Useful Informations

Transportation to the boat

We will help you plan your trip and ensure transportation to the location of departure (boarding the boat).

Here is example of a route from Central Europe:

1. You will fly from Prague, Wien, and Munich to Paris to the airport of Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

2. You will transfer in Paris, by shuttle bus, and then you will come directly from Charles de Gaulle to the Paris Airport, Orly (ORY, bus is mostly included in the price of air ticket). The transfer takes about 1 hour. Information about buses, its standpoints and timetables are at http://www.airfrance.com/CZ/en/common/guidevoyageur/aeroport/car_airfrance.htm

3. From the Paris Orly Airport, you will fly to the Fort de France airport in Lamentin, Martinique (FDF), which is not far from the capital city of Fort de France (do not get confused with Port au Prince in Haiti please - you are in the European Union in Martinique and cholera fortunately has not hit this region). Your flight will take about 8.5 hours; time difference is 5 hours.

4. By microbus or a personal taxi, you will transfer from the Lamentin airport to a port in Le Marin (37km, 30 minutes)
An approximate price of return air ticket from Prague, Wien, or Munich is about 18,000.00 - 27,000.00 (CZK), it mainly depends on time of year you book your flights - the prices just prior to departure can go up steeply to 35,000.00 (CZK). In general, the most expensive air tickets are from Prague, which are around 27,000.00 (CZK), in high season when purchased on time, the least expensive tickets are from Wien for 18,000.00 - 21,000.00 (CZK).

You can find inexpenseive air tickets at http://www.govolo.com, http://www.cheapfly.com, http://www.cheapflug.de.

If you want high-level services and comfort, book flights with an option to change a term of departure or return, then you had better book flights with Air France, at a slightly higher price. http://www.airfrance.com.

Some airlines offer air tickets from Prague at about 50,000.00 (CZK). Do not get discouraged by this. If you want to travel from Prague, use Air France, foreign airlines above or use our help.

We consider flight cancellation insurance a must!

In the event of an unresolvable breakdown of the boat before departing on your trip, we will offer you the open to hire another boat, accommodation on a land, or a compensatory term. If you do not agree to any of these options, we will refund your money, but we will not refund your flights. We highly recommend travel insurance to cover your flights.

Insurance

The boat is insured for damage liability and accident insurance. The boat insurance does not cover medical expenses abroad or any medical issues that may arise from diving. The insurance covers damages to boat up to 4,000.00 EUR.

We strongly recommend purchasing medical insurance for travelling abroad prior to departure it should also cover treatment and injury that may arise when staying on a holiday sailing vessel. Martinique is a part of the European Union and the Union agreement on medical expense reimbursement is applied there. You will be treated in the same way as citizens from France. The sailing volyage will travel in and around islands do have such an agreement. The scuba divers should purchase a special DAN insurance.

It is also possible to purchase insurance for trip cancellation insurance, damage caused by negligence, or to insure your personal belongings, etc.

Each participant travels at his/her own risk and insurance is his/her responsibility.

What to bring

You do not need special equipment or clothing for your voyage on the catamaran. You will just need regular summer attire or equipment for any activity that you are going to take part in. We recommend packing your belonging in a carry bag without a solid bottom that is easier for stowage, ultimately providing you with more space in your cabins.

Shoes

On deck you will walk barefoot, so you do not need yacht-shoes. Bring along light summer shoes for walking on a land, or outdoors shoes for more challenging trips.

Clothing

T-shirts and shorts, summer dresses or trousers for land excursions. Often restaurants do not apply strict dress codes as a formality in the Caribbean, but in rare cases (in some restaurants, clubs, churches) trousers are considered necessary. Light waterproof jacket can be handy in higher altitudes and in rainforests, and on the boat during an occasional rain shower.

Accessories

Do not forget to bring sunglasses, hats, and sun lotion with a higher factor, swimsuits, flippers, and of course a sufficient amount of medicines you routinely use; cameras with a sufficient capacity of memory cards, mobiles. It is possible to charge everything on the boat with a voltage of 220 V. Internet connection is also available (Wi-Fi).

Diver´s gear

Divers are expected to bring their own gear. We will ensure weights, bottles. Complete gear is possible to hire entirely at local diving centers.

Seasickness on a yacht

Some sailors claim that they have never suffered from seasickness. Troubles with seasickness have even happened to Horation Nelson, an admiral; Charles Darwin, a scientist, or Julius Caesar, a roman emperor, and many other significant voyagers. Seasickness is caused by the rolling motion of the boat that disturbs the functioning of equilibrium apparatus in the inner ear. After about 3 days at sea, this adjusts by itself, the equilibrium apparatus levels and problems disappear. If you interrupt a voyage for several days, seasickness might occur again after departure. Luckily there have been several remedies invented over the last decades that can help to prevent seasickness.

The use of any preventative application after seasickness has already taken effect has been proven ineffective and useless. If you know that you suffer from seasickness or you have never been on a yacht at sea, use a preventative remedy several hours prior to sailing. It is better to do it beforehand, rather than regret that you cannot enjoy the voyage later. As soon as you start feeling like you are ill, it is too late for sure.

There are several preventative remedies and procedures available. For starters, it will be a bit of a system of trial and error, but some of them will definitely work for you.

Diet

A day prior to sailing, eat rather light meals–nothing spicy, sour, or fattening. Do not eat and drink alcohol to excess. Ginger is said to be very effective as a seasickness remedy.

A plaster with scopolamin

This is currently the most popular remedy in the world. The plaster is only available by prescription while abroad. Unfortunately this medical product is not registered in our country. The plaster is applied behind the ear about 4 hours prior to sailing and will be changed after 72 hours, if there is still a need to use it. The Scopolamin plaster is absorbed by the skin and may have may cause dryness in the mouth and cause sight blurriness as a side effect.

Pills and chewing gums

Among available medicines in our country, the most recommended pills are Kinedryl, Medrin (Rp.), Cinnarizin, or Cinarizin (Rp.), Cinnabene (Rp.) or Stugeron (Rp.). Cinnarizin is reputedly a secret weapon used by sea wolves against seasickness. You can also try out Travel-Gum (chewing gum). It is always necessary to bear in mind that the medicine will take effect within approximately an hour and therefore it is important to take it in an appropriate amount of advanced time. Should giddiness and vomiting already appear; Diazepam could be of help?

Every medicine has its limitation and adverse effects, for that reason always read the instructions thoroughly or better yet, consult with your physician, you fortunately cannot avoid medicines on prescription (we mark them as Rp.).

Acupressure bracelets

Give them a try–there are known cases where they have helped. You are instructed to wear one bracelet on each wrist, and keep it on during the duration of your voyage. Other options are a combination of a magnet or electronic device.

Homoeopathy

There are homoeopathic remedies available on the market, with very promising titles such as: Trip Ease, Sea Sick Oral Spray, or On The Move; remedies such as Cocculus, Tabacum, and Petroleum. If you are a supporter of these branches of alternative medicine, ask your homoeopathist or pharmacist for any available remedies. Homoeopathic remedies have been reported to help lots of people with seasickness.

Preventative and relieving procedures to be used while on the boat:

1. Stay at the stern of the boat (on our boat, this will be the common area or salon), and keep watching a stable object beyond on the horizon


2. Listen the music or have a chat so as to change your focus from seasick feelings.

3. Eat salty biscuits in small portions


4. If you can, lie down and close your eyes
. 

5. Get into water whenever possible 


6. A natural application against vomiting and discomfort is ginger. Drink ginger ale, tea, coke, or other beverages. You can even eat fresh ginger or sweets with ginger added. 


7. Drink a cup of strong coffee 
8. Olives, lemon, carbonated beverages.

What NOT to do:

1. Read or watch TV 


2. Drink lots of water or other beverages. Drink little doses in regular intervals


3. Look out beyond the stern. It does not apply in the case that land is seen beyond the stern.