Mid-January, 2025 charter guests aboard AWATEA said:
It was literally the trip of our lifetime! All four of us believe no other vacation will come close to this - we were beyond belief with how everything was from the crew, the vessel, the food, the service, just everything!
How is the yacht? Is she clean and well-maintained? Were your cabins comfortable? Was the cockpit comfortable? Was there enough shade?
We literally have NO NOTES for this yacht! In fact, we could not believe how clean it was! The bedding was so comfortable that all four of us slept more soundly than at home. During lots of sun when we needed shade, there were always shades to be drawn outside or they created canopies for us on the fly. Awatea was just gorgeous.
Did you use all the water toys? If you were diving, how did you like the area?
We experimented with all the e-Foil which was a hit, the paddles board, fishing rods, flotations and we talked bout the boards, but didn't go for it - we were too busy snorkeling every day and taking in the other sights! We were so impressed with how much the yacht had to offer honestly.
Where your meals excellent and fresh? Spiced with variety and beautifully presented? Did the menus meet your expectations? Did your Chef and Crew pay close attention to your Preference Sheets?
Not only did they pay attention to our likes, dislikes and preferences, but the food was out of this world. Every single meal hit every mark and then some! We love a variety and one of us has a gluten intolerance which posed absolutely no problem. We honestly have never eaten so well in a whole week than on this vacation! To boot, the fish we caught was used to make a few different dishes the next couple meals which was incredibly impressive!
How about your crew? How would you describe your Captain and crew? Were they Courteous? Helpful? Friendly? Attentive? Knowledgeable?
We honestly can't say enough amazing things about Fraser, Olivia and Jess. Not only are they lovely people, inside and out, they worked beautifully together and seemed to never be in our way of our huge family and also were always there for us when we needed any little thing. We felt like we were not an imposition at all and almost like we had been around them before. It takes a great gift to make people feel so welcome while also providing for them! Their knowledge on all things water, boating and fishing was just incredible. We know we only scratched the surface with them and absolutely hope to be back!
How did you find the pace and the itinerary of your vacation?
Perfection! Since this was our first time going, we left it open for ideas from the crew so we planned each day as it came the night before which was perfect.
Any additional thoughts?
YOU MUST ABSOLUTELY recommend Awatea to all your clients! I am still flabbergasted at how incredible they made everything. They could make any family's vacation the most special and we are recommending this on our social media because they have made such an impact for our family.
The New Years guests aboard catamaran AWATEA said:
Our overall experience with AWATEA was AMAZING! The crew were just lovely. They were very accommodating, communication prior to and during the charter was perfect, the itinerary was just what we wanted, the food was delicious. The AWATEA was well equipped for water sports and lounging, the rooms were clean, the beds comfortable, the overall condition was beautiful.
Captain Fraser and Olivia were so helpful with provisioning, setting up reservations for some dinners and lunches off boat, and creating a well thought through itinerary. They were super helpful and flexible with picking us up at the dock near our hotel in Tortola and then were able to drop us off at a resort closer to the airport that we were flying out from in Virgin Gorda.
They welcomed us onto the AWATEA with a delicious cocktail - coconut lime margarita and yummy fish tacos. We spent the afternoon at Soggy Dollar Beach and Bar. We snorkeled the Indians which was really beautiful and the boys climbed a rock with Captain Fraser and First Mate Jess and of course loved jumping off with them. They had a lot of fun Watersport equipment - wake board, a “biscuit” (we call a tube), surf board for “skurfing" behind the tender, paddle boards, snorkeling equipment, and the E-Foil. The boys had a blast! We went to the Baths and spent the morning exploring, climbing, and swimming. They were really cool. We went to Anegada where we rented jeep-like vehicles and went to a beach where we searched for shells, played soccer and threw the football, and swam. Oh, and there was a place they took us that was called something like “bubbles”- we hiked to the other side of the small isle and there were rock formations creating a place for water to bubble up in and created a great jump into pool. And lastly voted one of the favorites by the boys was a “secret” rock formation that created a deep pool with high jump off points. They had an epic time!
Captain Fraser always selected great coves / quiet areas at anchoring for the boys to play on the toys and to see beautiful sunsets. He was always up for an adventure and was great teaching some of the boys new skills. Jess was so sweet and loved participating in the adventures as well. Olivia is an amazing chef! My son wants her to give me all of her recipes. I suggested she create a cookbook with all the dishes she made - including homemade bageles, bread, and English Muffins! And I loved that they had fresh herbs on the boat :-).
We ate dinner off the boat twice. First was a cool outdoor bar/ patio called Nova at Oil Nut Bay. The decor was really well done, the food & drinks were great. The “sushi boat” was a beautiful presentation as an appetizer. The 2nd night off the boat we went to Peter Island and had dinner at the newly renovated and recently opened Drake’s Steakhouse. Beautiful venue and great menu and wine list.
So, as you can see, the trip was just amazing and we really loved the entire experience. Of course the BVI’s are the draw but the crew really made it special.
Guests on Awatea in December 2024
They were the BEST!! Very fun and up beat. It felt like they were our friends more then our crew which made the trip so fun and special!!
The food was amazing. Olivia (the chef) made everything special for us and when you ate the food you could tell the amount of time and energy she spent making it. The best food ever!
The water sports were my favorite. I got to go wake surfing and inner tubing and snorkeling.100% my family has recommended this trip to all our friends.
Perry Institute for Marine Science
Our team at the Perry Institute for Marine Science had the pleasure of partnering with Awatea Adventures (with the amazing support of SeaKeepers) on three separate occasions for our marine research missions, and each experience was exceptional. While our trips were not for leisure but for serious scientific research, the crew of the 63ft performance Balance catamaran, Awatea, provided a perfect balance of professionalism and adventure.
Fraser and Olivia, the dynamic duo at the helm, were great. Their expertise and hospitality turned our research expeditions into seamless and enjoyable journeys. Despite the focus on our diving and underwater activities, the crew ensured that all our planned activities were executed flawlessly.
The vessel itself is a marvel—spacious, and equipped for both comfort and adventure. Whether you are a scientist on a mission or an adventurer seeking the thrill of the ocean, Awatea Adventures offers an unparalleled experience. The combination of good food, top-tier amenities, and the adventurous spirit of the crew makes for a unique and unforgettable journey.
For anyone seeking an extraordinary sailing adventure, Awatea Adventures comes highly recommended. The professionalism, warmth, and sheer excitement provided by Fraser and Olivia make it more than just a charter—it’s an adventure of a lifetime.
Katya
My trip with Olivia & Fraser on Awatea was INCREDIBLE!!! I spent a week onboard in the Bahamas and visited Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Rose Island. The waters were clearest majestic I've ever seen and we saw turtles, stingrays, dolphins and sooo many fish.
Highlights were: evening dinner cooked over fire on the beach, snorkling with turtles, Olivias AMAZING cooking, freshly spear-fished food from Fraser, biking to pink sand beach, and Paddle boarding + Yoga each morning with Olivia.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND AWATEA ADVENTURES!!! I can't wait to book a trip to go diving in the BVI's with them. The coolest boat, the most incredible owner-operator crew (they care so much about your experience), and very reasonably priced compared to other charters.
Mark and Ashlee – a Bahamian elopement
From the moment we were greeted by the amazing crew and taken to our luxury yacht, we knew we were in for the experience of a lifetime!! Prior to arrival, Captain Fraser and first mate, Olivia, held conference calls in order to design a custom vacation. There are not enough characters allowed in this review or words to describe our trip on board Awatea. Waking up, every morning, to the sunrise beaming into our cabin, drinking amazing espresso, on the bow, with the wind and gentle rocking of
waves, surrounded by a palette of colors in the water and sky. Diving into the ocean at any moment of choice, diving down to underwater aquariums, drift diving with the current, along side of our vessel, swimming, paddle boarding to sandbars and beaches, all at whim. Every day, the opportunity arose for a new, spectacular adventure, breathtaking scenery. Combined with Olivia's home cooking, wonderful meals and even better company, I will say 100%, hands down, this was the experience of a lifetime.
The International Seakeepers Association
Awatea Adventures were amazing. We are not the typical charter guests. Rather, we are a non-profit organization that aims to facilitate marine research and conservation aboard privately owned leisure vessels. When we asked them to help with coral research in the Exumas, they enthusiastically said yes. They went above and beyond to make sure our every need was met. Fraser is an accomplished captain who got us where we needed to be, and worked with the research team to make sure they were able to accomplish all of their mission goals over the course of several days. A huge benefit was the scuba tanks and air compressor on board which made it possible to bring fewer tanks, as well as do multiple dives a day without the need to refill or pick up new tanks. Olivia is a great cook and made sure we ate well throughout the trip. it didn’t end there. With only a week’s notice, another scientific research team needed a vessel to assist with coral restoration in Abaco. Again, Fraser and Olivia didn’t give it a second thought and volunteered to help out. Lastly, another research trip almost had to be canceled last minute because the original boat had a mechanical issue. As we put the word out that we needed a replacement asap, Awatea answered the call, again making themselves available to help with a research expedition – this time all the way down in Little Inagua, one of the most remote islands in the Bahamas. This was a big ask; fourteen days in total including travel to and from the island. The research team was also larger than usual. That was no problem for this crew, making sure the many different research objectives were accomplished, while also accommodating nine guests for two weeks. We couldn’t be happier with our three trips aboard Awatea, and we’re very much looking forward to working with them in the future. Although our experience was specific to research expeditions, I’m sure anyone looking for a relaxing, comfortable, and exciting experience aboard a beautiful and well-equipped vessel, with a knowledgeable and capable crew (and not to mention how nice they were!) would have to look no further than Awatea Adventures.
