Weather Forecast
Weather forecasting is the key factor that
determines the voyaging.
The weather of the Caribbean is influenced by Trade Winds.
It is a wind that blows with constant direction and intensity,
with clear sky and clouds of good weather. Thanks to this wind
the temperature is always nice, summer as winter. The water temperature
is ideal for swimming.
The skipper follows daily the weather reports. The itinerary
is chosen to profit fully and at best the available time each
day.
In each circumstance the decision making is exclusive competence
to the skipper, since he is responsible for security on board.
Languages:
You will find people from different nationalities on board.
Each week the language spoken by the majority is chosen as
"official" language(Italian, French or English). The
conversations on board - composed by different languages - are
at times very funny! The international context we experience is
interesting and useful.
You will appreciate the same and differences costumes in culture,
other then enhance the use of a foreign language. All the information
will be translated precisely.
Marco and Enrica are Italian and speak French, English and
Spanish.
In the Caribbean, the spoken languages are English and French.
The night
A sailing boat offers different opportunities
for the night. In general, at the Caribbean the night passes
"at bay", or ancorage, for a nice friendship evening
under the stars. It is possible also to go ashore to the village,
if one prefers to have a dinner in a typical restaurant and to
dance to the steel-bands rhythms.
If instead we are sailing, you will discover the starry
sky like you can hardly see it ashore, and you can learn to recognize
the constellations and the planets that always guide the sailors.
Only in the case we will establish an "on guard" stand-by
with everyone on board participation. It will be worth it... with
a bit of luck the dolphins will approach the boat...
Between Martinique and the Grenadines, usually, there is not
navigation in nighttime.
Showers:
If you have been in vacation on a sailboat,
you will expect here a paragraph with plenty restrictions... and
instead no!!
Aquarius dispose in fact of a modern installation
to produce fresh water for on board consumptions. This allows
us a total autonomy: no more lost days "to make water",
and the pleasure of a beautiful warm shower when desired.
Cooking:
The table is a key element on board! The
boat counts with two refrigerators, traditional oven and microwave
oven.
We love cook and you will taste the specialties
of the Italian cuisine, but also the best recipes discovered
during our trips. Lobsters (in winter) and fresh fish delivered
on board directly from the fishermen never misses in the menù.
What to bring:
To stay one or two weeks on board, we would
advice to bring comfortable and sports wear. The Caribbean climate
is warm the whole year. Bring T-shirts, shorts, bathing suits,
sun lotion (sun block), sunglasses, hat. It would be useful
to bring a light rain jacket.
If you prefer to wear some shoes on board (it
is not necessary), these will have the sole in clear rubber
(for example tennis shoes) and will be used exclusively on board.
Sheets, pillowcases and pillows, covers and towels are
furnished. If the desires handed photographic car and television
camera (better with stabilizer of image). We recommend a filter
polarizzatore to get splendid images of the white spiaggies
and the coral barriers.
On board you will find masks, snorkels and
fins. It's better not to bring more than two pieces of luggages,
which should be any type of duffle bags that folds.
In Caribbean, American dollars and EC (East
Caribbean) dollars are used, Euro are accepted. To avoid
lose of time we advice to bring small cash for personal needs.
VALID PASSPORT IS A MUST!!!
Communications:
In June 2003 the GSM betwork has been activated
in some islands of the Caribbean. Check with your provider the
roaming agreements with the states we visit.
Every two or three days we will check internet
in a cyber-cafés.
You can receive messages on the mail of Delphinia (info@delphinia.org),
that we check every day.
Flight ticket
For most of our cruises, embarkation
and debarkation happen in Le Marin, in Martinique, where an
international airport is found (Lamantin, Fort de France, FDF).
From Europe, you will have to make a
change in Paris.
Flights from USA arrives through Portorico.
Reception at arrival:
The airplanes from Europe arrive in the
Caribbean in the afternoon or evening. At the airport you
will find a taxi with a panel "DELPHINIA", that will
accompany you on board, in the marina of Marin, on the south
side of the island.
The taxi's cost (50-60 Euro) will be divided
among the participants that arrive with the same flight.
To communicate with the boat, call 06
96 43 36 51 (Marco and Enrica).
From outside Martinique and France: + 596 696 43 36 51.
Debarkation
The debarkation is in Le Marin (Martinique)
for most of our cruises. Flights to Europe leave in the afternoon
or evening of the same day, a taxi will bring you to the airport.
Ecocruises with children:
Children could participate starting 8 years up, under
their tutor or parents responsibility. The experience with children
is always interesting and positive, the kids adaptation is fast
and they quickly lean security regulations.
Parents who choose to live this experience
should evaluate if the child is able to share a week among adults
and if he/her don't have any particular requirement for food.
or other.
A 20% reduction apply for children from 8 to
12 years old.
Health:
To participate at the missions at sea it
is necessary to be in good general conditions. Since the
navigations often bring us away from the inhabited centers,
participation is unadvisable in case of heart problems, diabetes,
and in any case where a medical treatment require an hospital
structure.
The sanitary situation in Caribbean islands is optimal. Vaccines
are not demanded nor recommended. Water is good and drinkable
anywhere.
Unfortunately some physical invalidities
may limit the life on board. In case of doubts it is preferable
to contact Ecocruises.org (info@ecocruises.org) before booking.
Insurances:
The on board insurance covers the participants
of any accidents related to navigation during his/her stay.
We advice to have any other type of insurance in case of sickness
or accidents related to swimming, on land sight seeing, etc...
that wil cover emergency transportation or eventual return home.
The organization advice you also to be covered
in case of cancellation of trip for extraordinary reasons.
