The Soggy Dollar Bar
We went on a Norweigan 7-day eastern Carribean cruise right after Thanksgiving. Our ports were Samana, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas USVI; Tortola, BVI; and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. The service was atrocious and we will probably never go on another Norweigan cruise - but that's a story for another time.
When we arrived at Tortola, we booked an excusion to Jost Van Dyke and the Soggy Dollar Bar. For those of you that don't know, the Soggy Dollar Bar is the inventor of my favorite island drink - the PainKiller.
While standing at the bar working on our 4th or 5th PainKiller (you tend to lose count), we met an older man, probably in his late sixties/early seventies. He was from the U.S. but worked in the islands. During the conversation, my wife asked him how he was able to make the move to the islands. We are using some of his advice as the basis for our plan.
He told us that if we really wanted to make the move and still earn income, then he would recommend that we became a captain and first mate. He told us that a good crew is always in demand in the islands and that a captain could make around $80K a year with the right boat.
He then told me to get as much sailing experience as possible and get Coast Guard certified (test is supposedly $600 or so). He also recommended that I get experience as diver if possible - preferrably a dive instructor certification. My wife, he said, could be the First Mate. She would be responsible for cooking and entertaining the passengers - something she loves to do.
So the first thing we are going to do is get a boat. We live very close to a large lake and we will earn our chops first with a small motor boat and then graduate to a medium sailboat.
While we are searching for the right boat for our family I will pursue my PADI Open Water certification and see if I can't get to know some of the guys at the local yacht club and try to work my way on to a crew for some experience. Stay tuned...
When we arrived at Tortola, we booked an excusion to Jost Van Dyke and the Soggy Dollar Bar. For those of you that don't know, the Soggy Dollar Bar is the inventor of my favorite island drink - the PainKiller.
While standing at the bar working on our 4th or 5th PainKiller (you tend to lose count), we met an older man, probably in his late sixties/early seventies. He was from the U.S. but worked in the islands. During the conversation, my wife asked him how he was able to make the move to the islands. We are using some of his advice as the basis for our plan.
He told us that if we really wanted to make the move and still earn income, then he would recommend that we became a captain and first mate. He told us that a good crew is always in demand in the islands and that a captain could make around $80K a year with the right boat.
He then told me to get as much sailing experience as possible and get Coast Guard certified (test is supposedly $600 or so). He also recommended that I get experience as diver if possible - preferrably a dive instructor certification. My wife, he said, could be the First Mate. She would be responsible for cooking and entertaining the passengers - something she loves to do.
So the first thing we are going to do is get a boat. We live very close to a large lake and we will earn our chops first with a small motor boat and then graduate to a medium sailboat.
While we are searching for the right boat for our family I will pursue my PADI Open Water certification and see if I can't get to know some of the guys at the local yacht club and try to work my way on to a crew for some experience. Stay tuned...
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