March 8/9.2013

Dear Rich,

We have just reached our apartment and still cannot recover ;)) after our fantatastic time that we spent on your Shangani.

Rich, once again, we would like to thank you for having the chance to get to know Pang Nga together with your crew.
We are amazed by what we had seen.
We will remeber it for the rest of our lives.
We wish you all the best

Pawel Piotr Adam Iwona Kasia Iwona
Poland




9 day Shangani cruise January 2013

Just a quick follow-up to again express what a pleasure it was to meet you, Richard, and to have time talking with you. I also really appreciated everything you did to make my own time and our group's time excellent in Thailand. I was very impressed with your Captain, Hostess, Chef and crew. I think your upper deck is a lovely spot. The after outer area is great. The main lounge and dining area is great. I think you did a good job designing a nice yacht and I do feel you have a wonderful crew on board!

Mary Crowley, Ocean Voyages Institute Founder and Director. January 2013

Mary Crowley is a former Oceanic Society Director who has spent the past 31 years searching out the world's best boats and crews.




“Richard we’d like to thank you and the Shangani crew for a fantastic day out. When we first emailed you, we were delighted to find out that this was the largest capacity yacht available in Phuket. The planning for 50 guests to be taken out on a pre-wedding day excursion was made so easy by yourself; you responded quickly and so enthusiastically to all my emails and calls, there really wasn’t a lot for me to arrange. This pre departure communication efficiently shouldn’t be underestimated; the stress normally involved in arranging trips from overseas was non-existent, your suggested itineraries were a great help, the booking process just so easy and then you kept us regularly up to date and teased with anticipation of the day out.

The 5 minibuses you arranged whisked us away on time for the short trip to Ao Po marina, where you greeted us. There was even a ‘happy pre-wedding day’ sign for us on the side of Shangani – brilliant for photos!

The crew were fabulous; welcoming, helpful, skilled, safety conscious, they were lovely people who provided for our every need throughout the day.

Our guests had travelled a long way for our wedding and for some of them this was a once in a lifetime trip, so we wanted to spoil them with a trip out on the yacht – and you did, it was a perfect day and one that we will all remember forever (with slight alcohol haziness!). We honestly had a truly amazing fun filled day and we sincerely thank you and the crew for all your help.

We’ll definitely be back and would have no hesitation in highly recommending the Shangani to anyone.

I’ve read your other testimonials and wanted to provide some useful, unique feedback, but I don’t know what else to say: The pre-trip planning was easy as pie, the transfers were smooth as Phuket roads allow(!) and the day out surpassed all our expectations, it was awesome! Thank you so much, Graeme & Melanie”

Oct 24 th 2012




Dear Richard,

It has taken a while for things to settle down after all the Wedding celebrations but I now have time to drop you a quick line to thank you for such an incredible boat trip aboard Shangani on Sunday, 26th February 2012. Organising a post Wedding boat trip was the perfect way to end the holiday and I am grateful that you were able to accommodate us.

All of our guests cannot speak highly enough of the amazing day they had with us aboard Shangani, just spectacular! It was a superb boat and the crew did a fantastic job. Sue and her team looked after us all very well. I was so pleased to be greeted with lemongrass iced tea when we boarded Shangani. This was something I had requested at my Wedding which was overlooked, so it was a lovely surprise and Sue made sure I always had a glass in my hand - perfect! In addition, the lunch was also delicious! As you know, we had specifically requested a BBQ style as well as the Shangani noodles that you had suggested. Everything was top notch and went down a treat!

I am glad we were able to discuss all our requirements with you before the trip as it made all the difference and everything was so well organised. The route we took covered snorkelling and the "secret Shangani beach" which suited us perfectly. We hoped for a few more fish when we stopped to snorkel but it was still a good spot. A few guests mentioned they had a problem with their mask and snorkel but we still had lots of fun and it was a bonus to have all the gear on board available for us to use. The "Shangani beach" was lovely...totally deserted, clean and without rocks. Everyone loved the beach games so that was a big hit! I particularly enjoyed the kayaks and a group of us used these a lot paddling backwards and forwards between the boat and the "Shangani beach".

We all have many, many happy memories of our boat trip aboard Shangani and I only wish we could have booked another trip! I can honestly say that each and every guest thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of the boat trip. The icing of the cake was a wonderful banner which read "Just Married" on the side of the boat! We just loved this - thank you!

Please pass on our very best wishes to your crew. Hamish and I am sure we'll be back to Phuket at some point in the future and will definitely give you a call to book our next trip aboard Shangani!

All the best - Emma & Hamish McKendrick




We have returned home from week-long Yacht trip on the Shangani. I could not believe how much my experience was changed with the constant attention and care the crew provided. Captain Moo, Sue - and their entire crew always made sure we were safe, always were there to pick us up in the raft, cooked amazing food, and made our scuba adventure effortless. It was truly one of the best travel experiences of my life.

Chris Chowaniec - Chicago - February 2012




Hi Richard,


A huge... huge... thank you for making our day so unbelievably amazing and way beyond our expectations. Our family and friends have not stopped raving about the day and I think you will have a few visitors in the future making a return trip. The team on board were unbelievable and made the day so special for us, especially their efforts at making multiple jugs of cocktails. The food was perfect, the yacht was the nicest yacht I have ever seen, and probably will ever go on. I particuarly loved the "Getting married soon" flag, it just set off the day so well and was a lovely surprise. All in all I could not have hoped for any more and please thank the team again for making it so special.


I will post some photos when I get home of the trip. The big day is tomorrow and I am very excited!


Thanks Again
Ange and Chris ;-)
5 th March .2012




Stead/ Sadler Party 1-5/11/09


Great Experience, fantastic locations, the staff were amazing! They were all really caring and attentive. We felt well looked after and very safe.

The only negative feedback we have is the plumbing which seems to be an issue.

 

Please Note: "We have since replaced all the toilets and plumbing systems with state of the art vacumm toilets so there is now no issue. We dont mind negative comments!"


All in all a truly memorable 80th birthday for our mother

Many thanks to all the crew.




Hey Rich,


Well what else can we say but a big WOW !!!!!


All the photos we have seen of her just don’t do justice to the final product, Thanks very much for the privilege of allowing us aboard Shangani to enjoy her and your delightful family, A special thanks of course must go to MOO – he has the capacity of ten men and couldn’t have a more pleasant nature – you gotta hold onto him !!


But even more so a very big WELL DONE to you – your vision has finally taken place and we are sure you will get all the business you desire


Once again THANKS VERY MUCH for a fantastic few days


We will keep in touch


Regards

Norts and Jen




Hello Richard,


We have just arrived home to a freezing England, and our Shangani holiday seems just like a dream!


We just want to say what a wonderful time we all had. As you know, it was a long awaited family reunion - some from Australia and some of us from UK, most had never been on a boat before - and it was the perfect meeting point.


We all thought Shangani was the ultimate in luxury, and we had such fun kayaking and snorkelling, and exploring those beautiful islands. Wonderful memories for the children, of swimming with the turtles!


Special thanks to Moo and Oy for looking after us so well.


Big thank you again

Jane and Mike




Thank you so much for a wonderful cruise on Shangani - it was one of the best holidays we have ever had! We shall certainly recommend it to friends.


Mike and Jenny, Sydney.




The cruise was wonderful! We had a great time, all of us, adults and children.
The Food was excellent, as well as the crew.


Thanks for everything!
Regards,
Vincent




Had an exceptional 4 day cruise on Shangani with close friends (6 couples) and did not want it to end... All guests in our group have all had luxury charter boat experiences in various parts of the world and this cruise would rate as one of the very best. The boat is magnificent with all the space and luxuries one needs for total comfort. The cuisine was outstanding throughout, however the icing on the cake were the crew, extremely friendly, fun and very well trained. They were a delight to be with.

We will definitely be back and highly recommend to others


Regards. Neil.
NEIL PALMER
Chief Executive Officer
Per AQUUM RETREATS • RESORTS • RESIDENCES




Dear Richard

This is a note of thanks to you and the whole Shangani crew for a wonderful week. We had chosen the Shangani because of the catamaran yacht being more stable than a mono hull and the protected seas around the Phang Nga /Krabi / Phi Phi areas making it ideal for anyone not necessarily used to spending a few days on the water as some of us were.

I have to say that we were not disappointed at all, the boat was extremely stable as we knew it would be and we enjoyed every minute. The crew were great and tended to our every need preparing beautiful food, taking us to some fantastic places, making sure kayaks and snorkelling gear were ready, and our beers were cold. The weather gods also played ball with near perfect weather for the whole week, not bad for July. A charter trip like this is so different to the day trips on offer by other providers where you speed from one place to the next and there are loads of other tourists around. Cruising around you often had bays and beaches to yourselves and went off the beaten track a bit to see sights the day trippers wouldn’t get to see.

Some standout sightseeing highlights of the trip were the fantastic islands standing up out of the sea and kayaking the hongs in Phang Nga Bay, the many beautiful beaches, the longtail boat fisherman way of life, monkeys on monkey beach, the fish life around the Chicken and Phi Phi Islands. Another thing is the exceptional sunsets; you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the world that can compete. We would have loved for the trip to never end.

We will highly recommend the Shangani to anyone who is looking for a trouble free relaxing holiday on the water around Phuket. We found this trip to be not only for the spaciousness of the yacht but also due to the great well trained crew who seemed to be one step ahead knowing what we were wanting and ensuring we had a great time while onboard. I say crew, but in reality I felt they were more than crew but friends as well, sharing in each others lives for the week while still maintaining the professionalism required for such a charter operation.

Fortunately we have a load of photos and video for us to remember our holiday by and so can share our experiences with others. I wouldn’t be surprised if we somehow find our way back again.

Thanks once again.

Kindest Regards
Phil, Anna, Hamish and Thomas Goodall
Nelson, New Zealand.
July 2010




Hello Richard

We had a beautiful Sunday out on the Shangani.

The bus transport arrived on time and we were all on board the Shangani by 10 am. The day started rather cloudy and we had a light rain for about half hour. By the time we arrived at the first island, (I forgot the name) the weather has cleared somewhat and we even had sunshine for a couple of hours.

Lunch was absoloutle delicious. Bo really took care of us and we were never short on refreshments.

The little island bar afterwards ( again, I forgot the name) was divine. We stopped there for an hour for another swim. We got back to the Marina at 6.30 pm.

It was a gorgeous day out at sea and it was lovely to discover the coast of Phuket and of course, a fabulous way to celebrate my birthday.

Your crew was very helpful and friendly and we were all very pleased with the boat - comfortable and beautiful.

Thank You Richard and I will be sure to mention the Shangani to all my other friends.

Best Regards
Latiffa Suhdi




January 29th 2013

From start to finish the experience was truly amazing. I have to thank Rich personally for his help in organising the pickup and trip and also for ensuring the day went as planned. We hired the yacht as part of a 30 strong bachelor party, some people may have looked at this with fear but the staff and crew welcomed us with open arms and were highly accommodating. Not only was the whole day an amazing experience but it added to the whole wedding experience for all of us. Some people had travelled thousands of miles to experience the wedding and the trip was beyond their wildest dreams. We managed to visit some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand all in the space of 12hours, something some people never get the opportunity to do. A particular highlight for the entire group was the inflatable Jacuzzis that floated off the back of the boat and came with their own inflatable beer cooler, man heaven!

I would be more than happy to recommend Rich and his crew to anybody visiting or living in Thailand. And I look forward to the day when I get to take part in the experience again.

Many thanks from all of those that took part.
Scott Kingsley




Feb 22,2013
Day charter to our secret beach.Two days before the Wedding Hi Richard

The feedback was excellent. they loved the boat, the crew and the beach.

I realise these clients have really been to and seen the best around the world, so big compliments for you!

Jeanette Skelton
Wedding Planner,Luxury events Phuket




Dear Richard

The trip was great
We loved it especially all the water Jacuzzi
Thank you so much for your hospitality
The food were great too

Regards,
Vathu Hongladaromp
Aromatic Supply (Thai Oil)
6 Dec 2012




22 Pax , 22.Nov,2012

Richard, this was the most amazing experience. Everyone had such a great time. The staff were fantastic, so attentive. Just an absolutely fabulous day around that everyone will remember for years to come. Thank you so much and please pass on my thanks and gratitude to the whole crew and your lovely wife Jeab.

Regards,
Nick Schmitz




Richard and the entire crew of the Shangani created an unforgettable 40th!

I wanted to create a special weekend for 15 guests coming into Phuket for a long weekend from all over the world, and Richard worked with me in meticulous detail to organize an outstanding itinerary, coordinating around different flight schedules, etc. for what ended up being the perfect holiday for all. The Shangani is the perfect retreat, not to mention all the activities and sights along the way. The crew was a delight and took great care of us, right down to our private masseuse. The Shangani exceeded my high expectations and the memories will last a lifetime.




Hi Richard

We are just returning from the day out and had a fantastic time.
The boat was fantastic and the best part by far was your crew. They went out of their way to help us.
We really had a great time.
Thank you very much !!

Regards,
Sanjay




Hi Richard

Yes, the big boss of the company said they were all very happy and was pleasantly surprised that there were light lunch when they board followed by a bbq later… all their staff had a great day out, and Shangani is a superb yacht. It’s really great as well that you can take up to 40 persons, as there are not many yachts of your standard out there that accommodates a group of 20 to 40.




We are back in Switzerland in the meantime and we hardly believe, what we had experienced.

The Villa Sanyanga was even more beautiful than on the pictures. We were amazed about the huge rooms and the beautiful landscaped swimming area. Lily coddled us with awesome food and her obliging kind was magic. Everything was straighten and clean. The driver was always accurate and provided us with fresh beer J. It was like a dream and we enjoyed the villa. There is absolutely nothing that not worked fine. It was gorgeous!

The two days on the Shangani were the ultimate experience! What a yacht, what lovely people! Our expectations were exceeded, all our dreams came real! I hardly find words to describe what we had. The food was phantastic; it was unbelievable what we had on the table! The service was amazing too; obliging, always friendly, always happy and attentive. We experienced lonesome islands, danced on white beaches, drank cooled beer, bathed in the warm ocean and in the fresh pool, enjoyed massages or we just relaxed with nice music.

Dear Jacquie, many, many thanks for all. We had a lot nice “friend-tours”, but “Villa Sanyanga” and “Yacht Shangani” outranged all before. Again many thanks for the perfect organisation, the support and that you made it possible, that for us a dream came thru! We will never forget the beautiful impressions, the adventures and the lovely people.

I hope, we were nice guests and we can come again.

By the way: a special enjoy was, that we had meet Richard personally. First we were lost of words! It was an estimation for us that he take the time between two flights to welcome us personally on his yacht.

Kind regards
Philipp




On behalf of the whole crowd I want to say thanks for a great holiday - we all loved the boat.


Moo and crew looked after us so well, and the beaches and islands in the Similans are out of this world.


It all seems like a dream now!


Jean Robson

Aberdeen




Dear Michael,

Our cruise on Shangani was amazing - everyone had such a great day and the staff were really lovely. Kate (the bride) said it was one of the best days of her life!


Thanks so much for all your help in the organisation and can you please let Richard know that we all had a ball!


Kind regards

Anna




We've just returned from a wonderful few days on Shangani, and just want to tell you how much we enjoyed everything about it, particularly the luxury and comfort, and your crew looked after us superbly.


The Davis family

Exeter




Dear Richard,


I would like to THANK you and your team for making the boat ride a comfortable and successful event for the Aruba Networks. Thank you for hosting us in your beautiful yacht. Your staff went the extra mile to ensure that everyone was comfortable, happy and filled with food and drinks. Your team has performed well in bringing us to the island for some activities and responding to our every need.


A BIG Thank you from the Aruba Networks Asia Pacific Marketing Team and we are happy to do more events in your yacht soon.


Warmest Regards,


Judith Tse
Marketing Director
Aruba Networks Asia Pacific




Hello Richard,


Just got home a few days ago - spent some time in Singapore. The boat was wonderful!!! Moo and Bo were great along with the rest of the crew. From picnics on the beach - to massages - to manicures and pedicures (yes, my boyfriend and brother both got flowers on their toes!!! - what happens on Shangani stays on Shangani ) Everyone went home a few pounds heavier...... (not so happy with Bo now)... except me - I think it was all my snorkling - Lurch had my back when I wanted to venture out and no one would join me!!

 

They all went above and beyond.

 

The country is beautiful. We all hope to come back - I wish you were 2 hours away instead of 22 hours. We have some of the crews emails and as soon as we get back to normal, I will send pics!!! Say hello to everyone and tell them we miss them!!!


Thank you again

Traci Froelick
New York City. USA.
April 2010




Hi Richard.

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and the crew of the Shangani for looking after us on our exicting and much enjoyed cruise around Thailand. Not only was the scenery spectalular the yacht was a perfect way to see the area and the support and company of the crew made the holiday one to remember. Bo was a fantastic chef who not only delivered great meals, she was a delight to deal with, always wanting to make sure we were looked after, little Rosie was always on hand to cater for all our needs, and made everything so easy for us we didnt have to do anything and nothing was a problem. The boys were also great support, if we wanted to go snorkling or a ride on the kayaks they had everything organised, and made everything so easy to do. The crew, cant remember all their names Moo, Lurch,the massage lady and the rest of the team are such a delight to deal with and made us feel so welcome on your yacht.

We felt like the crew were part of our lives and couldnt leave without having a few beers with them, just to say a huge thank you for making our hoilday such a wonderful experience. That was our way of saying thanks for such a wonderful holiday. You have a great team who really compliment the beautiful yacht that make the experience one to remember.

Richard, if you, your family or your team ever get down to NZ we would love catch up and show you our part of the world.


Thanks so much for a wonderful holiday.
Kind regards
Steve and Jo Nemeth




Hi Richard, just a quicky, bcs I am on the dragonair flite to Hkg today, actually, are you my captain today?

The day out was great, there is nothing which can be improved, we all loved your boat, and we had big fun, all of us, young and oldies,

see you in mid september, for our next charter


Arie




Could not have been better! We all loved it and the crew were amazing. Admittedly Bo was the best - her food incredible and her management of everything very professional.
The kids wanted 2 more days - imagine.
Such a great time, thanks. We will definitely return one day for a longer trip.


Michael Rouse




Hi Richard,


Would like to say thank you for the excellent day we had last weekend. The boat is beautifull and all on board enjoyed every moment.

Taking the small boats through the outer islands was a great touch not expected.

Your crew have to be commended on a superb performance. Bo was a good laugh, and Moo runs an excellent ship, as everything went smoothly and at times she was very patient with us all. Please pass on my appretiation to the crew that that I thought they did a wonderfull job. Special mention must be made of the food too, excellent


Cheers

Mike
Cathay Pacific Airways Pilot
Hong Kong




Richard,


It was an absolutely FANTASTIC TIME! You were not kidding when you said she was a really good boat. The crew were absolutely superb as well. They all had great energy levels and kept up with all of ,especially sue. The food was really excellent too.

Thank you to everyone for making it a very memorable day.

Will definitely be recommending the Shangani to anyone coming to Phuket.


Dhruv
India
25 adults and 5 children




Hi rich. Yeah the day was great we all enjoyed it. Moo and the crew really looked after us. When we were in the water they were always making sure we were safe. The food was also great. I could not find shangani on trip advisor. You should put it on there and people can leave good reviews. Thanks for a great day.

Cheers Ben.






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