Charter Smarter Reviews 102

Charter Smarter helped us with our first cruise and it was fabulous! We highly recommend them!

We chartered Atlantia from February 15–22, 2026 to celebrate two milestone birthdays—our son’s 40th and my 60th. This was the most expensive vacation we have taken, and unfortunately, it was also the most disappointing travel experience we have encountered.
While the booking and pre-charter communication process was professional and well-managed, the onboard experience did not align with what was represented. The yacht was marketed as a modern vessel with state-of-the-art amenities and a highly professional crew delivering a curated luxury experience. In practice, we experienced significant gaps across service, vessel condition, safety, and overall execution.
Key issues included:
Communication breakdowns: A customized pre-arrival briefing was never provided, and detailed preference information submitted in advance was not effectively communicated to the onboard crew. The chef we had worked with extensively prior to the trip was replaced without notice, and our preferences were not carried over.

Service and professionalism: The level of service did not meet expectations for a crew of three serving four guests. There was a noticeable lack of coordination and engagement, with limited proactive service and follow-through on requests. The captain and first mate John and Amanda Emlet were very unprofessional. We had to look at the captain’s water ash tray all day which sat across from the table where we ate every meal - it was a disgusting site. Amanda spent the entire trip sitting next to the Captain while he was driving the boat and provided no hospitality of any kind to us. The cook was the only person who interacted with us and served us in any way.

Culinary experience: Meals fell well below expectations in quality, variety, and presentation. Several requested items were not provided despite prior confirmation. Food safety was also a concern due to refrigeration issues and improper storage of perishable items. In fact, food was stored in ice chests on and around the deck and at times the ice had completely melted. We were afraid to eat the food we were served and opted to dine at a couple of island restaurants. This also seemed like the ultimate bait and switch situation - we originally had an experienced chef with an impressive resume and he was replaced with a cook.

Vessel condition and equipment: The yacht did not appear to be maintained to the standard presented in marketing materials. Multiple equipment failures were observed, including nonfunctional refrigeration, which directly impacted food quality and safety. General cleanliness and upkeep were inconsistent.

Safety concerns: There were gaps in basic safety practices and preparedness. For example, lifejackets were not provided during a water activity, and medical supplies onboard were limited when injuries occurred. Guests ultimately had to seek medical care independently.

Experiences and itinerary: Despite clearly communicating our desire for an active, experience-driven itinerary, no structured plan was provided. Activities were minimal, onboard amenities were not offered, and opportunities to explore beaches and surrounding areas were limited. We never even visited a beautiful beach. The experience did not reflect the “bespoke” or curated journey that was advertised.

Due to the cumulative impact of these issues, we made the decision to terminate the charter early and secure alternative accommodations at our own expense.
We notified Charter Smarter about the entire situation with written documentation and photos to support our claims. Although they were professional to deal with, unfortunately, they readily pointed the blame to the boat owner. Despite all of these issues and completely ruining a once in a lifetime event, no effort was made by either Charter Smarter or the owners of Atlantia to make amends or compensate us for our additional charges or to reimburse any portion of the charter that was the exact opposite of what was marketed to us.
We noted Charter Smarter no longer includes Atlantia in their fleet. La Roma Yachts, who is managed by the owner of Atlantia, is now chartering Atlantia and other vessels.
Given the premium cost of this charter, we believe it is reasonable to expect a level of quality, safety, and service consistent with the representations made at booking. Unfortunately, that was not our experience.

Great family memories made on this custom private catamaran tour.
The boat was great. The crew (captain and Jon and chef/first mate Suzanne) made it an amazing experience. The stops were outstanding and the food was excellent.

We absolutley LOVED everything about our experience from the initial communication w/ Emily, sending literally all the details to help us make an educated decision on the 60th bday celebration trip we wanted to have up until the day before we left...this concierge team goes above and beyond to ensure you have all the details you need; quickly responding; and quite honestly, just excited for our travel group....then when we arrived in Tortola and saw our boat...WOW!! Gorgeous; big; so many spots to "hang/chill/sun"; greeted by Capt Adriana and Chef Daryl....not even sure where to begin w/ the both of them!!!! They are top notch...Adi is just adorable, engaging, knows her stuff and made our trip beyond magical...Chef Daryls food was off the charts delicious!!!! They made the trip so enjoyable by taking us where we wanted to go and always accomodating our needs...took them out to dinner with our group of 8 to the Lobster Trap, so that they would be able to enjoy an evening off the boat with us....it was truly a trip of a life time and worth the money!!!! We literally can't wait to go again...and based off of peoples responses to my stories, I have shared that this company, Charter Smarter, was the way to go!!!

We had a wonderful 6 night charter in the US and British Virgin Islands on Permabear. Captain Ed and Chef Erin made us feel welcome and safe from the first moment we arrived. We had were able to see so many sites and they were able to easily pivot and provide us options when when the weather impacted our plans. They had great connections on shore to facilitate our visit to Virgin Gorda and dinner on Sabba rock. They made the entire experience memorable. The food was amazing- we ate so much! Each dish was prepared with care and had a special touch. A special part of the trip was when the youngest members of our group helped Chef Erin to make pasta for dinner from scratch. Our group included 5 children ranging in age from 7 to 14. Captain Ed did a great job in facilitating fun in the water with snorkeling and rafts and other toys. The boat was the perfect size for our party of 9. And we all loved first mate, Gus! Our kids think this is the best vacation we have ever had! We can't wait to go back.

They had opportunity to improve... I hope they will.

Captain Bryan and Chef Ariq significantly surpassed the expectations of our week long charter on Kasiopeja. They did a great job taking into account our preferences to plan appropriately for the trip. Captain Bryan had an excellent agenda that we were able to tweak on the fly. He invested a lot of time getting to know everyone, and ensure that the whole groups hopes from the vacation were accommodated. There was a great mix beautiful swimming sports, snorkeling, boating/sailing, and beach bars/dining. The timing of anchorages/moorings was impeccable. Our group had The Baths all to ourselves one early morning avoiding the army of people experiencing the site as we were leaving. Chef Ariq delivered excellent meal after excellent meal! He was very accommodating for the various diets within our group and had great recommendations for several meals on shore. What he was able to produce from a boat galley was more delicious than any fully staffed resort kitchen that I’ve experienced. Best vacation experience we’ve ever had by a long shot!

When looking to book a trip to celebrate some major milestones, 20th anniversary, 30th anniversary, and a 50th birthday, we decided to book through Charter Smarter. Their promptness and patience to answer all the questions put us at ease and made the process easy. We came across the boat Iara with Captain Paul and Chef Lexy. We are happy to report all the reviews are spot on. They made us feel immediately at home and excited to start this amazing trip.

Paul did an amazing job at getting us boat ready. He is very knowledgeable and answered all our questions with patience, as if he doesn’t get asked them every charter! Don’t get me started on the bar skills he has… cocktail hour is one of the best times of day aboard Iara!

Lexy is a magician in the kitchen. She poured love into every bite! Every meal was delicious, fresh, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. Our group plans to try and recreate some of our favorites.

The Iara was the perfect size for our party of six. We loved all the gathering spaces and the views they provided. My favorite was star gazing on the top while sipping a drink and listening to music.

Between the wonderful staff at Charter Smarter and dream team of Paul and Lexy, we had a trip filled with memories to last a lifetime. We cannot wait to find our next adventure with them. Thank you to Charter Smart and Paul and Lexy!

Roger and Katelyn Buckley

Perfection. From the beginning stages of planning to the end of the trip - everything was incredible. We spent 4/5 days in the BVI's and our caption Noah and Chef Steph were an absolute delight. They were able to put together the perfect balance of activities and dining options that fit our group perfectly. We had a group of 6 on the vessel Extra Nauti - the rooms were comfortable in size and each had private bathrooms with plenty of storage. Tips for the planning stages - pack exactly as they suggest as far as clothing goes. Verify the amenities on board. Verify access to toiletries they supply and what you need to pack/bring. Be specific on food - more importantly what you DON'T like! Be open an willing to try different food and drinks. Do NOT expect them to have specific brands of foods/drinks you request. Depending on where you travel, access may be limited. Literally, every single meal was a 10/10. Steph not only prepared every meal/snack with the most perfect blend of complimentary flavors, the presentation was stunningly gorgeous. We chose the half-board option and were able to check out the local fare as well. For us, it was a great balance. Do not miss the Baths and Caves on Virgin Gorda, absolutely rent the scooters on Anegada! Noah is such a great captian. He was able to place us in the right locations to enjoy swimming and snorkeling. He did an amazing job being able to pivot and stay calm when there was situation that arose that was completely out of his control - it was impressive. All in all, we will book again - utilizing Charter Smarter and wouldn't hesitate to book the Extra Nauti once again. A truly unforgettable bucket-list trip for us. Hopefully, the first of many to come!

Captain Evanne and Chef Stijn and Lauren at SmarterCharter

Thank you for the most incredible vacation and experience for our family. Traveling with two young kids (5 and 9) can sometimes feel like a lot, but you made it feel effortless.

From the second we stepped onboard, you created something that felt like a floating five-star resort, but even better because it was so personal, warm, and just easy. Evanne’s quiet confidence and calm, elegant presence set the tone for everything. You have this way of being steady and grounding while still fun and personable.

Stijn’s cooking was unbelievable, every single meal somehow better than the last. We appreciate how thoughtful you were with the kids adding in things like chicken tenders, steak bites, and sauces on the side let them stay in their comfort zone while still being exposed to new flavors.

Every day felt like a new adventure, snorkeling, seabobbing, exploring, and somehow it just kept getting better. All of it set against the beauty of the USVI, with accommodations that were incredibly comfortable and luxurious.

We will never forget coming back from the beach and hearing our 5-year-old ask for “alone time” on the boat with you both. The way you just naturally took him in and cared for him like family meant everything. It gave us the freedom to explore, knowing he was completely safe and happy, and that kind of trust is rare.

We’ll never forget spotting eagle rays, turtles, dolphins, and even a surprise donkey. Of course how could we forget, the teddy bear rescue after it went overboard (just one more example of how you went above and beyond).

We’re leaving with tears in our eyes and so much gratitude for the experience you created for our family. It truly felt like the adventure of a lifetime.

Really hoping this isn’t goodbye, but “see you again.” We would sail with you both again in a heartbeat.

To our next adventure…
The smiths

Charter Smarter knows what they are doing (shouting for the people in the back!!) :) From our first emails back and forth to lock in our trip, to sending deposits, planning our itinerary, drinks and food menus - it was all so thoughtfully done from start to finish. Having a Zoom meeting with Captain Ed and Chef Erin made us even more excited and enhanced the anticipation with how comfortable we felt spending that introductory time with them. Our time spent on Permabear with Captain Ed and Chef Erin and GUS(!!) was truly remarkable. Walking onto the boat for the first time was exactly like we expected from watching the videos. It was spacious, beautiful and looked like our week was about to be filled with sunshine and so much fun! We quickly went over the tips and tricks for living on a boat and set sail! The food was to die for. Chef Erin makes everything from scratch and your tastebuds can tell. From breads, pasta, desserts and so much more we definitely never went hungry. They waited on us hand and foot the entire time and we never felt like a burden at all. We were four adults and five children and everyone truly had an amazing time. We all were emotional leaving on our last day and that was the icing on the cake knowing that we truly had the best spring break ever. The memories that our two families made together will last a lifetime. We are already talking about when we can go back to enjoy another week with Captain Ed, Chef Erin and Gus!

From the initial planning to the final execution, Emily with Charter Smarter ensured every detail was handled with prompt, thorough care. The moment our adventure began, we were greeted with a warm welcome from our incredible crew, Captain Julle and Chef Anna.

Throughout the week, we moved seamlessly from island to island, discovering stunning views at every turn. Captain Julle was always ready to deploy the water toys or tender us to the perfect snorkeling spots, effortlessly satisfying every "paradisiacal whim." And then, there was Chef Anna’s cooking—simply divine. From breakfast to dinner, she presented us with meals that were as creative in their presentation as they were delicious. She even graciously shared her recipes and hosted a baklava-making demonstration!

Julle’s dry wit and Anna’s spirited conversation truly made them the heart of this journey; by the end of the week, we felt like part of their nautical family. This trip meant the world to us as we traveled in honor of my late mother, who would have cherished every moment. We left the Mira Sol with lifelong memories and new friends. Cheers to hoping our paths cross again soon!

We spent 5 wonderful days sailing the British Virgin Islands on Iara and the only thing we regret is that we didn’t book it for 7 days (or longer)!

Iara was perfect for our group of three couples! It was super clean, plenty of deck space and water toys.

We absolutely loved Chef Lexy and Captain Paul. They made us feel comfortable from the very beginning. They had planned a wonderful itinerary for us and executed it beyond our expectations!

The meals Lexy made for us were out of this world. We still talk about them and are trying to re-create them at home.

This was our first time sailing on a catamaran and won’t be our last. We are already making plans for the next one!

We booked our trip through charter smarter for January 2027. I was searching on social media for charters and Lauren immediately responded to my request even though it was a weekend. She has been so responsive and so helpful in getting us the information we needed. I am so glad I reached out because I could never do this by myself. Highly recommend this company.

Celebrating my 50th birthday aboard Paradigm Shift through Charter Smarter was truly an unforgettable experience. From the very beginning, Emily made the booking process seamless and enjoyable—she was incredibly helpful, responsive, and thoughtful in making sure every detail was just right for our trip.

Once on board, the experience only got better. The crew went above and beyond to make this milestone celebration feel so special—anticipating our needs before we even had to ask. Captain Kendall made us feel completely at ease, and Chef Kari delivered meals that were not only beautifully presented but absolutely delicious. Every moment felt carefully curated so we could simply relax and enjoy.

Paradigm Shift itself was immaculate, luxurious, and so comfortable—the perfect setting for such a meaningful celebration. Whether we were taking in the views, enjoying meals on deck, or just soaking up the experience, everything exceeded our expectations.

This was more than just a trip—it was a once-in-a-lifetime celebration we will always cherish. I can’t recommend Charter Smarter, Paradigm Shift, and Emily highly enough for anyone looking to create truly unforgettable memories.

Our week aboard a 67’ catamaran in the British Virgin Islands was nothing short of unforgettable. Traveling with a group of eight friends, we were treated to an experience that perfectly balanced relaxation, adventure, and top-tier hospitality.

From the moment we stepped on board, Captain Will set the tone for an incredible trip. He was not only fun and easygoing, but also incredibly attentive—always making sure we had everything we needed. His thoughtful planning ensured that no two stops felt the same, and he consistently found ways to keep the experience fresh and exciting. One of the absolute highlights was exploring Anegada on Mokes during Captain Will’s bingo-style scavenger hunt—such a unique and fun way to experience the island, and something we’ll be talking about for years. Whether it was choosing the next breathtaking anchorage or creating unforgettable moments like that, he clearly cared about making our trip as enjoyable as possible.

Milou, our chef, completely exceeded expectations. Every single meal was absolutely incredible—truly restaurant-quality, three times a day. What stood out most was her creativity and diversity in the kitchen; no two meals were alike, and each dish felt thoughtfully crafted. Her fresh poke bowl lunch was a standout—light, flavorful, and perfectly suited for a day on the water. And the lamb chops? Absolutely over-the-top amazing. On top of her culinary talent, she brought such a positive energy to the boat that made every meal even more enjoyable.

Robin, our chief stew, tied everything together seamlessly. She made sure our drinks were always flowing, kept the boat impeccably clean, and ensured our rooms were always perfect—truly a level of detail that elevated the entire experience. She also paid attention to the little touches that made a big difference, like remembering everyone’s morning coffee order. That personal care did not go unnoticed and made us feel completely at home from start to finish.

Between the stunning locations, the seamless cruising, and the exceptional crew, this trip was truly one for the books. If you're considering a private yacht charter in the BVI, this is exactly the kind of experience you hope for—and then some.

We just spent a week aboard Ocean Vibes in the BVI. It was truly an amazing experience. The ship is absolutely gorgeous and our crew was top notch. I can’t think of anything they could have done better! I can’t wait to go again!

Booking with Charter Smarter was so easy and convenient! Took the stress out of planning an amazing trip. Questions answered quickly! Zelda was professional and easy to work with.

We had a fantastic experience on the Iara with Captain Paul and Lexy. The crew was very friendly and accommodating. They were extremely knowledgeable about the area and had wonderful suggestions for excursions. They were a great resource in assisting travel for the excursions and to/from the airport. The food was absolutely amazing! The boat was clean and beautiful. Excellent overall! I would do it again for sure - no changes.

We just returned from the most incredible catamaran trip in the British Virgin Islands with friends, celebrating a couple of 50th birthdays, and it was truly unforgettable!
The itinerary was perfectly planned by Captain Paul and Lexi, giving us the chance to explore beautiful beaches, crystal-clear water, and some of the most stunning spots in the BVI. Each stop felt like a new adventure.
Lexi’s food was absolutely fabulous—every meal was fresh, creative, and delicious. It felt like dining at a floating restaurant with a new island view every day!
Paul was fantastic—knowledgeable, professional, and fun—making the trip relaxed and enjoyable. The service throughout the trip was excellent, and they went above and beyond to make our celebration special. Truly a great team.
A special thank you to Zelda, our trip advisor with Charter Smarter, who was incredibly helpful throughout the planning process and made everything so easy for us.
If you’re looking for an amazing way to celebrate a milestone birthday or just want a truly memorable vacation with friends, a BVI catamaran trip is the way to go. We made memories that will last a lifetime!