St. Lucia’s Marigot Bay Marina has been attracting yachts and megayachts since 2006. Under new ownership, the marina and adjoining Marigot Bay Hotel are being revamped, for visitors and locals alike.
Marigot Bay Marina and Marigot Bay Hotel were acquired last August by a New York-based investment group. That group appointed Capella Hotels and Resorts to manage them. Capella Hotels and Resorts oversees luxury properties in the United States, Mexico, and Singapore, among other areas. It targets the top five percent among luxury consumer and business travelers. The hotel has already been re-branded as Capella Marigot Bay, and its services are being upgraded. Marigot Bay Marina isn’t being re-branded, but it will be enhanced in a few ways.
For one, Marigot Bay Marina wants to attract larger yachts. Currently 23 of the 40 slips at Marigot Bay Marina are for megayachts from 80 to 250 feet LOA (about 24.5 meters to 76 meters). Jason Kycek, vice president of sales and marketing for Capella Hotels and Resorts, says that some of the berths at Marigot Bay Marina will be expanded for super-size superyachts. Kycek adds that the association with the Capella brand is “bringing a level of service to the marina that it didn’t previously have.”
In addition, significant upgrades are being made to the Marina Village, steps away from the slips at Marigot Bay Marina. Currently comprised of a few shops and restaurants, the Marina Village is gaining a chandlery and a dive and watersports shop. A gourmet food shop and fine spirits shop are being added, too, complementing a supermarket already on site. Furthermore, Marigot Bay Marina will feature a jewelry store and, of particular importance to the management team, an art gallery showcasing the work of local artists. Local residents will also continue to be welcome to patronize the Marina Village overall. “We want to be a good partner to the local community and a good neighbor,” Kycek explains.
Further megayacht-exclusive amenities are being considered for Marigot Bay Marina. Kycek says these include a discount/membership card for captains and crew. Marigot Bay Marina is also building a sports bar that will surely attract them, though it may also be open to resort guests and locals. “We want to be very supportive of captains and crew,” Kycek explains. He says he and the management team are quite conscious of how megayacht crew often arrive at Marigot Bay Marina days ahead of the owners and guests.
Not everything at Marigot Bay Marina is changing, of course. The existing customs and immigration center, located in the Marina Village, remains. This is a particular convenience for megayachts arriving from other Caribbean nations. The number of slips is staying the same, too. The maximum draft is 16 feet (about 5 meters), accommodating power and sailing superyachts alike. All told, Marigot Bay Marina has about 715 feet (218 meters) of stern-to docking available.
While its presence in St. Lucia makes Marigot Bay Marina popular each winter, it’s visited year-round. Located on the island’s west coast, the bay is considered one of the best hurricane holes in all of the Caribbean.
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