crewed@visailing.com | (800)382-9666 | (941)966-9387
PERMABEAR Guest Comments
January 2025
Our experience on the Permabear the moment we stepped foot on board was first class. Erin instantly welcomed us with the most delicious welcome drink and Captain Ed got us off the dock and and heading towards our first destination... Maho Bay. As soon as we got to the Bay and anchored, Captain Ed "opened the pool" with all the toys and paddle boards. We saw turtles, fish and Berry the Barracuda. Each day got progressively better and the attention to detail from both Captain Ed and Erin did not go unnoticed. Erin cooked us the most amazing food and four course dinners had us coming home with a few extra pounds. haha.
We had so many options.... we could just sit upstairs, relax and take in the scenery or we could snorkel, paddle board, go wake boarding, and even fish!
Thank you so much Captain Ed and Erin for giving us and our family the trip of a lifetime that we will always and forever remember.
It's not goodbye.... but till we see you again!
Best,
John & Sandra
April 2025
Our trip was great! From the moment boarded the boat and met Captain Ed, First Mate Erin, the cute little boat pup Gus we knew it was going to be a fun trip.
The boat is beautiful! Very well stocked, comfortable and had everything we needed to relax and have fun adventures.
Ed and Erin shared stories of their travels in so many exciting places. We had a few mechanical issues with the boat which Ed fixed immediately, while we were underway. He’s a very capable captain in so many ways. Erin was a fantastic chef! All her meals were so delicious and served beautifully! Honestly the best food I’ve ever had on vacation. Erin even gave us a few cooking lessons. We all learned how to make sourdough bread and she even sent us home with Sourdough starter, and her entire cook book on line. We were surprised to find out that Erin is also a licensed captain as well.
Ed surprised our guys with a little fishing along the way. The fishing excitement made our guys trip! They caught a couple tuna which Erin immediately turned into ceviche for a delicious snack. They are quite a team together.
We did have to deal with high wind warnings our entire trip but that didn’t stop our fun. The islands were so beautiful. We stopped at all the cute and famous beach bars, visited The Baths in Virgin Gorda (a must-see) and beautiful snorkeling spots. Erin guided us planned a perfect charter route for what we wanted to see and do.
We had a fun dance party on board one night where everyone showed off their dancing and singing skills with Erin as our DJ! The guys even helped crew the boat and learned a little more about sailing.
All in all it was the best trip!! We would all love to do it again and would definitely recommend Captain Ed and Erin (and cute little Gus! It was so fun to return to the boat from an excursion to find Gus happily greeting us)!
Vicky
March 2025
Our family vacation on the Permabear couldn't have been any better. When we were searching for the perfect boat and crew for our trip, we looked at a lot of different options. Choosing the perfect crew was much more important than choosing a boat and we chose the best crew ever!!!!
Ed and Erin were so attentive to our every need. We had a 3 yr old and 6 yr old along with 8 adults. I was a bit nervous since neither kid was swim safe. But there were basic safety rules for the little ones which were easy to follow and life vests for each one for on the boat and in the water. The kids got to "drive" the boat and dinghy, help make banana bread, play with the variety of kid toys on board, play on the floaties and in the pool, catch and kiss a fish, and adored the dog, Gus.
All of the drinks and food items that we requested prior to the trip were on board and Ed even picked up some extras mid trip. The food was amazing -- from grilled filet mignon to homemade English muffins for our eggs benedict to homemade pasta, we were constantly amazed.
Ed and Erin know all the great places to go and tailored the trip to our family after getting to know us. Instead of a fancy dinner on Sabo Rock, Erin got reservations for the Pirate Show on a beach which was perfect for our group. Knowing to make reservations for a "lily pad" for the Pizza Pi boat was something we didn't even think to do but was one of our favorite memories. They made sure the young adults were able to go to the dive bar for St Patrick's Day fun, took us to beach clubs, shopping at Bitter's End yacht club, happy hour at a rum bar, made dive reservations, and dropped us at Sandy Spit Island, the bubbly pool, and of course Soggy Dollar.
Permabear is stocked with everything needed for a great vacation. Snorkel gear in all sizes, pool toys, SUP, floaties, wakeboards, beach towels, dry bags, games, and sunscreen . Although there were 10 of us on board, there were plenty of different spots to relax.
Knowing Erin was a former nurse gave me confidence that if we needed some medical aide we would have a qualified person on board. She knew the perfect solution to put on the jellyfish sting that our 6 yr old got while snorkeling.
The slide show of all our (and their) photos that they projected on the TV on the last day was a perfect way to end our trip. It was everything we dreamed it would be and Ed and Erin were a big part of making that happen.
If anyone is considering a trip to the BVI, they can't go wrong by choosing the Permabear with Ed, Erin, and Gus.
Carol
May 2025
We just returned from a week on the Permabear and wanted to let you know how great of a trip it was. Our family of 7 had an absolute blast and cannot wait to get another one on the books. We have been on the Heavenly and the Permabear and thoroughly enjoyed both of them. Erin might just be the best cook we've ever eaten from!
Thank you,
Brian Edwards
December 2025
We had an incredible experience with the Permabear crew and can’t say enough good things about our trip. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. The food was amazing—thoughtfully prepared and absolutely delicious—and the sailing itself was such a highlight. Every day felt like a true adventure.
We especially appreciated the flexibility of the crew and their willingness to adjust plans when needed, which made the experience feel relaxed and personal rather than rigid. And having a dog on board was such a fun and unexpected bonus—we loved it!
Between the beautiful sailing, great food, sense of adventure, and the overall atmosphere the crew created, this was a trip we’ll remember for a long time. We would absolutely recommending sailing with Permabear again and highly recommend them to anyone looking for an unforgettable experience.
~ Amanda
crewed@visailing.com | (800)382-9666 | (941)966-9387
