumberyard Parking Lot in Cruz Bay. The sandwiches are ridiculously delicious and you can also pay to park there for the day.
Next up, have you checked your email and received the confirmation email? If not, go ahead and do that the day before your trip! You’ll need to check in and sign the waivers online and this step can cut into your sailing time if it is not done in advance!
Packing List for Your Sailing Adventure
Ok, so now that all of your pre-trip to-dos are accomplished, you’ll need to get your bags packed! That being said, don’t overpack. A lot of folks bring bags that don’t even get opened during the course of a trip. Pack light and we will take care of the rest. Please remember that sunset sails require much less gear than a full day sailing adventure. For the two hour sunset sail, all you’ll need is your team and a camera for memory making!
Towels – Bring your own beach towels. Quick dry ones are the best and easiest to pack but whatever your villa or hotel provides you with works too! We have plenty of space to stow them while we sail. PLEASE shake excess sand out of previously used beach towels before boarding the boat.
Reef Safe Sunscreen – This is a big one! While we do have some reef safe sunscreen on board for guests to use, we highly encourage you to bring your own…you’ll need it on the beaches to take care of the reefs any way 😉 The reef safe sunscreen considered “legal” in the USVI does not contain any of the toxic three O’s. Take a peek at this guide to purchase yours in advance of your arrival on island. Oh, and NO spray sunscreen of any kind on the boat please! It turns the decking orange!
Cash and/or Credit Card for Lunch & Tip – While Lovango Resort + Beach Club always accepts credit cards for payment, cash is sometimes the best way to go at Pizza Pi. And your Captain and Crew ALWAYS appreciate a cash tip. Customarily, the going rate for tip is at least 20%…Just like a restaurant. Tip and lunch are the only additional expenditures you’ll encounter outside of the original trip cost.
Sun Shirt & Hat – A UV protective shirt and a hat with a drawstring will always trump sunscreen! If you don’t have a sun shirt, we have them for sale on board. Hats without drawstring attachments are always at risk for flying away!
Water Bottle– We absolutely have insulated cups on board as well as fresh, cold water as one of our MANY beverage options. Bring your own reusable water bottle to stay hydrated amidst your Rum Punch consumption! We do not serve water in disposable plastic on board and would love it if you would consider the same.
Additional Snacks for Kiddos– As always, snacks are included in the cost of your sailing adventure. We provide a fruit plate and charcuterie board on all full-day excursions. However, sometimes our snacks may be a little “fancy” for kiddos with a temperament in their tastebuds! Bringing along some goldfish or granola bars is always a good idea to keep the kids full and happy.
Snorkel Gear for the Littles– We absolutely have a wide range of snorkel gear on board for all to utilize during your sailing trip. But we have run into littles who are a bit too tiny for our grown-up sized gear. If your kiddos love to swim with the fishes but have tiny fins themselves, stop by Beach Bum to rent some smaller gear for them to use on board!
We aren’t stating the obvious here…Obviously! 😉 Don’t forget to bring your sunglasses, some type of camera and your willingness to have fun. And above all…ADVENTURE!