Caribbean Yachting Season 2024-2025
Dockside’s Take on the Season
As the high season comes to a close, we’ve taken a moment to reflect on the highlights, challenges, and lessons learned. Here are a few key takeaways from Dockside’s perspective.
It has been a busy season
We saw a strong season overall, with the first large yachts arriving as Monaco was not even wrapping up! We also saw guest trips (owner and charter) go quite late into spring, likely due, at least in part, to the late date of Easter this year. St. Barths once again affirmed its status as the place to be for the New Year: According to the harbormaster’s office, a record-breaking 449 boats were in port during the peak holiday period. We did notice that many yachts came later to St. Barths and left immediately following the festivities of the 31st. Both Anguilla and St. Kitts seemed to have a near tsunami of arrivals the 1st and 2nd of January. Throughout the season, the marinas in St. Maarten and Anguilla were very busy.
Puerto Rico as a Strategic Stop
Puerto Rico continues to grow as a key yachting hub — ideal for clearance, provisioning, and preparing for refit or U.S. entry. With its reliable infrastructure and strong flight connections, it’s become a smart stopover for many yachts. Dockside is proud to have entered the yacht agent market in Puerto Rico in partnership with American Yacht Agents, and we look forward to continuing to grow in this exciting location!
Move Toward More Planned Maintenance
As the years pass, we see more vessels opting to stay in the Caribbean throughout the season, planning maintenance works on site (rather than heading to US East Coast or crossing the Atlantic early). We attribute this to a variety of factors including: (1) there are more professional and reliable options for technical works (including with our sister companies, International Marine Management (IMM) and FKG Marine!); and (2) there are a large scope of works that can be completed during the vessel’s down time in water. By taking advantage of this down time, Vessels are available more often and more reliably for their owner – for personal use or an increased charter availability. This capturing the Caribbean down time leads to efficiency, cost savings and increased availability – wins overall. Dockside provides a central role in supporting this planned maintenance – from assisting with scheduling class-approved safety equipment service to coordinating travel and hotels for Flag and Class Representatives to purchasing those hard-to-find technical items. Sustainability
We noticed more interest in sustainable choices — from waste management to more conscious provisioning. It’s a shift we welcome and support. We know how important it is with local provisioning and taking care of the Caribbean islands, so it is a move in the right direction for all parties.
What’s Ahead
With another busy season behind us, many are already looking toward next year. Whether you’re planning upgrades, yard time, or another Caribbean loop — we’re here to help keep things smooth.
Voices from The Dockside team:
Quotes from each department head:
Kim Schrjvers
Head of Clearance
Season highlights?
“This year was all about better flow and less panic attacks!
A big win was having our CEO Norina on-site during our busiest weeks — her support made a huge difference.”A proud Dockside moment?
“Definitely the thank-you email from a captain and pulling off complex guest movements for one of our clients together with Big Time and his team. It been a true team effort.”
Alejandra Rojas
Operations Coordinator
What stood out this season?
“The team’s ability to stay calm under pressure — juggling WhatsApp groups, two screens of emails, and nonstop calls. True multitasking pros! Team: 1, Chaos: 0.”
Team motto?
“We don’t have to agree on everything to be kind to one another.”
Farah Ben Said
Head of Concierge
One thing that worked better this year than last?
“Delegation of tasks due to having more employees working full time, really made a lot of change. “
If your department had a motto this season, what would it be?
“Always performing miracles — one day at a time!”
Kaitlyn Libier
Head of Provisioning, Logistics & Purchasing
Season highlights?
“Having provisioning, logistics, and shipping all under one department led to smoother, more efficient deliveries overall.”
Motto of the season?
“Organize and Improvise, together we make everything work.”
Davon Halley
Head of Accounting
One thing that worked better this year than last?
“Having three interns onboard really sped up our billing process, and with Shane’s sharp eye and reliability, delegating became much smoother this season.”
Motto of the season?
“One team, dedicated to serve.”
Dockside’s St. Barths – Third Season of Seamless Support
Dockside’s St. Barths – Third Season of Seamless Support
At the beginning of the 2022-2023 winter season, Dockside proudly expanded its operations into St. Barths, ensuring that yachts cruising through one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive destinations receive seamless support. With our bases in St. Maarten and St. Barths, and an extensive regional network, Dockside provides turnkey solutions to captains, crew, and owners—delivering efficiency, reliability, and local expertise, ensuring the success of your Caribbean season.
Tailored Services for Yachts in St. Barths
Dockside’s presence in St. Barths is more than just an extension of our brand; it is a commitment to offer on-the-ground support in a location where delivery of perfect service with discretion and efficiency is non-negotiable.
Our Services Includes:
Clearance & Immigration Assistance
- Hassle-free clearance with our local experts handling all paperwork and providing you all rules and regulations so that you know exactly what to do and how to do it
- Working with the Port Authority/Harbor Master for special events, requests and dockage
Concierge & VIP Services
- Exclusive reservations at high-end restaurants, beach clubs, and hotels
- Luxury transportation, including private drivers and charter flights
- Personal shopping, event planning, and itinerary coordination
- Activities! Deep-sea fishing, surfing lessons, diving, island tours…and so much more!
- Anything else your guests might request, we will make it happen
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Premium Provisioning
- Locally sourced gourmet ingredients, fresh seafood, and specialty items
- Seamless collaboration between our St. Barths and St. Maarten teams for larger orders
- Custom requests to meet dietary preferences and high-end provisioning needs
Logistics & Technical Support
- Dockage arrangements
- Coordination of repairs, maintenance, and technical services
Delivery of spare parts and supplies (including emergency deliveries from St. Maarten)
Crew Support & Lifestyle Services
- Booking accommodations and crew transport
- Wellness and fitness services for crew and guests
- Access to exclusive crew-friendly venues and activities
Why St. Barths?
With its pristine beaches, luxury lifestyle, and vibrant social scene, St. Barths has become a must-visit destination on the itineraries of the world’s most prestigious superyachts. Its appeal goes beyond its natural beauty—St. Barths offers world-class events like the St. Barths Bucket and Les Voiles de St. Barth, attracting elite yacht owners, charter guests, and industry professionals.
Dockside recognized the increasing demand for dedicated, high-level yacht support in this exclusive hub. By establishing a strong local presence, we ensure that our clients receive the same exceptional service in St. Barths as they do in St. Maarten.
Seamless Support, Anytime, Anywhere
With Dockside’s strategic presence in St. Maarten and St. Barths, we offer a dual-island advantage, perfectly coordinating services between the islands. This means faster provisioning, streamlined clearance and logistics, and a wider range of available resources.
Whether you’re in St. Barths for a short stopover or an extended stay, Dockside is at your service—ensuring stress-free, efficient, and personalized support every step of the way.
“Our priority is to create a unique experience for each customer, ensuring that their needs are met with care, attentiveness and a constant concern for their satisfaction.”
Domoina Magras, Head of St. Barths