2016 52’ LAGOON “SHANGRI-LA”

The Shangri La is a beautiful, pristine boat. Our time aboard was relaxing and time to spend with friends. The sunsets and rainbows were beautiful. The hiking trails on St. John Island provide nice vistas of the landscape and up close encounters of the wildlife. The snorkeling and paddle boarding in the beautiful waters is amazing! The meals prepared by chef Julia were amazing! Capt. TC and Chef Julia were very attentive during our stay on the Shangri La. Sailing is definitely the way to experience these beautiful Islands!

Our 3 day trip on Shangri La was wonderful. We had nice weather, pretty sunsets, sea turtle sightings, fun boat rides and we even traveled with the sails up once. Julia is an amazing chef - awesome meals and desserts. - certainly 5-star! TC knows the history of the islands and has a great sense of humor. They both have so much experience - this boat runs like a well oiled machine. TC and Julia wait on you hand and foot and will do anything they can to make your trip more enjoyable. Bless her heart, even made me different meat options with dinners. We had a fabulous time. I’ll highly recommend TC & Julia to our friends. Best of luck!​
​ Love,​
​ Gannon & Amanda

Happy New Year! Much love from the Kirkland Family. It is truly difficult to even put into words how absolutely incredible this week has been! TC & Julia are the BEST. Y’all came up with a perfect itinerary for us novices and managed to skirt the weather and crowds perfectly so that we felt just enough away from the riff riff while join gin in a tiny bit! Let’s see…Julia’s painkillers were by far the best, but we did enjoy sampling all the ones at Soggy Dollar, Gertrude’s, One Love, Bitter End, Foxy’s and the Willy T! Our little jaunt to Bubbly Pool and the new Jost Van Dyke signage was really cute…New Year at Bitter End, followed by Cooper Island and Norman Island all bookended by Christmas Cove. Snorkeling was incredible, especially the Indians - Wow! Actually, really sailing to St. John was fabulous. Millie and I loved going over every meal including happy hours and desserts. I am sorry none of us but me could finish it all but Julia - truly, your cooking is the best I’ve ever had. All of it! The two of you spoiled us rotten, I’ve not spent a week this pampered in my whole life, and we - well I - needed it. I cannot wait to come backhand let y’all just take us to your favorite spots. Lastly, from me, this week would NOT have been as special with anyone else but the two of y’all. We love you both and know our home in Nashville is open to y’all anytime!

To sunsets and Painkillers…to Chicken Hasselhoff and Cocoa Lopez…to guitar solos, and Rock & Roll Saxophone! Thank you Julia & TC for the trip of a lifetime! The Shangri La and the Islands are a nice canvas, but you guys paint the masterpiece. I’m starting ’23 fat and spoiled. I’ll report back whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing.​
​ ​ Happy New Year and Many Thanks

I could tell you the last time I felt this peaceful. I loved our activities - the snorkeling spots and beach bars. More than anything, though, I was just happy being. For the 5 of us to get to just enjoy the beauty of the islands had to offer is truly so special. TC & Julia, you made this trip so wonderful and relaxing! Thank you!​
​ Love,​
​ Millie

Y’all are amazing. It’s honestly weird to think back on this week because it went by so fast, but in such a laid back and relaxed way that it feels like it was all one day. The food could not have been any better. I apologize for eating like a fiver year old some days. Haha! I will remember you both forever and will be quoting TC for the rest of my life. Next time I come, I will work on not keeping you up all night…

It was a wonderful stay - thank y’all for putting up with our crazy family. Y’all are awesome and there was never a dull moment on this trip, and I would not change a thing.

TC & Julia - Wow…what an incredible adventure!!! Thank you for the exciting trip, far exceeding our expectations. Great food, great conversation, great excursions, …mixed with a few beautiful “medium” hikes. Julia, thank you fo your 5 star fare, wonderful drink creations & morning coffee!! We couldn’t be around here longer, spoiled by your incredible cooking, and still fit through those passageways. TC, thank-you for your attention to every detail, great story telling, and guidance to beautiful bays and exciting bars. We are leaving this beautiful place with our hearts, souls and stomachs overflowing with gratitude for making this the trip of a lifetime.​
​ With Our Best,​
Marci Pressley & Jack Herr

TC & Julia - Thank you for a special vacation week on the Shangri La! The experience exceeded all expectations. One of the top vacations of our lives. Julia, you “5 Star” chef skills are superb. Every meal was gourmet with excellent presentation. We couldn’t wait for the next meal. We’re glad we brought expandable, oversized clothing. TC, you are an excellent captain, and very entertaining with your 7 character impression…and counting. When we come back, we’re expecting to hear a New England accent. Keep working Keep working those debating skills, they a surpassed by none. Both of your knowledge is impressive about the islands, trails, saline, various bays, restaurants, snorkeling areas, etc. You are a great team!!! When you come to Cape Cod, please look us up. We loved getting to know you.

TC & Julia - What a memorable vacation aboard Shangri La, celebrating a couple of 60th birthdays - thank-you! We loved all of your recommendations both on shore and on the water. We shared some great sunrises and a spectacular sunset on the last night. Julia, you are an amazing chef! Each meal, appetizer and dessert was worthy of five stars both in taste and presentation. You certainly have a gift and we have the expanded waistlines to prove it! TC, you are an am captain, bartender…and fun entertainment. Thank you for keeping us safe and showing us around some of your favorite spots in the USVI. Both of you are welcome to join us in Maine - anytime!

The lurie's: Jeff, Kim, Brad, & Kara​
Captain & Chef - As returning guests, our expectations were very high! You delivered on every aspect of our trip, from finding the cozy spots with great snorkeling to the most amazing three meals per day. Can't say enough nor thank you enough for your great service. Best wishes for another successful charter season and all your future endeavors. We'll continue to follow you on social media to relive our amazing trip. All the best, Brad & Kara Lurie, Jeff & Kim Lurie

From the moment we stepped on the boat, we didn’t have to worry about a thing. We really won the lottery with TC and Julia! All our needs and wants were well attended and it made for a very relaxing week. TC took us to all the Mose beautiful places around the island. Lots of gorgeous views and great snorkeling - truly incredible to see! Julia’s cooking is AH-mazing. I can hardly fit into any of the clothes I brought aboard. We never went hungry or thirsty! Thank you for a memorable week. It was everything we needed and more!​
​ The Boothby Family

What can we say - you saved our vacation! We are so thankful for your willingness to scoop us up last minute and show us such a wonderful time - we are truly grateful to have the opportunity to sail with you and are so happy we were able to experience such a lovely time. The food was excellent, the ride comfortable and peaceful, and the experience phenomenal. It was just what we needed and we couldn’t feel more relieved, gracious, and at peace having spent the last week with you! Thank you!!​
​ Danielle & Michah

TC & Julia - It’s so hard to put into words how wonderful this trip was! From the food, the laughs, swimming with turtles, beautiful sunsets, shooting stars and top class hospitality…our trip would not have been what it was without the two of you!! Thank you for caring as much as you do! And next time, we’ll bring Alicia’s sippy cup. :-)​
​ Ben & Alicia​
Joey & Tiffany

To Captain TC & Julia - Sometimes it’s not about the journey or the destination…but about the people you meet along the way. Six friends came together to escape the stress of life in a truly beautiful place; but we quickly realized that it wasn’t the beauty of the islands or the sea that made this trip so completely amazing. It was both of you!! TC, your concern for our group’s safety and comfort was always always your number one concern! You are an amazing captain and I think we’ll all be laughing at your “character voices” and funny jokes for years to come. You started as our captain and quickly turned into a friend. Julia, Julia, Julia…your cooking is out of this world! Absolutely everything you made us was something you’d expect at a 5-Star restaurant. Your passion and love for cooking is displayed in every meal you make. The offer still stands to come to Michigan. :-). Thank you for your hospitality, your friendship and for 7 days on the water that none of us will ever forget! You guys are the best!!​
​ The Michigan Crew​
The Ross’, The Miller’s, The Irwins

To Captain TC and Julia we’d like to say thank-you for allowing us a glimpse of your life aboard the Shangri La. We had a fabulous time and enjoyed seeing things above and below the water that were fascinating and memorable to us. By the amount of work that you both put into our cruise, we realize that this is more than a job for you and Al and I will remember this trip for a long time. We consider you friends and we thank you so much for the experience.​
​ Sincerely,​
Al & Betty Damiani​
​ “The greatest experiences you will ever have in life, are just on the other side of fear.”​
~Captain TC Carter​
Our greatest experience was on the other side of the plane ride to the Shangri La! Thank you so much for a week of wonderful time, and food! Muchas Gracias! It was wonderful, and all I can say is you guys made our vacation very unique and exciting. Julia’s food amazing, TC entertaining amazing. 100% wonderful experience. God Bless you