The Big Dog 62ft Catamaran

My experience was by far better than I could have imagined. The boat fit all of us perfectly with enough room to find our own space, yet small enough for intimate meals. It was important to all of us to have our own bathrooms, so enough said about that.

Let’s talk crew — Ruth & Terry… I do not know where to start as they were flawless, fun, communicative, smart, detailed+++! Every question we asked about the BVI’s or the ocean in general they could answer. To watch the dynamic duo in their element was a spectacular flow of energy whether it was anchoring, sailing, making beds, meal prep, dive prep, cooking spectacular meals, showing us brilliant dive/snorkel spots and following us around to pick up after us made our journey unforgettable. I highly recommend choosing this crew hands-down! Terry’s sense of humor (his April fools joke got us good!) suggesting to take slow-mo video from his dingy and his quick comebacks kept us laughing. Ruth’s MOST AMAZING meals EVER!!! Nuff said! We are a group of well-traveled individuals, with sophisticated palates and she blew our minds night after night. They are a solid team and so refreshing to watch them do their thing, whatever it was.

Thank you to all of you! You guys make travel dreams come true.

Fondly,
Arden G

What did you enjoy the most on board?
• The food, happy hour cocktails, and the crew.

Please describe your Captain & Chef (professional/outgoing/friendly etc.)
• From the minute we met both Terry & Ruth, they were so welcoming, friendly, and fun. It was obvious that they truly enjoy what they do, and they have an unassuming way of making their guests feel special. We really enjoyed visiting with them in the evenings and while we were sailing. They are both very engaging and gracious people.

What do you think about your itinerary, the places and bays you visited and the activities you have done?
• We had the perfect variety of activities – from relaxing in secluded bays, to hikes, water sports from the boat, snorkeling excursions, island touring, sailing, etc. All the people Ruth and Terry introduced us to were great – it was evident they wanted to be sure we were in good hands when not with them on The Big Dog.

Please describe your meals (presentation, quality, quantity)
• The meals and cocktails were unbelievable! Truly exceeded our expectations. We had three beautiful meals every day, followed by a dessert / drink combo, and a happy hour cocktail with snacks every afternoon. The presentation and attention to detail did not go un-noticed. From the table setting, to general ambiance and lighting, all was incredible. We always had plenty of food, and everything was delicious. There were snacks out & available all the time, and the bar and fridge were well stocked.

Do you feel the meals and drinks reflected the requests you made in your preference sheet?
• Yes – everything we included / excluded on our sheet was honored.

When you arrived, your first impression of the yacht was:

Surpassed all expectations. The size of the boat, the cleanliness, the overall space – and the amazing welcome from the crew – Terry and Ruth. Booking a yacht on-line can be difficult. I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but Els with BVI Charters listened to what I was looking for in both a boat and crew and her recommendations for The Big Dog were spot on.

What did you think about your accommodation?
Cabins, beds, bathrooms:
The cabins were fantastic. VERY clean and very comfortable. Every morning I would walk up to the deck and say good morning to Terry and comment that we had not slept this well in a long time. Very quiet rooms and comfy beds. The bathroom was spotless and more than I expected to find on a boat.

Salon, cockpit, deck space:
We spent the majority of our time in the cockpit and deck/trampolines. The salon was beautiful – great bar and spacious table. Given the beautiful weather and our love for the water, we didn’t really spend any time in the indoor salon (which did have wonderful light/windows/etc. A few of the family used it for playing games later in the evening. The cockpit was perfect and spacious – and very comfortable. It provided some cover from the sun and served as the location for all of our meals.

Was the boat kept clean during your charter (your cabins, the bathrooms/heads, your towels, bedding, the cockpit, the galley)?
The crew cleaned the cabins and bathrooms daily. They remained clean throughout the trip. The rest of the boat was always spotless. Not sure how they found the time to keep up with it given very busy days of sailing, cooking and taking care of us.

Did you miss anything on board?
Absolutely nothing was missed. The boat was well equipped with fun gear for activities and outstanding food and drink!

What did you enjoy the most on board?
The crew. Terry and Ruth became a part of our family. I really can’t put into words how fond we are of them after such a short time. Everything about them, the boat, the fun activities, the time with our kids – it was the best vacation we have ever taken.

Please describe your Captain (professional/outgoing/friendly etc.)
Terry was incredible. Knowledgeable, friendly, engaging and fun. We all enjoyed him. He was happy to “teach” and encouraged everyone to have a good time…all while doing “what you wanted to do” on each day. We thought it was also great that he was excited to get our group out into the water. Whether it was snorkeling, wake boarding, kayaking or rides on the hot dog, he approached it with a grin. He is very knowledgeable about the BVI and various locations to enjoy a variety of activities.

What do you think about your itinerary, the places and bays you visited and the activities you have done?
Wouldn’t have changed a thing. We basically told Terry and Ruth that we where in their hands and open to all of their recommendations. There were a few things that we wanted to check out and they incorporated that into the daily planning. That was a piece we really liked – each morning they would sit down with us and ask what we wanted to do that day. They would then tailor the day accordingly. Each of the bays we spent nights in were beautiful and calm. Terry remained flexible, depending on weather forecast, to determine the right spot to anchor for the night as he wanted it to be as calm as possible. Again, he was spot on. Each day consisted of some sailing and then some “playing” in the water. Terry and Ruth were completely fine if some wanted to have more activity while others rested and enjoyed the boat.

Please describe your chef (professional/outgoing/friendly etc.)
Ruth was amazing! The food definitely surpassed our expectations. Breakfast, lunch, dinner – and hors d’oeuvres for evening cocktails – were delicious and beautiful. We were amazed, and beyond impressed, that she was able to create such exceptional food in the boat’s galley. For a week, nothing was repeated and every meal was fantastic. Ruth is lovely. Warm, welcoming, engaging. We could not have been happier.

Please describe your meals (presentation, quality, quantity)
As stated above, each and every meal was amazing. The diversity of menu, the quality of the food, the quality of the ingredients – all fantastic. And each meal was beautifully presented. We could not have found an upscale restaurant that would have provided the same level as Ruth prepared for us. Again, I can’t say enough about her creativity and preparation. The quantity of food was also perfect. There was always plenty and not much waste. She gauged what we ate each day to ensure it was enough and not too much.

Do you feel the meals and drinks reflected the requests you made in your preference sheet?
We completed the preference sheet but I didn’t really think they would follow it closely. They did follow it closely. All the elements that we requested prior to our trip, were plentifully stocked. And the personalized menu she prepared and served reflected our comments on the preference sheet. Well done!

Would you sail with us again?
Most definitely! With our three sons all getting married within the next year, it will be a few years before we can come back. But we will for sure! It will be fun to reboard The Big Dog and spend time with Terry and Ruth for our second voyage. We will also be recommending to family, friends and colleagues.

If you had children in your party, what did the crew do to make their vacation special (food, games, toys, etc)?
Our “children” were all in their mid to late 20’s, but it was fun to see Terry and Ruth engage with them. Terry always had something “fun” for them to do. He would “listen” to comments from a particular snorkeling outing and then determine something specific that they would love on the next outing.