Landmark birthday on the British Virgin Islands

A family group of 6 (two parents aged 60 with 2 adult children in their late 20s and their respective partners) were celebrating the father's 60th birthday and parent's 30th wedding anniversary in June 2023.

They wanted a really special vacation to mark the joint occasions, and settled on a BVI luxury yacht charter, with plenty of snorkelling, wildlife, beach bars and water sports.

They are used to haute cuisine and fine wines, and want a relaxing and stress-free holiday with all the details taken care of for them.

They had a budget of $70,000 (£58,000) to include: charter fee, food and drink, excursions, transfers and crew gratuity.

Our client chose a week in June, the month of his birthday, for the trip.

As their flights landed in Tortola in the evening, we arranged for them to sleep on board for the first night and start their charter the following day.

This meant their holiday lasted for eight nights and seven days in total.

Lagoon Sixty7 PC

Given the need for three comfortable double cabins for the guests and two for the crew – plus the client’s desire for a luxury experience and abundance of toys aboard a yacht that could cover large distances in style, the stand-out choice was the brilliant C'est La Vie, a Lagoon Sixty7 power catamaran.

A well-appointed 2022 Lagoon Sixty7, C’est La Vie offers bespoke luxury in 2 spacious Queen cabins and a massive master cabin, each with en-suite washrooms and plenty of living space. Her water toys are second to none, including electric foiling surfboards, sea bobs, scuba compressor and gear, floating docks and a massive tender.

Chef Sofia and Captain Robbie always strive to keep charters light-hearted and fun-filled, which was a perfect combo for our client.

Our client takes up the story:

Maddy, our HELM yacht charter broker, understood our needs and made the whole process seamless.

She patiently listened to our demands and desire for a stress-free celebration, found the perfect yacht and crafted an itinerary that well exceeded our wildest hopes!

From the moment we set foot on C'est La Vie, it was evident that every detail had been considered, ensuring a vacation that transcended our expectations.

Day 1 - Cocktail Welcome

As the golden sun dipped low over the turquoise waters of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), our family of six found ourselves aboard the extraordinary C'est La Vie, a Lagoon Sixty7 power catamaran.

This voyage wasn't just an escape; it was a celebration of milestones — my father's 60th birthday and my parents' 30th wedding anniversary.

Captain Robbie mixed us a rum cocktail to welcome us to island life – we could get used to this!

We then set sail on a journey curated by Maddy, our HELM yacht charter broker, and what unfolded was nothing short of magical.

Day 2 - Treasure Island

After a leisurely breakfast, we set sail for the Bight on Norman Island – believed to be the inspiration for the novel, ‘Treasure Island’.

We spent the afternoon snorkelling and spotting the vibrant marine life, before taking in the stunning Caribbean sunset aboard our yacht.

Day 3 - Cooper Island

We couldn’t resist some more snorkelling before breakfast – this time marvelling at the colourful fish darting in and out of the caves along the island’s shore.

Once we’d filled up on some freshly made food aboard the yacht, we set off for Cooper Island to spend a lazy afternoon on its white sandy beaches and messing around with the toys. The e-foil has been a particular hit!

Day 4 - Full Moon Party

Our crew got up early to sail us to The Baths on Virgin Gorda – a collection of smooth shoreside boulders and aquamarine pools formed millions of years ago.

A morning was well spent exploring here, and after lunch we made the short trip over to Trellis Bay and its bustling shopping streets.

After dark, we enjoyed one of the bay’s popular full moon parties, dancing to calypso music on the beach while fire poi lit up the night sky.

Day 5 - Caribbean Birthday

Day five involved a good stretch of scenic sailing back towards Virgin Gorda, allowing us to soak up the Caribbean sun on deck.

Later we docked at Biras Creek, a stunning 5* resort with a host of luxurious facilities.

It was here that we marked the reason our trip: the 60th birthday! A formal dinner in these stunning surroundings was the perfect way to celebrate.

Day 6 - Famous Anegada Lobster

A 12-mile over to Anegada helped us blow out the cobwebs from last night’s celebrations, just in time for more snorkelling along the island’s many coral reefs.

After lunch we took a taxi up to the north shore and strolled along its seemingly endless alabaster sands, before sampling the exquisite fresh lobster the island is famous for.

Day 7 - (Not Quite) The Bitter End

Today we set sail back to Virgin Gorda once more, heading for its famous Bitter End Yacht Club and taking a berth in the marina.

From here we spent the afternoon and evening exploring the vibrant shops, restaurants and bars of Spanish Town.

Day 8 - The Baths

An early departure gave us another opportunity to experience The Baths at Devil’s Bay National Park before sailing towards Cane Garden Bay.

While here, we sunbathed and swam in the crystal clear waters, then rode along the beach on horseback as the sun set.

Live Caribbean music and plenty of rum cocktails helped us drink and dance our final night away.

Day 9 - Fond Farewells

One last swim cleared our heads from the night before, then we headed back to Road Town.

By now, C'est La Vie was not just a vessel to us; it was a floating haven designed to create unforgettable experiences.

Yacht Charter Fee - $50,000

Standard Caribbean (CYBA) terms include food and drink, fuel, cruising taxes and permits in the charter fee, along with all expenses related to running the vessel and use of on-board equipment.

Gratuity (discretional) - $10,000

Total: $60,000