Everything was seamless for the trip, the yacht was clean and ready for our arrival. All water toys were available – snorkeling gear, knee boarding, fishing. Andre and Alison were great. So accommodating and welcoming. They are very knowledgeable of the islands. Alison is a great chef and her presentation was wonderful. They also picked good restaurants on island also for us. The crew ensured we knew the plan and we were informed of any changes. We really liked the islands and the boat was perfect for our family. We would charter this yacht again and go back to some of the same islands and try some new ones also. Thank you again for everything!

Our trip to the BVI and sailing on the Turquoise Turtle was amazing. From the moment we left the dock to the time we set foot back on shore for the final time, we felt as if we had just been sailing with lifelong friends. This is a testament to Andre and Alison’s top-notch hospitality. Any apprehension that we had about spending 7 days on a boat together quickly dissipated and they put us all at ease as they welcomed us into their home on the water. They laid out the perfect week for both relaxing and exploring the beauty that is the BVI. From snorkeling, exploring the Baths to relaxing on the bean bags as we sailed to Anegada, it was all just simply amazing. This was a “bucket list” trip and we are so incredibly grateful that we got to spend it on the Turquoise Turtle! Do not hesitate to book your trip, Andre and Alison will ensure that it will be an unforgettable experience.

As I sit here watching the snow fall, I’m wishing to be back a few days aboard the Turquoise Turtle in the BVI! I had been daydreaming and planning our 2024 milestone trip to the BVI for several months. In fact, I found the Turquoise Turtle on the BVI chart chat probably 2 years ago after someone gave a glowing review. I’m here to give another glowing review. Our time with Andre and Alison aboard their 50’ catamaran was perfect! We are a family of 4 with an 18 year old daughter and a 13.9 year old son. We all love water, boating and scuba diving. We have done a lot of travel with our kids, very special trips… but this one has been the best to date! All of us agreed, that living aboard a boat with Alison and Andre in the BVI was super special.

I loved letting them plan the itinerary, I’ve never lost track of dates/times so much (and I’m a “Planner”!). The crew took care of every detail, arranging taxis, eFoil lessons, massage, dinner reservations, diving gear, etc etc. Their boat is 20+ years old but shines like new. I like things clean and tidy and I know that’s not easy when having a boat in saltwater. But the Turquoise Turtle is a very clean and well maintained vessel. Obviously, A & A take great pride in their home on the water! Alison is a wonderful chef, accomplished First Mate and I doubt she’s ever met a stranger! Just a lovely person. Andre is a knowledgeable boat captain, as well as helicopter pilot, so we enjoyed talking flying with him. He makes a yummy Painkiller and taught us how to play Mexican train. They both love scuba diving and we felt very comfortable with them taking us on some very cool dives!

I highly recommend if you’re looking for a crewed charter in the BVI, do not hesitate to book the Turquoise Turtle! You’ll love it!! 🥰

I wrote the following in the guest book of the catamaran, Turquoise Turtle, my wife, son, his wife and two children were on for a week to celebrate my 80th birthday…

“Superlatives do not suffice to describe our week. Simply put, each of the six of us, three generations ranging in age from 14 to 80, had a fabulous time. Some of us were most interested in sailing, some diving, some food, some swimming, some relaxing. All of our expectations were surpassed. Perhaps most important to us were the kindness and care you showed us. You met our every need, and we became very fond of you. I had a dream of celebrating my 80th on a boat in the Carribean with my family. My dream was realized, and my heart is full. I cannot imagine that there exist better people than you two to sail with. Oh, and the food was absolutely delicious.

Fondly, “Jef” for the Fellows Family

Just returned from a great New Year’s week aboard the Turquoise Turtle with the most wonderful hosts: Captain Andre and First Mate/chef Alison! They met us in St. Maarten with big smiles and a warm hug and after our “briefing” off to St. Barths, we sailed. Our family of 5 enjoyed the week spent sailing around the northern Leewards, relaxing, diving (especially great dives in St. Eustatia and Saba), eating Alison’s scrumptious meals, and enjoying all the top notch amenities the Turquoise Turtle offers. Andre’s pain killers, rum punch and special turquoise margarita got our evenings off to a great start, although dimmed our game playing abilities, which we think was a secret strategy. This was our third charter and hosts like Andre/Alison are top notch. They are warm, kind, patient, funny and easy to be around.We really enjoyed ourselves and look forward to sailing again soon aboard the Turquoise Turtle.

There aren’t enough words to describe how amazing our trip was on the Turquoise Turtle. My wife and I were on our honeymoon, new to crewed yacht charters, and didn’t quite know what to expect but what we got was a trip of a lifetime. We were greeted at the pickup location by two of the most amazing people (Alison and André) I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet with big smiles and a hug. Taken to the yacht on their dinghy and given a rundown of the boat facilities and our room. Everything was spotless and beautifully arranged. We quickly became accustomed to the boat life for a week as Alison and André made us feel right at home. When sailing, André was amazing and first mate, Alison, was quick. They knew exactly what each other were looking for when anchoring and I never once felt uneasy about their capabilities. When diving, they made sure we both were comfortable and safe and their experience really shows. They could have jumped into a shark tank (although they wouldn’t!) and I would have jumped right in behind them knowing that I was completely safe with them. They found things we never could have seen on our own and they recommended the most amazing onshore activities and restaurants.

They let us chose where the boat went (within reason due to winds, Anchorage and legality) and gave my wife and I the freedom to go a lil crazy (cliff jump in St. Bart was so awesome). They found the perfect beaches to put back André’s Painkiller and Rum Punch and they even got us an unexpected bottle of Champagne for our honeymoon. At meal times, André would set the table while Alison would manifest magic on a plate that kept us in awe and drooling the entire time. I highly recommend you don’t skip the dessert or their amazing coffee.

Overall, I could not replace this trip in any lifetime and felt I made great friends with the Captain and Chef. We would do a charter with them again in a heartbeat. Thank you André and Alison for the trip of a lifetime.

We (family of 4, 2 children ages 5 and 8) spent a week on board the Turquoise Turtle in February of 2020. Our goal was to have a relaxing, active week and an adventurous experience for the children. If you are trying to find the right charter boat to explore the BVI’s, this is the one.

Turquoise Turtle is Captained by Andre Stroebel and his wife Alison, who is Registered Nurse and excellent cook. Most importantly, both are excellent hosts and wonderful people. Andre has 30+ year’s experience as a helicopter pilot in South Africa. Andre is safety oriented and makes a great “Pain Killer” Drink! As a couple they have sailed the world and are very experienced yachtsmen.

Alison is a caring person who was wonderful with the children. She has a good knowledge of the sea life in and around the reefs and was always eager to share her knowledge with everyone.

The trip was awesome! Andre and Allison were sea worthy very competent captains. They made us very comfortable in all that we did on the water! Food was fine food dining each meal! Andre and Allison were very friendly and accommodated our every request We sailed to a beautiful new beach each day. We went as 3 couples and had an absolutely delightful week full of fabulous adventures, incredible meals delicious cocktails, games, swimming snorkeling and diving, and scenery that cannot be duplicated. The only bad part of the trip was that it ended.

As we were making our way home and discussing the trip, I heard the phrase “BEST TRIP EVER” repeated more than once! No doubt it requires a lot of planning, work, patience, seamanship, and people skills to accommodate a group such as ours for a week… but Andre and Alison made it look easy. As people they are authentic, understanding, calm, gentle, and extremely competent. It seemed every time I turned around Alison was preparing another gourmet meal and Andre was answering sailing questions and mixing his famous “Painkillers”. Andre and Alison are special people and do a fabulous job. You should have no hesitations in recommending them to any clients you may have. In all honesty, we passed their name along to other vacationers, 4 times ourselves, before we even got to the airport!

The vessel itself was clean, comfortable, and in tip top shape. The cabins were clean, roomy, well lit and airy. Clearly, their vessel is well cared for and perfectly organized for handling this type of activity. Scuba activities were handled in an orderly fashion and of course we saw innumerable fish species, octopus, squid, the Rhone wreck,  snorkeling as well was enjoyed by all. It was a lot of fun!!

This was the 2nd charter we have taken in the last 5 years. I will guarantee you that if anyone I know expresses an interest in this type of vacation, I will be recommending Andre and Alison, no question, hands down, without a doubt!!

Again, Thank you and please feel free to share our thoughts as you wish.

We just spent a fabulous week aboard the Turquoise Turtle with Andre and Allison owners/hosts. Both were skilled captains and scuba divers and sailing with them made us feel safe and comfortable. Allison prepared gourmet meals which we loved and Andre makes wonderful Painkillers. We vacationed with 2 other couples and we each had our own bedroom and bathroom. Each day we were able to explore, snorkel and scuba dive at a different beautiful beach location as we sailed the US and British Virgin Islands. It was the perfect way to vacation with great friends. We highly recommend vacationing on the Turquoise Turtle!