I Cruised in Antigua on the World’s Most Sustainable Luxury Yacht

TradeWinds luxury yacht cruises let you escape to endless fun on the waters in Antigua and elsewhere around the world. We relished the chance to play in the sea every day during our sailing trip on the electric catamaran Ohana. (Photo by John Roberts)

It’s a sunny and hot afternoon, midweek during our vacation in Antigua, and Colleen and I hopped into our dinghy, leaving the back platform and comfort of our TradeWinds sailing yacht Ohana, for another chance to snorkel in the clear waters of this beautiful Caribbean island.

We are joining our fellow travelers, Mary and Marita from Iowa, who have been sharing this adventure with us as we circumnavigate Antigua during the weeklong vacation.

Our captain, Warren, an expert sailor who shares a passion for the outdoors like all of his TradeWinds guests, says we’re going to especially enjoy this snorkeling outing at Bishop Reef. 

Warren knows all the nooks and crannies around the island, having snorkeled and dived here dozens of times of the years, and he wasn’t exaggerating.

Moments after we strapped on our masks and flippers and dropped into the ocean at the rocky promontory, I was greeted by the most majestic octopus that I have seen in the wild. 

We spent about 10 minutes mesmerized by the beautiful creature, enjoying its fluid movements as it swam and crawled around the rocks on the sea floor.

Then, we swam on to see a giant school of blue-colored fish, as well as a sprinkling of other colors and varieties dodging around the coral and rock formations. 

For me, this thrilling 90-minute session in the water was a top highlight of the weeklong adventure, but it was just a sliver of all the fun things we were able to experience during our first trip with TradeWinds.

We were sailing for a week on Ohana, which offers capacity for up to 10 travelers, and with just four of us onboard during our trip, our hosts Captain Warren and Chef Donny spoiled us with food, drink and a variety of daily adventures. 

Here are five great things about cruising with TradeWinds.

1. A True Barefoot Adventure (But Without the Footprints)

Ou yachting home for the week allowed us to fully relax and enjoy the beauty of Antigua, setting the pace any way we liked each day. (Photo by John Roberts)

TradeWinds celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025, and the company long has focused on protection of fragile marine ecosystems across the globe. In 2019, the TradeWinds decided to stop adding new yachts to its fleet until technology allowed for clean-energy propulsion. That choice set the stage for a new era in luxury yachting, one powered by wind, sun and water.

TradeWinds’ fleet of 50 catamaran yachts can reach small harbors, secluded beaches, and less-traveled coastlines around the globe that even so-called “small ships” simply cannot access.

We started and ended our cruise at Jolly Harbour marina, joined by the fleet of TradeWinds yachts used for Antigua trips. (Photo by John Roberts)

Our trip on Ohana was on one of the company’s six electric yachts (the number is growing every year, too). Contrary to some travelers’ beliefs that going green can mean forsaking luxury and comfort, the electric yachts are the most comfortable in the fleet. Running on renewable energy sources including solar panels, hydro-generators, and wind turbines, they offer a low-emission, vibration-free, and quiet sailing experience.

TradeWinds has made a commitment to ensure its entire fleet is fully sustainable by 2036.

Through the TradeWinds Academy, all crew are trained to integrate eco-friendly practices into their daily work. This includes eliminating toxic cleaning products, reducing single-use plastics, sourcing locally and finding small efficiencies that add up.

The company strives to have as little impact as possible in the places it operates. In Antigua, we appreciated how the air conditioning is shut off on the boat during the hours that we are not sleeping. The menu also also consists of organic fruits, vegetables and sustainable fish and other meats served at each meal. (More on the dining experience below.)

The company also uses non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products and offers reef-safe sunscreen to its guests to protect marine ecosystems while we’re swimming and snorkeling.

2. Sailors Delight in Riding the Wind

Captain Warren shows our route around the island early in the week during our voyage. (Photo by John Roberts)

We met the yacht and boarded in Jolly Harbour after arriving on a morning flight into Antigua’s V.C. Bird International Airport (a taxi ride costs $40 for two people from the airport to the marina). 

Embarkation time is 5 p.m., and we set off shortly after. An hour later, we already we’re in the water for our first refreshing dip in our “pool” right off the back of Ohana as we anchored for a sunset dinner at Five Islands, named for the five rocky islets that sit just outside the harbor.

Enjoying the swimming pool under a timely rainbow. (Photo by Colleen McDaniel)

After a delicious welcome dinner of grilled mahi mahi and our choice of wine, cocktails and beers (all included in your fare), we enjoyed a little bit more of the breezy and warm Caribbean night before heading to bed in our cabin, a cozy little space with the queen bed and plenty of drawers and cabinets for storage. 

With the day of travel, satisfying meal, a few drinks and the fresh air, we quickly fell into one of the best nights of sleep we’ve enjoyed in a while. 

You quickly find your rhythm on this type of trip. It’s all about relaxing or playing as much as you want, with plenty of chances for both.

We had two sailing sessions each day as Captain Warren sailed Ohana clockwise around the island, scoping out pristine bays and beaches for us to have a lunch and water sports break before we sailed onto our evening destination where we would overnight while at anchor and then do it all over again the next day.

Chef Donny prepped all our meals onboard and put the grill to use often to create delicious dishes. (Photo by John Roberts)

Some of the most fun times are when we get fully under sail, engines off and riding the winds. You can feel the tilt of the ship and cooling breezes of the Caribbean winds. We had a mix of gentle waves and some pretty big ones depending on the wind speeds and the route. 

So, you’ll definitely feel the motion onboard the yacht, and this might make you feel queasy if you’re prone to seasickness. But you can ward that off with a good anti-motion sickness medication and by finding a good spot to chill out at the back of the boat, enjoy the breeze and views of the horizon to keep yourself comfortable.

Colleen and I enjoy the sailing and motion a lot, and we would spend time playing cards or other games (there is a library of games available onboard), chatting with our fellow cruisers or hanging out in the flybridge to get the captain’s-eye view of the sailing. You can even ask your captain for a chance at the helm for a little bit.

3. A Trip Filled with Water Sports and Other Adventures

The hike up to Fort Barrington was worth it for the incredible views. (Photo by John Roberts)

We also were excited when Warren and Donny would put the trolling lines into the waters off the back of the catamaran, hoping to land a big fish or two. The crew can set up a few poles off the back of the boat to troll the deeper waters as we cruise.

We had a strong bite on the line one day while we were in the open waters, but whatever we had hooked was so big and strong that it snapped the line. Thus, we ended up with no catches during the entire week.

The two sailing sessions each day lasted for two to three hours at a time before we would arrive to another idyllic bay, where we would anchor and enjoy the beach, go on a hike or enjoy swimming, kayaking or paddle boarding. Of course, there always is the chance to go snorkeling, too, which we did once or twice every day.

The shape and look of the coastline and color of the waters looked different in each spot, with the quiet and remote locations in the north and the strongest winds in the east. Yacht cruises like this are the only way you can experience such landscapes and shallow waters amid fragile reef systems.

We tried a little bit of everything spending time in the water every day during the circumnavigation of the island. (Photo by Colleen McDaniel)

TradeWinds yachts carry kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel equipment and other toys so you can fully enjoy the beautiful waters of the Caribbean or wherever you take a trip with the company.

On our first morning, we had a quick snorkel before sailing to Deep Bay, where we went to the beach for a little free time to swim and hike up to an amazing viewing point at the Fort Barrington ruins. 

It was a stunning overlook that gave us a full scope of the beauty of the region. This helped us work up a nice appetite for the lunch. Donny made us delicious chicken skewers on the grill. 

Then, it was a snorkeling outing at the nearby Andes shipwreck before sailing on to Dickenson Bay, where we would be overnight. 

We would get to see all the best spots as we circumnavigated the island, with each bay and reef system more stunning than the last and we found the most remote and serene places tucked away from the crowds.

We also visited Maiden Island, where we did some kayaking and snorkeling, as well as North Sound, where Warren took us on a dinghy ride to Hell’s Gate, an arch structure and tiny beach only accessible by boat as it sits amid turbulent waters where the open ocean meets the sound. This area also is home to large colonies of nesting frigates and laughing gulls, as well las plenty of pelicans. 

It was an amazing place to hang out, and we jumped in to snorkel here during our morning after overnighting in this sanctuary.

From there, we sailed to Green Island in Ricketts Harbor. This is where we were joined by dozens of sea turtles, which were unbothered when we hopped in to snorkel alongside them. We saw turtles almost every day, and they were such a calming and special presence as they swam around Ohana while we were anchored in the bays, but this was the closest we would get to them in the water.

Later, at Ricketts Harbour, we went to the beach for a “Board Meeting” cocktail hour. We waded in the shallow water and cozied up to the floating bar (a paddle board) and sipped on our cocktails and snacked on the tasty caramelized onion tarts and feta that Donny prepared for us.

It’s a “board meeting” in Antigua. We had a fun time with all our new friends on our trip. (Photo by John Roberts)

Our next day, we snorkeled twice, first in the morning before sailing to Falmouth Harbour, where we had access to the amazing Bishop Reef and our octopus friend.

Nelson’s Dockyard is a fascinating cultural heritage site in English Harbour. (Photo by John Roberts)

Falmouth Harbour is a more populated area, and we were able to get off the boat for a nice romantic dinner on our own in town. We went to a nice Mexican restaurant and also visited a couple bars ashore to watch World Cup matches before getting back on board Ohana.

We finished our week with a visit to English Harbour, which is where the the British Royal Navy established its base of operations in the 18th century and now is a national park offering access to the historic Nelson’s Dockyard, the world’s only continuously operating Georgian naval base and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

We made the hike to Fort Berkley despite the heat while visiting English Harbour (Photo by John Roberts)

We went ashore and wandered around the dockyard and taking a hike along the Middle Ground Trail (access is from Nelson’s Dockyard on the shore) to the tip of the narrow peninsula where the ruins of Fort Berkley are located. It was an extremely hot day, so we popped into a pub afterwards to enjoy a cold beer.

After lunch, we snorkeled at the Pillars of Hercules reef area just outside the bay and saw some more colorful tropical fish.

We had one more full day of sailing before pulling back into Jolly Harbour for our last night. We were on the dock in the marina so we could hop on and off the yacht at our leisure, and we went for a walk before our group dinner at an Italian restaurant Porto. 

We capped the night we a stroll over to a food stall complex to have a couple beers and mingle with new friends while enjoying the warm Caribbean evening and watching another World Cup match. 

4. Life Onboard a Luxury Catamaran

Our weather conditions were awesome all week. (Photo by Colleen McDaniel)

Most TradeWinds yachts carry up 10 cruisers who sleep in five cabins that feature queen beds and en-suite baths. The flybridge area up top (where the captain navigates and operates the sails) and aft lounge area feature plenty of space to hang, while the aft swim platforms are wonderful spots to dip your toes in the sea or leap off for a bit of swim time.

Colleen and I got up early to do some stretching and yoga at the front of the boat, which has teak decking all around and two net areas (hammocks) to spread out on while enjoying the day sailing or just to soak up the sun anytime. 

Captain Warren plots the course for fun in Antigua. We enjoyed our time in a series of idyllic bays throughout the journey. (Photo by John Roberts)

We also had a fun group plunge jumping off the very front of Ohana, which also features a sunken couch area up there which is a great place to relax anytime. 

Just inside, you have the galley, where Donny cooked all our fab meals, and a small living room. This is a nice spot to get some shade if you need relief from the hot sun. There also is a library of books and games available here.

We had music playing all week long, and you’re welcome to hook up your device to the system via Bluetooth to play your favorites tunes (perhaps some yacht rock classics?).

We were comfy in our well-appointed cabin on Ohana. (Photo by John Roberts)

At the back of the catamaran is where we usually hung out, to go swimming and snorkeling off the back decks, eat our meals at the large table, sit on the nearby couches to relax while sailing, play card games, drink some beers and watch the fishing lines.

You also use the staircase here to walk up to the flybridge area, which has comfy daybeds, where you can enjoy afternoon naps after your hearty lunches.

The cabins are small but efficient. I’m 6-4, so I really have to be careful maneuvering in the space, especially in the tight quarters of the bathroom and shower.

This trip is a delight for foodies, too. To fuel the adventures, we were treated to some of the tastiest gourmet food (huge helpings, too). Donny is a highly trained chef, and he created some magical and memorable meals from his little galley on Ohana.

Check out the presentation of the dishes in the photo gallery below!

At one meal, we enjoyed pork loin with roasted broccoli and garlic mashed sweet potatoes, bananas flambe with Buffalo Trace and vanilla and chocolate sauce. It went on like this for almost every lunch and dinner, with an array of fresh fish dishes decorating our plates and tempting our palates.

Grilled tuna salad, salmon bruschetta, shrimp tacos for Taco Tuesday, Caribbean red snapper, paprika chicken and mushroom risotto, Peruvian chicken salad and the traditional South Africa dish called bobotie (spiced minced meat with a savory egg base).

You can pack light for these trips, though, maybe even less than you would think. You will rarely need any shoes or even sandals. And a couple bathing suits to rotate each day and light breezy shorts, dresses and tops will cover the rest and they can be worn a few times mixing and matching for different looks. 

Toiletries and sunscreen is supplied along with snorkel gear and towels.

We found it’s a perfect laid-back environment that is fun for friends and family to get together and enjoy wonderful meals and fun experiences throughout a week in an idyllic location.

5. Destinations All Over the Globe

Captain Warren was a fantastic host during our trip in Antigua. (Photo by John Roberts)

TradeWinds offers luxury yacht cruises and land-based vacations at its resorts all over the world.

On the boats, you enjoy a fully crewed, all-inclusive luxury catamaran experience. The company started in 1998 and has grown to operate a fleet of nearly 50 yachts — ranging from 50 to 77 feet — that sail in the Caribbean, Greece, France, Fiji, the Seychelles, Tonga and French Polynesia and more.

The company also offers a number of land-based vacations, too. 

Check out the company website to learn more about how to travel with TradeWinds.