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Shipping food #110450
10/24/2016 06:16 PM
10/24/2016 06:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 29
Frankfort, Michigan
H
hotdogman Offline OP
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hotdogman  Offline OP
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 29
Frankfort, Michigan
I'm chartering in mid December via TMM. Does anyone know if there is a service whereby I can have some items shipped down ahead of me? Specifically, I'm looking to order some meat through Omaha Steaks, so it would obviously require refrigeration. Thanks for any info.

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Re: Shipping food [Re: hotdogman] #110451
10/24/2016 06:50 PM
10/24/2016 06:50 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
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StormJib Offline
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StormJib  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
Shipping to the BVI has long been a problem. C&I is difficult and the volume is just not enough to support perishable shipments. The lack of an airport with direct airline service further complicates the problem. I doubt you will find any food vendor with a BVI shipping option.

For more than two decades we have carried our own coolers with frozen food we believe you cannot find in the Virgin Islands. In my opinion you will easily find similar or much higher quality beef in the BVI than anything the marketing company Omaha Steaks ships. Exact portion control may be the exception.

Re: Shipping food [Re: StormJib] #110452
10/24/2016 07:38 PM
10/24/2016 07:38 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Breeze Offline
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Breeze  Offline
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Posts: 1,901
Maine
Easy answer is, not worth your time, thought , trouble or money.

Just no.

Get the Omaha order delivered to you and pay the baggage fee to take it with you, frozen, in a cooler.

It is what YOU are going to eat. Take care of your own stuff.

Re: Shipping food [Re: Breeze] #110453
10/24/2016 08:20 PM
10/24/2016 08:20 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
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StormJib Offline
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StormJib  Offline
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I looked it up. Shipping a 10 lbs box of anything using FedEx to Tortola would be on the order of $175. If you give me the money. I will fly down buy some better steaks in the BVI and cook them for you myself. I suspect I am not the only one ready to go by the way.

Re: Shipping food [Re: StormJib] #110454
10/24/2016 08:32 PM
10/24/2016 08:32 PM
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 29
Frankfort, Michigan
H
hotdogman Offline OP
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hotdogman  Offline OP
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 29
Frankfort, Michigan
That was easy. Thanks everyone.

Re: Shipping food [Re: hotdogman] #110455
10/24/2016 08:38 PM
10/24/2016 08:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530
Ya never know...
HillsideView Offline
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HillsideView  Offline
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Posts: 8,530
Ya never know...
I may be mistaken, but I seem to recall Supa Valu in RoadTown had Omaha Steaks in their freezer.


My foot fits right into my shoe and my shoe will fit right into your...
Re: Shipping food [Re: HillsideView] #110456
10/24/2016 10:40 PM
10/24/2016 10:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
GlennA Offline
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GlennA  Offline
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Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
Yes. SupaValu did have some fine meat in September but at a fine price. In the $20/pound range. Probably not a whole lot higher than Omaha stakes delivered to home but out of my budget.

The only even slightly economically feasable is to have them sent Priority Mail to you General Delivery St. Thomas but you would have to plan on a couple of hours between landing at STT and the ferry to get to the main post office east of town to pick it up.


Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
Re: Shipping food [Re: GlennA] #110457
10/25/2016 07:13 AM
10/25/2016 07:13 AM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 933
Georgia & South Carolina
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Deepcut Offline
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Deepcut  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 933
Georgia & South Carolina
Hotdog man:
I just arrived with Polar Bear 24 pack soft cooler (x2) with meat that we Vacuum packed and froze ourselves. Arrived Frozen after 12 hours without any dry ice (can use up to 5 pounds). Declare with customs and pay

Good news is ordering through Riteway online was 100% accurate and arrived on time! (about 8;30).

BTW: Enjoying my first sunrise on Sea Tiger with coffee... Hope you will enjoy Sea Tiger as well!


Wes
s/v Sea Tiger (2022 Lagoon 46)
www.BareBoatBVI.com

Re: Shipping food [Re: Deepcut] #110458
10/25/2016 09:51 AM
10/25/2016 09:51 AM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta Online content
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RickinAtlanta  Online Content
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Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
We've never been asked to pay any fees as you can bring in up to 50 lbs. for personal consumption

Re: Shipping food [Re: RickinAtlanta] #110459
10/25/2016 09:53 AM
10/25/2016 09:53 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
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GeorgeC1  Offline
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Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
I don't think that is correct. You are required to pay duty it's just hit or miss on if they feel like collecting that day. If you do have a reference I would love to see it!
G

Re: Shipping food [Re: GeorgeC1] #110460
10/25/2016 11:36 AM
10/25/2016 11:36 AM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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sail2wind  Offline
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Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
have you ever priced out the Omaha Steaks, great marketing when they can get you to pay $10 a pound for hamburger. I would say Rite Way has as good, or better steaks than Omaha.

Re: Shipping food [Re: GeorgeC1] #110461
10/25/2016 12:21 PM
10/25/2016 12:21 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta Online content
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RickinAtlanta  Online Content
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Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
Quote
GeorgeC1 said:
I don't think that is correct. You are required to pay duty it's just hit or miss on if they feel like collecting that day. If you do have a reference I would love to see it!
G


My bad as what I referred to is the amount of beef/chicken, etc. you can bring in for personal consumption without having to file an application. Still have never been charged in the previous four times. Lucky! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Re: Shipping food [Re: RickinAtlanta] #110462
10/25/2016 01:35 PM
10/25/2016 01:35 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 528
Ohio
jagmansr Offline
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jagmansr  Offline
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Posts: 528
Ohio
We always bring a 24 polar bear cooler full of frozen meats and a duffle bag with some things we can't find in BVI. We used to never declared and never had a problem. However the new custom forms now ask if and what you are bring in. Last time we declared our frozen shrimp, chicken and bison. Amount was small enough or the custom gal didn't feel like charging us. I understand it's a craps shot if you get taxed or not. But we find it worth it to bring meats down, especially when you want to marinade

Re: Shipping food [Re: RickinAtlanta] #110463
10/25/2016 01:43 PM
10/25/2016 01:43 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Breeze Offline
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Breeze  Offline
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Posts: 1,901
Maine
It is hit or miss. If it is your turn to get hit, that's just the way it goes and you will only dig a deeper hole for yourself if you argue.

Declare if you have stuff to declare. Declare SOMETHING.... 50 bucks, 100 bucks. Smile and produce the 5 or 10 bucks. It is a battle you will never win, it is better to walk away with everyone smiling.

Re: Shipping food [Re: Breeze] #110464
10/25/2016 02:59 PM
10/25/2016 02:59 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 697
Portland, ME
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maineskier69 Offline
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maineskier69  Offline
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 697
Portland, ME
We have always brought our own meats. Only once came close to having to pay tariff on the food, but then I invited the C&I officer to join us for a cookout. He laughed and waved us through.


If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will...
Re: Shipping food [Re: hotdogman] #110465
10/25/2016 04:19 PM
10/25/2016 04:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,390
Ill, USA
Will_L Offline
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Will_L  Offline
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Posts: 2,390
Ill, USA
Yes, the only way to take food is as a carry on or checked bag. As an aside Omaha Steaks sells no prime beef like Allen Bros or others that is truly high quality. You likely can find better with CAB at most major grocery or Costco or SAMS. As others have said Riteway usually has good beef on Tortola. We spend a lot of time on Virgin Gorda and if you have a crew that needs that much Buck's Market nearly always have cryopacs of whole. choice beef tenderloin and Prime Rib in the case across from frozen food. indeed I've seen the chef at Little Dix at the checkout with them and purchased them when we had a large crew visiting.

Re: Shipping food [Re: GeorgeC1] #110466
10/25/2016 04:33 PM
10/25/2016 04:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
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warren460  Offline
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Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
We were charged $10 last time. Basis was arbitrary.


Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

https://www.cyabrochure.com/ebn/2307/pdyrX/6642/4///
Re: Shipping food [Re: Will_L] #110467
10/25/2016 04:52 PM
10/25/2016 04:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
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StormJib Offline
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StormJib  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
Quote
Will_L said:
Yes, the only way to take food is as a carry on or checked bag. As an aside Omaha Steaks sells no prime beef like Allen Bros or others that is truly high quality. You likely can find better with CAB at most major grocery or Costco or SAMS. As others have said Riteway usually has good beef on Tortola. We spend a lot of time on Virgin Gorda and if you have a crew that needs that much Buck's Market nearly always have cryopacs of whole. choice beef tenderloin and Prime Rib in the case across from frozen food. indeed I've seen the chef at Little Dix at the checkout with them and purchased them when we had a large crew visiting.


+1 Well Said!

Re: Shipping food [Re: Breeze] #110468
10/25/2016 09:36 PM
10/25/2016 09:36 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta Online content
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RickinAtlanta  Online Content
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
Quote
Breeze said:
It is hit or miss. If it is your turn to get hit, that's just the way it goes and you will only dig a deeper hole for yourself if you argue.

Declare if you have stuff to declare. Declare SOMETHING.... 50 bucks, 100 bucks. Smile and produce the 5 or 10 bucks. It is a battle you will never win, it is better to walk away with everyone smiling.

Did someone hear me say I argued?? Just said I've never been charged a fee but would readily pay. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Re: Shipping food [Re: maineskier69] #110469
10/26/2016 11:56 AM
10/26/2016 11:56 AM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,113
Petoskey, MI
CottageGirl Offline
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CottageGirl  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,113
Petoskey, MI
We bring a cooler of frozen meat + other items every single time we go. And it's completely arbitrary whether we get charged a tax. When asked, I tell them it's $100 of meat and they ask for $10. Last time, I was asked, told her $100 of meat and she immediately got distracted by someone else and we were waived thru with no tax charged. Just depends on who's working that day ... and perhaps the attention span of the customs agent. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Re: Shipping food [Re: GeorgeC1] #110470
11/05/2016 03:18 PM
11/05/2016 03:18 PM
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 33
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Lakegirl480 Offline
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Lakegirl480  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 33
We packed a 40qt cooler of premium steaks,bacon,butter,milk,summer sausage,chicken breasts,etc. I highly recommend it if you are particular about your meat quality. Use every available space with frozen items.

Re: Shipping food [Re: hotdogman] #110471
11/05/2016 11:19 PM
11/05/2016 11:19 PM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826
Tortola, BVI
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LianeLeTendre Offline
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LianeLeTendre  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826
Tortola, BVI
Riteway carries Angus beef if that would suffice? Their Angus Filet Mignon is excellent. Their rib eyes are usually very tasty and they will cut them to any thickness you like if you call their provisioning department ahead of time.

When you consider what you will pay for shipping or extra luggage, I think you are ahead of the game to buy it here.

If you are flying into St. Thomas and taking the ferry over, you can get excellent steaks (including Omaha Steaks) at Best Buy or Cost You Less ... I can't remember which one.

Re: Shipping food [Re: GeorgeC1] #110472
11/07/2016 11:20 AM
11/07/2016 11:20 AM
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 57
Texas
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CestLaVie Offline
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CestLaVie  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 57
Texas
We have chartered BVI numerous times and generally shop locally for most of our provisions at Bobbys or RiteWay. On occasion, we will pack one small box with items that we know we will not find on the island. We know we can finds limes locally, but we use a ton of them during the week for monitors, margaritas, cosmos and that can get really expensive with local prices. Any informed input as to whether there are any import restrictions on bring fruit (limes) into the country?


Sailing is not a matter of life and death-it is more important than that
Re: Shipping food [Re: CestLaVie] #110473
11/13/2016 02:51 PM
11/13/2016 02:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 55
NC
GoneSailing Offline
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GoneSailing  Offline
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Posts: 55
NC
For what it is worth I agree with the majority views that good meats can be easily sourced in both the US and BVI's. The first two seasons we packed our freezer full of meats when we sailed her down for the season. Can't get any easier than filling up the freezer in the US and then sail it down. No costs with C&I no hassles of coolers. However, this year we packed what needed for the passage but not much of anything more.


Be Happy or Leave
Re: Shipping food [Re: GoneSailing] #110474
11/14/2016 01:25 AM
11/14/2016 01:25 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
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RatmansWife Offline
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RatmansWife  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
You guys sold me on the Polar Bear coolers - ordered five of them today. A 12-can Solarbear will be filled with frozen beef from a wonderful Angus farm here in Tennessee. Will it work as a personal item on the plane? Four will be thank you gifts for our dedicated workers.


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