Jim Araiza went to Hollywood for an interview with E! Entertainment Television and answered a few questions for their “Summer Entertainment Guide News Special”.  The show (check local listings for airtime) covers a number of packages on what’s hot this summer from vacation spots, yachts, jets, to new gadgets – basicically what you’ll find in the pages of Yacht Vacations & Charters Magazine!

What is it about yachting that is exotic and exciting?
It’s all about “exploration”  and the mystery that unfolds as you cruise, especially in the tropics of the Caribbean.  From the oceanside, the islands look much as they did when pirates and explorers sailed the Caribbean. There are still old forts and cannons, and shipwrecks.  On shore, you see the real world - cars, traffic, crowds. But at sea, you see the real beauty of the islands as you cruise from one island to the next. Of course, pirates could never dream of the onboard amenities enjoyed by modern “explorers!” Charter guests enjoy gourmet meals, ondeck Jacuzzis, and all the perks of a five-star resort.  
 
What are the advantages to chartering a yacht over just going on a cruise?
Flexibility.  In essence, when you charter a yacht, the owner hands you the keys and says, “She’s all yours!” You become the owner of the vessel, and the master of her attentive crew.  You come and go as you please. On a charter, you will never hear a crewmember say, “Make sure you are back onboard by 5 as we need to get underway.” That NEVER happens - guaranteed!
 
Why do celebrities prefer to charter?
Pampering and luxury amenities are important, but you find them at any resort or spa. PRIVACY is first and foremost! When you spend your life in the limelight, you crave any chance to get away and just be yourself.   The paparazzi can stake out a rented villa or a hotel for a glimpse of a star. That’s rarely a problem with a yacht.  Nobody boards the yacht without the express permission of the charterer. Plus, once you pull away from the dock, no one knows where you are going unless you want them to know!

Can you list some celebrities who have chartered yachts for their vacations?
It’s no secret that many A-list celebrities enjoy yachting.  Rod Stewart, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and others have talked about their yachting vacations on late-night talk shows, and the paparazzi have captured distant shots of folks like Mariah Carey, Matt Damon, and Brad Pitt onboard charter yachts.
 
What are the hot vacation spots?
St. Barts in the Caribbean is always popular, especially over the year-end holidays.  On New Year’s Eve, the yachts dock side by side, to allow the guests to watch the fireworks show and “yacht-hop,” going from one yacht party to the next. For solitude, the Bahamas are a fantastic spring destination.  You can pull your yacht up to a mile-long beach with sugar-white sand,  and not see another person for hours! In the summer, the top destination is the French Riviera.  St. Tropez, Cannes, Nice, and nearby Monte Carlo offer European sophistication and old-world charm.