Meet The Crew!

A & T JET SKI COMPANY CREW

If you are looking for a good time on the beach, look no further! From L to R: Captain Oneil, Kenny, Head and Chris. All of them hail from the Negril area and are very knowledgeable about all things Negril. Whether you want to take a ride on a jet ski, cruise on the boat, need a guide for going around Negril or want to take a day trip to other parts of Jamaica, these are your guys!

With over 10 years of experience operating all types of watercraft around the Negril waterways, Captain Oneil knows the best places to take you on the jet boat so that you will see the best sights on top of and under the water. Witty, easy going and eager to please, he will make your jet boat cruise one of the highlights of your Jamaica vacation.

Kenny, our first mate and all-around entertainer, worked in the hospitality business for 9 years before coming to join us at A&T. His passion is making sure that our customers laugh, relax and enjoy their cruise or jet ski ride to the fullest. Because of his previous hospitality experience, he is also a great guide or resource for where to eat, party, or just hang out. You will never have a dull moment when he's around!

Rounding out the crew is our jet ski team, Head and Christopher. Both of them have worked the Negril beaches for several years and are top-notch in customer service. They are registered and conscientious jet ski operators who will make sure that you are safe, comfortable and aware of the rules before taking you for a ride or letting you drive yourself. No worries, Mon! Everyting Irie!

So if you want to give your Negril, Jamaica vacation that extra something special, come and hang out with the guys! You won't be disappointed!

When in Rome (aka Jamaica) II

Webster's dictionary definition of an island: 1. a tract of land surrounded by water and smaller than a continent.

My definition of an island: sunshine, beach, good times and SEAFOOD!!!

Not just any seafood, mind you. I'm talking about seafood so fresh that it will literally jump out of the boat and into the pot waiting at the beachside to cook it up, hot and fresh. 
Here in Negril, we have different variations of old favorites like crab (land and sea), spiny lobster and of course, many different types of fish. But there are also new delicacies to acquaint your palette with such as conch and sea cat (octopus).  All of them can be prepared in the traditional ways: steamed, fried, escoveitched, curried, brown stewed, you name it. We work with several local fisherman and cooks so when we recommend one to you, we know that your food will be fresh caught and well prepared. On occasion we have even been known to light up the fire and whip up some unforgettable meals of our own. And THAT is a treat not to be missed!

Here are a few pics of what you can look forward to.

Spiny lobster caught fresh and ready to be grilled on the beach

Fresh fish for dinner

Sea crabs blanched and ready to cook

Straight from the boat to the pot

Up And Running!!

Yeah, baby! (channeling my man, Austin Powers) We are so very pleased and proud to announce that we have expanded our services to include…wait for it…JET BOAT CRUISES!!!!

The newest member of our fleet is Up And Running, a Yamaha XR1800 jet boat. For those of you who don't know what that means (I didn't), it means 310 horses in twin engines rarin' to go! In other words, it's fast! This 18 foot, 5 passenger boat is equipped with a bimini top to shade you from the sun as you zip along the Negril waterways listening to tunes (yours or ours) from the iPod/USB/MP3/CD player while letting your hair blow in the wind as your captain takes you wherever you want to go. Even all the way to Cuba! (Just checking to see if you were paying attention.) But seriously, you can choose from a Sunset Cruise to Rick's Cafe, an Island Picnic Cruise or a Sips and Surf Cruise. We are also able to customize itineraries for you if you so desire. For more info on the jet boat cruises, please visit www.negriljetski.com. Also like us on Facebook (see link to the right) for discount offers.

Here are a few pics of Up And Running.

When in Rome ( aka Jamaica) I

A question that I get asked a lot is "How do I get the REAL jamaican experience?" This requires a multi-faceted answer, but I almost always start with food. To eat like a jamaican is to shop like a jamaican and to prepare the food like a jamaican so it combines a lot of experiences in one. Even if you only eat the food, you should at some point take a trip to the local market and see how the locals buy their food. Now, as for what you should eat, I am probably not the best person to ask being that I eat just about everything here, but I will try to focus… for you, my loves.

 Most people are familiar with the more famous cuisine of Jamaica like jerk, curry, rice and peas and Red Stripe beer, so I will touch on a few not so popular items that I feel fall under MUST HAVE. This is by no means a comprehensive list, so I will make a series out of this topic, giving you plenty of yummy options.

#1 ACKEE
This national fruit of Jamaica is often mistaken for a vegetable or scrambled eggs. Poisonous until ripe (the pod opens up), you must take care to only eat ackee from reputable sources. Like callaloo it can be eaten with or without salt fish and is usually served with some type of provision or "food" like green banana, fried plantain, fried or boiled dumplings. Mmm, Mmm, Good!

1 ripe (opened) ackee & 4 unripe ones

#2 BREADFRUIT
Roasted, fried, boiled, in a juice…however you can find it, you should taste it. When very ripe, their consistency is somewhere between bread and a potato (if you can picture that) and they also taste similar to a sweet potato, but not as sweet. If not too ripe, then they just taste like a potato.

raw bread fruit

roasted breadfruit

#3 CALLALOO
Similar in taste and consistency to mature spinach, this green is often served seasoned with scallion, hot pepper, thyme, tomato and with or without salt fish. It is a great accompaniment to the breadfruit and can be eaten as a main entree along with provisions or as a side dish.

callaloo and roasted/fried breadfruit

#4 TROPICAL FRUITS
Even though you may have these at home, they will not taste the same as fruits grown here in the tropics. These lovely gems benefit from the perfect mix of golden sunshine and nurturing rains. There really is no comparison, so if you get a chance to get some take it! You really won't believe the difference.

(SIGH) Mangoes 

One of several types available when in season

If you are interested in trying the local cuisine, but don't know where to start, ask us to help you out. We are more than willing to assist you in finding the best authentic cuisine at authentic (local) prices.

BON APETIT!

Not to boast, but ….

Where would you rather be?

OR

Nuh worry yourself. Ya soon come!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Island Picnic, Anyone?

Who doesn't love a picnic without the ants? Especially a picnic where you can be served fresh caught lobster and fish right off the grill while sitting on a white sand beach overlooking the Negril coastline. I don't know about you, but I had me at lobster. The Island Picnic is one of our best-selling tours and there is no wonder why. The cruise over to the island is very scenic and relaxing. You can stop by the coral reef for snorkeling if you wish, then continue on to your destination. Once you arrive, you can spend time on the beach or exploring the "jungle" as your food is being prepared for you. The back side of the island is very picturesque so be sure to bring your camera. You'll kick yourself if you miss these photo ops! If you are not the exploring type, then you have the option of doing some small shopping or just enjoying the banter and antics of the local fishermen and your crew, which is always a favorite pastime of mine!

Here are a few pics. If they seem food-focused, it's because they are!

Other Stuff Post #1: The Blue Hole Mineral Spring

Most visitors to Negril have heard of jumping into the sea from the cliffs at Rick's Cafe, but are surprised to hear about jumping into a hole in the ground… nowhere near the sea…without being pushed (Crazy, right?). Absolutely! It's crazy fun! I am speaking of the Blue Hole Mineral Spring located about 20-30 minutes outside of Negril. It is very easily accessible and we can arrange transportation for you with one of our trusted drivers. (FYI-- there are several mineral springs/rivers in the area, and actually another named the Blue Hole located at Roaring River. I will write another post about that one later.) This place has something for everyone. For the more adventurous (anyone, anyone… am I the only one raising my hand?), you can take the plunge into the attractions' namesake- a  20 foot drop into 20 feet of crystal clear, mineral spring water. BTW, you will have to look out for other jumpers falling from the sky as you make your way to the side of the pool or the ladder. Yes, I said ladder, for it is a hole you jumped into and now you must get yourself out. For the more laid back (cough, cough "fraidycats"), there is a lovely pool filled with the same mineral water from the spring. There you can get all of the benefits of the spring without doing any of the work. (Really, what are you on, a vacation?) There is also a bar that serves food, a DJ, a volleyball net and a brand new hotel. I haven't stayed overnight, so I cannot speak to the hotel. There is a fee ($10 US) to jump into the hole for as many times as you can manage. There are also "professional" divers there who do all kinds of crazy stunts for your adoration and tips. So when you're in Negril and you have time to kill and want to see something off the beaten path, consider The Blue Hole Mineral Spring. You'll have a blast!