Not in the Keys but we used the Moorings for a week long trip in the BVI. They were excellent. We had a group of ten and crew of three including a chef. It was more of a cruise with friends on a very comfortable, large cat vs a “real“ sailing trip

We did this one, not exactly what you’re looking for, but we really enjoyed it.

Sunset Sail, Key West

https://www.google.com/search?q=sunset%20sail%2C%20key%20west&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-m#trex=m_t:lcl_akp,rc_f:nav,rc_ludocids:15860555539405098683,rc_q:Sunset%2520Sail%2520Key%2520West,ru_q:Sunset%2520Sail%2520Key%2520West

Ded, I used plain old Dramamine on both our sailboat trip and the famous ferries in Greece! I found out that they do also make a non-drowsy Dramamine but that is not what I used. The patch *did* make me very sleepy on our Antarctica cruise. Lots of naps!

My kids think I am crazy that literally on the plane back from Greece I started researching this, but since it is a spring break trip they do book up!

The Moorings looks great but they do not do the Keys and have a 5nt minimum. Moorings was helpful though as a check on per night pricing. . I only want 3 nights, since this is a new thing for us and the tight quarters might get old.

I want the keys since it is relatively easy to get to. We will add a few days before for the boys to go to Red Sox spring training and the girls to go to the spa. Pretty sure we have found a catamaran we like.

For those who have snorkeled the Keys, what did you think were the best spots? I read Looe Key?

Mtn, I posted DH's suggestions on an older thread from 2013, linked here. He has been to Key West two more times since then, and always enjoys snorkeling and kayaking. Those are still his favorite restaurants.

He always stays at The Pier House. Nice, and great location. I also get somewhat seasick, so I would be hesitant to stay the entire trip on a boat of any size. DH has been in the Keys where the water is rough enough for a boat out to snorkel has gotten canceled.

Hi Allison, that is super, thanks. I will have to look into the Dry Tortugas. I think that is better for a 4 night itinerary (uh oh, vacation creep!).

I am not sure if we will spend more than a night or 2 in KW; I just thought the area would be a good place to snorkel and seeing KW once (plus the drive there) is kind of a must. I was there prb 25 yrs ago.

The other reason I like the Keys is that I can easily be dropped off if I start to turn a little green! I have high hopes, though. One of the ferries we took in Greece was pretty rough. So rough that we were not allowed outside, and the trip from Santorini to Milos took 4 hrs instead of 2. People got sick. All I had was a one measly OTC Dramamine and I was fine. I actually found the rocking motions kind of ... fun!?

So I am hoping I have turned a corner and can now enjoy boating, but if we keep the islands within arms reach I am a little more confident!

As long as there isn't a big storm, sounds like you will be okay. The older I get, the less episodes experienced. But oceans seem to bother me more.

Thank you so much for the Dry Tortugas seaplane suggestion! I think I will keep the boat tour to 3 nights and closer to KW, and then do the seaplane another day. Gorgeous.

Thanks for the Dramamine info. My ex would pilot a small airplane and I always worried about motion sickness. You definitely cannot pullover if you are sick. I used Dramamine but it made me so sleepy. I’ll try the non drowsy version.

i also get very ill from something in general anesthesia. I had a horrible experience one time. I had a recent laparoscopic procedure and they gave me a scopolamine patch and it worked like a charm. The anesthesiologist asked me if I get motion sickness. interesting that they are related. He asked me how I manage my seasickness and I told him I stay off boats.

Your plans for a sailing trip sound wonderful. I never saw so many stars in the night sky as I did out in the Gulf of Mexico.

So interesting you did it with Outward Bound, Dedtired. What was that like?

That is wild about the patch!

I just returned from a river cruise and since I tend to get motion sickness easily I picked up Bonine which is non-drowsy and contains the same active ingredient as the non-drowsy Dramanine. . Several friends who cruise regularly recommended it but they all assured me that I wouldn't need it on a river. They were partially correct. I didn't need it while the ship was cruising but if I sat inside and looked windows while the ship was moving I became dizzy and felt slightly nauseous.

We used to take the kids fishing off Key West and the Bahamas but on several trips I became ill and and they had to return to shore to drop me off.

Some of the IMAX films give me the same feeling - especially when the aerial camera swoops down into the Grand Canyon or between Manhattan high rises. Same thing happened when I watched The Perfect Storm.

Mtn, I did that trip when I was in my mid forties. I wouldn’t take it on now! The only way to pee was to hang your bare butt over the side, known as the orangutan hang. Basically we slept in sleeping bags on top of the oars which we put across the benches ( forget the nautical term) . The biggest challenge for me was tolerating the one know-it-all woman. Could easily have strangled her several times. Here’s a link to the trip but believe me it was more grueling than it sounds. I’m still glad I did it.

Outward Bound trip

maire, I got queasy an an IMAX movie, too! Such a weird sensation. We took the kids fishing in the inlet near Ocean City NJ and had to go back to the bay because I was sick. Another time my son took us sailing to the Channel Islands off the CA coast and my brother and I both got sick. Honestly , you just want to throw up or die and you don’t care which. Fortunately, I just threw up over the side and did not die! Once I got that over with I was fine the rest of the trip. So Strange.

Bonine is waaay better than Dramamine! They have it in many dive shops or you can find it online.

The last time I got really sick was a helicopter ride in Hawaii. Oh they just love swooping around in those things. Mis-er-a-ble.

I think I will take the Dramamine, the Bonine and the wrist bands with me! And def keep it to 3 nights.

My neighbors took their 2 boys on a chartered sailboat for a week a few years ago on spring break. It was the four of them, the captain, and his wife. They sailed in the Bahamas, though. I was fascinated by the idea and talked to her extensively about it. The captain & wife pretty much did everything...sailed the boat, prepared all the meals, etc. The captain and his wife slept in the (forgot the proper boat term, lol) fore? Aft (?) cabin, and my friend and her family had fairly private accommodations at the other end. They sailed around the islands, occasionally anchoring close enough to swim or paddle a little boat to shore. The captain was very nice and taught the boys more advanced sailing (they already had sailed a bit at camp) and they also did a ton of snorkeling and fishing. She said the food was amazing...obviously everything was fresh and simply prepared. Lots of produce and of course fish!

They had great weather, but I can’t remember what she said would happen if a storm approached. My friend said she was a tad apprehensive about the whole “week on a smallish boat with 2 strangers AND her family AND wondering if they’d all go stark raving mad” but she said it was probably the most relaxing, peaceful vacation she’s ever had. The captain & wife were very professional and didn’t seem intrusive while managing to take care of all of their needs. None of them experienced motion sickness, but she had brought Dramamine just in case. They are at the beach til the end of the month, but I’ll ask the name of the outfit when they get back. Perhaps they could tailor a trip for your specific needs?

I came back to post about Bonine. Once I discovered it, I never returned to Dramamine.

You're welcome for the Dry Tortugas/seaplane tip.

Mtn, if you do the Dry Tortugas trip you will have the opportunity for the best snorkeling in the Keys. It's relatively pristine there, at least compared to the actual chain of islands that comprise the Keys. Sadly, there is very little live coral left in the Keys to see any more.

But if you can get there, definitely get in the water--more coral and more fish too! Fort Jefferson is fascinating as well; lots of interesting historical facts. We went a couple of times by private boat when our kids were little. Remote and beautiful--there are no overnight accommodations however so it's strictly a day trip. If you have the choice I'd strongly suggest the seaplane option with a good guide who can point out Mel Fisher's hunting grounds which are scattered along the route from KW to the Fort. The boat tour is by catamaran I believe and it's 70 miles each way. Long boat ride for a one day excursion.

It's not open to the public but there's a tiny island called Loggerhead Key very close to the Fort; there used to be a guest lighthouse keeper program that would allow volunteers to stay for a month in the keeper's cottage. I always thought that would be an incredible thing to do. Talk about getting away from it all! No telephone, no tv, no internet. Just a quiet solitary island with some good books and the sea...heaven.

TripAdvisor does have reviews for charters and outfitters, but maybe not the multi day kind.

I REALLY want to take a plane to the Dry Tortugas!!

Robo, my husband and I did the seaplane trip shortly after we married. We had given my MIL tickets as a birthday gift but she balked at the last minute (afraid of the small plane) so we took the trip instead ;). It was amazing! Most of the route out is shallow water and the pilot would point out wreck salvage spots that Fisher worked and where he found treasure. And of course it was marvelous viewing those vistas of sea and sky. Highly recommend that adventure!

Running my husband said he’d take a boat and meet me there

LOL, Robo, you can fly with us. And yes, TA did not have reviews for the kind of trip we are looking for. As it turns out though, the boat we selected I also found on AirBnB, where it has great reviews.

Running, I am so excited and so happy Allison suggested the seaplane. I'd heard of the Dry Tortugas but always thought of it as a place for sailing trips, not me. DH and I have done a seaplane in Alaska, and the kids did one in Vancouver and we have all been on plenty of small planes (esp DS, who has a student pilot's license and can fly solo now.)

Nini, thanks for that offer, and yes I would be curious about who they used and what they thought. I am finding a lot of day boats, a lot by the week, and only a few of the caliber and size that we want who will do a 3-nt/4-day trip.