Uber Vida to offer free Friday cocktail cruises

THURSDAY, MAY 31: If you are looking for a laid back yet fun way to spend your Friday evenings, the Uber Vida may have a chic solution.

The boat will be hosting mini cruises every Friday starting this week as a way of letting people see what it has to offer after an extensive refurbishment.

Brothers Denis and Andrew Owen bought the boat in 2007 in St Martin.

It sank in 1995 and Dennis says it was a wreck, so they were able to buy it inexpensively. 

The name means super life — ‘Uber’ is German for super and ‘Vida’ is Spanish for life.

“We have been fixing it up and getting it better and better.

“We’re finally at that point where we feel we can start doing some cool stuff.

“To launch the initiative, we’re doing mini cruises, sort of a cocktail cruise on the water.

“It’s like an open house for the boat.”

The cruises will be an hour and a half, from 5:30pm to 7pm and 7:30pm to 9pm and entry is free.

Denis said this is not a happy hour cruise and will have more of a lounge vibe to it.

 “It’s an addition to town, something else to do on a Friday.

“We’re hoping it will make the city more vibrant.”

Because it isn’t being looked at as a party cruise, there will be canapés and finger foods available.

There will also be lounge music playing to add to the ambiance of the scenery.

 “We’re looking for more of a classy feel.

“We’re calling it a young executive sort of feel, people who work in town.

“It’s a stop after your busy week.”

The boat will cruise through Paradise Lakes so that cruisers can see the beauty of the island.  

As part of the changes to the boat, there is another bar upstairs, which allows for more bar access. The brothers have also sprayed the boat, added new wiring and put up lights.

The name of the boat will also be put on soon.

Denis began his boating career at the age of 15 when he worked on various tour boats.

He and his brother started Atlantic Mooring Company in 2005, but he always wanted to buy a tour boat.

“I found the boat in a boat yard and because it was a wreck, we got it for almost nothing.

“We actually did the work ourselves.

“We had to learn to do what we wanted to do.”

He is hoping with the refurbishment, it will be an “exclusive celebration yacht” that caters to birthday parties, anniversary parties and the like.

Starting in July, the UberVida will offer snorkeling trips on Wednesday’s and Saturday’s from 10am to 3pm going out to the barrier reefs.

The price will include a buffet lunch and snorkel gear on the boat.

“When I was seven or eight, my dad took my brothers, my mom and I on a tour that went out to the reefs and it was the most fantastic family bonding day ever. After having just the best day ever with my family, I wanted to get that magic back.

“I think it will be fun for families to come out and have the best day ever.”

• For more information on the mini cruise, charters or snorkeling trips, call 236-2222 or email [email protected]