Guests aboard catamaran MIMBAW in February 2024 replied to their charter broker:
Thanks for checking in. We had an amazing trip! I appreciated you guiding us along the way. The vibe of the boat was perfect for our family. We'd sail with them again. We left from St Thomas to the Spanish island and came back to finish with St John's.
Cheers,
Jen
A Guest review for catamaran MIMBAW
Keenan and Ashley are an iconic couple who make the entire charter experience so special and customized! Chef Ashley tailored food that left you full but looked as beautiful as it tasted and was as fresh as you’d want wearing a swimsuit all day in warm weather with her variety of tailored meals to our family. Her cocktails are all fresh made with no juice and mixers and definitely put you in the island spirit. Keenan’s knowledge of every creature and plant in the water and his mastered scuba teaching allowed my boyfriend and I to have an exciting custom exploration dive where we felt safe every minute, even when I panicked in the water. He was also able to take my step dad on an advanced dive every day, finding new spots with a vast knowledge of every animal and coral under the sea; as well as how to interact with them. They were so fun we wanted to include them in every on land excursion and late night card session. There is truly something for everyone on the Mimbaw! We snorkeled, had them situate reservations, take us to off the beaten path island bars, shops, fish, jet ski, dive, discover uninhibited beaches, and find rare hikes! The best and most unique trip my family has had yet and we can’t wait to go back!
Charter guest reviews for catamaran MIMBAW
We cannot say enough about our time on Mimbaw, it was truly one of the
best vacations of our life! Four of us, (two kiddos,11 and 14 and mom
and dad), spent a week sailing the USVIs for a fantastic adventure.
Ashley was the perfect hostess and even though Keenan wasn't able to
Captain this trip, they made arrangements for a fantastic Skipper in
Captain Tim. He was great with the kids, charismatic, thoroughly
knowledgeable about the islands and knew exactly where to go for the
trip we wanted.
Ashley is an accomplished chef and was easily able to accommodate our
request for healthy meals with an emphasis on fresh produce and
seafood. She constantly emerged from the galley with some wonderful
meal or snack or cocktail, and always something new and different.
She was also able to make arrangements for both the kids to ease into
SCUBA diving, starting with snorkeling in crystal clear bays then free
diving with turtles and finally diving around the coral reefs with
rays and nurse sharks! Ashley helped the kids become more and more
comfortable with the water, by the time we were at our last anchorage,
the kids were jumping into the water by themselves and exploring all
the coral and fish.
The boat was very comfortable for our family of 4, plenty of room to
lay out and sunbathe on deck, on the floating dock and chairs or keep
cool under the large bimini/solar panel top. My wife and I enjoyed
laying on the back of the boat watching the sun set each evening with
a cocktail, or sitting on deck with a cup of coffee watching the sun
rise.
The whole family loved the trip so much, we're already planning a
return trip as soon as we can. Thank you Ashley and Tim for the trip
of a lifetime!
Another guest review for catamaran MIMBAW
I (34) recently spent a week on the Mimbaw over this past Christmas with my girlfriend and her family. There were 4 of us along with Keenan and Ashley. This was simply the best trip I’ve ever been on ever! One I will do again and highly recommend for anyone thinking about it!
Keenan and Ashley are an amazing duo together! They are truly pros at what they do. They were very accommodating to every detail, had amazing recommendations around the islands, and very thoughtful. They were able to make every day a new adventure and exciting! One of my favorite parts of the trip that I wasn’t expecting was how much I learned from them both. Their knowledge and experience sailing, diving, all the marine biology, culture, cooking & cocktails, prior trips, and future trips they are planning to sail was truly impressive. They are great teachers and I appreciate everything I learned from them! In addition to that, they are just great people and fun spending time with. They truly made this trip special, thank you.
There is also plenty more to say that was so amazing about this experience! It was a great opportunity to get to know everyone on the boat better and share new experiences with those close to you! Go with your family or group of friends for a trip you’ll never stop talking about.
I’m looking forward to getting the next one scheduled! Thanks again! #vibez
MIMBAW charter guest review 2023:
Our group of 6 adults spent a fully relaxed week on the Mimbaw. Keenan and Ashley are delightful, knowledgeable hosts who never stopped making our week memorable and definitely worth repeating! Their sailing prowess, their choice of anchorages, their love of the islands and their amazing culinary skills combined to create a perfect atmosphere aboard. While the snorkeling and paddle boarding were great fun, we could hardly wait to see what Ashley (with Keenan’s help) was designing for our next meal. They take extra care to showcase Caribbean flavors and cater to everyone’s tastes. The experience was fabulous. We will definitely do it again
A review from MIMBAW charter guests:
We had no expectations when we started this trip… 6 people, 4 of us knowing each other for more than 50 years, and two “youngster’s,” our son and daughter-in-law, It was an amazing week with wonderful, eclectic meals, great conversation, getting to know about life on the water, and sharing life experiences. Keenan and Ashley are the sweetest…they set the bar for quality charter hosts. It may take a couple of years, but we will do the Mimbaw again!!!
Guests in the SUVI on MIMBAW in mi-April, 2022, wrote:
Our family of four recently had the immense pleasure of spending a week aboard Mimbaw, sailing west from St. Thomas to the Spanish Virgin Islands. From the very first telephone contact with our captain, Keenan, we knew we were in extremely competent hands. From meal preferences/planning to destination determination, he thoughtfully and conscientiously ensured that every moment of the trip would be perfect. We were actually a bit unsure of which islands we wanted to visit, but Keenan was able to get a feel for our collective personalities and charted a course that was absolute perfection. So whether you've fully imagined every facet of an island charter vacation and you need it executed to a tee, or if you'd rather leave every detail up to them, I can assure you that you will most likely have the best week(s) of your life. The Mimbaw crew excell at creating an unforgettable, bespoke experience.
We have actually yet to meet Ashley, who comprises the other half of the esteemed crew, as she was in The States for a planned function, but Keenan was able to procure accredited replacements to fill in the gaps. These were two temporary crew members that were entirely new to the vessel, and it is a credit to the captain that he was able to delegate responsibility and educate them about the particulars of the vessel, while simultaneously maintaining an idyllic atmosphere for us onboard.
There is simply not adequate time to properly expound upon the exemplary quality of the cuisine and drinks. In addition to tending to my sensitive proclivities (keeping me properly caffeinated and blood-sugar balanced), Keenan was busy catching gorgeous fish to be served up à la minute, whipping up acai bowls for our youngest, inventing paradisiacal cocktails, and ensuring that everyone was nourished and happy.
In regard to the daily rhythm on the charter, there was never a shortage of exciting things to do, largely due to the extensive collection of paddleboards, dive gear, games, and recreational floatation devices (including an inflatable dock!). My oldest was quite interested in attempting her first SCUBA dive, and having a seasoned dive master on the boat gave us complete peace of mind. After his meticulous and thoughtful briefing and instruction, she felt completely at ease, and ended up having one of the best experiences of her life.
The onshore activities and excursions were nothing short of amazing, and I particularly fell in love with Isla Culebrita. It is an uninhabited utopia of powdered sugar beaches, interesting flora and fauna, an abandoned lighthouse, and tidepool "baths" straight out of a dreamscape. Keenan's near-encyclopedic knowledge of this tropical enclave, along with planned picnics, hikes, and excursions made for a very special time indeed.
We very much look forward to booking our next trip, and are already looking at dates for 2023. I'm actually hesitant to post this review because I fear that their books will fill up before we can commit to dates.
April 2018 guests on catamaran MIMBAW wrote:
Bastiaan and Leanne,
Thank you so much for a great week on Mimbaw, lots of fun, awesome food and great water activities ( scuba, swimming, sailing and tubing)
Kids loved it, I asked Carl what he liked the most and he said Sailing, Caroline’s answer was the blue water and the food 🤗 they both enjoyed the scuba experience.
We are back on our American schedule with all sorts of things going on! At the moment I am on a field trip to Williamsburg with Caroline and her classmates ( 100 5th graders)
Hope your travel over to Europe went well Leanne, and that you enjoy some days off in Italy. And that you stay busy with Mimbaw and new customers Bastiaan 😎
I will send some pictures that I took with my phone in the next email!
Ship ahoy
Tonje
Late May, 2016 guests on MIMBAW said:
We loved it!
The menu was perfect. More than expected. Healthy, tasty and something for everyone. Even the vegetarian in the family. Christine did a fantastic job also taken into consideration the somewhat limited space available for her. Bastiaan was a great barbecue expert. We loved the food, including the afternoon snack. We were also impressed by all the nice wine and Christines great cocktail and long drinks.
The water was amazing, the islands we visited were exciting, and we loved visiting the different islands with different activities. Fantastic and beautiful. Simply perfect.
The pace was a great fit for us, relaxing but at the same we visited a lot of exciting places. No stress, only enjoying the scenery and places we visited. Sailing distances each day was just perfect, no too long and gave us the opportunity to both enjoy and relax.
We really enjoyed the Scuba dive opportunities and the great experience Bastiaan gave us through teaching and diving together with us. Its great that all equipment already were onboard the boat, made it very convenient and easy to enjoy Scuba diving, snorkeling, water skiing, kayaking, paddleboards and the opportunity to easily access the different islands by the dingy.
The Rinde Family
Guests aboard MIMBAW in mid-April, 2016
Yacht: Mimbaw Date/Port embarked: April 10, 2016 Road Harbour BVI for 7 days
Captain: Bastiaan Kroon and Chef/Mate: Christina Poeschmann
We hope your charter was everything that youexpected. We would love to know some of your impressions about your yachting holiday. It would aid us in future bookings if you could answer the following questions and provide any additional comments you might have.
Generally, how did you enjoy your vacation?
Answer*: It was an amazing experience. No pressure, no worries, just spontaneous fun. Agenda was flexible and everyday was a newadventure. Over all just a great experience.
Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
Answer*: Couldnt ask for a better crew. Bastiaan and Christina made the experienceperfect. Very interactive, fun and apleasure to be around. If you are diving and get a foot cramp Bastiaan gives the most amazing foot massages underwaterThanks Bastiaan!
Was the yacht clean, well ventilated, and in good working condition?
Answer*: No problems, well organized and the crew kept everything tidy. Weather was excellent and cabinswere fresh, clean and well ventilated.
Did the crew do a good job of familiarizing you with the yacht and her workings?
Answer*: Yes, however I skipped out and slept through the training, would not advise it. But once I learned how to flush the toilet it was all good. They are very knowledgeable and extremely helpful in explaining the workings of the Yacht and extremely informative about sailing and let us interact and help out as much or as little as we wanted. Great experience!
Couldyou describe the quality of the cuisine? Did the menu meet your needs and expectations?
Answer*: The food was 5 Star amazing! Every meal exceeded our expectations. Sooo good..
How did you like the area in which you cruised?
Answer*: They have perfected the areas to visit and have many options to change up on the fly to accommodate whatever you are up for during your adventure. Amazing!
How did you like the pace and itinerary of your charter?
Answer*: The pace was perfect. There was never any stress just leisure and fun every day. If you want to do something they accommodate if you want them to decide they pay attention to your likes and decide, zero worries.
Anyadditional comments?
Answer*: If you want a fun and relaxing vacation with amazing views, warm weather and water, great snorkeling & diving and amazing food, adventure and an excellent crew sail with Mimbaw, you wont be disappointed.
Guests aboard MIMBAW in mid May, 2015 said:
Dear Bastiaan and Christina,
A very sincere thank you for a wonderful experience last week. We all had such a relaxing, enjoyable time. Each one of us felt you really paid attention to our preference list and that's challenging with 6 guests!
From the morning coffee delivered to us each morning on the Mimbaw trampoline, to your patient diving instructions, to the special Birthday celebrations, and exceptional dinners, it is so apparent you both genuinely cared about every detail.
We absolutely loved our vacation and we all miss not just the escape from work & responsibility on the beautiful Mimbaw, but the new friendship we made with you both!
We hope your next charter is going well, and we wish you both smooth sailing and beautiful sunsets!
Kind Regards,
Karen & Eddie
Capt. William\'s guests from June, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
In June, 2014 we chartered the sailing vessel, Kibo, a Vision 46 by Bavaria Yachts, for eight (8) days of bliss in the British Virgin Islands. We were privileged to have in our company as Captain of the boat, William Garnier. There were five (5) persons in our troupe and we can say, without reservation, that it was a privilege and an honor to have this amazing gentleman as Captain!
William Garnier is a tall, somewhat lanky, handsome fellow of British descent; very well-mannered and courteous with a most interesting and apropos sense of humour. His personality is easy ... very pleasant, at sea or on land. Whether he was teaching myself the fine points of sailing, instructing my lovely wife on the basics of piloting the vessel, lending his extensive knowledge of the sea itself in selecting an anchorage or navigating a following swell, encouraging our guests to participate in the actual sailing experience or just offering positive reinforcement, not one of us could imagine a better choice for Captain of the boat! No one in our party felt less than the center of William's attention.
In very short order, perhaps by the halfway point of our first evening cruise, William became (and very easily so) one of us. He added a tremendous amount of comfort and confidence to our adventure, and we can all say, without reservation, William made our vacation an outstanding success!' He was happy to expend his endless energy to put each of us at ease in all situations on our journey ... aboard the boat, in the dingy and the transition to and from, use of the swim ladder and platform, docking, and was invaluable for our shore excursions and dinner reservations. William was always available to lend a hand--regardless of the task.
We have the utmost respect for William. He has piloted all manner of sailing vessels, from a tiny skiff to 70-foot-plus catamarans. He is a published author and possesses an extensive knowledge of sailing and the sea with his life experience including a solo Trans-Atlantic adventure. He is intelligent, articulate, and exhibited a great understanding of proper etiquette in all situations that arose. We cannot possibly say enough good things about this young man and it is with utmost delight that we highly recommend William Garnier for any and all nautical opportunities.
Best wishes for fair winds and gentle seas!!
Sincerely,
Cliff and Ruthie Runkle
Michigan, USA
MAY 2014
We travelled on May 3-10, 2014 with our two college age kids on the Catamaran Mimbaw. Capitan Bastiaan and Chef Jenny were the perfect crew for our family vacation..Very professional and knowledgeable.
The boat was fabulous, very clean and organized! It had all the toys needed for fun everyday! Paddle boards, snorkels and masks, fishing and scuba gear. Our kids wanted to learn how to scuba and Bastiaan was a perfect teacher!
The rooms/bathrooms were perfect in size and very clean. Every room had several fans that worked great to pull in the summer breeze off the water. No A/C needed.
We did as much or as little as you wanted too. Naps every afternoon on the trampoline were wonderful.
The food was delicious! Chef Jenny cooked amazing meals and snacks. Beautiful tables were set for every meal. And yummy drinks were served for happy hour every evening to watch the sunset!
We couldnt pick a favorite spot. All the places we stopped were unique and fun! But the kids would say learning how to scuba was a highlight to the trip!
We had a wonderful and unforgettable time with Bastiaan and Jenny and will definitely do again. We would recommend to anyone!
JANUARY 2014
Name: Jay Gartner
Yacht: MIMBAW with Bastiaan Kroon
Charter Dates: January 18 - 25, 2014
Area Cruised: Virgin Islands
Overall Rating: 5
5 being the highest 0 being the lowest
We hope your charter lived up to your expectations. We would love to know some of your impressions about your yachting vacation. Please answer the following questions and add any comments you may have.
1. Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
yes
2. Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
yes
3. Was the yacht well ventilated?
yes
4. Was the food good and well presented?
mostly
5. Did you like the area you sailed?
yes
6. Could we have helped you further in any way?
yes
7. May we post this review on our website?
Yes
8. Additional comments on your charter?
overall, food good and presented nicely. marie, the cook, who is lovely and wonderful, was sea sick for 3-4 days which likely hindered her effectiveness. two meals were overcooked and inedible. captain bastiaan is skilled, energetic, thoroughly knowledgeable with his boat and the bvi, and instills confidence that he can get through any situation. additionally, captain bastiaan wants to please, is extremely personable, naturally entertaining, very bright, worldly, logical, and fun to talk with on a vast array of subjects. i might suggest that virgin island sailing call the client just prior to leaving home on the trip with up to date information as to where and how to meet up with the boat. the bvi is a special place to visit especially sailing. highly recommended! good job!
NOVEMBER 2013
Name: Chuck
Yacht: MIMBAW Mimbaw with Daniel Lewis & Tais
Charter Dates: November 2-9, 2013
Area Cruised: Virgin Islands
We hope your charter lived up to your expectations. We would love to know some of your impressions about your yachting vacation. Please answer the following questions and add any comments you may have.
1. Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
The Best! It was the very best out of the 7 sailing trips we have taken.
2. Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
Better then a 5 Star hotel!
3. Was the yacht well ventilated?
Yes, enjoyed every minute.
4. Was the food good and well presented?
Is excellent good? The food was off the charts.
5. Did you like the area you sailed?
We picked where we wanted to go and away we went. They showed us the islands like never before.
6. Could we have helped you further in any way?
From start to finished your team was excellent. Wonderful service and love it when a plan comes together.
7. May we post this review on our website?
Yes
8. Additional comments on your charter?
Bastiaan and Richard were amazing! We couldn't have been served any better. We caught a Wahoo on the second day and Bastiaan is a Chef for Chefs. What a special treat and who knew how many ways we could eat it. Catamarn Mimbaw can really throw a party! So much fun and excitement. Thanks to Bastiaan and Richard for a job well done. And Ellen thank you for helping us put it all together. Best Vacation Ever, Chuck Landers and the Asheville crew
July 2011
We want to thank you both again for all that you did to make our charter vacation fantastic. Before going, we were told it would be the best vacation we would ever take and looking back we would have to say it really was the best. Your willingness to accommodate all of our preferences and desires was great. You made us all feel comfort, relaxed and at home right away.
Captain B we really appreciate all that you did. You have a fantastic boat that was perfect for the whole family. Anytime we asked about doing something you always had the right equipment and was willing to lead the group, whether it was diving, night diving, or even tubing. We really appreciate your willingness to not only be the captain of the boat but also our dive master and tour guide. You always were searching for interesting things on every dive so that we could see as much as possible, that was a lot of work and we really appreciated it.
You both were so kind and friendly with all of us and seemed to genuinely care that everyone was having a good time. Your wonderful hospitality allowed us all to really feel comfort and relaxed.
It was wonderful getting to know both of you better. You are really nice people.
Hope to sail with you again.
February 2011
Hope you both are well.. We had such a wonderful time with you both last month..I look back longingly at those photos for many reasons. We got to spend time with our children without distractions. We got to meet you, enjoy your company, eat some amazing food and saw some beautiful landcapes-. Thank you for such an incredible trip.
Thanks so much..
S
August 2011
Truly, all of us came home with memories never to be forgotten, and some we will take with us straight to our graves, I'm pretty sure of it!! :) When we got in the Cab that morning the 3 of us girls literally started to cry......I probably have not cried in 10 years so perhaps it was a bit past due, but honestly it broke our hearts to leave! I'm not real good at "good-bye's" so hense the silence when I said mine.........
I hope you had a fabulous time with your friend and his son...and I wish you the best that life has to offer! I do believe however you are well on your way to that! You have a gift Bastiaan, I hope you realize that. Thank you for sharing that with us and for making my "dream vacation" well, just that!
Take care of yourself my friend..........
L
March 6-13-12
Name: Louis
Yacht: MIMBAW with Bastiaan and Carol
Charter Dates: March 6 - 13, 2012
Area Cruised: Virgin Islands
We hope your charter lived up to your expectations. We would love to know some of your impressions about your yachting vacation. Please answer the following questions and add any comments you may have.
1. Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
Yes
2. Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
Yes
3. Was the yacht well ventilated?
Yes
4. Was the food good and well presented?
Yes
5. Did you like the area you sailed?
Yes
6. Could we have helped you further in any way?
No
7. May we post this review on our website?
Yes
8. Additional comments on your charter?
This is the second time we've chartered a boat, first time with Captain Bastian and First Mate Darren. We had a fantastic time- the crew was very accomodating, friendly and fun! We will definitely come again and rebook with Mimbaw and Captain Bastian. Thanks for such a great time!
May 2012
Name of Yacht: Mimbaw Sailing Area: BVI Your Name (optional):
Please rate the folllowing:
Rating 1 low, 10 high Comments
Pre-charter communication ..10 always helpful and responded within 24 hours which is NOT common in writing with others in the islands
Accuracy of yacht description ....10 Great - just like the photos
Cleanliness of the yacht.......10 Very Clean
Comfort of the yacht.....10 Very Comfortable
Food......8 Jennie, the first mate, did a great job of preparing food. She also was really into plating and really catering to our group. I would recommend perhaps more bbq - we had hamburgers one day and Jennie grilled them to perfection. That would be my only comment - more grill!
Drinks.......9 Jennie and Bastiaan both made amazing drinks - bloody marys, pina coladas, frozen mojitos, you name it. It was great.
Crew friendliness and professionalism.....10 They were very proud of their work - Bastiaan with his toys and adventures and surprises and Jennie with her beautiful food and plating. They definitely went above and beyond.
Crew competence......10 They were so competent on the sea. We felt very safe and always like we were in good hands.
Overall experience .......10 Best.Vacation.Ever.
I would recommend this yacht for:
Romantic Getaway Families Party Week Couples Retreat
Honestly, I feel that Bastiaan is very professional and is an amazing host. He will take you out all night long if you wanted or he will set up a romantic private dinner on the beach for you. He will cater to whatever type of vacation you want. It sounded like they do a bit of everything and they are so relaxed and laid back that they can cater.
Were the sailing area and conditions suitable for this yacht?
Perfect - we were first timers and I would stress to Late Sail to encourage people to hit the BVIs over other islands for their first time. I am usually pretty extreme about my travel spots and I like to go to spots less traveled. I did not want to do the BVIs and wanted to something else like Antigua but honestly the BVIs were perfect. There were no long sails which was great because one person ended up having a little sea sickness. Honestly, longer sails at some of the other islands wouldve
been too much for everyone. We stopped at 14 different places and it was great to be able to jump around to a lot of little islands, bars, and snorkel spots.
Was this yacht a good fit for you and your crew?
Bastiaan is AMAZING. His stories and life is so interesting and we really got a long. He seemed like he was born to do sailing and yacht charters. We are an internationally minded group so we just loved Bastiaan and his background. We also loved Jennies Aussie spirit. They were just a PERFECT fit for us.
What did you like best about your charter?
Hands down - the crew. Bastiaan was so funny, warm, and welcoming - such an interesting character with an interesting history. He was so laid back about his boat, his toys, and we really felt like home. Jennie was also fantastic. They were great hosts and had fun friends. Their other friends worked super yachts and took us on some amazing boat tours. Now we want to go yachting - ha!
The food and drink and service was fantastic. Honestly we were a bit nervous since we are all foodies and cocktail fans from New York. We forgot our cocktail set and Bastiaan had everything we needed! It was impressive. Jennie cooked fabulous meals too.
What did you like least about your charter?
Honestly - there was nothing that I liked least - maybe the occasional cloudy weather, the harsh reality of grey New York post charter, etc.
Would you charter this yacht again and/or recommend it to others?
I would definitely charter this yacht again for Bastiaan, Jennie, and all their amazing toys. It was so fun and we have joked about doing my bachelorette party on the boat.
May 2012
Mimbaw May 12...
We loved our vacation, we think it was the best vacation ever.
Captain Bastiaan and Jenny were both awesome! Bastiaan seemed very knowledgeable about the area and sailing in general. They were both extremely friendly and attentive. I have only glowing positive reports on both. Bastiaan was fun, engaging, intuitive, knowledgeable, interesting and full of life. Jenny was courteous, helpful also interesting, a great cook ,knowledgeable and friendly.
The meals were great! Breakfast was served with cereal, yogurt, fruit, then came the eggs, bacon. We were also served pancakes and locks with bagels...Dinner was great every night, they paid attention to our preferences.
Mimbaw was very clean, the cockpit was comfortable and always had enough shade. They made sure of it with a cover over the trampoline.
We enjoyed Bastiaans stories and enthusiasm, Jennys food and cooking mined in with a sweet personality.
We found our time very relaxing.
The diving was a lot of fun, the only thing that could of made it better would be if the medical forms were emailed to us earlier, before we arrived on the boat. Bastiaan did a great job while we were in the water.
We would charter this yacht and crew again anywhere in the world!!!
We had an absolutely splendid time. I do not know when my mother was more relaxed. My girlfriend, Judy, even though she had some sea sickness still had a great time. It truly was a pleasure getting to know Bastiaan and Jenny, two very inspiring people. Again, honestly it was the best vacation of my life, so far!
