My Blackbeard's Cruise Report
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WarrenZ
The Ultimate Bad Example
I've done the Blackbeard sea explorer twice now including the week before Christmas your review is spot on especially with the camping aspect. I think that for the most part the closeness of living on the Blackbeard's allows for more interaction with the crew and the other guests.
I have been on Blackbeard's 3 times and will be going again in April. The last couple of times my club has booked most of the boat and it has been great fun. Yes, some of the conditions are rather primitive but the food is good and the camaraderie makes for a great trip.
Hoag
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drrich2
Contributor
Don't recall if it was mentioned yet, but the Belize Aggressor IV is another Bahamas live-aboard option. Along with the Juliet and Lost Island Voyages, I believe. You get more selection with that region than elsewhere in the Caribbean, from what I can tell.
Richard.
Richard.
drrich2
Contributor
Duplicate post deleted; home internet VERY slow and confusing this morning.
drrich2
Contributor
Yes, sorry, Bahamas Aggressor! When the internet service is slow it’s like the Net version of road rage!
I don't want to re-open a can of worms but I just want to comment that a recent discussion about an incident involving a high-priced exotic liveaboard has caused me to re-evaluate my previous assessment of the Blackbeard's cruises.
I have always thought of Blackbeard's as the "camping at sea economy liveaboard" - and that's true, but they may also offer some intrinsic, value-added features that I never considered before.
During the discussion about the other LOB, it came out that they were registered under a "flag of convenience" obtained from a land-locked country with minimal seafaring safety standards and that ships that carry such a flag often avoid ports with strict safety regulations.
I don't know anything about Blackbeard's registration, but their parent organization, All Star Liveaboards, is a US company and they operate in the Bahamas, a British territory - so it doesn't seem like they are trying to avoid ports with high safety standards.
It also came out that some LOBs advertise themselves as sailing vessels but they don't really sail. The sails are just romantic decoration that are only deployed on special occasions for photo shoots and publicity.
I know that it may vary with the weather conditions, but on my Blackbeard's cruise the crew did hoist the sails, set the rigging, and turn off the engine - and it was lovely. I had only been on tiny sailboats a few times in the past and it was a memorable experience to speed along on a big boat under sail and sky. It was so quiet except for the soothing sounds of the wind and sails.
Anyway, I can say with certainty that (weather permitting) you will get to sail on a Blackbeard's boat - and if they should ever develop engine trouble, I am confident that the crew will know how the navigate the boat using the wind. Which apparently is not the case with some other "sailing liveaboards".
So, I still prefer a private cabin with an ensuite head and shower and plenty of fresh water, but a Blackbeard's cruise is a nice, safe option for someone looking for a lot of good diving at a great price!
ETA: Since posting the above I have been informed that the Blackbeard's boats fly the flag of the Turks and Caicos - and they may not have the highest standards - so I may be wrong about my assumptions - again!
I have always thought of Blackbeard's as the "camping at sea economy liveaboard" - and that's true, but they may also offer some intrinsic, value-added features that I never considered before.
During the discussion about the other LOB, it came out that they were registered under a "flag of convenience" obtained from a land-locked country with minimal seafaring safety standards and that ships that carry such a flag often avoid ports with strict safety regulations.
I don't know anything about Blackbeard's registration, but their parent organization, All Star Liveaboards, is a US company and they operate in the Bahamas, a British territory - so it doesn't seem like they are trying to avoid ports with high safety standards.
It also came out that some LOBs advertise themselves as sailing vessels but they don't really sail. The sails are just romantic decoration that are only deployed on special occasions for photo shoots and publicity.
I know that it may vary with the weather conditions, but on my Blackbeard's cruise the crew did hoist the sails, set the rigging, and turn off the engine - and it was lovely. I had only been on tiny sailboats a few times in the past and it was a memorable experience to speed along on a big boat under sail and sky. It was so quiet except for the soothing sounds of the wind and sails.
Anyway, I can say with certainty that (weather permitting) you will get to sail on a Blackbeard's boat - and if they should ever develop engine trouble, I am confident that the crew will know how the navigate the boat using the wind. Which apparently is not the case with some other "sailing liveaboards".
So, I still prefer a private cabin with an ensuite head and shower and plenty of fresh water, but a Blackbeard's cruise is a nice, safe option for someone looking for a lot of good diving at a great price!
ETA: Since posting the above I have been informed that the Blackbeard's boats fly the flag of the Turks and Caicos - and they may not have the highest standards - so I may be wrong about my assumptions - again!
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