What this yacht offers
Ready for your trip of a lifetime? Painted Pelican is waiting for you on clear blue seas in the beautiful British Virgin Islands.
The exquisite 54-foot Aquila Power Catamaran offers 4 spacious cabins each with private head and AC control for your guests to enjoy. 5th Cabin for crew.
As you navigate the turquoise blue waters, ask the captain to bring you to one of our secluded snorkeling spots. You will feel like you are swimming in a tropical aquarium as you experience rare and colorful sea life all around you. After your swim, head up to the huge flybridge to dry off and get an overhead view of the coral reefs that surround the island.
If relaxing is more your style, lay back on the built-in deck lounging pads or one of our floating mats. The warm island waters will not disappoint, and neither will our delicious Caribbean cocktails!
Watch the sunset as you enjoy an extraordinary meal prepared by your chef, who will happily accommodate any guests’ dietary requirements. Check out our sample menu for examples of some of the delicious meals Painted Pelican has to offer.
When the sun has set and you are ready to rest, you will feel at home in our spacious and comfortable cabins. Each cabin is equipped with storage space for your belongings and a queen bed. (King in master) The galley and salon have a contemporary configuration and an open-concept space perfect for enjoying time with friends and family. A flat screen TV is placed on the back wall for viewing pleasure in and out of the salon at the barstool seating. Wi-Fi is also included should you choose to stay connected on your dream vacation.
Other amenities include: lounging pads for sunbathing, electric grill located on the flybridge, electric winch-style dinghy lift platform, blue tooth capabilities, and sound system.
WIFI Included
ACCOMMODATION
ENTERTAINMENT
Delight served on deck
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5 reviews
Joe & Julia- Rosenthal Charter
1) The boat was amazing - all the creature comforts you would want , five star hotel 2) The Captain and first mate Joe and Julia were just wonderful 3) The food was better on the boat than at the top restaurants ( which were great as well and suggested by the crew) 4) The spots we anchored were great and the crew took us by dingy to all places we wanted to go Awesome
Over-the-top great in every way!
We had an absolutely incredible experience with our private captain, Joe, and chef, Ariq. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. Joe was professional, knowledgeable, and made the entire trip smooth, safe, and enjoyable. Ariq was truly outstanding—every meal was beautifully prepared, delicious, and thoughtfully presented. Both went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Their attention to detail, warm personalities, and exceptional service truly made this trip special. I cannot recommend them highly enough—over-the-top great in every way! Also, we so appreciate you going back to Willy T’s to represent Underwater Construction Corp. with the sticker! Hope to see it with you guys in the future!
Amazing, memorable and affordable vacation of a lifetime
We would recommend MarineMax Vacations, Captain Joe, Chef Ariq to anyone looking for an amazing, memorable and affordable vacation of a lifetime. The attention to detail on food and places from our profile sheet was spot on and the food didn’t disappoint, it rivaled any top end restaurant you could dream of. We will be back soon, you should book now too! Your memories are awaiting!
What really made this trip unforgettable was the people
We just finished 8 amazing days on a crewed Aquila 545 charter with MarineMax, and I can honestly say it completely changed how we’ll travel on the water going forward. We’ve done a very similar trip before without a crew, and after this experience, there’s no chance we’d ever do that again. Having a crew turns the entire trip into an actual vacation instead of a job. Captain Joe was fantastic from day one. He was professional, easygoing, and incredibly knowledgeable. He knew where to go, when to go, and always seemed one step ahead—whether it was weather, anchor spots, timing, or just making sure everything ran smoothly. We felt totally relaxed knowing he had everything handled, while still keeping the trip flexible and tailored to what we wanted. 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. I also want to call out Danielle, who was instrumental in helping us book the trip. She answered all of our questions upfront, set clear expectations, and made the entire booking process easy and stress-free. Going into a trip like this with everything explained ahead of time made a huge difference. The Aquila 545 itself was clean, comfortable, and well laid out for a longer charter. Plenty of space to relax, great cabins, and everything worked exactly as it should. Combined with a great crew, it was the perfect setup. MarineMax did a great job overall, but what really made this trip unforgettable was the people—Joe, Ariq, and Danielle. They elevated the entire experience and made the week effortless and memorable. If you’re on the fence about going crewed, do it. It’s absolutely worth it, and we’re already talking about when we can book our next one.
The experience was first rate
We just completed a cruise with Marine Max - two families of 3 (two couples and teenagers) - on a 545 Aquila. Overall the experience was first rate - starting with our Captain (Joe) and chef ( Ariq). Joe was completely prepared for every stop after the intake call and provided exceptional service all 8 days. Found great places for us to snorkel, made great recommendations on places to stop (bars, shops and restaurants) and was nice and friendly while providing top notch service. He also kept a good eye on us for the snorkeling excursions - always knew he was looking out for the safety of group members. It was clear that Joe was completely focused on us having a great vacation. We had travel complications heading out and he was even checking on us after we left the boat. It was similar with Ariq - our girls can be particular and every meal was spot on (have never heard so many superlatives from the teenagers - they are wrecked now coming home from all of the spoiling 😀). The food was really delicious - I have a heavy couple weeks of working out to try to shed the weight! It was similar with Ariq and Joe - not just exceptional quality and service but delivered in a friendly and welcoming way. The boat was nice and easily accommodated the two families and we were very comfortable - it was clear the boat was well taken care of. Our experience with Marine Max and this crew was truly excellent - we would never hesitate to sail with them again. It was a top notch vacation and the service made it truly special.
Joe & Julia- Rosenthal Charter
1) The boat was amazing - all the creature comforts you would want , five star hotel 2) The Captain and first mate Joe and Julia were just wonderful 3) The food was better on the boat than at the top restaurants ( which were great as well and suggested by the crew) 4) The spots we anchored were great and the crew took us by dingy to all places we wanted to go Awesome
Over-the-top great in every way!
We had an absolutely incredible experience with our private captain, Joe, and chef, Ariq. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. Joe was professional, knowledgeable, and made the entire trip smooth, safe, and enjoyable. Ariq was truly outstanding—every meal was beautifully prepared, delicious, and thoughtfully presented. Both went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Their attention to detail, warm personalities, and exceptional service truly made this trip special. I cannot recommend them highly enough—over-the-top great in every way! Also, we so appreciate you going back to Willy T’s to represent Underwater Construction Corp. with the sticker! Hope to see it with you guys in the future!
Amazing, memorable and affordable vacation of a lifetime
We would recommend MarineMax Vacations, Captain Joe, Chef Ariq to anyone looking for an amazing, memorable and affordable vacation of a lifetime. The attention to detail on food and places from our profile sheet was spot on and the food didn’t disappoint, it rivaled any top end restaurant you could dream of. We will be back soon, you should book now too! Your memories are awaiting!
What really made this trip unforgettable was the people
We just finished 8 amazing days on a crewed Aquila 545 charter with MarineMax, and I can honestly say it completely changed how we’ll travel on the water going forward. We’ve done a very similar trip before without a crew, and after this experience, there’s no chance we’d ever do that again. Having a crew turns the entire trip into an actual vacation instead of a job. Captain Joe was fantastic from day one. He was professional, easygoing, and incredibly knowledgeable. He knew where to go, when to go, and always seemed one step ahead—whether it was weather, anchor spots, timing, or just making sure everything ran smoothly. We felt totally relaxed knowing he had everything handled, while still keeping the trip flexible and tailored to what we wanted. 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. I also want to call out Danielle, who was instrumental in helping us book the trip. She answered all of our questions upfront, set clear expectations, and made the entire booking process easy and stress-free. Going into a trip like this with everything explained ahead of time made a huge difference. The Aquila 545 itself was clean, comfortable, and well laid out for a longer charter. Plenty of space to relax, great cabins, and everything worked exactly as it should. Combined with a great crew, it was the perfect setup. MarineMax did a great job overall, but what really made this trip unforgettable was the people—Joe, Ariq, and Danielle. They elevated the entire experience and made the week effortless and memorable. If you’re on the fence about going crewed, do it. It’s absolutely worth it, and we’re already talking about when we can book our next one.
The experience was first rate
We just completed a cruise with Marine Max - two families of 3 (two couples and teenagers) - on a 545 Aquila. Overall the experience was first rate - starting with our Captain (Joe) and chef ( Ariq). Joe was completely prepared for every stop after the intake call and provided exceptional service all 8 days. Found great places for us to snorkel, made great recommendations on places to stop (bars, shops and restaurants) and was nice and friendly while providing top notch service. He also kept a good eye on us for the snorkeling excursions - always knew he was looking out for the safety of group members. It was clear that Joe was completely focused on us having a great vacation. We had travel complications heading out and he was even checking on us after we left the boat. It was similar with Ariq - our girls can be particular and every meal was spot on (have never heard so many superlatives from the teenagers - they are wrecked now coming home from all of the spoiling 😀). The food was really delicious - I have a heavy couple weeks of working out to try to shed the weight! It was similar with Ariq and Joe - not just exceptional quality and service but delivered in a friendly and welcoming way. The boat was nice and easily accommodated the two families and we were very comfortable - it was clear the boat was well taken care of. Our experience with Marine Max and this crew was truly excellent - we would never hesitate to sail with them again. It was a top notch vacation and the service made it truly special.
Meet your crew
Meet your crew
Introducing the power team aboard the Painted Pelican!
Captain Joe brings years of experience navigating catamarans through some of the world’s most beautiful waters. Chef Ariq curates vibrant menus that blend Caribbean flavors with global influences, always using local, seasonal ingredients. Whether you're vegan, gluten-free, or just adventurous with your palate, Ariq can accommodate any dietary need. Together, they’ll deliver the vacation of a lifetime for your family and friends.
Joseph Paolone: Captain
Joseph hails from the sailing community of the Niagara-on-the Lake in Ontario, Canada. He began boating as a baby on the shores of Lake Ontario, sparking a lifelong love for adventure and discovery on the open water. While studying history at Brock University, Joseph spent many summers working as a sailing coach at neighboring yacht clubs. It was during these years that he realized his passion for boating and his dream of a life at sea could be fulfilled by moving to the Caribbean.
For nearly a decade, Joseph has worked as a charter captain around the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Pacific Ocean. He has completed multiple deliveries and was part of a Pacific crossing on a 32-foot sailboat in the spring and summer of 2024.
Joseph is excited to take you to the most incredible spots in the Caribbean on your charter. He is more than happy to teach guests anything they want to know about boating while sharing his passion for the sea. Joseph also enjoys staying active and can show you his favorite trails and snorkeling spots if that interests you. To top off an exciting day of activities, he would be delighted to make you your favorite cocktail as you relax and enjoy an amazing sunset. Whatever type of charter you fancy, Joseph will make it happen.
Ariq Flax-Clarke: Chef/Stew/Mate - VIPCA Award Winner
Chef Ariq Flax-Clarke grew up on the sunlit shores of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, where the aromas from his grandmother’s kitchen mingled with the salt air of the sea. Inspired by her gift for storytelling through food, Ariq learned early that cuisine is more than sustenance — it’s a connection, a celebration, and a way to bring people together. Childhood days spent fishing in turquoise waters laid the foundation for a culinary identity deeply rooted in fresh, local ingredients.
Ariq began working in kitchens as a teenager, building a strong foundation that now spans over 12 years of culinary experience. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts and Food Management and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Johnson & Wales University in Miami, Florida, blending creative skill with business acumen. His career has taken him through fine dining internships, private events, and prestigious culinary competitions, including multiple medals with Team BVI at the Taste of the Caribbean Competition and has recently scored a second-place finish at the 2024 VIPCA USVI Charter Yacht Show Culinary Competition.
He has also proudly represented the BVI on prominent stages such as the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, Citi Taste of Tennis in California and Miami, the Annapolis Boat Show, the BVI Food Fest, and a Caribbean-themed event at the James Beard House in New York.
Ariq’s passion for understanding food’s origins inspired him to revisit his love for fishing, explore beekeeping and honey production, and even experiment with mead-making during the pandemic. Seeking greater creative freedom, he transitioned from traditional kitchens to the luxury yacht charter industry. For the past three seasons, he has served as chef aboard Barefoot Bliss, a 54-foot Bali Catamaran, curating vibrant menus that blend Caribbean flavors with global influences.
When not in the galley, Ariq enjoys fishing, often incorporating his fresh catch into memorable onboard meals, snorkeling, discovering hidden coves, and sharing laughs with guests. His easygoing nature, meticulous attention to detail, and passion for hospitality ensure every charter is a personalized, unforgettable experience.
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