We fished every day and caught whaoos and barracudas. Andreas the deck hand and chef made great use of the fish we caught whether for afternoon sashimi snacks or incorporating it into our nightly feasts.  He helped us novice fisherman improve our fishing skills and experience the thrill of reeling in our fish, some of us for the first time. Captain Shawn mapped out locations every night for our fishing success the following day. We toured around Long Island, Cat Island, and Hawks Nest. Logan, the Stew looked after all of our inside needs from cooking, drink service, laundry and housekeeping. We were never without freshly made cocktails or wine in our hands. The crew was there to help us but not in an intrusive way and we felt we had ample time together without them ( 3 couples).

When we weren’t fishing there were plenty of things to do both onboard and off board. The yacht comes equipped with a tender, jetski for 3, and 2 hydro-foils. If the rain sets in the boat comes with a wealth of games for families, adults and couples. The rain in Bahamas is always fleeting and the weather forecast changes quickly. For the most part you can expect sunny skies and water colours that photos will never do justice. The ocean water was warm, and we took advantage of snorkelling and diving.

The state rooms were amazing – 3 master suites each with their own king or queen bed, and ensuites. The beds were cozy all with new linens and towels. We slept better than in our own bed! For those that worry about needing some personal space, the rooms easily allow you to sneak away for an afternoon nap or read a book. The upper deck is also a great spot for some quiet and great sun worshipping especially in the mornings. Also, for those that can’t live without your Wi-Fi or sports games, the Wi-Fi and TVs provided everything you needed.

We ventured out for dinner to the Grand Isle Resort in the Palapa restaurant where locals greeted us and served a wide range of food (Sandals on the island also sells day/evening passes). You can easily walk to both from the marina. We ventured into Hawks Nest for pre-dinner cocktails one night – a quick ½ mile from shore. A quaint spot with friendly locals and bar.

Jennie helped us with our pre-trip arrangements and was a pleasure to deal with. She gave us great ideas and tips from packing to island hopping to transportation to and from the Bahamas.

We cannot express our gratitude enough to the crew and owners of the Elva. It really was an amazing experience which everyone should enjoy.  We highly recommend Elva Chartes and are looking forward to booking our next one on their fishing yacht Wild In Sac in Los Cabos next year!