Skipper Ben - I know you miss all of us!! We sure had the best time on Anna Maria and thank you so much for being our skipper. We enjoyed the rest of our stay in Greece - Athens, Olympia, Delphi. Love the food, yogurt, people, ruins, but the boat trip was the best part. I have my beach glass in a glass bowl!
I hope you are enjoying summer and sailing and have good groups of people. I know they will never match up to us (ha! ha!).
Getting back to "real life" was an adjustment!! Will keep in touch...Hello to Eugene, too!!

Diane - All we talk about is our sailboat trip in Greece! I am a school counselor and Bob and I are planning an Assembly for the K-8 graders, all about our trip!! We are going to have a picture show, serve Greek food, and teach Greek dancing!! Feel free to use the group pic and any of my email comments. Would rather be there than back in school....
Connie et al... Pullman, WA

Hello Diane & Judy,
I wanted to write and thank you and the Seascape family for an awesome trip and a wonderful time sailing the Greek Islands on the Leros to Kos trip. We could not have asked for two better Skippers than Captain's Extraordinaire Ben & Eugene, the best on the seas! They made us feel welcomed on board and safe on the water the entire trip. Their knowledge of each island gave us interesting and unique sites to see and the flexibility to do things as a group or individually.
Our group continued to talk and reminisce about our incredible adventure after we had disembarked for the final time. It was a sad moment, on Sunday, when we could no longer look across the harbor in Kos and see the Vassilis and the Anna Maria at anchor.
Thank you so much for memories that will last a lifetime.
Fred Gray - Cranberry, PA

Sir Benjamin...I had such a magnificent trip with you and the others on the Anna Maria... what a magical week it was. Thank you, ever so much, for your hospitality, humor and competence. It was fun, funny, exciting, unique, delicious, delightful, extraordinary. I will never ever forget these magical memories.

Do what you love, and love what you do...

Cindee Carlson
Choose one:
Be kind to animals
Burn in Hell

Benji - Everything about the week was wonderful - amd of course you made us all wish we could have at least one more week with you. Your attitude, temperament, smile and effort are a joy to all your guests. Keep following your dreams and they will take you on a lifetime of adventures, laughter and love! Thanks for all of it.... Bob.

Travelling the Dodecanese on 'Vassilis' will be one of the greatest vacations of my life ! The boat was exciting, the destinations were beautiful, and the captain (Eugene) was knowledgeable and very friendly. I look forward to continuing the friendships i've made while on board with great people worldwide - thank you for everything! - Bryan Merrick

... this is a vacation I will never forget. Our captain Eugene was wonderful and I loved tacking with white wine! Looking forward to our next sailing adventure - Laura Merrick

Ben,
Thinking i'd be seasick for a week didn't have me jumping for joy when we got to the marina... but after a great week, no sea sickness and making a great new friend, this has been the best week of our (6 month) trip so far! Thanks for the great cooking and knot tying lessons... Sean

Sean & Kellee Glass - check out their 6-months-round-the-world travel blog!

Thank you Ben, for awakening an old dream. The sailing was fantastic. To live aboard again was perfect. I was trying to get Denis addicted and it succeeded !! We want our own boat. I learned from your patience, your calm and composure when it was time to do important manoeuvers. We both enjoyed our trip very much and we would recommend the company and you anytime.
Thank you for making us part of this great week !
Lucie & Denis (Quebec, Canada)

Because of my adventures on Vassilis, I have come to fall in love with sailing! This was my first time ever sailing, now I wish I had done it a lot earlier in life. Eugene (our skipper) is such a great guy. Not only was he a lot of fun but extremely knowledgeable about the sights we visited and more than willing to teach us everything about sailing. The crew were all great and I hope I have made some life-long friends, I will miss them all. Thank you SeaScape for the best trip of my life !!
Phyllis Lampe

One of my best vacation ever and defenitely will be making my way back to the Greek islands one day. I'm telling everyone that they should all experience this journey at least once in their lifetime. The whole experience was wonderful, food was awesome and the crew were just a great, amazing and fun bunch of people to be around. Our thanks and appreciation go out to Skipper Chris - he did an amazing job.
Ghislaine Carriere - Owaha, Canada

Ben... thank you so much for the wonderful week and all of the sailing and sights. Your competence and sailing ability made us feel that we were in good hands and the trip was most enjoyable... we wish you favourable winds in life and good fortune in all your endeavours.
Richie & Pip, New York.

Kalispera SeaScape folks,

I'd like to thank you all once again for an incredible vacation experience on our recent Greek island trip (6/22-6/28). I must admit that Cindy and I did have a bit of trepidation for the first couple of days : neither of us had ever been sailing before, and in over 25 years of traveling together, we've seldom done so with others, and definitely nothing like this where we were in really tight quarters with a group of total strangers for almost a whole week. I think our crew was basically a really fun and compatible one, and after our brief initial "adjustment" period we both agreed that it was one of our best travel experiences ever.

And I must give a special note of gratitude to our skipper Ray, whose sailing expertise, beer-drinking prowess, and razor-sharp British wit greatly enhanced the experience (I'm sure our couple of "innocent youngsters" will recover fully...in due time). Ray, although desk jockeys like me tend to see yours and the other skipper's roles as all fun-in-the-sun, I realize it has to be difficult to remain friendly and engaged when having to deal with ever-changing groups of clueless land-lubbers, know-it-alls, drunk Texans, etc., and I thought you did so with flying colors. Thanks also for arranging our room in Samos - Maria and Yannis (correct names ?) are both very nice, and it was a great room at a great rate.

I was somewhat apprehensive when I began searching for a sailing charter that would meet our expectations; there's a bunch of them out there, so how does one identify and eliminate the ripoffs ? But I must say that you guys fit the bill perfectly, and we're already talking about booking another trip with you, maybe Thailand in 2009-2010 ?

Efharisto,
Dennis Orlowski and Cindy Thompson
Portland, Oregon

Hi Diane,
I just wanted to write a quick thank you, the Seascape trip in Greece was amazing, so much fun! (even after 2 weeks, I wanted to stay another week!) The captains were all awesome, Simon couldn't have told more stories, Iain dancing the night away at the Rock Bar, and Rob and Amber trying to hold them all together, hee hee.
It was a phenomenal two weeks, you guys do a great job! I've attached some pics from the trip that I thought you might like...
-Heidi Homuth, Ocean NJ

Hi Judy,

I just wanted to let you know that I had a FABULOUS time on the Anna Maria last week! Rob and Amber were great, and my fellow passengers were awesome as well. The trip far exceeded my expectations, and I will definitely recommend this trip to anyone. The only bad part was when it ended, and I had to return home! Anyway, thanks again for everything!

Beth Dyson, Woodinville, WA

Hi Diane-
I wanted to write to you to tell you what an excellent time we had on our two-week Greece & Turkey trip with Seascape. Everything was awesome from the sailing, the boats, the skippers, the food and the adventures. Our skipper John was fabulous! He taught us a lot about sailing and was really fun to hang out with every day. It was also easy to tell how much he cared about the boats, our safety, and that we had a great time. As you know, our refrigerator wasn't working during the trip. I felt like John did a great job of listening to us, getting us ice when it was available and asking us how we were doing throughout the two weeks. He knew it was an annoyance and he helped us make the best of it. I know he hasn't been with your team for long but he's truly the type of person who embodies the Seascape lifestyle. We had an amazing time and I can't even imagine our trip without our Captain John. I truly miss him and would want him as our skipper again.

Also, John on Vassilis was great too. During our 2nd week while we were in Turkey John was our group's leader and he picked a great itinerary. He did a good job keeping our skipper abreast of the decisions and helping him learn more about Turkey. He asked for our group's input and made sure we got in plenty of time sailing, exploring, swimming and visiting those lovely small Turkish ports. Even when the wind wasn't high we still laughing about "racing" at 3-4 knots and enjoying yelling back and forth as our boats passed each other. He was very knowledgeable about Greece and Turkey and his skipper's briefs were always helpful. His wife Linda was a real pleasure to have on the trip as well. They were so welcoming, friendly and they had great stories to share. Honestly, everything was perfect!

I have already recommended this trip to friends who are looking for a smaller, informal group, a lot of adventure, freedom and relaxation. I am so thankful for the memories and friendship we made on that trip. I can't wait to do it again!

I think that you did a great job of giving us proper expectations for the trip. And you've done an excellent job keeping it light and fun - unlike those [ed: diplomatic name deletion!] competitors of yours. They looked like they were being tortured at dinner in Sailor's Paradise. Our skipper John said to me as they sat at their tables eating silently - "Can you tell they are actually on holiday??" Our group was loud, laughing, taking pictures and having a great time and that's EXACTLY the type of holiday I envisioned. Thank you for everything and maybe we'll see you soon in Thailand!

Lisa Rowe & Chris Awe
Jacksonville, Florida

Hey Skipper Allan,

Just wanted to drop you a note to say thanks again for leading us on a great trip a couple weeks ago. Hard to believe it's already been that long already. We had a great time and really appreciated both your leadership and your company throughout the week. Most of all, thanks for putting up with the Metaxa crew for a week. We won't soon forget it.

Good luck sailing across the Atlantic next month. If you send out a daily journal or anything, I'd love to hear how the trek progresses. I'll be especially interested in any attempts you make to drop anchor along the way. Still not sure why you don't just fly Bombay Sapphire to the Carribean, but that's a whole other discussion. Make sure you stock plenty of Metaxa for the stormy nights along the way.
Have a great trip.
Darin

Subject: THANK YOU!!!

Hi Diane-

I just had to tell you what a PHENOMENAL time I had aboard the Vassilis over the last two weeks. As I told my friends when I got back home yesterday, there was seemingly some sort of divine intervention when it came to assembling all the folks for the trip. It was truly a spectacular group of people (INCLUDING those on the Anna Maria and the Angelina), and though we all seemed to come from these completely disparate backgrounds, I was amazed at how fantastically all of us bonded. Moreover, the skippers were amazing (especially our absolutely adorable Rob, who made even the most - eh hem - inexperienced sailors among us feel completely at ease, and who was a wonderful teacher in addition to being an all-around awesome guy). The ports were all lovely, there was never a moment of feeling any sort of ennui or boredom...it was, in short, THE perfect vacation...and I'm already itching to sign up for another trip of fantastic travels with SeaScape in the not-so-distant future!!

A million thanks again, and all the best, Erika (NYC)

Met: Feb 18th 2008 - Thailand 'mostly singles' trip

Married: June 21st 2008

Who says Fairy Tales don't exist ??

What was it about June 21st, 2008 ??

Warren (London) & Katie (Chicago), met Jan '05 on our "Plumpish Thai" trip.       (Why plumpish?? you just had to be there!)

Married in sunny England, June 21st 2008. Warren & Katie, we wish you many more wonderful sunsets together... just not in Ranong... :)

Your ability to put the group together is nothing short of uncanny. Our group was fantastic. Great chemistry -- we fit perfectly. For 7 people who had never met, the way we "jelled" was just amazing. I think Thomas expressed it best -- we expected the trip (the boat, the destinations, the relaxation, food, etc.) to be great, but on top of that, the great people just took it to a level beyond our expectations. We are really serious about a New Years skiing reunion in Canada - The Mad Mountaineers take Banff (sp?). Wonder if we can import a Mad Olive Tree??     Deborah, Fort Wayne

Hi Judy,

A quick note to say thank you all for a great week in Turkey.

Interesting people on the boats and you have some excellent skippers too. The boats are also a really good size for the numbers. Bigger is certainly better on these trips.

I particularly like your format of sailing three boats together, and to some of the more remote and friendly locations. It makes for some very interesting evening discussions around the free drinks, and that's another thing, not to have to worry about where the next beer or red wine or orange juice comes from is excellent.

I will definitely look your organisation up again for an other trip some time and in the meantime would be grateful of you pass these two photos on to Amber (or Rob) as I forgot to get their Email address.

Many thanks again for an excellent week.
Mike Oswell   -   Beijing, China

~ Hi Diane,
I saw firsthand how hard you work, but I am still plenty jealous that I am back here are you are still there! I think I've looked at our pictures a dozen times already, trying to edit them down (the ones of the "girls" and the Russian cabin boy are fantastic - I'll send them to you). This was truly one of the best vacations ever - I'm already nudging Jim toward Thailand ...

Hope your kitties forgive you soon! Our best to Ray.

sue & jim

After just one day back in England, last week's fantastic journey seems an age ago; 5:30am alarm call this morning - followed by a day trawling through 476 emails with the rain lashing down outside! Many thanks to you guys for making last week such a fantastic holiday. I had so much fun - great people - no stress or deadlines.

Great experiences, learning how to jive, listening to Enya as we sailed with blue sky and sun...sleeping on deck looking at the stars. Superb holiday!

Many thanks again and c u again for sure.... Sue Rennie, Sydney, Australia

How to order ice cream on the high seas while en route to Keci Buku:

In the middle of nowhere, strange man pulls up in boat (just when we thought we were the only people for miles) and tosses metal menu in water. We make selections and toss money in a bucket to him. He loads bucket with prized ice cream. Unforgettable! Rob and Amber were probably hoping the snack would take the edge off our never ending appetites!

Last night on the boat, Joe and I celebrated our 17th anniv in Sailor's Paradise, great name for our last evening port-of-call. We became very attached to our cozy spaces below and vast view up above. We wished we had another week and were so sad to leave all of you. Please extend our congratulations and best wishes to Rob and Amber. They were wonderful hosts of the Ana Maria, and leaving the boat in Keci Buku was the saddest day of our 3 weeks in Europe! Hopefully we will one day sail with your crew in Thailand.

Take care.
Deb Wotton   (Melbourne, Florida)

Just a short note to let you know that Alison and I had a truly wonderful holiday with Seascape! I know this was in large part due to the efforts of you and Ray and the philosophy you have behind what makes a successful sailing trip with a mix of folks from various walks of life. It was just great and we really enjoyed the company of all our sailing mates, fine skipper and chef. I also felt the route and stops we made were very special and well chosen, and the flexibility of approach to daily activities just right. Indeed, South East Asia can get in your blood! With snow on the ground here in Kingston and the temperature at -2C, naturally we're pining to be back in the land of smiles! Alison and I are already thinking about a Greece/Turkey Seascape adventure!

Please pass on my appreciation and very best to Ray.
Chock dee and fair winds,
George   (Kingston ON, Canada)

This trip was so good, that I was ready to sell all my earthly possessions, buy a boat and sail around every where. It was that great. Turkey is fantastic. Lush with history, filled with funny and friendly people - they LOVE to talk to Americans! And there is something surreal about hearing the prayer calls five times a day whether you’re out sailing in southwestern Turkey or walking right next to the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.

Anna & Treb,
Germany

I can't comprehend why I've never gone on a Yacht sailing holiday before. Perhaps I was just waiting for my CD collection to reach perfection so that I could spread enjoyment throughout the rest of the crew :) ......or perhaps NOT !

Please contact me if you want me to tell any prospective crew members how brilliant SeaScape's operation is. (I could also advise them on what music to take with them) :)

I hope Rob has got the outboard going again and that "my" dinghy isn't too deflated.

Cheers for now,
John McCallion, Nottingham, UK.

The Honeymoon Boat!

For 7 years my husband Mike and I had been all talk. We told all of our friends and family that we would one day "do Europe". Travel everywhere- see everything.. but we wanted to do it differently. In a unique non touristy- and yet still educational way that's fun! When our good friends Sarah and Olivier got married in France- the 4 of us found our dream vacation -sailing with Seascape. Mike and I could finally show that actions speak louder than words as we started packing for what turned out to be the most enjoyable, memorable vacation we had ever had! We were sailing through the Greek Islands. The bonus was that we were travelling with our friends.. not knowing that we would make other friendships on board- that would last a lifetime.

Our neurotic worries kicked in.. what if it's too much of a confined space on the boat?.. what if we don't get along with the captain and crew?..what if we would get seasick and would feel as if we were at sea for too long? There was more than enough space for all of us 'campers"- no one was ever seasick.... we learned to have so much fun while giving and taking our shared "roles" on board. Some of us cooked while others cleaned up..it just came down to respect . It really worked. Two couples were even on their honeymoons! And they said it was better than they ever imagined because they could have fun with the group-and still find time for themselves.

We were such a diverse group too- we're Canadian, Sarah and Olivier are American and French, Amy and Bill are American and Steve and Andrea are from St. Thomas. The Captain - Ray- became our friend-pure and simple. He has such a big heart - and bigger sense of humour! We would sit up top while sailing and talk and sing.. or not have to say anything at all- and just watch the most amazing blue water and gorgeous scenery you have ever seen! Off and on we would intermingle with the other sailboat with other wonderful passengers from around the world. Diane was their Captain. She is the warmest person...so easy to talk to. Diane and Ray have made Seascape a company with such integrity. They're really wonderful people.

Mike and I never felt like we were sailing for too long.. we stopped at the most remote islands.. with the most interesting people and amazing sights and sounds. We started in Greece for a week- and then were enjoying ourselves so much.. that we scrapped our Italy plans to sail another week in Our experience with Seascape was beyond our expectations! Please don't hesitate to e-mail us if you have any questions! Thanks Seascape for all of the memories!

ReBecca and Mike, Toronto, Canada

Dear Diane

I can’t thank you enough for our wonderful journey that you organised for us. It was so much more than we ever bargained for. Our first morning aboard, Rob asked if we’d like Bacon & Eggs for breakfast. To be honest, I said no, as I thought he was joking. I had really expected Cereal and fresh fruit each morning. The boat was fantastic, the itinerary couldn’t have been better and I know that our whole family agree, having Rob as our Skipper made the trip. He was such a great guy, entertaining, kept us very well informed of not only what to do onboard, what to do where we stopped and history and information on each island.

Our three lads were especially impressed to have someone young around them. He really was a professional in his handling of the boat and we certainly had some testing weather to deal with and the moorings! What a challenge that was - I never realised that mooring a boat could be so difficult but Rob made it easy for all of us to help and follow his instructions.

As for the itinerary that you planned for us, WOW. Each island had a different experience for us. I think the diving through the tunnel and coming out in the Lagoon was definitely a highlight for everyone. Even though I didn’t take on the challenge, I did manage to row ashore and hand over our digital camera which the boys then proceeded to snap pic’s for me to see what I missed.

If you ever need a testimonial or reference from any future clients/crew, please certainly feel free to give out our email or phone number. We will have nothing but praise to give both your company and Rob.

We arrived home yesterday morning, very weary but so happy to have done what we did. After I get the washing under hand, I will have to start my next task of organising a future adventure. I’m thinking Thailand …..!!!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

With kindest regards

Sue and family, Sydney Australia
P.S. Your home grown tomatoes were the best.

Hi Judy,
I am back from Greece and just want to say what a wonderful time I had aboard the Anna Maria. Rob and Amber were great and I was totally impressed with his competence as skipper and his knowledge of boats and handling them. The two were great hosts and this part of my overall trip was certainly a highlight. I will certainly recommend Seascape Sailing to others.

And now it's back to reality and work!!!!
Thanks for everything   -   Natalie Worthen

 Diane, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

When I signed up for my Seascape vacation I didn’t really know what to expect. I had never been abroad or done an organized group vacation, so I didn’t want to build it up too much in my mind, fearing that might lead to disappointment. I couldn’t have been more wrong! The trip was so much better than anything I could have possibly imagined. The boats, the people, the islands, the entire “Greek life” your trip allowed me to experience are memories I will forever treasure.

The boat was beautiful and stocked with everything imaginable, even including some unimaginables. But, the people, my fellow crewmates and Ray, really made the trip the unbelievable experience that it was. Everyone on the boat got along so well, we learned from each other, enjoyed each other and just generally had a great time together. Ray made me feel at home from the beginning and with some patient training from the crew :), he became a great leader, teacher and friend.

Now, back in my “real” life, I look up at the map of the islands I’ve had posted in my office for almost six months. The islands are no longer just names. When I look at Lipsi, I see the quiet town square where we sat and had a frappe or the beautiful sandy beach just over the hill from the harbor. Kalimnos is the breathtaking sunrise I awoke to, stripes of indescribable color rising over Turkey, framed by the rock cliffs of the harbor entrance, then the chorus of bells as the goats made their descent from those same cliffs. The view from the small café balcony up at the Monastery is what I see instead of the word “Patmos”, the sunset from the abandoned village for Marathy, the small stone house on the side of the harbor with a fishing boat in front replaces the name Arki. You made this possible, and for that I am forever grateful.

The only thing that could have possibly made the trip any better would have been more time...

Thank you again Diane & Ray, for making this such an incredible trip!

Sincerely, Elena Slagle
Vassilis Groupie :)

Hi Diana ... and Ray...and Matthew and Jill and Rob !!

Doug and I just want to tell you guys again how MUCH we enjoyed our two weeks sailing adventure in Greece and Turkey... Just want you to know how much we appreciate all the time and work and love and care that goes into making trips such “time out of time”.

The vision you have for Seascape truly is unique in this nutty world of ours. And, we realize that none of these things happen without lots of just-plain-work on your part, even though you make it appear effortless and laid back ... so - thank you! ... the world needs you guys! carpe diem!

(and Ray ... thanks for the Adventure Dancing in the Savannah Bar ... You are a sweetie!)

all the best, big hugs
Janie & Doug, Annapolis, Maryland

My biggest fears before I came on this trip were that I wouldn't like anyone (or no one would like me!) and that I wouldn't like being on a boat for two weeks. Both of these fears were immediately put to rest the first day. I had an absolutely wonderful time.

I was very nervous because it was my first trip overseas. I felt safe, comfortable, and confident the entire time, thanks to you and the other skippers. Ray, Matt and Jill, Charlie, and yourself were excellent at operating the boats; pointing out the best shops, bars, and beaches; stocking the boats with food and alcohol; and just trying to make sure everyone was having a good time. I really liked it that all of you were so laid-back and relaxed; I think that really influenced everyone else to be that way also. Ray was a great skipper and "galley bitch" - he made the trip fun and provided lots of laughter for the group.

I was a little worried about packing but found that I was able to get it all into a carry-on piece of luggage. There was nothing I didn't pack that I thought I needed. I was on the Angelina, and even though it was the smallest sail boat, it never felt crowded. I got along with 14 of the 16 people on my trip. We really became great friends. Many of us are still in contact (wishing we were back there on the boats) and will probably travel together again.

Turkey was my favorite, but I liked Greece a lot, too! My favorite parts of the trip were the Turkish massage in Datca, renting the motor scooters in Pandeli and Patmos, the lunch stops the last two days where we got to swim and explore, and the food (where else in the world would I get to eat wild boar stew, roasted goat, and homemade dolmades?). I thought the trip combined tiny destinations (like Dirsek) and large destinations (like Bodrum) well. Anyway, as our group got along so well, we had a good time wherever we went!

I hope to take the 10-day sail in Thailand either this fall or next, so maybe I'll see you all again. I am still going to send pictures and Udder Butter as soon as I get it all together, I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things in the real world.

Feel free to use my name and excerpts from my e-mail - i'm happy to answer any questions for prospective sailers if they want a traveler's point of view.

Deanna Sanvi, Illinois

Diane,

Yes, Lisa and I had the "time of our life" with Seascape being the centrepiece of a great month in Europe. The sailing trip exceeded all expectations - and may I compliment our skipper Rob. He is quite a character, extremely knowledgeable and capable (gives you great confidence) - while being very laconic, and funny in an understated way. The combination of the places we went, the food we ate (and what we drank), the people we met - and Rob - made the whole thing very special.

Thank you - you have a great concept and we are singing its praises to everyone!

Malcolm & Lisa Watson, Melbourne, Australia

Extract from an email from one of our 'old hands' to a potential newbie

....Whether it's Diane, Ray or the other SeaScape skippers, they are all VERY knowledgeable, and more than willing to share their knowledge and to allow one to do as much sailing as they want. In the "Singles" groups there have rarely been any people on ANY of the crews I've been on that I had any trouble interacting with. These trips rely a good deal on teamwork to take care of many of the functions of the boats (ie. putting out and taking fenders, tying up lines when we come into port, anchoring, etc.), so the focus is on the group and it's welfare and safety.

There are, I might add, many opportunities esp. when we're ashore to go off on ones own if you are so inclined. Diane and Judy spend a great deal of time and consideration on the placement of clients on the boats, and I have rarely seen any problems. For the most part the clients are "active" people who enjoy the participation, the opportunity of visiting some very unique and beautiful Greek and Turkish villages and the camaraderie of traveling with like-minded people, who later, many times become very good friends. Diane describes the trips as "camping on the water" which I think is an apropos description of the travel, although this is certainly "high end" camping.

For me, to be able to travel and see this amazing part of the world with it's unique blend of history, landscape, people and food, and in addition to do it by traveling by sailboat is just the very best way to experience Greece and Turkey. When I have told Greeks here in the States that I travel in Greece, they always ask where... when I say the Dodecanese, they ALWAYS reply that the Dodecanese are what they consider the REAL Greece, as they are much less "touristy" than most other parts of Greece (ie. the Cyclades Is. (Mykonos, Ios, Santoini, etc.) and even the Ionian Is. (Corfu, etc.) where the tourist traffic can get pretty intense.

So there is my somewhat wordy reply to your inquiry...Diane and the rest of the people that make up SeaScape really are the best and I hope you decide to make the trip with them.
Yiassou!
Barry, Arizona

Diane,

Thanks again for everything. I had a really great trip which according to the friends, family and colleagues I've seen since return, appears to have hit the spot exactly!!!

Thanks also to Rob... it was a big group, and he showed the patience of a saint in making sure everyone had a good time, felt included and had fun. A huge fan of Matthew and Jill, you'll be glad to know I'm now a huge fan of your new skipper team of Rob & David!!! Both were superstars - well done you!

Had a great time with Alexis back in Kos, who welcomed me like one of the family. Worked like clockwork, shame I had to leave so fast.

Thanks again for everything, congratulations on the superb show you are running, and see you again some time...

Miriam, Ireland

We're back in the mainstream without jetlag, and we are filled with love, memories and laughter. We shared our lives for what seemed like only a moment in time, but the experience and friendship will last forever for us. The trip was more than we thought it would be... a credit to your hard work, planning and sense of humor (which was tested on more than one occasion). Thank you for a fantastic trip which we will be sharing in detail with our friends at a dinner party this weekend.

Much love,
Molly et al, Seattle

I miss all your smiling faces, and that Retsina! ...I think we had so many great laughs in that little bar, a fun end to a tremendously awesome vacation! Hope you all had great trips back, except for lucky Diane, Ray, and Barry, who I'm sure all have nicely suntanned bodies by now!

Great Great Great vacation- Diane & Ray, you both are awesome, you should see a few referrals come your way from friends of mine...definitely at the top of my list of favorite vacations.I will treasure the new friends and great fun we had for a long time to come.

Debbie, Seattle

Diane,

I came back yesterday from my first Seascape trip (I say first, because I intend there to be more!). And I just have to say amazing, amazing, amazing.

I admit I was a little nervous at first, being on a boat full of strangers, but now I see what a waste of time that was. I am so impressed by the types of people you attract. They were all fun, adventurous, intelligent and friendly. Rob and Dave (who I affectionately refer to now as the Odd Couple) were incredible at all of the Skippering responsibilities, which as you know go above and beyond sailing. I’ve been raving about it so much I already have three interested friends.

My only disappointment was that I only got to do it for a week. Oh well, guess I’ll just have to do the whole two weeks on my second trip. I’d better start practicing my winching…

Thanks for everything!   Doreen, NYC

Diane,

First, let me just tell you what a wonderful time I had on my trip to Greece and Turkey. David was really an excellent skipper. Having never sailed before, I hadn't thought about the skipper one way or the other before the trip, but in retrospect, he really made a big difference. He encouraged me to try things I didn't think I could do and was endlessly patient with all of us... I don't know how he did it sometimes. I suspect the ability to deal with many different kinds of people in somewhat stressful circumstances is key to being good at the job, but anyway I just wanted to let you know what a great job he did and also what a all-round excellent experience I had on the trip.

Jane, The Netherlands

Ahoy All,

Just to chime in with the others to say that Jose and I had an absolutely fabulous holiday, and the best part was getting to know so many terrific people. We've been working our way through the photos ... shocking to see how many of those from the Vasyphilis involve food and drink while those from the Gonomarrhea were clearly more focused on the beauty of the natural surroundings. We knew you were the more serious crew (did I say boring?) and the photographic record proves it ;-)

So I'm sitting at my desk working on the fifth revision of the report that won't die and won't go away... wish we were sailing!

Terri & Jose, Italy

We had a fabulous time in Greece - Seascape provided a one of a kind experience. I wouldn't change a thing (...well, maybe I could have done w/out the broken arm, but still...)! I can't even put into words how much we enjoyed the trip - Rob and Amber are absolutely without equal!
We missed out on the contact list, could you forward it to me so that I have everyone's email addresses so we can share pictures and stay in touch? There are many people we met that we'd like to keep in contact with in the future. Thanks and I'll be sure to share the secret of Seascape with anyone who seems interested.
Delise Munroe  -   Anna Maria, Kos-Leros Sept 9-15

......and we'd just like to mention that our trips are now officially "Veterinary recommended"!

Hello!

I hope you can pass this on the wonderful crew that we had on our two week trip in Sept/Oct. It was a trip of a lifetime for me! I was aboard the Anna Maria with Mathew and Jill. They were super hosts, guides, chefs, and friends to all of us on the trip. Diana was a first rate leader and organizer of chaos! How do you get bunches of people from one place to the next so smoothly? Ray, well , no one can order starters nor make his sailing companions more at ease then he can. Cheers to you! Darryl, the backgammon king and maker of outstanding bruchetta...good luck with your future endevours! I have and will continue to highly recommend Seascapes for the greatest sailing adventures!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Steva-the-vet
(ps...Diana, let me know if you still need cats neutered..haha)

Subject: Thanks lots and lots

Dear Di,
Sorry for taking so long to write to say thank you for an absolutely brilliant holiday!! Stu and I had the best time and for me personally it was my break of a lifetime. When I got back friends have said that they haven't seen me this relaxed for years and years. The trip filled all my expectations and beyond. It is not often you get good company, good times, good food and wine in such a spectacular setting together all at the same time. There were a few tears when we got to Mamaris!!

We've been in touch with Tracy and Dan since we got back and I think that they will be good friends.

We've also got our photos back. Tell RJ we had a few decent sunset shots, and gratefully Cardiff gave us a beautiful one when we landed too, so it didn't seem so bad when we got back. The pictures have sparked a real interest with our friends. A couple are getting married next summer and have shown an interest in chartering one of your boats with along with me, Stu and some other friends for their honeymoon. Some people are very strange! The only potential flaw in this is that they want to go to Thailand too and can't decide!

Sorry if this letter sounds a bit cheesy! We just had such a brilliant time... we will be back.

Give my love and hugs to RJ, Deb and Dave, and see you next summer

Tanya & Stu (Cardiff, Wales)

I did the Seascape Greece week in June as a birthday gift to myself and it was so spectacular, I decided to go back again and do the Turkey week this season. If you've been on a Seascape trip, you know how phenomenal it is b/c you're going back. If you haven't, I doubt you will be disappointed. My friend was so upset when the last trip ended that she cried. This time I'm solo, so looking forward to making lots of new friends! Perhaps even some that I can sail with in the future!

Belinda, Savannah GA

Diana and Carole -
Just wanted to take the time to say a huge thanks and WOW for our trip with the company. As was witnessed first hand by Diana, our whole group had smiles plastered on our faces the entire time! We really appreciate all that was done to make our group's dream sailing trip come to fruition.

The trip was everything we expected and more. We took to heart the information provided on the website and the wonderful document "101 things to know." It really was camping on water and was quite the adventure! Although our entire group were pretty much first time sailors, we were well-prepared for brief showers, shared spaces with others, and living life in our shorts, swimsuits, and sunglasses! Everything you said was right on - we were psyched for the wonderful time to be had!

It was also great to be put at ease about living on the boat for a week by our skipper and bonus first mate, Matthew and Jill! The entire group was thrilled with the personal attention and yet space they provided for our group. Really, whatever we needed they provided. Matthew and Jill kept us happy with fruit and nuts, Coke, Diet Coke, rum and beer (because that was all we ever asked for :>)!

And they always made sure we were pointed in the right direction whenever we were at a new island. They arranged scooters for us, got us maps, even came with us at times to steer us in the right direction ! Yet we did have our own room and space on the boat as a group - we were all amazed at how we could still have peace and relaxation with eight of us on board!

We hope that we can someday return to sail those blue waters. I have submitted my story line to our military newspaper Stars and Stripes and certainly hope it gets some business coming your way!

If you ever need anything from us, just ask! We like to think we are part of the sailing family now - like alumni? HA!

And a huge thank you yet again!
Theresa(and Troy) Wesson, Germany

I just wanted to thank you for such a fantastic trip! I would recommend it to anyone - I had the time of my life! I am missing Greece now that I am back at work. I hope to return again some day.

Pass on my thanks to Dave. He was a fantastic skipper and put up with us surprisingly well, especially towards the end of the trip when we started getting cabin fever. (An obsession over triangles developed...I am sure he remembers it well).

All the best   -   Sarah (Greece Trip on Angelina August 7-20)

Thank you for the trip of a lifetime. Who would have ever thought that a boatful of strangers could have so much fun and get along so well? Maybe it's because it takes a bit of "adventure in your spirit" to sign up in the first place!

I'd say that the proof of our compatibility is that we've gotten together since our time on Vassilis! Barry and Tracy were houseguests for a few days when they came for a wedding in New York, and Fran and Michelle were here for dinner last August. It's amazing that even though we all came from different regions, we're able to stay in touch. Now it's your turn! We'd love to see you guys again (either here or on a future trip)!     Hugs from both of us   -   Stu and Alex

Judy,

It's been hard to settle back into normal life. I just wanted to let you know I count this as one of my best vacations ever! David was an awesome leader while feeling like he was part of our group. We had the perfect combination of people on our boat. The water & islands were the best! We all said we should get the same group of us together again for another sailing adventure. I just cannot say enough to everyone I tell about my vacation what a wonderful experience this was for me!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Cherri, Kirkland Seattle