Covid Safe Private Boats Phuket
5 Star Marine aims to be an industry leader and when it comes to Covid Safety, Health and Cleanliness we have taken extensive measures to ensure that our boats, our crew, our policies, and procedures are industry-leading.
Take a look at some of the steps we’ve taken to ensure your safety while on the water with us.
Santhiya Resort Koh Yao Yai Transfers
Santhiya Resort Koh Yao Yai Transfers
Our team was lucky enough to recently visit and stay at Santhiya Resort Koh Yao Yai as they are offering Post Covid specials which are simply spectacular. The Santhiya Resort has been one of our dream places to visit and stay as we often do return Private Boat Transfers to the resort as well as Private Boat Excursions from the resort.
We were not disappointed by Santhiya Resort. The infinity pool looking out into Phang Nga Bay and over to Phuket has to be the highlight of the entire resort. Relaxing in the pool, having a quiet drink, and watching the sunset in one of the most picturesque areas of Phuket cannot be missed.
Also, all rooms at the resort have fantastic views out into Phang Nga Bay, and the rooms we stayed in all held spas on the balconies making for a nice touch. The resort has some amazing woodwork making it all have a very authentic Thai feel.
The beach that affronts Santhiya Resort Koh Yao Yai is always quiet. It’s not an extremely well-known tourist destination but it is fantastic for swimming and young children. Lucus, our 7-year-old, had a great time playing on the beach, chasing crabs, and swimming in the calm seas.
Being a Private Boat company here in Phuket we are happy to offer the services of our boats and crew for anyone looking to get away from the mainland and have a break. Santhiya is offering amazing deals right now. Contact us to find out how we can offer you a Private Boat Transfer to Santhiya Resort or combine a day trip with a stopover at Santhiya Resort.
What Is 5 Star Marine Doing To Make Private Boat Hires Safe Post Covid19?
What Is 5 Star Marine Doing To Make Private Boat Hires Safe Post Covid19?
We are very aware of how the Covid19 pandemic has affected us locally here in Phuket but also all of our international friends and customers. Being parents of a 7-year-old boy we are as equally concerned as any other parent about ensuring every activity we undertake is safe, clean, and the right healthy choice.
With this in mind, during this slow down in tourism, we as a company have taken a number of steps to make sure we provide a clean and virus-free environment for all of our customers.
Boat Renovations and Deep Cleaning
We were one of the first companies in Phuket to pull our boats out of the water and book them in with the island’s best renovation team. During the renovation of both of our VIP Private Speedboats, we had a deep cleaning undertaken.
All paint was sanded back to its original layer, new paint was applied, all surfaces were disinfected and cleaned. This disinfection and cleaning happen on a weekly basis while the boat sits idle at our parking.
Equipment Disinfection
All of the equipment that we use onboard inclusive of life jackets, fins, ice boxes, ropes, and more were all disinfected, cleaned, and sealed in storage containers. When we resume regular tours we will complete the disinfection process again prior to our first travelers joining us.
Single-Use Masks / Snorkels
If you follow us regularly on Facebook you will notice that we have opted to change our process of providing masks and snorkels to customers. Instead of providing them, we will offer a “Covid Kit” to our customers that include a full face mask and snorkel which you can take home at the end of the tour.
Our Covid Kit will include a number of other items to ensure cleanliness and safety from the virus while onboard and visiting the islands. Just contact us to ask what the kit includes.
Quarantine Of Staff
All of our Guide Team, Captain Team, Crew Team, and Admin Team undertook a 28-day Quarantine to ensure as the virus spread they were not in contact with anyone that was at risk of having the virus.
Additionally, our staff are all required to wear masks, carry hand sanitizer, and complete Airborne Pathogen Training so they know how to limit the risk of spreading a virus like Covid19.
Accreditation
The Thai Government is offering an accreditation program that allows businesses like ours to develop a set of guidelines for our employees, suppliers, and customers to follow to ensure the safe use of our private boats.
We are one of the first 1442 tourism businesses in all of Thailand to adopt this accreditation program. We believe from our research we may be one of the only 2 Private Speedboat Tour companies in Phuket to adopt this accreditation process.
Additionally we have mandated our staff to undertake Airborne Pathogen accreditation and training as well.
5 Star Marine Providing Safe, Health Conscious Private Boat Tours
Once travel is allowed to resume and it’s safe for you to join us on Private Boat Tours we look forward to welcoming you onboard and having a great, safe time with us. We take pride in being industry leaders and hopefully you can see we have been taking major leaps forward to ensure you have a safe and fun time with us.
Family Celebrations and Experiences Done The 5 Star Way!
Family Celebrations and Experiences Done 5 Star Way!
You probably don’t know it, but the team here at 5 Star Marine are extensively experienced in creating and executing family celebrations, romantic experiences, and wedding receptions that integrate amazing scenery, beautiful blue water, and private islands.
Let me give you a few examples:
New Years Day Serenade –
We had a client join us from Spain and as part of his plans for New Years Day, he hired one of our VIP Private Speedboats for a custom program tour that included James Bond Island, Canoeing through the Hongs, and snorkeling at a quiet spot in Hong Krabi.
The client had specifically requested a Private Island Sunset Dinner complete with a live acoustic band. To make this happen we split our teams up, we had the “on boat team” of Guide, Manager, Captain, Engineer, and Host looking after the customer as they did the tour.
The second team went to the private island, set up a romantic sunset dinner location, prepared their custom meal, set up the band, and did a sound test. On arrival the band played a very special song that was specifically requested by the client, dinner was served as was a custom drinks menu.
After sunset, the band played into the evening and we transferred the client back via our VIP Private Boat. This is just one example of a unique and special experience we can craft upon request.
50th Wedding Anniversary –
We had a family group of 20 people join us on a private custom Phi Phi Island tour. The tour was to celebrate the 50th Wedding Anniversary of our client.
We organized Snorkeling, Diving, Jet Skiing, and more while on tour. While our “on tour team” were looking after the clients at Phi Phi we had our “Island Team” setting up a private island dinner for 20 people complete with a sound system for music and speeches.
A custom dinner menu was created, drinks were served, our DJ played an array of old and new songs and the speeches were moving. At the end of the evening, we transferred the clients safely back to their hotels. This is just one example of a unique and special experience we can craft upon request.
Post Wedding Tour –
We were delighted to have an Australian Bride and Groom select a Private Custom Tour to James Bond Island, Hong Island, Panyee Island, and more as part of their wedding plans.
Upon completing the wedding ceremony we transferred the Bride and Groom and their guest to our pier where we took them on a private tour complete with a wedding reception lunch.
Drinks were flowing on board as was a custom playlist on our VIP Private Speedboat sound system. A truly unique way to have a post-wedding celebration and one that will be remembered by all who attended for years to come.
If you have a dream, an idea, or a plan that you would like to implement contact our team here at 5 Star Marine about how we can any dream come true and design a memorable experience for you and your friends, family, or even team members.
5 Star Marine Helping The Local Community During Covid 19 Pandemic
If you follow us on Facebook or Instagram you’d notice that the team at 5 Star Marine are working closely with the local community to help get support to those who need it.
Over the last few weeks, we have been donating rice, water, chicken, beef, and more to communities that have been significantly affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. To understand Phuket is a tourism town. When our government made the decision to lock our borders almost all of the people of Phuket were out of work.
This led to a lot of people running out of money and food. Seeing this need our team snapped into action and started organizing food and supplies for families that needed it. Through our work, over the last few weeks, we have donated over 4000 Kilograms of Rice, over 3000 bottles of water, more than 200 Kilograms of Chicken and so much beef we lost count.
All these donations have been financed by the team behind 5 Star Marine. We have not sought donations from our customers we have worked with our team and the team from Sutai Muay Thai to put these donations together directly.
We don’t write this to hope for praise, what we hope for is your support.
Support The Businesses That Support The Community With Your Custom!
When travel restrictions are lifted, and they will be lifted, we hope that those of you who do choose to travel to Phuket that you choose to support businesses like ours that helped out in the time of need.
Don’t get me wrong, we are not the only business helping, there are restaurants, dive shops, hotels, and more helping out. What we hope to see is that you choose to eat at those restaurants, dive with those dive shops, stay at those hotels and go on private boats with companies that are helping.
These are the companies that are working with heart during these hard times and we should reward those companies with our custom. Just like we plan to. When we can we will visit these restaurants, eat there and we will repay there kindness with the thing that counts to them, customers.
Private Boat Lucus 1 Renovation And Covid19 Deep Cleaning
During the Corona Virus (Covid19) period we here at 5 Star Marine Phuket decided it would be ideal to take our Private Boat, Lucus 1 out of the water for yearly maintenance. During this maintenance period, we did a deep clean on Lucus 1.
What Is A Deep Clean?
All fixtures and fittings from the private boat were removed. This includes seats, roofs, masks, snorkels, life jackets, and more. We removed everything off the boat and cleaned all of these fixtures and fittings in anti-bacterial solutions. Once they were cleaned in the anti-bacterial solution we then cleaned them again per our normal process.
We wanted to be 100% sure that we had completely removed any risk of contamination. Now while we say this it’s important to note that we have no record of any guests, staff, or crew contracting Covid19 and we stay regularly in contact with our guests.
In addition to cleaning the fixtures and fittings of the private boat, we also took the time to use an anti-bacterial solution to clean the boat itself. This combined with the fact that we sanded back to our base original paint and then re-painted the boat means that Lucus 1 is one of the cleanest and newest looking Private Boats in Phuket.
Lucus 1 Private Boat Refurbishment Photos
We look forward to seeing you all back onboard Lucus 1 and conducting Private Boat Tours once this Covid19 period has passed.
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy.
Corona Virus And Phuket Private Boat Tours
All parts of the world are concerned about the current Corona Virus health crisis, which is fully understandable considering the quick growth of the virus and the uncertainty it is creating.
Here at 5 Star Marine Phuket, we have been taking steps to help our local staff, local suppliers, and local operators to prepare for an extended period of low to no charters.
As a tourism driver island, Phuket is feeling the effect of international flight cancellations and government-mandated travel bans. With that said the locals and us believe that this momentary dip in travel will be for the greater good.
It gives us a chance as a company to reflect on what we can do to improve our business, clean up the popular areas of Phuket and prepare better tourism management plans in the future.
For those travelers who were affected by the Corona Virus here at 5 Star Marine, we are extending a full refund as the Corona Virus was in no way something that you have or had control over. For a refund please contact us via email and we will advise you of the simple process.
We do hope though, that as things recover that you choose to come back and visit Phuket and book a Private Boat through us here at 5 Star Marine.
During this quiet time, our staff is dedicating their time to maintenance, cleaning, and stock management. While the English-speaking management and guides are volunteering to help tourists navigate visa issues as well as finding flights home.
Stay safe during this period!
With Love
Shaun, Lisa, Tony, Nut, Jin, Got, Lift, and Omar
Is It Possible To Request Beachside Or Hotel Pick Ups?
By default, any private boat tour booked with the 5 Star Marine team direct will include a transfer from your hotel across to our pier. For those of you who are looking for something a little more VIP or Unique, we offer a Hotel and/or Beachside pick-up.
For a small additional fee, we will move our boat from our pier up to your hotel or beachside and pick you up directly. This saves on transfer time and provides a unique and often romantic experience for you and your fellow guests.
Recently we have completed hotel pick-ups from Trisara Resort, The Surin, Panwa, Surin Beach, and Bangtao Beach to name just a few. If you are looking for ways to customize your tour and make it unique just ask us.
Nothing is too much for us and with our team of experienced captains and guides, we can navigate most beaches and hotel pick-ups. All you need to do is ask!
Book Tours Before Arriving Or On Arrival To Phuket?
I often see people asking whether they should book tours before arriving in Phuket or on arrival at Phuket at the street vendors. Whenever someone posts something like this the local community has different thoughts, ideas, and advice for the person writing the post.
After 11 years here booking tours myself, being part of a tour company, and also running a private boat marine business my advice is a little conflicted. If you plan to do a group tour, then generally you will find it best to book once you arrive in Phuket as you can compare prices at different agents.
The only exception to that is if you wish to book one of the premium tour providers like Phuket Sail Tours or Simba Tours. These companies generally book out well ahead of time and as such it’s best to at least reserve a spot prior to arriving.
So if you plan to book a group tour that sits in the “general” category and not in the small group or VIP tour category then I would strongly recommend to you that you should research before you arrive and then book on the ground.
We Recommend Booking Private Boats In Advance
But if you are booking with a popular tour provider in the VIP or Small Group category then I would suggest that you reserve. Then when it comes to Private Boats you should also reserve the boat if you wish to go with a reputable private boat provider.
For example here at 5 Star Marine, we pre-sell more than 75% of our month weeks or months in advance as we are a popular and reputable provider. If you land in and try to secure a private boat you may not get the date you want, the price you want, or even the boat you want.
If you’d like more advice feel free to contact us.
Does 5 Star Marine Do Group Tours?
We receive a lot of inquiries via Facebook, WhatsApp, and Email from Solo travelers looking to join tours with 5 Star Marine. While we are aware that the experiences that we provide are extremely unique and memorable it’s important to understand that they are this way as no tour is the same.
We customize each tour to the customers on the boat. If our customers love to snorkel then we go to multiple snorkeling locations. If our customers love to relax on the beach, we go to multiple quiet and idyllic beach locations.
To do this kind of customized tour means that we are limited to just Private Tours. This means it’s just you and your traveling companions on the boat with our crew and guide.
Now for a Solo Traveller, this can be expensive as you are not splitting the cost with other travelers or with your family. The reality is if you compare our company, 5 Star Marine, to a typical group tour company we are more expensive.
But at a group tour company, you’ll have anywhere from 25 to 75 people on the boat. So if you have 75 people all paying 1300 THB per person then these group tour companies are making significantly more than us as a Private Boat Tour provider.
The reason we decided to do only Private Tours is we can craft, and execute programs that suit just you and ensure 100% satisfaction 100% of the time. This is why we receive 5 Star Trip Advisor and Facebook Ratings and people rave about what we do.
We are customizing the tour for you and ensuring that you have the most memorable time we can give you.
