Meet Rodrigo & Alys

There are great charter crews, and then there are the rare teams guests plan their next vacation around. Captain Rodrigo and Chef Alys are very much the latter.

After an extraordinary season aboard Apricity, including a Best in Show win at the 2025 VIPCA Charter Yacht Show, Rodrigo and Alys begin an exciting new chapter aboard Sea Goddess, the brand-new Sunpower ALVA Solar-E 60.

Together, they have created a style of hospitality that is polished but never formal, attentive without being intrusive, and wonderfully genuine. Guests consistently describe feeling completely at ease from the moment they step aboard. Rodrigo and Alys have an instinct for knowing when to join the conversation, when to create some fun, when to quietly take care of a detail behind the scenes, and when to let their guests simply enjoy having a beautiful yacht and the Caribbean all to themselves.

Rodrigo brings a calm confidence to life aboard. Guests praise his seamanship and attention to safety, but just as often they talk about his easygoing personality, quick sense of humor, and seemingly endless willingness to make the day more fun. He might be expertly navigating a busy anchorage one moment and mixing a cocktail, recommending a favorite island stop, running the tender ashore, or towing delighted kids around the bay the next.

Even guests who have chartered the BVI multiple times have found themselves discovering new favorite places with Rodrigo. He doesn't simply take guests from one island to another; he pays attention to the people aboard and shapes each day around what will make their vacation special.

That attentiveness is perhaps best illustrated by one family's experience traveling with a loved one battling ALS. Rodrigo considered his comfort, safety, and accessibility at every destination, continually finding ways to ensure he could be part of the experience. His family later described Rodrigo's compassion and care as "beyond words."

And then there is Alys.

For many guests, Alys's food becomes one of the most talked-about parts of the entire charter. Self-proclaimed foodies have described her cooking as Michelin-star quality, while another group admitted that if they could do their charter again, they would skip the restaurants entirely and eat every meal aboard.

Her menus are creative, fresh, beautifully balanced, and tailored to the people sitting around the table. Dietary restrictions and allergies are handled effortlessly. Breakfast might begin with a gorgeous fresh-fruit spread; afternoons bring beautiful appetizers and specialty drinks; dinner becomes an event without ever feeling overly formal.

And her desserts have developed something of a reputation of their own.

One guest who claimed never to photograph food found herself taking pictures of every meal Alys served because the presentation was simply that beautiful. Another family still talks about the Pavlova Alys made for their anniversary, inspired by a tradition from her own family. It is a perfect example of what makes her special: exceptional food made even more memorable because there is genuine thought behind it.

As talented as Rodrigo and Alys are individually, the magic is in the two of them together.

They are warm, funny, intuitive, organized, gracious, and genuinely seem to love giving people an extraordinary week. They know how to read a group and adjust the rhythm of a charter accordingly—adventurous when guests want adventure, relaxed when everyone wants to slow down, and always ready with an idea when someone asks, "What should we do today?"

The result is something that can't really be taught: guests feel cared for without feeling catered to, and by the end of the week, Rodrigo and Alys often feel less like the crew and more like part of what made the vacation unforgettable.

Perhaps the greatest compliment comes from the guests themselves. Families have called their time with Rodrigo and Alys the best vacation they have ever taken. Travel advisors hear from clients wanting to charter with them again. And one family returned home seriously debating whether their next vacation should be chosen by destination—or simply by wherever Rodrigo and Alys happen to be.

Now that place is Sea Goddess.

And for guests lucky enough to step aboard with them, that may be all they need to know.

"As a group of self-proclaimed "foodies," we were blown away by Alys. Every single meal felt like Michelin-star quality. Though she easily has the toughest job on the boat, Alys handled it with total grace and ease. Her menu planning was thoughtful, creative, and beautifully balanced.

 

While some chefs excel at cooking and others at baking, very few master both—yet Alys made both look effortless and taste delicious. To top it off, she accommodated our guests' food allergies without missing a beat."