Caribbean New Year Sailing in Antigua & Barbuda

Spend the New Year relaxing in the Caribbean sunshine in the luxury and comfort of yacht Rhea with 10 days sailing and exploring the beautiful turquoise waters of Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua & Barbuda are surrounded by turquoise waters, miles of coral reefs, stretches of sandy beaches and sheltered bays, both islands are perfect for snorkelling and swimming. Antigua’s sister island of Barbuda is home to the long, pink shimmering sandy beaches of Low Bay and a unique frigate bird reserve.

The island of Antigua was the Royal Navy’s “stronghold” or main base in the Caribbean and with the unique natural harbour of ” English Harbor ” and the Nelson Dockyard World Heritage Site, the diverse nature and 365 beaches are one of the Pearls of the Caribbean and the annual venue of the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, one of the most beautiful sailing events in the world.

The beauty of being on a ship in these breathtaking islands is that we can take you to the unspoilt, authentic Caribbean, away from the busy resorts and beaches. Experience true Caribbean culture, from small fishing villages to lively, colourful festive carnivals. The crew will aim to give you time to explore the islands as you wish, finding harbours to berth at and secluded bays to anchor in. Feel the sand between your toes, soak up the wonderfully colourful Caribbean culture, snorkel with the fantastic marine life or simply kick back and relax on the beach. Dive from the boat and swim in the turquoise blue waters, making use of Rhea’s onboard watersports equipment.

Wildlife in the Caribbean is a real treat. Spot graceful Green and Loggerhead Sea Turtles gliding effortlessly through the water and Bottlenose Dolphins swimming with the wake of the bow. Whales also frequent the Caribbean sea, with the warm water providing the perfect breeding grounds at this time of year for the humpback whale. Birdlife in the Caribbean is an incredibly beautiful sight. Keep your binoculars at the ready to spot these colourful delights. With species only native to the Caribbean, these are once in a lifetime encounters! Pink Flamingoes are also a common bird across the Caribbean islands; these sociable creatures inhabit the blue lagoons, mudflats and lakes, living in colonies that can contain thousands of individuals.

Rhea offers daily cabin service, a rich breakfast buffet, a light 2-course lunch at noon, coffee, tea and cake in the afternoon, and a 3-course dinner in the evening. Upon arrival, you will receive a welcome drink and on the last evening, the Captain’s Dinner will be served. One evening a week, all guests eat at their own expense on land to get to know the local cuisine.

With Rhea as your base, great food included and some beautiful bucket list locations; this is a festive holiday experience of a lifetime and one not to be missed!

*Please note that an exact itinerary cannot be guaranteed due to the changing winds and tides but rest assured Rhea will show you the true magic of the Caribbean.

Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, water sports (wakeboarding, water skiing, banana boat chargeable, sea kayak, SUP) However Stand Up Paddleboards and snorkelling (adult size only) are free of charge) with motor drive and trips organized by us are chargeable as an extra. However, we offer this at moderate prices and are well below the prices of other cruises. An average of 10% of the travel price as onboard consumption may serve as a guide. The onboard currency is the Euro. We will open an onboard account for you on the day of arrival, from which you can pay all personal expenses. 

All voyages for Rhea

Rhea

Guest berths: 26 Rig: Bermudan Ketch

Elegant yacht Rhea offers guests a sailing holiday experience with luxury at the heart of everything she does. She spends her winters sunshine sailing in the Caribbean before moving to the Mediterranean in the Spring.

Like her sister Chronos, Rhea was built and designed in Bodrum, Turkey but is registered in Holland. Luxury yacht Rhea was purpose built as a charter vessel in 2016 and finished in 2017 as a two-masted, 54m staysail ketch.

Rhea was designed by Klaus Röder, who based his designs on the lines of a classic yacht whilst keeping up with the modern day ketch; built for performance sailing and guest comfort. The classic rig of a Bermuda Ketch with a large boom was conceptualised and designed by Klaas Huizinga.

The outline on deck is of teak and mahogany with plenty of space to sun-bath, read a book and enjoy the views. All the sails are electronically retractable, so no need to learn the ropes here! The crew are, however, more than happy for guests to get involved with the operating and sailing of Rhea as much as they would like!

An admiralty ladder provides the perfect place to jump off into crystal clear waters, have a swim or snorkel and climb back aboard with ease. Rhea also offers her guests the options of her water skiing, wake-board, tube riding, banana boat, 2 kayaks, 2 stand up Paddleboards, snorkelling equipment and even a sail dinghy (QubaRS).

The deckhouse offers its very own small bar whilst below decks offers still more space to relax with another dining area, as well as her on-deck dining area. Her private cabins, offering both double and single beds, all have air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms.

The professional crew consists of the Skipper, first mate, mechanic, bosun, cook and 4 stewards, so you will most certainly be looked after during your time aboard Rhea.

Read more about what to expect from life on board here

Deck plan

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all meals on board are included in the price (breakfast, lunch, dinner and filter coffee and tea). Alcohol and soft drinks are not included.

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Yes, please let us know when making your booking.

• What language is spoken onboard?

  English/German/Dutch

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!

• Is there an age limit?

  Yes. Minimum age of 5, and as long as the child can swim.

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  Rhea has 3 Standard Double Cabins Ensuite (11 m²) and 10 Deluxe Double Cabins Ensuite (12-13 m²) all sleeping 2 people.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  All cabins have their own ensuite.

• Is there WIFI?

  No, but you should easily be able to reach 3G/4G from the shore.

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  Yes.

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes.

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  No.

• Do I need sailing experience?

  No, absolutely not! Just a lust for adventure.

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

• What water-sports can I do once aboard?

  Rhea has a multitude of water-sport activities and equipment available for guests. Stand-up paddle-boards and adult-size snorkelling equipment is free for guests to use. Water-skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, QubaRS dinghy sailing, banana boat and tube riding are all chargeable once on board.

Travel Planning

From: Antigua

To: Antigua

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.