I booked Bel Ami Voyages with Captain Dave and Admiral Bobbi Rae as my wife's surprise 50th birthday present. My wife is at least one-half mermaid and has always loved the Caribbean and being on boats, but neither one of us has ever sailed. For those who want to fast forward to the summary, here it is: the sailing trip completely blew away my wife and me. I'm sure to win husband of the year! Dave and Bobbi are magnificent hosts and knowledgeable tour guides. Even though we arrived three days before our charter to enjoy some time on St. Thomas, they picked us up at the airport and gave us a driving tour with stops at attractions around the island before depositing us at Secret Harbour Resort. (Dave was instrumental in helping us schedule our first scuba dives at Aqua Action while we stayed at Secret Harbour -- another check off of my wife's bucket list!). They carefully interviewed us regarding our itinerary and food and beverage choices before we came aboard and then proceeded to intuitively design a perfect week for us. Dave is an accomplished sailor who was generous and patient with instruction about the boat and sailing. Bobbi is a competent first mate who allowed me to assist with some of her duties as I caught on. The captain is a wonderful chef (as is Bobbi). Two carnivores by nature, my wife and I chose a week of absolutely delicious vegan cuisine (except for two almost vegan meals!). Dave is also an accomplished musician and Bobbi a vocalist. Each evening we were able to relax on board with drinks and music while anchored in beautiful bays, unless we decided to head on shore for drinks and/or dinner. But that was our voyage. What became clear to us was that Dave and Bobbi have the knowledge and insight to tailor a charter to anyone's interests. Whether we wanted to spend all or part of our time sailing, snorkeling, hiking, shopping, or sitting in a beach chair or on a stool in a beach bar they were dedicated to making it happen. They knew the best spots and how to get us there. If we had chosen vegan, Mediterranean, or Adkins they gladly would have prepared our outstanding meals accordingly. And most important, when they delivered us to the airport at the end of our adventure, we shared sad goodbyes (until later) with new friends.

This was truely a relaxing adventure with world class new friends. My partner and I spent a week aboard the Bel Ami early November. From the time we landed in St.Thomas until we took off, we were pampered by Captain Dave and Admiral Bobby Rae. They anticipated our needs, from suggesting hikes, taking us to beautiful snorkling spots, to cooking gourmet meals, and surprising us with delicious drinks. Although not new to the boating world, our accomadations exceeded our expectations. We had plenty privacy in our relatively spacious quarter, and enjoyed the efficiency of the amenities on board. We often left it up to Captain Dave to decide where to set his sails, and he never took short cuts, and every place we visited was charming, and some were really magical. We were looking at spending a week, reliving some of my boyfriend's early memory, and celbrating our love, and friendship. We wanted a laid back escapade indulging in the beauty of the Carribean. Bel ami, Captain David, and Admiral Bobby Rae delivered this and more.

This is the third time we have sailed with Capt. Dave and first mate Bobbie. That speaks loudly in and of itself. Capt Dave has years of experience sailing especially in the Caribbean, so this is truly a worry free, low stress, relaxing, yet adventuresome vacation. On our first trip, we explored the US Virgin Is; on our second trip, the BVI; and on our most recent trip, the Spanish Virgin Islands. Each time, we experienced new adventures in new places. Whether you prefer beach/snorkeling time in an excluded beach, touring an island or an exotic drink at a local hot spot, Capt Dave will find it. They will certainly go out of their way to make your vacation uniquely yours. Just sit back and enjoy the delicious food and drinks served and plenty of laughs shared.

We could not have asked for a more beautiful honeymoon destination and experience. “Captain” Dave and “Admiral” Bobbie Rae were experienced, engaging, and delightful hosts. They not only accommodated our dietary and beverage requests, but they truly presented our meals in a creative and beautiful way. They were not just our hosts, they became our friends; we played games, enjoyed music together, and danced the night away. Whether we were trading stories, hiking in the pouring rain, or snorkeling through dark caves, it truly was the best experience either of us have ever had. Captain Dave knows the sea and the islands like the back of his hand and Bobbie Rae treats her guests like they were her own family. We will not hesitate to return to the Bel Ami to see our new friends, Dave and Bobbie Rae, for another amazing adventure in the Virgin Islands. Thank you Dave and Bobbie Rae for making our honeymoon more amazing than we could have ever imagined. We look forward to seeing you again someday, and we are sincere in our invitation to you to come to Colorado for a skiing, (killer) hiking, or whitewater rafting trip!

My wife and I spent a week aboard the Bel Ami for the week of the July 4th, 2016. From the moment we arrived in St. Thomas it was a dream vacation. Dave picked us up at the airport and wisked us away to a lunch with a view. Soon we were aboard the Bel Ami and set sail. I'm a pretty novice sailor to say the least, and my wife had never even been aboard a sail boat in her life. Its pretty comical to see her face as we set out in to the open winds of the Caribbean and keeled the boat over pretty good the first time. Dave and Bobbie Rae quickly gained trust in our sea legs and we sailed the majority of the USVI's and BVI's over the course of our trip. Each night after dinner, we'd pull out the old map and decide on our adventure for the next day. We snorkeled for hours, toured various beach bars, watched live music, saw the pirate bar on Norman Island, snorkeled in caves, went to the baths at Virgin Gorda, and finished at the most amazing beach at Jost Van Dike. Captain Dave is a modern day renaissance man (Sailor, singer, musician, doctor, cook) and Bobbie Rae is his equal companion. She's literally one of the sweetest ladies I've ever met. If you want a laid back adventure at one of the most beautiful places in the world, look no further than the Bel Ami. The ship itself is a very heavy luxury sail boat. We had plenty of room in our cabin and our own bathroom. We hope to return sometime in the coming years to re-live our amazing experience.

My husband and I decided to spend our honeymoon visiting the beautiful caribbean islands. We were lucky enough to find Bel Ami and have the most amazing vacation ever. Captain Dave is very professional and has a boat in excellent conditions. He is also a lot of fun and will take you to the most amazing places in the Virgen British and US islands. Bobbie Rae makes sure all your needs are taken care of and helps Captain Dave cook delicious food. My husband and I were very eager to learn sailing and Captain Dave helped us fulfill that dream, and yes, we were sailing the boat at the end of our trip!!!!

We can't say enough great things about how amazing and wonderful our trip on Bel Ami was with Captain Dave and Bobbie Rae. From the beauty of the boat, the wonderful meals, the indescribable views, and the enjoyable company, we had an amazing honeymoon. The advantage of the sailboat is the ability to both cruise along and see the beauty of the islands, while being able to drop anchor at some amazing locales (St. Thomas; Tortola; Virgin Gorda; St. John; Water Island). The snorkeling, the hiking, the jaw dropping sunsets from a beach bar, we were able to sample a taste of what USVI/BVI can offer. But the real value add is the guidance and back stories from Dave and Bobbie Rae that made the experience that much better. They were the best travel guides we could have had. The cost was worth every dime and more. We would (and will) do this trip again as it's the best way to experience the islands and all they can offer.

I wanted to do something special for my wife for our 25th anniversary. She loves sailing and I charted with Captian Dave and the Bel Ami. It could not have been more perfect.