South For The Summer

Chartering off-season in the Caribbean means taking a few risks but offers many rewards.

- Zuzana Prochazka

Contrary to perceived wisdom, the Caribbean can be a delightful place to charter in the summer. It’s true that yearnings for sun-kissed isles and turquoise waters tend to be strongest in the winter, but a mid-year Eastern Caribbean cruise has many benefits and may just become your best-ever charter.

Hurricane season is technically from June 1 to November 30, and the mere thought of a tropical storm has many crossing the Caribbean off their list during that time. But risk and reward come in inverse proportions, and those risks that can be mitigated are worth taking because the rewards are big and plentiful.

FIVE REASONS WHY SUMMER CAN BE BETTER 

Peace and quiet: The difference between high and low season, especially in the popular British Virgin Islands, is night and day. Open anchorages, available moorings and bars with free tables will be your reward in the summer. In fact, you may only encounter 20 percent of the usual traffic. Getting away from it all takes on a whole new meaning when the best snorkel spots are nearly private and the only footprints on a sandy beach are your own.