XANDROS

Ariq Past Reviews 2025-26

This was our first experience with Chef Ariq so we were a bit concerned because he had some mighty shoes to fill from Chef Julia last year.
Well he did not disappoint! Every meal was outstanding! My scale once home agreed! Loved his entree selections and his unique finishing touches. Joe & Ariq, we so much appreciated your friendliness, humor and commitment to ensure we made incredible memories with our family. Until next time…
-Charter Guest, May 2026
 
I have to honestly say that I have never been treated better on any vacation in my life. From the moment that we stepped aboard the
Painted Pelican, we were instantly transported to another world. Captain Joe and Chef Ariq are the dynamic duo! Our needs were met as if by magic! The attention to detail was phenomenal. At one point, Captain Joe was even able to find Nyquil! The gourmet meals that were prepared were a culinary and visual delight-from freshly caught lobster to handcrafted dessert. I cannot say enough good things about this magical trip! If you find yourself down in BVI, be sure to request this team!
-Charter Guest, February 2026

…Ariq, our chef, absolutely blew us away. The food was consistently excellent—fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. Every meal felt special, and the variety throughout the week was impressive. It truly felt like having a private chef onboard rather than “boat food.” He was also great to be around and always happy to accommodate requests….
•⁠  ⁠Charter Guest, December 2025

Jume 2026 BVI Charter

What an incredible wee we spent aboard Xandros! From the moment we stepped aboard until the last goodbye, every detail was handled with such care and professionalism and genuine warmth. Every meal was perfection (thank you Chef Ryan), every drink delectable (thank you Ellen), every adventure thoughtfully planned (thank you Captain Tyler) and every moment spent together was a gift for our family. You all somehow managed to make us feel completely pampered and completely home at the same time.
A charter is only as special as the people who make it happen, and each of you was and absolute 10! Your kindness hard work, attention to detail, constant smiles, care for our children made this trip far more than a vacation. It became a collection of memories our family will cherish forever. Thank you for sharing your talents and a little piece of paradise with us.

With Love and Gratitude, 
The de Mena Family

May 2026 BVI Charter

Dear Tyler, Ryan. and Ellen, 
Thank you for the best week ever!! Y'all gave us such a great vacation, and we are so grateful for everything. 
Ellen- you made the best drinks and always made sure we were taken care of. Thank you for being so kind, friendly, and fun to be around!
Ryan- your food is the best thing we have ever had, and we were constantly amazed with the everything you made us! Thank you for always playing with Nolan, making sourdough with me, satisfying our cravings, and telling us your cool stories.
Tyler- Thank you for being such a great captain and making all of our excursions possible.

I mean I have never experienced anything like this. 
Ellen is genuinely the kindest person I've ever met with the best cocktail making abilities. Thanks for the hundreds of glasses of champagne. 
Ryan is not only an extraordinary chef, but he is so happy and it spreads to everyone around him. I loved his early morning fam sessions in the kitchen and the pure excitement on his face when he introduced his meals to us (which were always delicious). 
Our family could not have asked for a better crew. We love XANDROS!

April 2026 BVI Charter

Dear Tyler, Rachel and Cole, 
Thank you for the most MAGICAL trip! We had a fabulous time. Everything was absolutely perfect in this slice of paradise. The food was incredible and the service was stellar. Thank you for making our first charter special. We hope it is the first of many and that we will be with you on the open seas again!
-The Daniel Family

March 2026 BVI Charter

Thank you for providing a place for our family to bond and spend time together! The boat was beautiful and spacious, the crew was thoughtful and attentive, and of course the BVI was magical! We couldn't ask for a better experience. 
Favorites: meals with Cole, drinks (lime in da coconut!) with Rachel, seabob, private island time and games at night. Thank you all so much!
-The Chappell Family

March 2026 BVI Charter

Tyler, Rachel, and Cole,
What an amazing trip with the best crew! We will never forget this adventure!
-Sarah and Kent

Awesome time with perfect crew! Thank you all so much! 
-Tony and Missy

Amazing food and crew! Thanks so much!
-Susie and Reid

January 2026 BVI Charter

Dear Tyler, Rachel, and Cole
Thank you so much for a magical week in the BVI! We could not have asked for more. Everything about our trip was amazing. The food was superb and Rachel kept us well hydrated with her delicious drinks! Tyler was and amazing dive mast and activity organizer! Our week here aboard Xandros really helped us to relax and recharge from our hectic lives. This trip was truly special and we thank you for making it that way. 
Best regards, 
Jackie, Ken, Gillian, Jeremy, Dan, and Deb

NYE 2025 BVI Charter

Tyler, Rachel, Cole,
Thank you for such an unforgettable week! The six of us had so much fun diving with Captain Tyler (who we thank for his patience), and enjoying Rachel's Painkillers and Cole's delicious cooking. Thank you again and happy new year!
Best, 
The Mumford Family

Christmas 2025 BVI Charter

We had had an absolute blast on Xandros! Everything was amazing! The weather, the boat, the food, and especially our awesome crew, Tyler, Rachel, and Cole. This was my first time on a boat like this and it did not disappoint. I would rank this as #1 for family trips! 
The Best!
We hope to do this again someday. 
-The Cross Family

November 2025 BVI Charter

Captain Tyler, Stew Rachel, and Chef Cole deliver a level of service that exceeds every expectation. They consistently anticipate our needs—before we even voice them—making the entire experience feel seamless and personalized.
Captain Tyler is an exemplary leader: calm, confident, and clearly highly qualified. His steady presence sets the tone for a stress free trip. Rachel ensures that everyone feels cared for at all times. Her professionalism, kindness, and instinct for guest comfort are top notch. And Chef Cole is, without question, the most talented chef we have encountered in our travels. Every meal is remarkable, both in flavor and presentation. (The lobster donuts are especially noteworthy!)

Their collective warmth, skill, and commitment to excellence made this charter truly exceptional. We would happily book with this crew again and will be recommending them enthusiastically.

Thank you for assembling such an outstanding team. They represent Xandros with distinction.

-The Marin Family

Past Reviews for Tyler, Cole, and Rachel

Tyler Armstrong – Captain

"Captain Ty was amazing! So knowledgeable about the area and made us feel completely safe. He even fixed our drone when it crashed on the beach! A great mix of professional and fun — couldn’t recommend him more!" - Charter guest, S/V Pelican

“Due to flight delays, we arrived after 9 pm to a beautifully set vessel. Ty and Claire work seamlessly together, are very professional yet personable and approachable. Both were very observant to our individual preferences, crafting the perfect meals and itinerary while still being
flexible. Everything was kept clean and well maintained. Every detail of the week far exceeded our expectations. Ty and Claire felt like family. As our family of adults depart, we already look forward to a return. We have made spectacular family memories.” 
- Cindy, S/V Krazy Kat

Cole Lackey – Chef

"We were blown away by every meal. Cole has a real gift for making fine dining feel casual and relaxed. My husband is a chef and even he was impressed! The transatlantic menu alone should win awards." - Guest, Entre 4 (Atlantic Crossing 2024)

Rachel McArdle – Stewardess

"Rachel is sunshine. Every morning she had coffee waiting, a fresh table set, and a smile that just made the day better. Thank you again for organizing the beach bonfire, we appreciate you going above and beyond to make this anniversary unforgettable." - The Cooks, Mare Blu 2025

“We had such a special time on this unforgettable voyage. Thank you for your kindness, humor, and helping create such a relaxing trip! We will
cherish these days forever. We can’t thank you enough for all your hard work and amazing attention to detail. Thank you for putting up with our crazy kids. You made it so special for them.” - The Grossman Family, Mare Blu 2024

June 2025 BVI Charter

Cam, Jada & Sam,

What an amazing 7 days with you on Xandros! Words can't express how much we appreciate the 5-star level of service... and the FOOD! Every meal was like Christmas morning. Thanks for spoiling us and giving us a very special week. We can't wait to see what life has in store for you three. You are truly special!

Tim & Kerri Murphy

Dear Cam, Jada & Sam,

Words can't thank you enough! We had a week to remember always.

Bill & Lisa

Dear Cam, Jada & Sam, thank you for an amazing trip. The food was AMAZING!!! But what was better was the atmosphere the three of you had on the boat.

Scott & Wendy

March 2025 BVI Charter

"Wow! Where does one begin when asked to describe 'heaven on earth'? Pure bliss, unparalleled happiness, as close to perfection as a week can get.

Six of us had the great fortune of chartering Xandros for a full week - our "Melebration" - seven days celebrating the 50th birthday of my wife, Melody - the coolest lady on the planet (we all agreed that Jada was undoubtedly most people's obvious choice!)

We came in search of beautiful geography, hidden coves and memorable sunsets. What we got was so much more. While the locations in the BVIs are incomparable, it was Cam, Jada & Chef Sam who made this truly the trip of a lifetime. 

Cap Cam - you deserve to be the star of the next Avengers team. A true to life modern day superhero. Is there nothing that you cannot do on the high seas? And a brilliant sense of humor to boot!

Ms. Jada - you are queen of hospitality, high princess of the BVIs. Your secret power seems to be the ability to read minds and anticipate the needs of everyone of your needy high maintenance guests (we like to think that we're so easy going, but I'm quite confident it's far from the truth). You do it all with true grace.

And Chef Sam - I'll put your masterful dishes up against any Michelin chef in the world (and let's see them do it solo in a galley kitchen with an induction stove!) Each dish inspiring mouthwatering awe and full of creative inspiration, unbelievable, incredible - pull out the thesaurus to describe your culinary skill & prowess. 

And thanks to all for sharing your home with us. We hope that we were worthy & thankful guests. 

May our paths cross again in the future. All the best & much love.

Ryan, Melody, Peter, Lee, Mike & Ali

February 2025 BVI Charter

Cam, Jada & Sam,

Thank you for an amazing family vacation. The food was off the charts, the diving and watersports so much fun, and the cocktails and attention to details perfect.

What an amazing experience. I can't thank you enough for providing an exceptional week full of cool adventure, amazing food and memories to last a lifetime.


Cannot thank you guys enough for just a wonderful trip! Sam - your meals were incredible! Jada - your attention to detail and cocktails were so memorable! And Cam - you always kept us on our toes with all the amazing activities! We will miss Xandros, hope we can meet again soon! Lots of luck, and all the best to your amazing team.

-The Young Family

Jan 2025 BVI Charter

"Dear Jada, Cam & Sam,

From the second we stepped on board, you have taken care of our every whim and exceeded all our expectations!

Jada - thank you for anticipating every need before we knew it. Your kind demeanor and warmth is so welcome. 

Cam - thanks for a beautiful tour and your infinite patience with John and my limitations. Your willingness to teach and participate in our activities made it easy.

Sam - thanks for the fabulous food! And your adjusting to my personal needs. My only regret is that I now have to cook for myself.

In sum, this was truly "dolphins and rainbows". In other words - perfect."

NYE 2024 BVI Charter

Dear Cam, Jada & Sam,

We'd like to express our sincere gratitude for the incredible service you provided during our charter! Every detail was taken care of with such professionalism and care, and it really made the experience unforgettable. Whether it was the delicious meals from Sam, the excursions and operation of the catamaran by Cam, or the attention to detail and satisfying all our requests by Jada... you all went above and beyond! 

Thank you for making our time on board so special. We couldn't have asked for a better crew and we hope to be fortunate enough to sail with you again in the future."
-Prophit Family

May 2024 BVI Charter

Dear Cam, Jada & Sam,

Thank you guys so much for the trip. It was super fun and exciting. Thank you Sam for the amazing food, Cam for the smooth sailing and Jada for serving my grandmother's rum.

- Luca (age 9)

April 202 BVI Charter

Cam, Jada & Sam,

Thank you all for such a special trip! Never have we been on a sail cruise in BVIs! We had so much fun. Food was incredible! From getting to know you all, great guides, great food and great hospitality! Thank you, Thank you!

- Tom & Cindy

March 2024 BVI Charter

Cam, Sam & Jada,

You all are the most special people. I know there is so much ahead for all of you to look forward to. This trip was such an amazing trip. It is something we will never forget. We will forever remember all you have done for us. These memories will be with us always.
- Katie

Cam, Jada & Sam,

You all are truly first class in all regards. Xandros and her special crew are incredible memories for this family. From pet barracuda, scuba life saves, map briefs, seabob excessive use, endless laughs, chess tournaments that never end, food menus that constantly amaze, this is the trip for the record books. Hope to run into you all again soon, if only someday in an airport. 
Cheers, Kilton Jr

Cam, Jada & Sam,

Thank you for the best family vacation we have ever experienced. Cam, your captain skills made us all feel so at ease in The BVIs. Jada, our beauty queen, was always so attentive and always knew what we wanted before we did. Sam, we all will miss you terribly. Your culinary skills exceeded my expectations. You are the James Beard of the charter world! Again, thank you all for making this the vacation we will never forget, simply the best! 

Blessings Teresa & Kilton

March 2024 BVI Charter

Cam, Jada & Sam,

Thank you for a truly unforgettable experience. This is hands down the most relaxing family vacation we've ever had. Every part of our experience was perfect - the food, the cocktails, the diving, the itinerary - all of it!

Thank you for all you did to create some wonderful memories for us.

-the Sterlings

February 2024 BVI Charter

Cam, Jada, Sam, 

A million thanks yous for an extraordinary experience. You made us laugh and made every detail so special to celebrate Will's 50th Birthday.

You guys are the best!
Love, 
Solen and Steve

Literally the best experience of our lives. Cam, Jada, and Sam you three went above and beyond! No way to pinpoint my fave memory, but loved Cam taking us through the Baths, Jada agreeing to wig wearing, all the food and drinks, all the laughter. I am so depressed to be leaving. i can't thank you enough. Love you all, and I really would make a great flower girl in your upcoming wedding. 
Biggest thanks Ever!
Love, 
Julie an Rick

Cam, Jada, and Sam, 
Thank you for making my husbands 50th birthday unforgettable! Our first Xandros experience surpassed all expectations and was a trip of a lifetime! We can never go back to a hotel. Best Crew and Best Time!
So Much Love!
-Kristen and Will

Cam, Jada, and Sam, 
Thank you for a truly unforgettable experience. From the moment we left you went abpve and beyond to make sure all our needs were met!! The food, service, and flexibility to our schedule were perfect!! We can't wait to come back!
Love, 
Lou

NYE 2023 BVI Charter

Mayon, Elizabeth, and Sam
Thank you so much for an amazing week! We had so much fun playing with the water toys, relaxing, learning to SCUBA, learning to E-foil and doing a little kiting. The food was amazing! You all took such good care of us all week and we really appreciated it. Thank you for pushing the adventurous side with cliff jumping etc.

Best Vacation Yet! We had so much fun jumping off the rock, playing with water toys, and over all getting to experience the beautiful BVI with you all! You made this trip to paradise so fun and easy!

Dear Mayon and Elizabeth,
Thank you for such a fantastic vacation. We really appreciate all that you did to make it special. From getting all the toys out and ready for us each day to finding steep runs and rocks that we could jump off of. From hanging in the dinghy in case the guys needed help kiteboarding, to teaching the kids the dice game and spike ball. From all the beautiful place settings to the cleaning/organizing fairy in our rooms each day. From the cocktail/mocktail queen to all the running around you did constantly to be sure we were taken care of. Thank you so much we wish you all the best in the future!
Sincerely, 
Mellina and Heflin Families

Thanksgiving 2023 BVI Charter

Team Sam and Mr. and Mrs. Hight, 
A week filled with so many highs. We thank you and are so grateful for providing us with unmatchable service and care to assure "a good time for all."

-We felt right at home the second we stepped on board! you all make us feel so cared for and happy!

-The famous dinghy ride was born!! So fun-thank you al!! The best crew on the planet.

-Sam you need to jar the salsa and sell it!!:)

-No better way to start your day than a morning jump/dip!

-Deveny Fam round 2

Cam and Jada Past Reviews 2023

March 2023

"What an epic adventure on board. Our dashing, debonair Captain Cam... you navigated the swells to the outer reaches of Anegada and led us on every adventure we dreamed of, thanks to your seafaring expertise and island connections. You are the perfect combination of competence and charm. And oh my, Jada... you are the quintessential First Mate! With grace and graciousness you kept the boat in shipshape and served our every need before we even knew what we needed! Thank you for nourishing our bodies and souls with your amazing culinary creations. We knew our meals would be tasty, but yours far exceeded our expectations in every way... from the fresh herbs to the array of taste and table settings... such beautiful feasting and deliciousness." 

April 2023

"Jada and Cam, sailing with you both and living together for a week was a wonderful and memorable experience that we will cherish throughout our lives. This was not my first rodeo chartering but the best itinerary, boat and crew by far. You guys made our week effortless, no worries, stress-free." 

April 2023

"Cam & Jada, where do we even begin - this was a vacation of a lifetime with the hosts of a lifetime! No crumbs or bottle of red wine left behind. Your storytelling, hospitality and culinary skills were the cherries on top of this very special trip - these memories will forever be in our hearts." 

May 2023

"Words cannot explain how incredible this trip was. Everything, from the food to the activities were absolutely perfect. We appreciate everything that both of you did for us and you made every moment memorable. We will remember this trip for the rest of our lives and that is all thanks to you."

March 2023 BVI Charter

Mayon, Elizabeth, and Sam, 
Thank you for one of the best weeks of our lives. The three of you could not have been kinder or more accommodating. Seemed like you were always three steps ahead. You all make what you do seem easy an it clearly is not. Truly appreciate everything and hope to be able to do it again one day. 
Thanks, 
Billy, Marcy, Marcus, and Mackenzie