I have thought long and hard about this review. This is my second sailing trip with the first being a Columbia to Panama crossing. I am sorry ahead of time, as this will be a long review.. And I have tried to be as detailed as possible, as my experience and impression was not all positive unfortunately..
The Eolie islands are beautiful!! However, I do feel that we missed out on a couple of ports, at least one island and a more positive overall experience with the captain.
Firstly, upon arrival, it was a very awkward conversation about bunk arrangement with myself and two other aol female guests/passengers. It was forgetting that I requested the bottom bunk… but after bringing it to the captain and girlfriends attention, they were willing to honour it, but at that point it was a bit strange leaving one person out. So, knowing I would likely need more air, I choose to share the cabin with a double single bed, but it was expected that we were to share a blanket even though we didn’t know each other. When I asked for a blanket, I was told that there is only one which is too big for my use in the cockpit, as it would touch the floor, but another guest had a blanket she brought and offered it to me. I wonder what happened if I both bunks would have been used???
We then moved on to make galley, but the captain failed to pre-arrange delivery. The other boats at port had their galley delivered, but we couldn’t. So, a taxi was arranged.
Later that night I also discovered that a couple booked the forward cabin and requested (and I was told paid extra) to have exclusive use of the bathroom beside it, which was granted and honored by the captain. We had 7 guests in total, plus the captain and his girlfriend while onboard the limited time she was. That left 5 guests and the captain to share one bathroom. This experience was advertised as a boat with two bathrooms for 8 guests, not one bathroom for 5. And yes, the captain used the bathroom. There were times we were not on land for a full day and night, and I never saw him swim or use the sea…
Then that first night the captain and his girlfriend did not even sleep on the boat with us. I found this very very strange, as we know nothing about any safety protocols.. such as, where the fire extinguisher is.. and only the basic concepts of using the toilet and stove. We didn’t even know where the galley lights or lights for the cockpit were.
Despite my negative first impression, I choose to stay, as I can always get off early at any of the islands, which I did do the second last day while on Volcano to head to Stromboli.
We headed for Panarea, which was beautiful and the captains girlfriend made a fabulous meal. Unfortunately, due to my usual practices, I have a smaller appetite and I couldn’t finish what they dished out for me.
We then proceeded to Filicudi, but the captains girlfriend made failed to request a morning ahead of time on the more popular side of the island (where the other boats were) So we needed up on the quieter side where the captain said that due to not having the water maker, we now have to contribute to the marina fee to dock the boat, as we needed to fill the water tank. The question is, why are we as paying guests paying an additional fee of 150 Eruo to dock to fill for water or because he failed to reserve a spot and the trip was advertised to include a watermaker? Also, according to the gauge, the water tank was full and I’m well aware with a little bit of water rationing, we would have had enough water to last the week…
I am not sure if it’s his personality or that he is tired of doing these trips or a bit of both, but he seemed very disengaged in general. Yes he played a couple songs on the guitar, which were beautiful, yes he took us to see the caves and pools by tender, but he really doesn’t seem to enjoy providing the service. The other boat captain seemed more engaged with us the limited time we saw him than our captain, which makes me think lack of enthusiasm may be as a result of a combination of personality and a lacking eagerness.
Now onto the next issue, he also said we could not go to Alicudi beside the sea condition was not good and there may be a wind that comes… but his friend who are captains of the other boats went… he also said we could not go to Stromboli because of the same reason, but I am not sure if the other boats went. He did know we all wanted to go to Stromboli too. He instead went to Salina and stayed in Rinella, which conveniently his sister live in. He then went to see her, shower and change his clothes. Ok, I get it, if we are there and you want to do that.. fine… but why weren’t we given the choice between Rinella and Santa Marina which is busier? We had no idea what to to or where to go in Rinella..
Now, I checked the weather and sea conditions for the first 4 days we were on board… and all 4 days the sea was favorable for Alicudi and Stromboli with .3 meter waves.. I recognize that I’m not a savy seaman… but I never questioned the last captain I had… so there is something to say when I start looking up the sea conditions because I do not believe him. It seemed it wasn’t what he wanted or wasn’t convenient.. and I don’t believe if he says now that it was to prevent sea sickness.. I was the only one and I had pills to take which would take it away and did.
All in all it’s unfortunate I am not not giving a great review. There are points that he made effort and provided suggestions with tender included… but it seems we were mostly at mercy to his schedule. The only time I heard a question of which we preferred was if we wanted to stay two nights in volcano, which I said yes but the guests all preferred no.
He left the boat for dinner in volcano, with all of us guests on board and no tender. Again, if there was an emergency, we do not know what to do, and we only have a swim option for evacuation. Yes, he was available by phone, but it is still odd… it was nice that he brought ice cream back though.
Now, I left the next morning because I was not going to miss Stromboli … but I was told, and this is hearsay mind you, that the captain again was not on board the last night while in lipari and was not even on the boat during guest disembarkment. Very strange indeed..
WiFi - is through his phone not satellite. And be aware… there is no A/C… but you wouldn’t get A/C unless at port anyway.
Being a solo female traveller I always felt safe. The boat has the basics of what is needed, but the captain is lacking.. it was even suggested by him for me to leave a positive review after I told him I was leaving..
I also note that Nicola has been active with the other negative reviews, with some misquotes and excuses… So, I am very interested to see his pending response..
