Turquoise Turtle - Crewed Catamaran Charter

Dear André and Alison,

How we will miss your smiles, encouragement and guidance that we have come to take for granted during our week with you on the turquoise waters that you know so well. We feel God blessed and ordained this time and your awesome boat and wonderful personalities were the backdrop of our week together.
It was a time of bonding, adventure, learning, swimming, eating, drinking, snorkeling and appreciating our Creator’s handiwork in the beautiful and glorious islands. It would be hard to fathom having had better guides and friends to lead us through and around the British Virgin Isles.
And the food! You fed us extravagantly at each meal, with dishes that never failed to leave us “oohing” and “aahing”. And of course stuffed to the gills! Thank you Alison!!
And the drinks! Whether it was Andrés famous island speciality (“the joy-giver”) or other perfectly created cocktails we never had excuse to be thirsty! Thank you André
It was heartwarming not only to feel welcome on our beautiful home for the week but also on every stop your friends (actually family) who greeted us with open arms and smiling faces made us feel like part of the islands too. Your intimate knowledge of the marine life, birds and islands helped acclimate us and keep us interested in the trip on an even deeper plane.
Thanks also for being willing to tailor our stops and our activities to accommodate our wishes and as you got to know us to make the activities fit our personalities.
And thanks for taking care of us. We never felt insecure or lost or frustrated as you were always there with words of wisdom, to nurse us if we had sunburn or even small injuries and to make us feel comfortable. Thank you both!
All in all a truly incredible and once-in-a-lifetime experience for my whole family.

Our love and eternal thanks,

Glen, Karolan, Jack, Adena and Sam

We had talked about sailing the BVI´s for years, so we finally made it happen! We had the absolute best time of our lives! We only had a few requests of places to stop going in and we asked Turquoise Turtle to basically plan the rest. Everything was perfect - Andre and Allison are wonderful, the accommodations were very comfortable, the food that Allisson prepared was delicious, and all of our stops were fantastic. The beautiful water of the BVI´s is indescribable and to see it on a boat is just the best. We absolutely plan to rebook a trip and no question will rebook the Turquoise Turtle! We highly recommend this boat to anyone that wants to have the time of their lives!!

Everything was seamless for the trip, the yacht was clean and ready for our arrival. All water toys were available-snorkeling gear, knee boarding, fishing. Andre and Alison were great. So accommodating and welcoming. They are very knowledgeable of the islands. Alison is a great chef and her presentation was wonderful. They also picked good restaurants on island also for us. The crew ensured we knew the plan and we were informed of any changes. We really liked the islands and the boat was perfect for our family. We would charter this yacht again and go back to some of the same islands and try some new ones also. Thank you again for everything!

Our trip to the BVI and sailing on the Turquoise Turtle was amazing. From the moment we left the dock to the time we set foot back on shore for the final time, we felt as if we had just been sailing with lifelong friends. This is a testament to Andre and Alison’s top-notch hospitality. Any apprehension that we had about spending 7 days on a boat together quickly dissipated and they put us all at ease as they welcomed us into their home on the water. They laid out the perfect week for both relaxing and exploring the beauty that is the BVI. From snorkeling, exploring the Baths to relaxing on the bean bags as we sailed to Anegada, it was all just simply amazing. This was a “bucket list” trip and we are so incredibly grateful that we got to spend it on the Turquoise Turtle! Do not hesitate to book your trip, Andre and Alison will ensure that it will be an unforgettable experience.

Alan and Mandy

As I sit here watching the snow fall, I’m wishing to be back a few days aboard the Turquoise Turtle in the BVI! I had been daydreaming and planning our 2024 milestone trip to the BVI for several months. In fact, I found the Turquoise Turtle on the BVI chart chat probably 2 years ago after someone gave a glowing review. I’m here to give another glowing review. Our time with Andre and Alison aboard their 50’ catamaran was perfect! We are a family of 4 with an 18 year old daughter and a 13.9 year old son. We all love water, boating and scuba diving. We have done a lot of travel with our kids, very special trips…but this one has been the best to date! All of us agreed, that living aboard a boat with Alison and Andre in the BVI was super special.
I loved letting them plan the itinerary, I’ve never lost track of dates/times so much (and I’m a “Planner”!). As I sit here watching the snow fall, I’m wishing to be back a few days aboard the Turquoise Turtle in the BVI! I had been daydreaming and planning our 2024 milestone trip to the BVI for several months. In fact, I found the Turquoise Turtle on the BVI chart chat probably 2 years ago after someone gave a glowing review. I’m here to give another glowing review. Our time with Andre and Alison aboard their 50’ catamaran was perfect! We are a family of 4 with an 18 year old daughter and a 13.9 year old son. We all love water, boating and scuba diving. We have done a lot of travel with our kids, very special trips…but this one has been the best to date! All of us agreed, that living aboard a boat with Alison and Andre in the BVI was super special.
I loved letting them plan the itinerary, I’ve never lost track of dates/times so much (and I’m a “Planner”!). The crew took care of every detail, arranging taxis, eFoil lessons, massage, dinner reservations, diving gear, etc etc. Their boat is 20+ years old but shines like new. I like things clean and tidy and I know that’s not easy when having a boat in saltwater. But the Turquoise Turtle is a very clean and well maintained vessel. Obviously, A & A take great pride in their home on the water! Alison is a wonderful chef, accomplished First Mate and I doubt she’s ever met a stranger! Just a lovely person. Andre is a knowledgeable boat captain, as well as helicopter pilot, so we enjoyed talking flying with him. He makes a yummy Painkiller and taught us how to play Mexican train. They both love scuba diving and we felt very comfortable with them taking us on some very cool dives! I highly recommend if you’re looking for a crewed charter in the BVI, do not hesitate to book the Turquoise Turtle! You’ll love it!! , arranging taxis, eFoil lessons, massage, dinner reservations, diving gear, etc etc. Their boat is 20+ years old but shines like new. I like things clean and tidy and I know that’s not easy when having a boat in saltwater. But the Turquoise Turtle is a very clean and well maintained vessel. Obviously, A & A take great pride in their home on the water! Alison is a wonderful chef, accomplished First Mate and I doubt she’s ever met a stranger! Just a lovely person. Andre is a knowledgeable boat captain, as well as helicopter pilot, so we enjoyed talking flying with him. He makes a yummy Painkiller and taught us how to play Mexican train. They both love scuba diving and we felt very comfortable with them taking us on some very cool dives! I highly recommend if you’re looking for a crewed charter in the BVI, do not hesitate to book the Turquoise Turtle! You’ll love it!!

What an amazing week! This was our second time to sail with Andre and Allison and again the BVI lived up to all the things people say about it. Cool clear water for diving or snorkeling especially with two master divers as our hosts. The best part is the feeling you get with them that they are just taking friends sailing for a few days. It is so relaxing. They know everyone and everything to do or not do. We would recommend the Turquoise Turtle to everyone looking for that perfect BVI experience

Words cannot express the amount of gratitude I have for the Turquoise Turtle and her amazing owners, Captain Andre and First Mate/Chef Alison. They truly made this a wonderful and unforgettable experience. They went above and beyond to accommodate and ensure my elderly FIL had a wonderful trip. Their kindness allowed him to relive his younger days of sailing while creating new memories and experiences with his boys. They brought us to some of their favorite local spots where everyone treated them and us as family. We snorkeled in caves and the most beautiful reefs. Alison has a great eye and knowledge for spotting spectacular fish, eels and even sharks! They took us to several fabulous restaurants where we enjoyed lovely cocktails ate lobster and over indulged in dessert while digging our toes in the sand. Alison is a FABULOUS chef herself. Every meal she prepared was rich in flavor, beautiful and made with love. Captain Andre is an excellent sailor and the two of them work so smoothly together. If you have the opportunity to experience the British Virgin Islands by sailboat I highly recommend The Turquoise Turtle with Captain Andre and Alison. You will feel like family the minute you board

I wrote the following in the guest book of the catamaran, Turquoise Turtle, my wife, son, his wife and two children were on for a week to celebrate my 80th birthday. ´ Superlatives do not suffice to describe our week. Simply put, each of the six of us, three generations ranging in age from 14 to 80, had a fabulous time. Some of us were most interested in sailing, some diving, some food, some swimming, some relaxing. All of our expectations were surpassed. Perhaps most important to us were the kindness and care you showed us. You met our every need, and we became very fond of you. I had a dream of celebrating my 80th on a boat in the Carribean with my family. My dream was realized, and my heart is full. I cannot imagine that there exist better people than you two to sail with. Oh, and the food was absolutely delicious. Fondly, ´Jef´ for the Fellows Family

A week on the Turquoise Turtle touring the BVI´s was absolutely perfect. Captain Andre and First Mate Alison did not spare any detail from the cozy accommodations to the daily activities. We felt right at home and feel like we made lifelong friends.

This was an excellent trip. We went for seven nights with a group of 6 women. Andre and Alison were amazing hosts. I did this for a living back in the 90´s and they provide exceptional service, food and hospitality. The food was outstanding as was their desire to make sure that we had a well rounded trip that included visiting islands, lazy days sailing, beautiful dives and lovely evenings. You will not regret booking Turquoise Turtle!

Alison and Andre were the perfect hosts. They navigated our trip expertly and provided a fun and relaxing trip for all of us. Alison is the most amazing chef with draw-dropping meals at every turn. Our dives and snorkeling adventures were amazing. I can´t wait to book again with them!

Mi parte favorita del viaje con Turquoise Turtle Charter fue que el crew (Alison y el capitán André) nos llevaran a conocer diferentes islas y bares, además de que nos acompañaran en la travesía en Anegada y Virgen Gorda. Nos dieron los mejores consejos, bien acertados. La comida del catamarán es excelente. Las bebidas tal como se le pidió y más. El mejor Pain Killer me lo preparó el capitán André. Siempre están atentos, y muy pendientes a las necesidades que uno pueda tener. Son puntuales para todo. Te explican todo con mucho gusto. El cuarto tiene un matress súper cómodo y sus almohadas también, sábanas super limpias, toallas también. Dormimos con aire acondicionado sin problemas, a una temperatura excelente. Si te da frío, tienen una colcha extra. El cuarto y baño, SUPER limpios. Las áreas comunes, super limpias también. Te brindan toallas de playa y bultos impermeables por si los necesitas para salir a las islas. Nosotros quisimos cenar afuera en 3 ocasiones y ellos nos recomendaron los mejores restaurantes, buenísimos. Incluso celebramos un cumpleaños en uno de los restaurantes y estuvo excelentísimo. En fin, mis mejores vacaciones. Le recomiendo Turquoise Turtle Charter para unas vacaciones en la playa/mar bien placenteras y relajante. NO hubo nada negativo que les pueda decir. Disfruté mis vacaciones tal y como lo esperaba.

Thank you for the food, the laughs and the hospitality. We love sailing the Caribbean and specifically the BVI´s. So many new places this time, we enjoyed CocoMaya, Saba Rock, Wonkey Dog - dancing on the beach. Truly wonderful time. We are forever grateful for the memories.

Sylka F

Thank you Andre and Alison. We loved our stay at the Turquoise Turtle. You make a wonderful team. I definitely recommend these charter to anyone that wants to go to BVI to have some fun, to learn more about the islands and to eat delicious food. Thank you again.

Just spent a fantastic week aboard Turquoise Turtle. Andre and Alison are the ultimate hosts who treat you like long-lost family. Food onboard was exceptional. The boat is a dream - comfortable with everything you need. Combine this with the BVI - best vacation ever!

Keith, Juli, Tom, Gail, John

We´d all like to thank you for this past week of wonderful water time, boat life and exploring the BVI with your expert guidance. Your tips on how to fully enjoy and explore The Baths, snorkelling in Diamond Reef with Alison were two of the exceptional experiences. The meals were absolutely fabulous in all ways - plate presentation, sharing some South African meals - recipes and the creative and delicious variety of menus.
Thank you so much, and we want you to know that as we disembark, we take with us many many special memories that will keep us smiling always and give us many stories to share with the family and friends.

We´d all like to thank you for this past week of wonderful water time, boat life and exploring the BVI with your expert guidance. Your tips on how to fully enjoy and explore The Baths, snorkelling at Diamond Reef with Alison were two of the exceptional experiences.
The meals were absolutely fabulous in all ways - plate presentation, sharing some S African meals and recipes and the creative and delicious variety of menus.
Thank you so much and we want you to know that as we disembark we take with us many many special memories that will keep us smiling always and give us many stories to share with family and friends.
Fondly Keith and Juli, Tom and Gail, John.

Drew M

WOW! What an awesome experience. It would have not been the same without the two of you and the FABULOUS Turquoise Turtle.
We loved the hospitality, snorkelling your knowledge of the Islands and sights, and the food and your incredible teamwork.
Thank you for sharing your ´home´ with us this week. We will never forget it.

Bert M
When we arrived, our first impression was that the yacht was very clean. The accommodations were very inviting, comfortable, and spacious. We enjoyed the sailing, the beanbags and the cold drinks. The crew was very professional and informative. Chef Alisons meals were excellent and had a variety of dishes. They did a wonderful job taking Kyla scuba diving. This was definitely a great experience we will never forget.

The Mills family

Thank you for a fantastic week of fun, memories, relaxation and once in a lifetime FUN! What an amazing life of chartering and disc overing new places! You are so lucky! We are grateful for your hospitality and opening up your world to us! We wish you lots of sunny, safe days ahead.
Thanks for everything!

Megan A

We had a first great impression. There were lots of photos and virtual walk-throughs on the website so it looks just as we expected it to. The boat was beautiful and well-maintained. Everything was great. Nothing was missing onboard. The captain was knowledgeable, friendly, and kind. Andre was so fantastic. Our itinerary was pretty perfect. Alison was wonderful. She is very warm, talented and kind. We all enjoyed the food, it was delicious. The kids enjoyed snorkeling and the crew was very helpful in getting them fitted with snorkeling gear. Andre and Alison were great hosts and we enjoyed our time aboard!

Alan & Megan Anz

Camille D

AMAZING 40th birthday experience for my husband!! André and Alison went above and beyond to ensure our trip was perfect from the itinerary which ensured we saw the highlights of beautiful BVIs to each amazing meal on board to helping us plan a special birthday dinner and several other special surprises along the way. They even had personalized cups made for us to celebrate the occasion! Do not hesitate to book on the Turquoise Turtle, the experience will not disappoint!! Thank you André and Alison for a truly magical vacation. We are already planning a return visit!

Susan M
Our family of 5 (kids ages 14, 13, and 7) just returned from an incredible week aboard the Turquoise Turtle. Captain Andre and Alison are the perfect hosts. The boat is clean and lovely with all the right gear to have fun in the water water. Alison´s cooking is amazing; even my picky kids cleaned their plates. I still don´t know how she managed to make a pie and bake homemade bread in her galley! One of the things we were most impressed with was how incredible they were in instructing us as we completed our open dive scuba certification. Andre and Alison are both PADI dive instructors and were amazingly thorough and patient. They went above and beyond and made the experience truly magical for this crew of new divers. If you are considering diving with them; do it! Our week aboard the Turquoise Turtle was, hands down, our most amazing family vacation. HIGHLY recommend!

Tammy F
Fabulous trip! We loved Allison and Andre. They made our trip so much fun and served as excellent tour guides. We explored places in the BVI´s that we had never seen before. We ate a lot of good food. We swam and snorkeled and had a great time getting to know each other. They know the area exceptionally well and are experts at sailing. The value was very good! We will go again I am sure! Do yourself a favor and book today, a great way to be spoiled and disconnect for a week.

Ryan T
My wife, 3 young children (10,9,4), and myself just returned from an amazing week with Allison and André aboard the Turquoise Turtle. To say it was an amazing experience would be an understatement! We were treated like family and all the details were taken care of, we can’t wait to return.

JENNY D
Highly recommend Turquoise Turtle Charters - Andre and Alison were the best hosts! The boat is beautiful and in excellent shape, the beds were comfy, the rooms well organized - you could tell they´ve got it down to a science with all the little ´extras´ they provide.

Andre is a great captain - I could tell he was super experienced and knows the islands well. Alison is the BEST chef ever. Every meal was amazing, not only tasting but the presentation was so creative....it made me excited for each and every meal! They both knew all the best snorkeling spots and helped guide us so we could get the most out of each trip. They know a lot of the locals on each island and we could tell they have some amazing friendships, which shows what great people they are. I´m so glad to have met them, they were so fun to spend our vacation with and I hope to be able to do it again!

Navigator
Sailing to Anegada and experiencing the island was fantastic. Captain Andre is a world class sailor and knows the waters of the BVI and how to make a pain killer and BM. The beach bars were beautiful along with the lime in the coconut drinks. The spiny lobsters were to die for along with Alison´s cooking on board the boat. She loves the water and helped save a couple of old snorkelers. The Soggy Dollar Bar and beach were breath taking along with the sights on the Willie T. Great trip and Crew.

Jul 2022 • Family
I’m not sure I have the words to describe our time on the Turquoise Turtle. I can tell you I have never in my life been on a vacation like this. My 4 daughters and I travel ALOT-so being the mom I take care of ALOT. This is what I DIDN’T do…plan, shop, cook, clean, gather, motivate, think, prepare, etc.
This is what we ALL DID together…eat, play games, read, snorkel, laugh, drink, lounge on the boat, explore, hike, and just be together!
Andre and Allison literally took care of EVERYTHING, every detail, and did it brilliantly and beautifully! From sailing to the perfect bays, snorkeling spots, bars, restaurants, to showing us the underwater world and islands they love, to mixing delicious drinks, to creating phenomenal meals, to preparing equipment to snorkel, paddle board, lounge, and live on a boat very well, to being open and flexible to create the next day to be even more perfect than the day before.
My girls were worried about being on a boat for 7 nights…they literally didn’t want to leave. I’ve never seen them so connected and relaxed. Thank you Andre and Allison for giving us all so many incredible memories Dinghy Forward!

May 2022
Overall:
If you´re wanting to experience BVI and have a relaxing, memorable, beautiful experience with great food and even better people then sailing with Alison and Andre´ on the Turquoise Turtle is the only way to do it. They have the knowledge, experience, connections and wonderful personalities to make your experience a once in a life time! From the first day aboard, we instantly felt like an extension of their family. The made us feel right at home, made great conversation, delcious food and cocktails and really took care of everything for us so we didn´t have to even think or worry about a thing. Alison and Andre´ will be forever a part of our lives and I hope to be able to go back again! Do yourself a favor and book with them. You won´t regret it and everyone you know will be super jealous. :-)

Planning/Booking:
Where to begin! This trip was 3 years planning in the making. We had been planning this since before COVID and then it got pushed for 2 years. Then the boat we originally booked was sold so we had to scramble and look for a new one to accommodate our dates. After booking the 2nd boat, a week later found that vessel, too, had been sold. We almost conceited to defeat until we found the Turquoise Turtle. Alison and Andre´ were very accommodating to our dates and the was gracious to accept the pricing we had initially book the other boats for. We hadn´t even spoken to Alison and Andre´ yet and we already loved them! Week before we were scheduled to book we hopped on a call with Alison and Andre´ and chatted about itinerary, menu preferences and other activities we were wanting to do. This really helped us OCD Planners (like me) feel more at ease about what to pack and expect.

Let the fun begin!
We flew into STT the night before we were scheduled to board and we stayed at the hotel in the marina so we saw the boat docked when we checked in. We went to dinner that night and actual ran into Alison and Andre´ ! we recognized them from their photos. We chatted and introduced ourselves briefly and they even gave us their table as they were leaving as we were sitting.

Day One: Boarding, Norman Island
We boarded at noon (however, they allowed us to bring our luggage after hotel checkout while we had breakfast and did some last minute shopping so we didn´t have to lug it around). They took us through the safety briefing and showed us our rooms and how to use everything. Alison made incredible Chicken Curry Roti! Best meal of the trip (in my opinion). Wasting no time we got settled in and took off to our first spot where we snorkeled a beautiful area with caves and even a geo-cash item. it was very cool. We went to Willy T´s bar and jumped the plank, drank, shots, dancing. Was so much fun! We then had dinner at the Pirates Bite, danced, and had a blast. Sitting outside in the hammock at night watching the stars was just stunning. No light pollution and think we saw every single star!

Day Two: Cooper Island
Woke up to an amazing breakfast of healthy banana splits. (bananas, strawberries, raspberries, black berries, Greek yogurt, honey, granola) the we went to a beautiful area called the Indians and snorkeled with some of the best and most beautiful fish and sea turtles! We had a yummy spinach quiche with salad for lunch and a delicious Steak Dinner with roasted potatoes and scrumptious Brussel sprouts followed by a cheesecake for dessert!

Day Three: Virgin Gorda
Woke up to another yummy meal for breakfast. Scrambled eggs, toast and bacon. We went to Virgin Gorda and explored the Baths, had a snack at the top restaurant where they had a pool to relax in and cute shops. I would highly recommend wearing flips flops here as the sand is VERY hot. We ate lunck on the boat, marinated grilled chicken salad with fresh avocado and cherry tomatoes. For dinner we had reservations at CocoMaya. What a gorgeous spot! Beautiful sunset, fun yard games, outside seating, swing seating at the bar, delicious drinks. Highly recommend eating here. it was so good! Alison was so helpful in ensuring we had timely reservations and got what we wanted, when we wanted.

Day Four: Anegada
This was a long sea day as the trek to Anegada is longer than any other other islands. We took a jeep tour around the island. Alison and Andre´ already took care of getting the Jeep Rental reservations and drove us to the various spots. We went to a cute spot for lunch and did some reef snorkeling. Then we went to another bar area and had a drink and checked out the scenery. We ended the tour at Cow Wreak where we had the most delicious cocktails, fun games, great people and the cutest dog! For dinner we ate at The Wonky Dog and partook in the infamous lobster (Alison made sure our orders were in 2 days before). We danced for a hours on the beach and relaxed on the boat hammock checking out the meteor shower that had that night. Best day of the trip!

Day Five: Saba Rock & Oil Nut Bay
Morning we woke up to more fresh fruits, breads, jams, meats and cheeses. We traveled to Saba Rock and oil Nut Bay where we explored Saba Rock and had a cocktail before eating lunch in Po; Nut Bay at The Bitter End. the food was so good! Their burgers were probably the best ever eaten and their buns were HUGE! (no pun intended) That night, we decorated for our on board Luau where Alison and Andre cooked Hawaiian Skewers and rice pilaf. We had fun cocktails and listened to music. Another great day!

Day Six: Jost Van Dyke
Our final full day on the boat we woke up in our private harbor and took the SUPs to a tiny island and explored, took photos, swam. We had breakfast and then sailed to our final island, Jost Van Dyle, where we hung out on the beach, having cocktails, enjoying the beautiful turquoise waters, got our shopping on and ate at Henda´s Hideaway. That night Alison made a traditional South African dish, Bobotie with sweet rice. So good! So much flavor and not something I would have every put together on my own. All the flavors of sweet and savory coming together in a magical way that left my taste buds wanting more! That night we went to the infamous, Foxy´s and continued the fun with more cocktails and dancing. We ended the evening 007 style (Phew Phew). You´ll just have to book with then to know what that means. ;-)

Day Seven: The End
Waking up on the final day was so sad. No one wanted to leave. My husband even tied himself to the boat in protest (not kidding). Alison had to drag us off. :-)
Before we would leave we need to get tested for COVID and we brought proctored kits to do on the boat. Well... come to find out, the test kits we had weren´t the right ones. Alison and Andre´s started chatting with their fellow charter captins and friends to see what we should do and we ended up finding a clinic at the harbor that could come to the boat and test us. Fortunately, the nurse was available immediately and we took the dingy to pick her up from the local dock. 30 min laters (and $100 per person) we had the results and we were good to go! Unfortunately, when we got to customs, they didn´t even ask for the test results! Waste of money but I´m still glad we got them jus for the peace of mind.

Long Review but wanted to really share the experience and how wonderful Alison and Andre´s are. I hope this was helpful!

Kelly B
Mar 2022 • Family
Our family of four had an amazing week on the Turquoise Turtle. The best tell-tale sign of just how wonderful the trip was…everyone’s screen time was down 75% or more with no complaints, even from the two teenagers. Andrea and Alison planned a trip that somehow magically struck the perfect balance between activity and relaxation with the beautiful BVI as the backdrop. And the cherry on top was Alison’s delicious food that won over the pickiest of eaters. Everything that Alison made was devoured. It was a trip of lasting memories, postcard sunsets, and so much fun. We look forward to our return trip!

Charles S
A live-aboard tour of the BVI has been on the must do list for many years. It finally became reality aboard the Turquoise Turtle. The catamaran itself is wonderful, very clean, comfortable and well maintained. But, the true stars of the Turquoise Turtle are the owners/crew, Andre and Alison. They went above and beyond to ensure that our trip exceeded all expectations. They made us feel at home and welcome from the moment we arrived. Andre kept us moving to all the great spots by day and prepared the best Pain Killers in the BVI each evening. Alison keeps things ship shape and delivers 5 star meals throughout the day. Both are great tour guides, dive/snorkel masters and stewards of the natural wonders of the BVI. They make it all look easy but they work hard to ensure you don´t have to. The week spent with them was adventurous, educational and relaxing. But most importantly it was FUN.

What an adventure with Turquoise Turtle Charters!! We were 2 couples that travel frequently together and this was a bucket list trip. Due to rescheduling for Covid we had to change from our original boat to the Turquoise Turtle and man are we glad things happened as they did. TT is a beautiful 50ft catamaran and maintained to flawlessly for both safety and comfort. She is comfortable and rides the Caribbean waters like a dream. As great as the vessel is, Alison and Andre are the stars of the show!! Both have vast knowledge of the areas they sail and are the best guides on water, underwater, and on land. If they recommend a spot, you should follow them. Their hospitality is second to none. You may laugh until your sides hurt though!!! They made our trip way beyond our high expectations for this adventure. The food is all delicious, the quarters comfortable and relaxing, the scuba and snorkeling is great and done with all safety in mind, and you will have a new set of friends when you leave to return home. I highly recommend these folks for an experience of a lifetime. Thanks for great time on the Turquoise Turtle!!!

Christine B
May 2022
This was my husband´s bucket list trip and it far exceeded our expectations!! Andre & Alison are great hosts and worked hard to take care of us and to provide an exceptional experience. They are very competent sailors and we always felt safe. They have an in depth knowledge of the BVI and their devotion to taking care of the reefs, ocean & its inhabitants, and beaches shines through in all they do & share. Alison´s food was absolutely delicious and inventive-come hungry!!

Cheryl P
As we boarded the Turtle and met Alison & André, we were strangers. When we departed, we were family. They are absolutely the BEST! They knew all the places to go and the best “off the beaten path” restaurants in the BVI’s. Their level of knowledge and expertise is worth its weight in gold. You must experience it! Alison deserves a Michelin star for her gourmet meals - every one was delightful.

Wonderful trip and a lovely couple to spend time with! Looking forward to spending time with them again.

Apr 2022 • Couples
Andre and Alison were wonderful. They knew all the best spots to visit. We always felt taken care of and safe. Very attentive and professional while having a great time.

Carin K
Apr 2022
Our crew came aboard guns ablazin´ and Andre and Alison took it in stride! They quickly made us feel right at home. We were impressed with the size of the beds/cabins and got unpacked quickly and settled right in. We spent the week island hopping through the BVI´s and felt safe with Captain Andre in charge. Alison was a great first mate and host making sure we had what we needed at all times...including band aids and sting cream!! She´s a great cook and also has a great sense of humor. We enjoyed our week and can´t wait to be back. Easy, budget friendly and enjoyable!!!

We just returned from the most wonderful week on the Turquoise Turtle Chargers. Alison and Andrea went above and beyond to ensure our safety first and foremost and provided us with excellent service. They are both extremely skilled and a pleasure to sail with. Alison is an excellent chef and Andrea’s painkillers were by far better than any others in the BVI. I was very new to snorkeling as in this was my first experience. Alison was patient and helpful and allowed me to grow in knowledge and skill throughout the week. We were saddened to have our week end and will consider them friends for life and hope they come to visit us one day as well. Don’t hesitate to book them for your trip!

Gina
Jan 2022 • Friends
What a truly amazing charter! No better captain and crew than Andre and Alison…totally awesome ! They took us places to snorkel that we never knew even existed. The reef and fish we saw were some of the best we have ever experienced. The catamaran was truly remarkable and very clean. It was so spacious and the bean bags and tramp in the front were great! Now….the food…unbelievable. I have never tasted such great food. Alison mixed it up for us and never a disappointment….always, always great meals. She is an amazing chef. Andre always had an eye out on us during snorkeling for our non-confident swimmer and Alison was always there for towing him in if needed. I can’t say enough about this charter…was truly a trip worth waiting for…we had to cancel due to covid last year. So glad we decided to come back this year.. Without any doubt at all I would highly recommend this charter aboard Turquoise Turtle with the finest Captain and Crew you will ever find. They have become lifelong friends.

Maura J
Jan 2022 • Couples
My husband and I and aunt her couple spent a week in January on the Turquoise Turtle in the BVI’s. From booking until our hugs goodbye at the end of the week, Alison and Andre were the perfect hosts! I judge a trip’s success often by how we feel when it is over….the best trips leave you relaxed and refreshed with a ton of new amazing memories! Our week with Alison and Andre was a huge success! They are such lovely people and know everything about the BVI’s. We were greeted every where we went by people who knew Alison and Andre and loved them! One tip….listen to Alison and don’t over pack! I surely won’t make that mistake on our next trip on the Turquoise Turtle! We will be looking forward to seeing our now friends, Alison and Andre again!

Kitty B
Alison and Andre showed us the true experience of sailing the BVI ‘s. From snorkeling to deserted beaches they took us to the most amazing places.
Loved every minute!

Trevor C
We had a fantastic week with Andre’ and Allison. Great hospitality, diving, sailing, snorkeling, and meals. A perfect week in the BVI!

Logan

Andre and Allison provided an amazing experience for our late anniversary trip (late due to the pandemic). The service on the boat was amazing, the attention to detail with respect to the preference sheet was simply amazing with a few wonderful surprises during our charter. I can´t recommend Andre and Allison enough. I had the best trip of my life, and I hope to get a chance to have a similar experience in the near future.

Jamie F
Our family of 5 had an amazingly fun and refreshing time on the Turquoise Turtle! We have been wanting to experience life on a boat for years and we’re finally able to make this dream into a reality! My husband and I just returned home from our charter along with our 3 teenage children. We all loved the experience of course. There’s nothing quite like jumping into the water for a spectacular snorkeling experience right outside the boat! And we can’t forget the thrill of spending the night on the front deck looking at the breath taking starlit views while listening to the sound of the waves! André and Alison’s hospitality was above and beyond our expectations. The meals were absolutely 5 star quality and so creative! Alison’s attention to detail and extra effort really shined through everything we experienced. We also appreciated Andre’s knowledge and skill both aboard and his guidance ashore. We will most definitely recommend chartering this boat to everyone!

This trip is something I personally had wanted to do for a long time and I´m so happy we picked Andre & Allison to share the Turquoise Turtle with us for 7 days. From the original planning they were helpful in navigating all of the Covid testing requirements and planning our food of course as well as activities and diving.
To start with, the food onboard the Turquoise Turtle is gourmet dining 3 meals a day. We only ate onshore a couple of times so Allison worked very hard and managed to keep our 2 teen boys full which is not easy to do. We apparently weren´t the first ones to suggest she put out a cookbook with all of these wonderful menu items. It is such a variety with influences from South Africa, Brazil and of course the Caribbean.
For activities, they always had something for us and the two boys to keep entertained (or just relax when we wanted to). Andre even pulled one boy behind the dingy on the paddleboard - never seen it one before - think he just created a new watersport!
One thing about Andre and Allison is that they know a LOT about the sea and marine life and it was great to get to snorkel and scuba with them. The parents had not dove in a quite a while and they were patient and ensured everyone was comfortable and safe. Overall that is one thing I really came to appreciate about this crew and boat, I always felt safe no matter what we were doing or where we were.
I could go on forever as it was such a wonderful trip but one thing I would like to convey more than anything is that these 2 people are great at what they do, they work VERY hard to ensure you have a wonderful time. They are basically entertaining you in their home for a week and I immediately felt at home and as if we were just extended family members visiting for a holiday.

Name: Thomas
Yacht: Turquoise Turtle with Andre & Alison Stroebel
Charter Dates: 07/12/2021 to 07/18/2021
Area Cruised: St. Martin - Leewards
Overall Rating: 5/5

1. Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
Andre and Allison were very accommodating made us feel as if it was our home

2. Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
Turquoise Turtle had a great trampoline with pads for laying out/sleeping and the bean bags were a big hit with everyone. The outdoor salon was a favorite area due to fresh air, space and comfort.

3. Was the yacht well ventilated?
We had nights where we used blankets even with 75+ degree (F) nights due to great circulation through the cabins.

4. Was the food good and well presented?
Allison is a great chef and we enjoyed the variety, flavor and presentation.

5. Did you like the area you sailed?
From St Martin to St Barths and back, we stayed at a different anchorage every night - thoroughly enjoyed all of it.

8. Additional comments on your charter?
Andre and Allison always have ideas but do a great job reading the cues of the guests - whether we just want to relax, or be more adventurous. When it comes to learning about the ocean and all it has to offer, I´ve never met 2 people as knowledgeable as Andre & Allison. My family of 4 enjoyed the scuba diving and snorkeling and have never had better dive masters.

Me and my husband just got back from this dreamy vacation, celebrated our 14th and let me tell you I’m a Panicker and was very sacred to do this trip I´m that person that’s scared of sharks, deep waters and getting sea sick. Boy I was wrong! I came back a changed person lol I enjoyed every bit of it. From waking up to beautiful ocean views to going to sleep outside watching the beautiful stars in the sky, cuddled up with my loved one and having him sleep in my arms under the moon. So romantic! There was so much to see and so much to do, never a dull moment. Alison and Andre are the sweetest people you will meet, they became like family, I left with tears because I got so attached to them ❤️ Btw, may I mention Alison is an amazing chef! Her food was delicious, and her smile was contagious. Andre was a great bar tender☺️ very helpful, dropped us off and picked us up from islands. Snorkeling was fun and island exploring was spectacular, the views are unforgettable. The beaches were beautiful and turquoise. If you want to try something different for a vacation this sail away thing is it! Don’t think twice and go. You won’t regret. Looking forward to going again with couples this time.

Safe and Stress Free Vacation
We loved our time on the Turquoise Turtle. We are so happy that we lucked into chartering with Alison and Andre. We traveled with 2 kids 9 and 7 and our parents. Andre makes it look so easy and Alison is busy making sure every need is met. We enjoyed snorkeling with them and they were great at pointing out wildlife and sharing information about the area... the kids (and adults) didn’t want to leave! As mom, it was so nice to wake up, enjoy coffee, meals, and cocktails without lifting a finger. Total luxury without being stuffy. Definitely my favorite vacation to date. If you are looking for a relaxing vacation look no further than chartering a boat in the Virgin Islands. If you enjoy going with the flow, eating great food and being with kind, down to earth people look no further than the Turquoise Turtle.

A truly remarkable trip with Andre and Alison! Snorkeling at multiple reefs each day with plenty of support spotting the remarkable reef life. Beautiful calm crossings and stays at multiple private coves each with their own story and numerous with beach bars and hiking trails. Plus spectacular meals on board! How Alison whipped up the variety she did remains a total mystery... she even cooked separate amazing vegan dishes (including a vegan birthday cake and cheesecake) for my daughter which kept everyone super happy.
A remarkably safe way to see the sites in these strange times. We all tested negative for COVID19. But did not have to be in contact with people outside the boat.
Our high complements to both the chef and to the captain for a magical visit and hands down our favorite part of our trip to the islands. If you are considering, I suggest you stop thinking and start booking immediately. The Turquoise Turtle will be our return stop every time we come to the islands and we will be recommending it to friends for years to come!

Just returned from a great New Year´s week aboard the Turquoise Turtle with the most wonderful hosts: Captain Andre and First Mate/chef Alison! They met us in St. Maarten with big smiles and a warm hug and after our ´briefing´ off to St. Barths, we sailed. Our family of 5 enjoyed the week spent sailing around the northern Leewards, relaxing, diving (especially great dives in St. Eustatia and Saba), eating Alison´s scrumptious meals, and enjoying all the top notch ammenities the Turquoise Turtle offers. Andre´s pain killers, rum punch and special turquoise margarita got our evenings off to a great start, although dimmed our game playing abilities, which we think was a secret strategy. This was our third charter and hosts like Andre/Alison are top notch. They are warm, kind, patient, funny and easy to be around.We really enjoyed ourselves and look forward to sailing again soon aboard the Turquoise Turtle.

There aren´t enough words to describe how amazing our trip was on the Turquoise Turtle. My wife and I were on our honeymoon, new to crewed yacht charters, and didn´t quite know what to expect but what we got was a trip of a lifetime. We were greeted at the pickup location by two of the most amazing people (Alison and André) I´ve ever had the pleasure to meet with big smiles and a hug. Taken to the yacht on their dinghy and given a rundown of the boat facilities and our room. Everything was spotless and beautifully arranged. We quickly became accustomed to the boat life for a week as Alison and André made us feel right at home. When sailing, André was amazing and first mate, Alison, was quick. They knew exactly what each other were looking for when anchoring and I never once felt uneasy about their capabilities. When diving, they made sure we both were comfortable and safe and their experience really shows. They could have jumped into a shark tank (although they wouldn´t!) and I would have jumped right in behind them knowing that I was completely safe with them. They found things we never could have seen on our own and they recommended the most amazing onshore activities and restaurants. They let us chose where the boat went (within reason due to winds, Anchorage and legality) and gave my wife and I the freedom to go a lil crazy (cliff jump in St. Bart was so awesome). They found the perfect beaches to put back André´s Painkiller and Rum Punch and they even got us a unexpected bottle of Champagne for our honeymoon. At meal times, André would set the table while Alison would manifest magic on a plate that kept us in awe and drooling the entire time. I highly recommend you don´t skip the dessert or their amazing coffee. Overall, I could not replace this trip in any lifetime and felt I made great friends with the Captain and Chef. We would do a charter with them again in a heartbeat. Thank you André and Alison for the trip of a lifetime.

Was the yacht clean and ready to go upon your arrival?
Yes

Were all the advertised “toys” available?
Yes

Did everything work throughout your trip?
Yes

Did the crew live up to your expectations?
Yes

How would you describe the food and drinks?
The food and drinks were excellent—we never wanted for anything and we genuinely looked forward to ourmeals onboard. Alison did a great job of adapting to me being a vegetarian while my son is not.

Were you involved in planning the day’s itinerary?
Yes. This is our second charter and we understand that our first (last year) was the turtle’s first pure scuba charter. Alison and Andre are both Certified Dive Masters and they planned a great itinerary to visit dive sites around the BVI.

What did you like most about your charter?
The wreck of the RMS Rhone is one of the best wreck diving sites in the world—and it isn’t a bad snorkel either. But we really appreciated how Andre adapted each day’s itinerary to allow us to have great dives taking into account the local conditions.

Least?
Blank

Anything to improve this particular yacht?
Blank

On a scale using 1-10: How would you rate
The captain:
10
The cook:
10
Your overall satisfaction:
10

Would you charter this yacht again?
Yes

Would you charter in a different area or a different yacht again?
Yes

Would you recommend this yacht to your friends?
We have already recommended the Turquoise Turtle to friends at our dive shop.

-John Q.

We (family of 4, 2 children ages 5 and 8) spent a week on board the Turquoise Turtle in February of 2020. Our goal was to have a relaxing, active week and an adventurous experience for the children. If you are trying to find the right charter boat to explore the BVI’s, this is the one.

Turquoise Turtle is Captained by Andre Stroebel and his wife Alison, who is Registered Nurse and excellent cook. Most importantly, both are excellent hosts and wonderful people. Andre has 30+ year’s experience as a helicopter pilot in South Africa. Andre is safety oriented and makes a great “Pain Killer” Drink! As a couple they have sailed the world and are very experienced yachtsmen.

Alison is a caring person who was wonderful with the children. She has a good knowledge of the sea life in and around the reefs and was always eager to share her knowledge with everyone.

Communication was simple and effective leading up to charter, during and after.

Pros:
• Itinerary Flexibility - The 1st night we studied a map of the BVI’s, discussed how we wanted to spend the week (quiet nights, excellent snorkeling, sailing, etc.). They were able to deliver exactly what we wanted our experience to be.
• Pick-up and drop off – Much easier we anticipated!
• Safety – focus on safety was throughout the trip. Not in an unreasonable way but very practical.
• Food – Alison made some great meals for us and Andre was impressive on the grill as well. Thank you both for being flexible with 5 and 8 year old’s peculiar eating habits!
• Privacy wasn’t issue as Andre and Alison respect their customers space.
• Friends – We came as strangers and we left as friends.
Cons:
I can’t really think of anything to say here.
Summary:
You are living on a boat and there are always small challenges with that. We certainly didn’t miss any of the luxuries we have a home. We had a great bed, shower and slept comfortably each night. If you are a family with children, this is an excellent charter choice for you. If you’re a group of friends, this is a great charter choice. If you’re a couple, it’s a great choice. Just go…

Pro Tips:
Minimalist packing. You really, really don’t need to pack much. Follow the packing instructions they provide in the pre-charter PDF. Also note, they have all of the snorkeling equipment you need, no real need to bring yours.

The trip was awesome! Andre and Allison were sea worthy very competent captains. They made us very comfortable in all that we did on the water! Food was fine food dining each meal! Andre’ and Allison were very friendly and accommodated our every request We sailed to a beautiful new beach each day. We went as 3 couples and had an absolutely delightful week full of fabulous adventures, incredible meals delicious cocktails, games, swimming snorkeling and diving, and scenery that cannot be duplicated. The only bad part of the trip was that it ended.
Vicki G

As we were making our way home and discussing the trip, I heard the phrase ´ BEST TRIP EVER ´ repeated more than once! No doubt it requires a lot of planning, work, patience, seamanship, and people skills to accommodate a group such as ours for a week ...but Andre and Alison made it look easy. As people they are authentic, understanding, calm, gentle, and extremely competent. It seemed every time I turned around Alison was preparing another gourmet meal and Andre was answering sailing questions and mixing his famous ´Painkillers´. Andre and Alison are special people and do a fabulous job. You should have no hesitations in recommending them to any clients you may have. In all honesty, we passed their name along to other vacationers, 4 times ourselves, before we even got to the airport!

The vessel itself was clean, comfortable, and in tip top shape. The cabins were clean, roomy, well lit and airy. Clearly, their vessel is well cared for and perfectly organized for handling this type of activity. Scuba activities were handled in an orderly fashion and of course we saw innumerable fish species, octopus, squid, the Rhone wreck, etc, etc, etc, snorkeling as well was enjoyed by all. It was alot of fun!!

This was the 2nd charter we have taken in the last 5 years. I will guarantee you that if anyone I know expresses an interest in this type of vacation, I will be recommending Andre and Alison, no question, hands down, without a doubt!!

Again, Thank you and please feel free to share our thoughts as you wish.

Scott J., Wisconsin

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Lynne,

The trip was awesome! Andre and Allison were sea worthy very competent captains. Made us very comfortable in all that we did on the water! Food was fine food dining each meal! Andre’ and Allison were very friendly and accommodated and facilitated our every request.

Thank you for your help in arranging our trip!

Vicki G., Wisconsin

We just spent a fabulous week aboard the Turquoise Turtle with Andre and Allison owners/hosts. Both were skilled captains and scuba divers and sailing with them made us feel safe and comfortable. Allison prepared gourmet meals which we loved and Andre makes wonderful Painkillers. We vacationed with 2 other couples and we each had our own bedroom and bathroom. Each day we were able to explore, snorkel and scuba dive at a different beautiful beach location as we sailed the US and British Virgin Islands. It was the perfect way to vacation with great friends. We highly recommend vacationing on the Turquoise Turtle!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Justin D
If you want to go on a sailboat charter, check these guys out. What an awesome week with Andre and Alison. We went as a family with 8 year old twins. They balanced all the varied interests with grace and were awesome with the kids. They are top notch on all the skills necessary for a great BVI cruise: sailing, local knowledge, cooking, bartending, scuba / snorkeling and all with a nice ship shape catamaran. The feline on board was a kind bonus. Go sailing with these guys, you will be glad you did.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Jason H
My wife and I took our three kids with Andre and Allison on the Turquoise Turtle over Christmas for a week and it was one of the most memorable trips we’ve done as a family. Our kids 13, 11, and 9 had a blast. The beds were a lot bigger than I expected and views and being on the water was unbelievable. The stars at night were like I’ve never seen. Customs and check in was handled by the crew other than leaving which had to be done in person. The stops were all different and island hopping was so much fun; the time on board with long sails and playing games with our kids was just what we wanted. Allison is an amazing cook and we were never hungry. We only had one day of rough seas and Andre was able to minimize the swells. The Baths were unique and a lovely beach hike. The snorkeling was great and Andre and Allison both snorkeled with us to point out wildlife; we saw octopus, huge lobsters, rays, and innumerable tropical fish. I would highly recommend an underwater camera. Swimming around the boat and the underwater lights at night and watching fish and sting rays were beautiful. We had delicious meals on land as well; the Lobster Trap on Anegada was a great Christmas dinner. Beautiful beaches driving around Anegada- Andre arranged for a car and drove us himself. Coco Mayo was stunning at sunset and had great beach games. Soggy Dollar Bar and afternoon at the beach after swimming in from the boat will be one of my favorites. Painkillers there almost as good as Captain Andre’s. The lunch next door at Hendo’s had a delicious lobster sandwich with sweet potato fries that hit the spot. Most importantly, Andre and Allison were exceptionally skilled and safe sailors, patient and generous with our children, genuinely happy and kind, and made us feel like we were welcome in their home for the week.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Brian T
Thank you both so much for our amazing BVI week! You are such a talented, caring and professional couple- always going out of your way to please us and accommodate our various requests. The food was fantastic and beautifully presented. We would do it all again if we could and will always sing your praises!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We had a truly fantastic trip with Alison and Andre! They were wonderful hosts, guides, and company for the trip. The Turquoise Turtle is a beautiful and well-maintained boat. Alison is an amazing cook - every meal was delicious, extremely well planned and presented, and she took into account everything we asked for on our preference form. She even managed to find pumpkin on the islands and made us an unbelievable American Thanksgiving dinner! Andre is a knowledgeable captain and guide to the islands. He had a perfect itinerary based on what we said we wanted to do, yet was able to seamlessly adapt it to changing weather conditions as needed. It was awesome when he proposed a little wakeboarding behind the dingy once it was clear that there would be no wind for kiteboarding that week. It was a blast! We had five memorable guided dives - including the Rhone which was our first wreck dive. Both Andre and Alison were great to dive with.

Most importantly Andre and Alison made us feel extremely welcome on their boat and were great people to spend a week with. We would definitely recommend the trip to others and would like to do it again ourselves.

Bryan T., Massachusetts

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Andrew McHale
We had an excellent week on board the Turquoise Turtle.Our family sailed from Bequia to Grenada for one week. Andre and Alison were awesome hosts and fun to be around. Their knowledge of the area was excellent, and the food and service throughout the trip was first class.

We strongly recommend this charter - guaranteed to be a great trip!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Paul Gregory
Amazing adventure aboard the TT. Andrea, Alison and Lulu made us feel at home on the boat. Their knowledge of the BVI is outstanding. They lead us on the best snorkeling experiences that we have had in the BVI. They also provided wonderful food and drink during our 2 weeks on board. Do not miss Andre´s Painkiller. They are the best in the BVI. Alison´s bobotie for dinner is a showstopper. If you want to experience the best BVI has to offer book the boat for 2 weeks.

Paul Gregory
May 28, 2019

Mary Gregory
Andre and Alison´s knowledge of the area is AMAZING, and the food.. yummmy!!! We spent 2 weeks aboard the Turquoise Turtle, that made it possible to go to stops that can´t be visited in a week. Alison and Andre snorkeled with us and were able to point out the fish we would never had noticed on our own! Fantastic time!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Corine Arnaud
We just had an amazing time with Andre and Alison aboard Turquoise Turtle ! Both are fantastic hosts, experienced sailors and wonderful people; The food on board is delicious; Alison does magic in the kitchen and is also very flexible catering to various preferences of a family of 5 with 3 teenagers. We did great snorkeling, swimming or just enjoying the sunset with a PainKiller, Andre´s specialty cocktail. We visited many highlights of the USV and BVI but with a sense of having built on our trip. Kids also had a great time on the boat, either relaxing with their music, swimming, padel boarding or just taking the time to have time ! Andre and Alison feel you belong to the family; the atmosphere aboard is really relaxed and easy going. We can only recommend the Turquoise Turtle experience. We hope to be back ! Corine, Arnaud


Jun 10, 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
John and Adam Quackenbush

We’ve been spending “spring break” on St. John in the USVI since my son was 15 months old. As he got older, we started looking for new adventures and two years ago, I convinced him to give scuba a try. At thirteen, he is a certified advanced open water diver, and the past few years, we’ve tried to work in as many dives as possible during our annual pilgrimage. Looking at the cost of renting a house, a jeep, booking trips (diving, fishing, excursions to the BVI), and meals, and comparing it to the cost of chartering the Turquoise Turtle, it was almost a wash. So we decided to give a half-board booking a go. We were not disappointed.


John and Adam Quackenbush

Andre and Alison were great at accommodating our needs. They let us change dates when my son had an unbreakable school commitment. They allowed me to bring my nephew when my wife couldn’t come. They planned a scuba vacation that allowed us to dive almost every day, taking us to some of the most beautiful sites in the BVI. They altered course to take us to great places to eat—including a special request from my son to visit the Willy T. They adjusted the menu to allow for me—the vegetarian. The food was excellent and Alison did a great job of adjusting the menu to handle the fact that I was a vegetarian while ensuring that everyone else was happy and ate well. They ensured that we had a great time during “down time.” And, since my son turned 13 during the trip, Alison baked a cake and they arranged for a little celebration for him.

And of course, Lulu, the ship’s cat, went above and beyond to make us feel welcome.

Overall, it was a great trip and we are looking forward to booking our next trip with the Turquoise Turtle.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Sailors Family
We had an amazing trip with Andre and Alison! We spent a week aboard the Turquoise Turtle as a family, the best way to see the BVI’s, and everybody loved it. There were lots of fun outings with amazing snorkeling nearly every day, secluded beaches easiest to get to by boat, beach bars by dinghy, sounds better as the “rubba-duck” in South African speak. There also lots of activities aboard the boat when anchored in coves with kayaks, stand up paddle boards, and floats. And most importantly if you’re going to spend a week aboard a boat, you want your hosts to be friendly and kind. Andre and Alison were always happy and treated us extremely well. My kids really bonded with them as well, Alison was my youngest sons private snorkel guide at times! The food was amazing, even my pickiest child was commenting Alison should be a full time chef. Cocktails and wine always offered or ready upon request. One night we went to Willy T and they even volunteered to supervise the kids watching a movie so we could go be part of the nightlife at Peter Island. They also shared their photography with us at the end of the trip to add to our phenomenal picture collection because there are never enough pictures to capture such an adventure. This was our second trip chartering a boat in the BVIs, and having a couple manage the boat. It is by far the best way to enjoy your Vacation instead of doing it yourself. If you’ve never done it, you won’t feel cramped on this boat. Andre and Alison are now friends and I hope to do another holiday with them!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Stuart and Amy Sullins and boys

Our first impression was how graciously we were welcomed by Alison and Andre!! We had spoken on the phone and communicated via email prior to our arrival, and we felt right at home immediately. The yacht was immaculate and bright. They provided us a thorough safety briefing and showed us how to maximize our enjoyment of all of the yacht’s features.

We are all tall (the shortest family member is 5’10” 12-year-old Spencer) and we found we all had plenty of space. The queen-sized beds were raised but easy to climb into. The bathroom was plenty roomy enough for a week’s stay. We spent very little time in our own cabins, preferring the shared spaces on the yacht.

Salon, cockpit, deck space were Very clean. The salon was cozy and the boys enjoyed a couple of movie nights. The deck space in the front of the yacht was my favorite—we loved the beanbags and the trampoline lounging area.

The boat was kept clean during our charter including our cabins, the bathrooms/heads, our towels, bedding, the cockpit and the galley.

Andre and Alison provided toiletries, sunscreen, bug spray, snorkel gear and reusable water bottles; they tried to anticipate our every need!

We absolutely enjoyed “catamaran life” and embraced sailing or motoring each day to various destinations, hanging out on deck once we were moored, and lounging on the back with a “sundowner” prepared by Andre. With three teenaged boys our U.S. life is often hectic and filled with electronics, but our week on the Turquoise Turtle gave us the gift of each other, with every need taken care of by Alison and Andre!

I am going to speak about both Andre as Captain and Alison as co-captain and chef! We chose the TT as we admired Andre’s military background and appreciated Alison’s nursing credentials. We have one son who is accident-prone :-) and another son with an autoimmune disease, so it was important to us to have access to health care if we needed it (which we fortunately did not).

Alison and Andre were so open and communicative. We shared several meals all together, family style, and we just enjoyed getting to know them so much. Alison really did her best at keeping three perpetually hungry boys FULL!! Her meals were plentiful and hardy.

The first couple of days were very windy and rough and slowed our initial progress. Andre was so open about how we could “get back on track” with our itinerary and involved us in decision making with when we would depart, where we would go, etc.

Our itinerary was Great! We had planned most of it prior to our arrival and it was perfect! The weather did keep us from a couple of snorkel stops we would have enjoyed, but that was certainly not within anyone’s control.

We are all good eaters and enjoy trying some new foods, and Alison created filling and beautiful breakfasts every day and prepared a special grilled salmon meal and birthday cake for my husband’s birthday. Our lunches and dinners were so good also, and she incorporated some South African specialties into our meals.

We have three teenage boys, and Alison and Andre made sure to plan some “beach days” so they could play soccer, volleyball etc with other kids, Andre took them tubing behind the dinghy, and we had several delicious meals on land.

Would you sail with them again? Absolutely! It was a wonderful adventure and unforgettable experience!

One of my sons, Andy, and I are very allergic to cats. Lulu, Alison and Andre´s 17-year-old precious cat, is hypoallergenic. She is bred to not have the undercoat that causes pet dander. She is a lovely laid-back cat who spends the vast majority of the day in their private cabin. Neither Andy nor I had any allergic reaction to Lulu.

We all had such an AMAZING time with Andre and Alison!! Our children absolutely loved the boat, and Alison was amazing with the kids! The food was awesome, the water perfect, snorkeling was the best ... it was an amazing experience, and our whole family had an incredible time! ❤️

The Turquoise Turtle is luxurious, comfortable and the owners (Alison and Andre) are the kindest, most accommodating people you will ever meet. The Catamaran is beautiful, spacious and has all the toys you could ever wish for. Alison’s cooking is incredible (we tried to recreate a few of her dishes when we returned home to keep the experience going!). Andre is a very VERY reliable captain. He knows what he’s doing and where he’s going. We felt very comfortable and it was obvious we were in good hands. This is something I hadn’t really considered when booking a charter. When we were out on the boat, it was obvious that some of the captains on other boats had very little experience. That would have made me very nervous. We didn’t have to worry with Captain Andre! There is a cute kitty on board, she keeps to herself and is reclusive.

The locations Alison and Andre suggested were unique and just stunning. We saw amazing sea creatures while snorkeling, Alison is an excellent guide and has a huge lung capacity! You should see her dive down and look under nooks and crannies for cool stuff – she’s a real life mermaid!!! They also took us to some incredible locations on land, I won’t give away ALL of their secret locations but I can tell you… they are definitely in the know!!

Our week on the Turquoise Turtle was truly the best thing we have EVER done, I am so happy we decided to book a charter and even more grateful that we had Alison and Andre as our Crew. I cried for HOURS after we got off the boat – even though we went directly to a stunning villa, I was walking around crying my head off, it was such an incredible experience. Everything was so easy on the TT: would you like a towel, can I get you a snack, would you like a drink… no thinking, just unplugging and RELAXING. One thing to remember when booking a charter, you are on a boat for a number of days, you need to be with nice people, Andre and Alison are the salt of the earth, the kindest, most generous pair, you can’t go wrong with them!
Its been a month that we got off the boat and as I write this I am crying a little bit! I want to go back!!!!!!!!!

Georgina

If you are considering sailing with Andre and Alison, stop considering and book it!
Their service is top notch, food was great, cocktails were plentiful and the boat is a beauty. The island hopping and snorkeling were out of this world. We felt very safe everywhere we went because of their experience and professionalism. I hope you spend some time getting to know them because they are amazing people.

I was a little worried about being on a boat for 5 days and Lulu. We had plenty of stops on land and lots of calm water to dock in. They assured me Lulu was a type of cat I didn´t need to worry about(I have bad cat allergies) and they were right. Even though you don´t see Lulu much I didn´t have any problems with my allergies and even petted her quite a bit. Don´t worry about anything and just book it. You will NOT regret it! I can´t wait to go back.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Andre and Alison were absolutely incredible! We will recommend them to all of our friends and can´t wait to go back for our next trip. No one in our group had ever done an overnight catamaran trip, but everyone agreed the experience was incredible. Andre incorporated everything we wanted to do into the itinerary, but gave us complete flexibility if we wanted to alter it. Alison completely spoiled us and provided wonderful meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
They were just good people and so genuine in wanting us all to have a great experience. By the end of the trip, it felt like we were part of their catamaran family. We enjoyed their company so much that we insisted they join us when we went ashore for a drink or dinner. Andre also provided Painkiller drinks that were just as good as the ones at Soggy Dollar, where the drink was supposedly invented. When we snorkeled, Andre and Alison were extremely knowledgeable of the marine life and would always point out anything unique.
We felt safe the entire trip and had no issues with anyone getting sea sick. We weren´t sure if 5 nights would be too long on a boat, but we all agreed we could have easily done 7 or longer. They had bean bags and cushions on the front of the boat which made cruising to the various islands relaxing and comfortable. The beds were also very comfortable. The only issue we had was the rooms got a little warm when sleeping so Andre turned on the AC to fix that issue. You do have to be mentally prepared for tight quarters in the rooms so you do need to pack light.
This was definitely one of the best trips we have ever taken! We were all talking about how much we would like for our kids to experience it - one day. This trip is an absolute must and Andre and Alison are the best!

I had no clue what to expect of the ship or the islands as I had never even set foot on a catamaran and had never visited the BVI. This was the trip of a lifetime! It just could not have been better. The Turquoise Turtle is an amazing boat. It is just the perfect size. We were in love with the bean bags on the front of the ship which are just perfect for relaxing and watching the amazing scenery.

Andre and Alison are the most amazing people and make you feel so safe and at ease. They are also so fun to be around and we loved hanging out with them, having a few pain killers (Andre makes the best!) and playing fun card games. They guided our snorkeling tours as a few of us had not snorkeled before. That was so nice to have someone to show you the perfect places to snorkel and what we could expect to see. They have sailed all over the world and have so much knowledge to share!

Alison is an amazing cook and we loved every single thing she made us. It made the trip even more relaxing that we did not have to worry about meals.

I HIGHLY recommend sailing with Andre and Alison on the Turquoise Turtle. You will NOT be sorry!

WOW - let me tell you, Andre & Alison at Turqouise Turtle know how to give you the trip of a lifetime! My family and I (5 of us total) were lucky enough to spend 8 days with them sailing around the USVI and BVIs. It couldn´t have been a more fun or relaxing experience.

Andre & Alison took care of absolutely every detail, while continuing to check in on how we were doing and what we were looking to experience on our trip. From the incredible meals that Allison made each day (I´m vegan and she STILL created the most impeccable menu for me!), to the fun activities that came with the boat (paddle boards, knee boarding, snorkel gear, kayaking), they truly thought of everything.

The boat & cabins are beautiful and impeccably clean & maintained. We never felt cramped with 7 of us on board together! But to top if all off, Andre & Allison know the areas like the back of their own hands. They brought us to all of the well-known sites to see, but even better -- they knew of amazing, secluded locations off the beaten path that we never would have found if we had sailed our own boat. The marine life, beaches, islands, and sunsets that we saw are all things I´ll never forget in this lifetime. Do yourself a favor and book a trip with them ASAP -- it´s wonderful for the soul.

Thank you both for the most magical trip!
Samantha

Our Family had the most amazing ´bucket list´ trip with Allison and Andre! No small detail was spared. They took us to the most amazing places in the BVIs, they made us the most delicious and nutritious food (and my daughter is a vegan!), they snorkeled us through the best reefs, kayaked to the whitest sand beaches, led us through the coolest caves at the Baths, taught us hysterical games when the sun went down, and just when you think it can´t possibly get any better, they hand you a cocktail!
Their mascot kitty, miss Lulu, will make you feel at home and occasionaly take the wheel;) I was relieved that my 2 kids who are highly allergic to cats had absolutely no reaction- must be some special breeed, so no worries there!
We all felt so spoiled, it really was a treat and we highly recommend this trip with Turqoise Turtle!
We WILL be BACK! xoxo

Had an amazing week with our family of five. Andre and Allison have great combination of local knowledge, sailing skill, amazing cooking capabilities and just fun personalities. Allison cooked some 5 Star meals for us - including our occasionally hard-to-please Vegan daughter. Salmon sandwiches, shrimp linguine, BBQd steak, banana pancakes, and lots of healthy salads. And excellent evening cocktails. They appropriately catered to our needs and desires, found amazing anchorages, and took us snorkeling in some very unique reefs. We used all the toys - such as SUPs, kayaks and knee boards. The boat was perfect for us - and very well maintained.

-Pete

From the moment we boarded the Turquoise Turtle we knew we were in for the treat of our lives! Captain Andre and Alison are warm and welcoming hosts and crew. We felt immediately at ease with them and sensed that we were in very capable hands. Our time on The Turquoise Turtle was a dream come true. It’s a beautiful, well appointed boat. We loved all the attention to detail. Color coordinated from bow to stern...turquoise, of course! The berths are private air conditioned suites with their own port holes, hatches and heads and adequate space to store our personal goods. They even come with a sound system in case you need something more than the lapping water to lul you to sleep on the very comfortable queen sized bed. ;) Up on the bow, we discovered the perfect spot to sun bathe or just take a nap while suspended above the clear waters of the stunningly beautiful Caribbean Sea. The food provided made us feel like we were eating out of a 5-star gourmet galley! From their Signature Drink (A turquoise delight!) and the “Drunken Grapes” (an appetizer which preceeded one of our main courses), to the delicious finale, our dinners were accompanied by an ever-changing Caribbean sunset. The treat was to die for! Sailing, swimming and snorkeling in the amazing warm waters teaming with life (and yes, sea turtles!) was the experience of a life-time. We were given the option to participate in the sailing experience or just lay back and try to take it all in as the sails above billowed in the tropical breezes. All in all, for us, it was paradise found!

Dan and Marguarite

OMG I had the best time ever cruising with Andre and Alison on Turquoise Turtle. Fabulous!! The food was amazing, never better!! Sailing with them was a true pleasure and I will do it again ASAP. Beautiful People!
-Ed

We have spent a lot of time with Andre and Alison on their former catamaran and to be sure, if you are looking for warm easy-going hospitality with a South African twist (that’s practically a tornado for the rest of the world) then you will find no better than these two and their new beauty the Turquoise Turtle. Come with an appetite for laughter and great food on the BBQ!

-Danielle

If you are looking for a great way to visit the Bahamas or other areas of the ocean check out the link below. They (Andre Stroebel and Alison Stroebel) are personal friends of ours and were our tour guide during our trip to the Exumas. Knowing all the hot spots. What a great time we had and a lot of our friends and family saw the pictures we posted. Check it out, contact them, you will have the best time! There is so much to see that a cruise ship to the Bahamas does not afford you to see and they can. Give it a look!

-Neena

Great people, great catamaran and a definite adventure to add to the bucket list!

-Dimitri Panagiotidis

If you want an up close and personal experience in the Abacos or Exumas islands which are part of the Bahamas or even the Grenadines further south in the Caribbean you can not do better than hooking up with Andre and Alison Stroebel. Skipper Andre is an experienced pilot and sailor who will navigate you to small cays and towns that you would never otherwise reach. Islands where animals are the only inhabitants and beaches where there are more rays than you can count. Andre has a great sense of humor and loves to use his wit as he ´shows you the ropes´. You can participate in the sailing as much or as little as you want, in fact the whole experience is designed just for you from the moment you board until you have to drag your self away. Alison is the mate and makes you feel at home from the time she shows you your state room until you leave. She has stocked the ship with preferences from YOUR shopping list, she prepares nutritious meals and snacks along with preferred beverages!
So sit back and relax you can read all day if that is your pleasure, or you can hike a deserted beach, snorkel over a reef, swim with rays, kayak to a deserted island, or paddle board across a pink sunset. The captain and mate also know the best beach bars for rum punch and conch fritters.
This is an adventure vacation designed for you not a cruise designed for thousands you will come home having laughed and loved and with a head full of memories and you will vow to return, Andre, Alison and LouLou!

-Dick

Personally, the best travel experience that is beyond words! We avoided heavy commercialized areas (at OUR request) and the outcome was surreal. Snorkelling over reefs that are hidden gems, hand feeding sting rays on a secluded island (that we basically had to ourselves to explore) kayaking the channels of a breathtaking mangrove, to name a few. Andre and Alison will overfeed you, lavish you with whatever beverage you request in advance, entertain you and provide the most indulgent of holidays. We loved Andre and Alison´s desire to build your PERSONAL adventure! We were never on their schedule-the agenda is your wish list. Wow! We wanted ´off the beaten path´ and we visited restaurant/bars where everyone called us by name. But the icing on the cake is that we have made friends for life! (If you´re lucky, you will meet Dani and John, but only if you´re lucky). The trip started with a warm welcome and ended with treasured memories-and a tear (or two). We will be back! A THOUSAND star rating for the only holiday we have been on that was created for us! Andrea Mercer

Jul 2022 • Family
I’m not sure I have the words to describe our time on the Turquoise Turtle. I can tell you I have never in my life been on a vacation like this. My 4 daughters and I travel ALOT-so being the mom I take care of ALOT. This is what I DIDN’T do…plan, shop, cook, clean, gather, motivate, think, prepare, etc.
This is what we ALL DID together…eat, play games, read, snorkel, laugh, drink, lounge on the boat, explore, hike, and just be together!
Andre and Allison literally took care of EVERYTHING, every detail, and did it brilliantly and beautifully! From sailing to the perfect bays, snorkeling spots, bars, restaurants, to showing us the underwater world and islands they love, to mixing delicious drinks, to creating phenomenal meals, to preparing equipment to snorkel, paddle board, lounge, and live on a boat very well, to being open and flexible to create the next day to be even more perfect than the day before.
My girls were worried about being on a boat for 7 nights…they literally didn’t want to leave. I’ve never seen them so connected and relaxed. Thank you Andre and Allison for giving us all so many incredible memories Dinghy Forward!

May 2022 • Couples
Andre and Alison are fabulous. They pay attention to every detail. As the boat owner and long time sailors they give you a great sailing experience - weather permitting of course. They have it all covered, captain, chef, tour guide, identifier of reef fish, making sure all are safe and having a great time.

Our group was made up of 4 adults and their was plenty of space. Do mind the packing instructions. I packed lighter then usual and I did wear 95% of what I brought, I could have done with much less.

Alison did a fantastic job with food. Our group have a mix of meals on board and ashore. The food was great and Alison shared their South African culture with us through her recipes.

Truly a great experience. Hope to be back!

A week on the Turquoise Turtle touring the BVI´s was absolutely perfect. Captain Andre and First Mate Alison did not spare any detail from the cozy accommodations to the daily activities. We felt right at home and feel like we made lifelong friends.