Island Hoppin’

Our family gifted ourselves a Virgin Islands trip for Christmas, but we also got a surprise Christmas gift; and outrageous week of memorable first time experience on Island Hoppin. The meals were gourmet quality preparations of fresh fish, prime quality meats, sauces, and accompaniments that easily equalled any fine dining restaurant. Captain’s knowledge of desirable Virgin Island destinations made each day a new adventure! Best of all the hospitality mentally made us feel welcome and simultaneously well served. A great trip on a great boat with fantastic people!!!”

My wife and I have never taken a vacation like this before. We booked this trip with our friends several years ago, and it was originally scheduled to take place in March 2020. A day before we were flying into St. Thomas, the world shut down due to COIVD and our trip was postponed. Needless to say, we were extremely disappointed. They say things happen for a reason. And while we didn’t know it then, this delay turned out to be a true blessing! I honestly do not believe there is a better, more perfectly matched team to “handle” our group than Island Hoppin’s crew. And I say “handle” because we can be a handful. They were extremely personable and made us comfortable and relaxed from the very beginning of our journey. They both were knowledgable and professional, and it was evident from the start they wanted us to have an amazing vacation specifically tailored to our wants/desires. They had complete command of their responsibilities and ensured all safety procedures were followed - seamlessly taking great care of the catamaran and us. Their knowledge of the Virgin Islands helped us pick destinations that made our trip memorable. Island Hoppin’ is a wonderful catamaran. It is well maintained and the decor and amenities made it feel functional, yet homey at the same time. Now at the end of the trip, I truly feel as though we connected with Jack and Kaycee in a way I never would have expected. While our time here on the catamaran is done, I’m excited (and a bit jealous) for future guests who get to experience the Virgin Islands on Island Hoppin’ - they are in for the best trip of their lives.
In closing, I will say this vacation completely exceeded our expectations. We are already making plans to book our next trip!”

Our trip on Altesse was magical. Of course the islands provide the foundation, with natural beauty at every turn, but to top it off the yacht is lovely and immaculate, with open deck spaces and multiple, comfortable cushioned areas for conversation, reading, sunning and afternoon naps. The four staterooms are spacious, comfortable and private.

Let us first say that we were totally new to any kind of sailing or sailing adventure like this. Have been on a couple of small sailboats years ago for an afternoon sail but that was the extent of our sailing experience. What an incredible boat!! No expense was spared by the owners when they outfitted this boat. Everything was done to enhance the experience. Even though it is a catamaran the individual staterooms have plenty of space. The beds - extremely
comfortable. Every stateroom had its own temperature control – the air conditioning was a welcome benefit for sleeping at night. Each stateroom had its own bathroom with a shower. Plenty of fresh, hot water for the shower. Boat has its own fresh -water system so no need to make repeated stops for fresh water. The back deck was very spacious. You never felt crowded. Plenty of seating room. There was additional space to hang out on the front of the boat for sunbathing. The bridge/ upper deck was really cool. Lots of space to enjoy the incredible views. And Yes, for those who can’t be unconnected for a week, the boat does have Wifi. Boat comes fully equipped with just about every water related activity you can want. Complete snorkel and scuba gear was available. Everything was new and in perfect working condition. The Captain is a dive instructor and the Chef/ First Mate is a Dive Master. They know all of the great places in the islands to snorkel and dive. During our dive and snorkel trips, we saw turtles, rays and great variety of ocean fish. The crew were amazing!!! We can’t say enough good things about them. They made the whole trip as relaxing and fun filled as possible. They saw to everything for us. Always cheerful and pleasant nothing seemed to bother them. Excellent captain – knew all the great places to go to. Handled the boat with great skill and confidence. Made us non-sailors very comfortable and at ease. And an incredible chef - every meal was a gourmet experience, rivaled some of the best restaurants we have eaten in around the world. We are still debating which one was the better bartender!! (And the boat had an exceptional stock of fine beverages and a great wine selection) The islands were beautiful. Every sunrise and every sunset were a sight to behold. Incredible blue water and beautiful scenery. We made several stops during the trip to sample the local flavor (usually made with some type of rum).Everyone was extremely friendly and very helpful. (Yes, the crew knew all the good places to stop - Soggy Dollar, Full Moon Party, etc.) This was the most relaxing, enjoyable vacation we can remember having in the past 20 years or more. The 7 days on board flew by. The entire trip was tailored to the passenger’s comfort and enjoyment - All thanks to an incredible crew, a fantastic boat and mother nature. What would we change if we did this again - Nothing!! It was as perfect as you can get.

It's taken a full week, but we've adjusted to life back on land. We could not have dreamed of better hosts or asked for better care than what this crew provided. Chef is the perfect hostess and lover of island fun. Our numerous snorkeling expeditions last week made me feel like a little kid again. She is such a gifted young woman with her ability to know nature, assist with the needs of the boat and instructions of the captain, and cook like she stepped off the set of MasterChef. The meals she prepared are nothing short of cuisine. My husband refuses squash, but she made a dish with butternut squash so good one night, he asked for seconds. Taylor is ever the calm, stoic captain who not only ensure the boat and trip stay on schedule, but that the coolers stay full and the boat is in shape to entertain. You want for nothing on your trip with this captain as the captain of the boat. He always made sure everyone was comfortable and that we were taking full advantage of all that Island Hoppin' offers. The crew made great recommendations for on shore fun and seamlessly guided us through the customs process both crossing into the BVI and heading back stateside. They are a knowledgeable, well organized team. You won't find better cruising in paradise than this gorgeous catamaran and the beyond amazing crew who man the vessel. I've never been homesick for a vacation until now. I know this won't be the last time we travel with the crew and Island Hoppin'.

The Hices had an absolutely wonderful vacation/adventure week! Thank you so much for sharing your home, your islands, your weather, your wisdom and hospitality with us! We are in awe of your sailing, scuba, free diving skills…. As well as your culinary expertise and awesome cocktail recipes. Feeding our family was a feat in itself and you pulled it off perfectly. I am sure we made some incredible memories this week - and we are already excited to come back to the BVI’s to make some more - with your help of course! Wishing you both a wonderful rest of the season - and hopefully some relaxing days ahead.

Thank you so much for everything, it was soooooo much fun. I loved everything we did, especially the skiing and goat calling and helping me with my shark fear (but now I’m scared of walking on a beach with coconut trees). The food was so good, I don’t know how you ever made this food because it is literally the best food I’ve ever tasted. You guys played a big part in making this week so fun and always made us all laugh. It has been such a fun week and it is largely due to you guys.  Wow, what an amazing trip. We truly enjoyed ourselves and all the adventures. You guys made the vacation much more memorable. The mechanics of the trip were fine, but what made it a family memory was you guys. I’m sure you realize this but you become a big part of many families. This trip could have been nice but it was amazing because of your attention/guidance for our girls and us. You have a far greater impact on families than you realize. You helped us make memories we will cherish for years to come.

Part of the fun was not knowing what to expect each day and then discovering each day was more beautiful than the last. You were both so welcoming and wonderful hosts. You were great with the boys and the week flew by. See you next year.

What a fantastic trip. Thank you so much for everything you've done for us. It's been totally unforgettable. As a self confessed land mammal this trip has been my first experience of sailing, snorkeling, water sports, and much much more. Fantastic food and sunset cocktails. Lots of memorable meals with family and friends. Thank you for such an amazing holiday

What a great trip! This adventure totally exceeded our expectations. We knew the islands would be beautiful, but had no idea of the comfort and hospitality you two would bring to the equation. We enjoyed learning about you and your family, your history and getting a taste of the sailing life. Each meal was prepared with such care, was outstanding, and we are happily going home 10 lbs heavier, I am sure. Last but not least, the diving was a game changer for us. Thank you so much for taking the time to guide us and point out so many amazing creatures. We’re hooked and can’t wait to return for more! We look forward to sailing with you again in the future and are going to see if we can get some of our most amazing friends to join us! Thank you again for the wonderful, amazing, beautiful week! All the best to you and your kids until we see you again!