Yacht
Endurance is an expedition-style yacht, which means her exterior is meant to bash through nasty seas and rough weather. Inside, though, she is all the glamour you should expect in a yacht this size, with beautiful woodwork, stylish fabrics, and comfortable seating and sleeping areas.

We were onboard during the yacht’s shakedown cruise following an extensive refit, and the owners had yet to bring onboard all the water toys they had in mind.

Expect to find high-quality kayaks during your charter, plus fishing equipment and all the DVDs a person could ever want to watch during a weeklong cruise. Also look for relaxing chaise lounges on the top deck, which we didn't get to see but that we woud've certainly enjoyed having in this picturesque cruising location.

Crew
The owners of Endurance had yet to hire a full-time crew when we met the yacht, so the only crew member we really got to know was Capt. Dave Borden—and it was his first time onboard, as well. That’s a lot of pressure on anybody’s shoulders, but Borden handled the situation with grace, showing that he not only knew his way around boats but also around the San Juan Islands themselves.

Borden’s wife, Carol, acted as chief stewardess during our charter, and the yacht’s owners seemed happy with her attitude and approach. If the permanent crew who come onboard are anything like her, then you should be well taken care of no matter where you choose to cruise. 

Chef
Endurance had no chef during our shakedown cruise, so we can’t say yay or nay on whether the cooking will be good onboard.

Having said that, we did sample the food at the owners’ Eagle Nook Resort, and it was five-star all the way. The yacht’s owners said they intend to have the same caliber of cooking onboard Endurance as they do at their resort, and if that turns out to be true, then your belly will be happy.

Accommodations
Endurance has a good-sized master stateroom with a king-size bed, plus two guest cabins with twin beds. All the cabins have private, en suite bathrooms.

The twin beds are decently sized, so adults will be comfortable sleeping in them if need be (none of the adults complained during our charter, including our CharterWave expert). Ideally, though, this yacht is best-suited for one couple and their children.

Destination
The San Juan Islands are the favorite boating playground of every boat owner who lives in Seattle, and rightly so. The islands are full of picturesque harbors, hiking trails, picnic tables, and just about everything you could want in a colder-climate cruising ground. The boat-friendly town of Roche Harbor is always a favorite, with its picturesque white buildings and adorable waterfront restaurants.

You can enjoy the San Juans onboard any charter yacht, but with Endurance, you get the added bonus of having access to the owners’ wilderness lodge to the north, called Eagle Nook Resort. If you book the surf-and-turf charter option, you can get one of the private cabins at the resort and spend an extra few days taking heli-tours, kayaking, fishing for salmon, and whale-watching. The nature cruise is especially fun, taking you in a small boat through massive colonies of sea lions in their natural habitat.