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About the crew - beyond sailing.
Crew Stories
July 20, 2018

About the crew – beyond sailing.

About the Crew. Beyond Sailing. July 20, 2018 Follow us on social. Here are some tidbits that go beyond our sailor stories. Kate Giebink Kate is a Minnesota girl and yes that is a long proud ohhhh. She loves singing, dragons and moonlit runs in the woods with the fireflies.…
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Jumping Off-CruiseNautic
Crew Stories
July 21, 2018

Jumping off the daily grind.

Jumping off the daily grind. July 21, 2018 Follow us on social. Dropping it all to buy a catamaran, head to the Caribbean and start a sail charter is not exactly considered the norm. It seems every interaction in sharing our story ends with one big question, โ€œWhat drove you…
Kate Giebink
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Crew Reviews

“CruiseNautic is a Trip of a Lifetime!
If our family could give Kate and Cyrus (your CruiseNautic crew) a 6 out of 5 we would! Our family of 6 spent an incredible week with Kate and Cyrus and their puppy Coco over winter break cruising the BVIs.

Their Boat. It's an absolutely gorgeous brand new 42 foot catamaran with plenty of places to relax, soak up the sun, read a book and enjoy mealtime with the family.

The Food. Amazing! Kate and Cyrus provide 3 creative and delicious meals a day including Cyrus's special baked goods (breads, cookies, pies, muffins and more!).

The Service. Kate and Cyrus are so incredibly accommodating and never stopped asking if we needed or wanted anything. They make the Fours Seasons staff seem almost average.

The Trip. It was all expertly planned out and we felt so at ease with how professional and safe Kate and Cyrus are with the boat. They took us to such great spots where we could use the paddle boards, kayak and snorkel gear right from the boat.

If you've ever considered doing this type of trip, reach out to CruiseNautic, you won't be regret it.”

Brian Uhlig | TripAdvisor ReviewNorthbrook, Illinois

“Absolutely incredible experience my husband and I had with cruise nautic. Kate and Cyrus were amazing hosts!

Their catamaran was spacious and beautiful with plenty of spots to lounge and soak up the sun. (My fav spot was on the top deck in the mornings where I watched the sunrise with their adorable pup cocoa salty paws next to me)

Dining on their boat was an absolute culinary delight, we did not want to eat ashore when we were docked in fear of missing out on one of Cyrus homemade deserts! His key lime pie was phenomenal.

There was no shortage of entertainment either. So many activities to do on the boat whether it was diving, snorkeling, kayaking, or sipping a good cocktail in the evening while watching a movie on their theatre screen. Oh and we had wifi the entire time so I didnโ€™t have to miss out on bragging to my family back home about my awesome trip.

Kate was definitely one of my favourite diving partners. She was very knowledgeable of the dive sites and she has killer underwater videoing skills! Forever grateful to her for the memories she was able to capture of me diving and all of the sea creatures.

Thank you Kate, Cyrus and cocoa salty paws for being incredible hosts.”

Tameyr Mickiewicz | Google, TripAdvisor & Facebook ReviewWest Vancouver, British Columbia

“Best vacation EVER!!
Kate, Cyrus and Cocoa created the best vacation my friends and I have ever experienced! They took our preferences seriously and were prepared with every request we had and many we didnโ€™t know we wanted. The food was amazing, the hospitality was masterful and the locations we sailed to were just so beautiful. We relaxed, we explored, we played and we laughed until we literally cried. Cocoa was an added bonus for us. She is just the sweetest and most polite pup I have met in awhile. She made the trip even more enjoyable and helped those of us missing our pets from home. I recommend this family to be your captains and hosts without any hesitation. We always felt safe and secure, which allowed us to kick back and relax. I canโ€™t thank Kate and Cyrus enough. They are a great team and have created a fantastic vacation experience!!”

Jennifer Stanley| TripAdvisor ReviewNaples, Florida

“Snorkeling, swimming and great food!
If you enjoy boating and water activities you should consider chartering a custom cruise with Kate and Cyrus @ CruiseNautic.com. They designed an itinerary specific to our group's interests and abilities. We relaxed as we sailed to tropical islands, swam snorkeled and kayaked in crystal clear aquamarine waters and visited unique island destinations.
Their catamaran was a beautiful new vessel with comfortable living spaces skillfully sailed by its owners.
Kate and Cyrus were wonderful hosts catering to our every need. Kate was constantly chopping fresh ingredients to make each meal an event. Cyrus wowed us nightly with his desserts.
We highly recommend chartering with CruiseNautic. It will be a vacation you will never forget!”

Lorraine Marquis Pennington | TripAdvisor & Facebook ReviewHarrisville, Rhode Island

“T'was truly the "Vacation of a Lifetime" that we were hoping for! My family had a blast last month sailing with Cyrus, Kate, and Cocoa! The weather was perfect and the destinations around BVI were fantastic and fun. Each time we were served a meal, the kids would take a bite and just sigh and roll their eyes in delight at the scrumptious cuisine Kate and Cyrus prepared. And they were quite the bartenders, too, whipping us up yummy libations whenever the desire hit us. Thanks, Cyrus and Kate, for truly giving us the vacation of a lifetime that we were hoping for!”

Cheryl Gretz | TripAdvisor & Facebook ReviewDurango, Colorado

“We were fortunate enough to find Kate and Cyrus in amazing Bonaire! We are a family living in a catamaran and diving has become part of our lives. We wanted to increase our knowledge and our skills. We took the advanced PADI certification with CruiseNautic and I wish weโ€™d had more time to do every class offered with them! What a great couple and so knowledgeable! We had so much fun. We felt like family rather than clients. We cannot recommend them enough!”

Heidi Hentschel Kruger | Facebook ReviewFlagstaff, Arizona

“Sailing with Kate and Cyrus was an incredibly memorable experience. Every night we enjoyed another bay to snorkel- kayak and enjoy an wonderful sunset, eating wholesome, freshly made delicious dinners.
Everything was fabulous and therefore there are no complaints.
You do want to be comfortable on the water, during our day excursions we had fun but at times we bounced around.
Would I do this again - absolutely- would I recommend to friends- I have many times already. We will defiantly catch up with Kate and Cyrus in a different location.”

Rhonda Kokotailo | TripAdvisor ReviewOakville, Ontario

“We spent 4 days on CruiseNautic with Kate and Cyrus in Grenada and had an amazing family experience. Kate and Cyrus are wonderful hosts in so many ways... they took really good care of us and spoilt us with incredible food and fun activities. Their boat is beautiful and packed with amenities. Their food is delicious and abundant, and I'd highlight Cyrus' baking and Kate's barista skills. This was the perfect context for spending meaningful family time together before my son goes out to college. We will definitely visit them again in the future and hopefully get to see the elusive "Jaguar shark".”

Patricio Campiani | TripAdvisor & Facebook ReviewKey Biscayne, Florida

“So much fun sailing, exploring and relaxing! Had the best week sailing and diving with Cyrus, Kate and Cocoa. The boat was perfect accommodations and they were so hospitable! They knew exactly where to take us. Kate was so knowledgeable and helpful getting set to dive. The views above and below the water were incredible. We canโ€™t wait to go back diving with them again!”

Gordy Peterson | TripAdvisor ReviewCenterville, Minnesota

“If you plan on sailing the British Virgin Islands and you DO NOT sail then CruiseNautic is the absolute best way to go!! Kate, Cyrus and their cutie dog Cocoa are a fabulous trio!!! They provided a fun, relaxing and safe itinerary for the 6 of us. My husband and I along with our 4 kids (17,17,15,14 yrs) had the most magnificent vacation. They were able to tailor the trip to our needs by providing a variety of activities (snorkeling, tubing, SUPing, kayaking, movie night and so much more). Both Kate and Cyrus are captains and chefs...there was never a lack of drinks nor food thatโ€™s for sure!! Wow can they cook!!!! This vacation has surpassed our expectations and we canโ€™t wait to sail with CruiseNautic again!!!! I believe I forgot to mention they have a brand new luxurious catamaran!!! Extremely comfortable accommodations!!! We miss them already!! Definitely doing this again. โค๏ธ”

Melissa Lev Uhlig | Facebook ReviewNorthbrook, Illinois

“Thanks again Kate and Cyrus for an amazing week cruising in the BVI weโ€™ll never forget. Canโ€™t recommend highly enough for families looking for a luxury holiday โ€˜out of the ordinaryโ€™. From jumping off the Willy T to swimming with turtles, every day was an adventure! Hopefully weโ€™ll get to return soon.”

Mike Regan | Facebook ReviewEngland

“A whole new world. Thank you Kate for showing us the wonderful underwater world! As a cruising family, living on the water for a year now, it was time to have a better look at whatโ€™s beneath the surface. And thereโ€™s no better place to learn how to dive than in Bonaire. This is where we met Kate and Cyrus on Cruisenautic, our boat neighbours in the Marina.
We were very happy to hear that Kate was a dive instructor and could offer us private lessons. Even though I was very anxious and a a bit scared to learn how to dive, the lessons went very well thanks to Kateโ€™s professional and calm approach. I went from thinking I would never dive in my life to diving multiple times a week and enjoying it a lot!!
I hope we can meet up again next season when our boys are old enough to learn how to dive.”

Tina Pallen | TripAdvisor ReviewBelgium

“CruiseNautic were so much fun! My husband and I worked with Kate and Cyrus to become PADI advanced scuba divers after casually meeting on their stunning sailing catamaran. They scouted all of the best dive site for us to ensure we had the best experience when learning. Kate was and extremely knowledgeable instructor and very skilled diver. Cyrus always offered great support and ensured everyone had a fun, safe experience. The only negative is that the class finished and we had to say goodbye!! I would definitely recommend CruiseNautic to any diver on any level to meet all their diving needs.”

Candace Crawford | TripAdvisor & Facebook ReviewPortland, Oregon

“Incredible sailing vacation. Absolutely perfect week! Cyrus and Kate were top notch hosts with beautiful accommodations, delicious food/drink and breathtaking scenery. They were so helpful and knowledgeable about our diving experience. We canโ€™t wait to get back on board with them!”

Emily Peterson | TripAdvisor ReviewCenterville, Minnesota

“Vacation of a lifetime! This trip was amazing! Kate and Cyrus Were amazing host! The food they made was amazing, let us play in the water when ever, took us to the most amazing snorkeling spots! They even showed us how to drive their boat!! Most relaxing beautiful and wonderful trip all around. Highly recommend it to anyone that loves the water or just hanging out on a boat. Even their dog Coco was a great host! She loved to swim and paddle board with you, and at the end of the day snuggle up and watch movies with you!”

Jordan B. | TripAdvisor ReviewDurango, Colorado

“Wonderful family experience! Kate and Cyrus are wonderful and amazing hosts. What an out of this world experience for 7 days in the BVI. And Coco (first mate dog) is so fun to paddle board with. They really knew all the cool spots to go to for snorkeling and just hanging out. The worst part of the whole experience was the food that Kate and Cyrus prepare is so frickin good that it's hard to go back to our own cooking. That is no joke. This experience is highly recommended.”

Brian Gretz | TripAdvisor ReviewDurango, Colorado

“I had a great time sailing with Kate and Cyrus I also really enjoyed the steak and the microbrew. Thanks you guys! Looking forward to more fun times like that in the future with you both.”

Bob Guptil | Direct ReviewPrinceton, MN

“Their experience and expertise put my mind at so much ease and I had the most amazing time on their boat, being that I've never been on this kind of boat before. When it comes to hospitality and meals they are an A+ plus plus. The food was was amazing and I feel like I have lifelong friends now. I would definitely recommend them to all of my family and friends.”

Jennell Holm-Green | Direct ReviewElk River, MN

“With the recent events of the day, it has given me time to reflect and to realize that my recent travel was not only amazing but is a key part to helping me through the crazy times as it re-energized my soul, reconnected me to the world, and today, just makes me smile.

This particular travel was an 8-day cruise on a magnificent catamaran originated in the Virgin Islands / St. Thomas with our captains, crew, hosts, and quickly, friends, Cyrus, Kate, and Cocoa, and travel buds, Marshall and Naomi. As the heart and soul of CruiseNautic, Cyrus, Kate, and Cocoa are incredible at making the adventure YOUR adventure.

It started even before getting to the boat as Kate reached out to discuss food, drink, and activity preferences, provided cruise tips, and even gave us step-by-step directions to the marina. On our travel day to St. Thomas, of course, our flight from Chicago was delayed setting up this trip to start off on a rocky start but Cyrus and Kate were pleasant, completely flexible, and stayed connected making sure we made it safely โ€“ all was goodโ€ฆjust that our vacation started about 6 hours later than planned!

Arriving at the marina, I instantly knew the experience was first rate across the board. Cyrus greeted us, safely got us to the incredible vessel, and introduced us to our home for the next 8 days. The welcome drinks from Kate were a nice touch and, of course, every lick from Cocoa washed away my daily grind stress.

The vessel, its accommodations, and amenities were nothing but top-notch. I am not going to highlight all of them but what you see on the website is exactly what you get from beautiful and clean staterooms to extraordinary watersports equipment โ€“ check out their website for details - www.cruisenautic.com. The foodโ€ฆthe drinkโ€ฆamazing, fresh, and easily exceeded our expectations โ€“ we never went to bed hungry and many times went to bed feeling quite good โ€“ great margaritas!

By the way, can I mention that we had the best sleep in years on this trip? Was it the gentle rocking of the boat, the fresh air, the comfy bed, or all of the above? Go on this trip and tell me what you think!

Each day was an adventure decided by us from sailing (Cyrus and Kate know the area like the back of their hand and like the pirates earlier eras, they had a treasure-trove of information about the islands, its culture, its traditions and customs, and its history), experiencing local culture such as visiting St. John and Virgin Islands National Park, sampling local cuisine with a visit to Foxyโ€™s Taboo, daily snorkeling trips exploring caves/reefs and swimming with the beautiful fish and turtles, checking out the beaches, paddleboarding and floating with your friends (and Cocoa), enjoying movie night on the water (Cyrus and Kate have a large screen and projector for movies), and seeing boats and people from all over the world. It sounds like a lot of stuff and that it was exhausting but over 8 days and a crew that knows their stuff it was not โ€“ it was exactly the opposite for meโ€ฆrelaxing, stress-free, and just enjoyable. Donโ€™t worry, we had plenty of time and room to read, nap, chat, laugh, and just think โ€“ of yeah, they had internet.

Remember, you can make the trip your own, Cyrus and Kate are that flexible, professional, and know how to make what you want happen โ€“ just ask.

I am sure some of you are asking, โ€œthe trip could not have been perfect, what was something that fell short?โ€ โ€“ Hmmm, I would have to say that we had a couple days when the weather wasnโ€™t perfect but it was nothing that a word search or book couldnโ€™t take care of.

I would highly recommend CruiseNautic with Cyrus, Kate, and Cocoa as your next vacation โ€“ just donโ€™t book the dates that I want for my next trip!

As I close, you probably noticed I never mentioned the conclusion of my travel journey, well, there is a reason for that because for me it is still continuing for as I sit at home today with a smile on my face, I just received a text from my new friend, Kate, asking how things are going in Chicago. Itโ€™s movie night here.

Support small business! Book a trip with CruiseNautic! Cheers!”

Richard Strong | Facebook ReviewChicago, IL

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