Looking for provisioning recommendations for a charter leaving from the Scrub Island marina. Scrub Island Provisions looks a bit pricey, with limited inventory. What options would others recommend, if there are any? (Looking for recommendations based on previous experience from Scrub... not "give 'such and such place a try' please")

I can share my experience from my trip report I posted in May 2019. We used Riteway for groceries and Caribbean Cellars for alcohol. Pasting relevant parts to your question below, hope this helps!

The Scrub provisioning market has a lot of stuff. A good selection of wine, a decent selection of liquor and beer, cleaning supplies, pharmacy items, and a decent option for food. (Edit: I’ll add here that there were considerably more food items than I expected, but I wouldn’t go as far to say it was stocked enough to rely on this market for ALL of our food). The DYC office staff told me they are expanding the market even more in the future.

- Riteway didn't deliver several items to our boat and I was still charged the full amount of my order. I have to contact them, as we didn't rectify it with them at the beginning of our trip. We got shorted by probably at least $60 worth of items, probably more. They also didn't reply to any of my emails prior to our trip. They did answer the phone at least, but I'm generally not pleased with my experience with them. (Edit to add: I don’t think we ever did get a refund for the missing items from Riteway, I guess I forgot or just gave up trying).

- Caribbean Cellars was excellent with email communication. They followed up and returned emails within 24 hours. We even emailed them the night before our arrival with a change in the order and they had it taken care of with email response the very next morning. Considering they also have better options for several items, along with cheaper pricing on many things, Caribbean Cellars is a clear winner for alcohol provisioning.

Riteway, Bobby's, OneMart, Tico's and Caribbean Cellars will all deliver to the dock at Trellis, the order will be brought to Scrub's dock on their 'ferry/launch'. Makes it difficult if you need to fill holes in the order(s) but if certain items aren't available--that's island life.

Everything in the BVI is pricey. Riteway used to give a 10% discount for large orders; now they add 10% for provisioning.

I was in the Scrub shop a couple weeks ago. It was pretty sparse and very expensive; definitely not enough to provision. I would take a taxi to the East End Riteway to complete provisioning.

Perhaps Im the only one who thinks this, but the BIG PROVISION at the start of the trip is the wrong way to go IMHO. Almost every stop has provisions of some kind and we dramatically limit food(money) waste by provisioning 2 days at a time.

We provision for the week. I am sure two day cycles would reduce waste but it’s way to much work and would drive the itinerary to be constantly going to markets. Prices are also much higher at outlying markets.

What goes around, comes around. When your provisions aren't everything you need, substitute what you have for whatever you couldn't have. Or... get in the dinghy and go ashore for something else. Islands, you know, get provisions via airplanes and boats. You can, even now, put things in coolers and checked baggage to have some insurance.

This is a goes around/comes around topic. Most people can still have an awesome trip even without 100% provisioning fulfillment.

I humbly disagree. It GREATLY reduces waste and isnt much work at all to be honest. 6people on a 45' cat, worked great last week. Have done the big provision countless times, and this is honestly WAY easier and substantiallycheaper.

Anchorages with reasonably stocked markets:
Spanish Town - Riteway/Bobbys, Etc.
North Sound - BEYC & Leverick - walk from dock
Trellis - small market in bay, or taxi to East End Rite Way. (also can get delivery here) - walk from dock
Anegada - Market is good, but warm baked goods delivered in the morning is even better, ask the dude who collects trash and for the mooring. If you tie a dry bag to the stern, he will drop them in for you. walk from dock.
Jost - 2 great markets - walk from dock
Cane Garden Bay - lots of options - walk from dock

Thats an easy 2 day rotation and you spread your funds across a lot more than 2 large corporations.

Planning is key. Realize you will eat a lunch or 2 ashore. also 1-2 dinners.

As expensive as it is on Tortola, much cheaper than outer islands. Leverick Bay prices for alcohol seem in line with Tortola and they are fairly well stocked. Scrub Island is expensive and very limited. Having a case of beer left over is cheaper than buying as you go. AND the beer is a welcomed "tip" at base. (Or pay it forward to another cruiser on your last evening/ morning).

Absolutely agree. We usually carry our frozen entree and can find sides for all, even if different than planned.

" A frozen entree" always made it's way to the boat with us, too. Seems like all of our charters had at least one day/
evening when getting in the dinghy in the pouring rain is just a bad idea all around. That's the time to fire up the oven in the galley and slide in the lasagna you froze back in December. Or--American Chop Suey, Pulled pork, Sloppy Joe, meat loaf, chicken and broccoli alfredo... Lots of stuff works as a casserole: plus the Galley Wench absolutely still gets the night off. The work is done.

So you aren't doing rack of lamb on board, no one will miss it in favor of a hot, home-cooked meal.

Question : Is M&M bakery still in business in Spanishtown ?

We provision for the week and with a flexible crew and with plenty of friends and staff on island and TTOLers on boats never have waste....Never seen 100% fulfillment...LOL

Like George dont want to plan a trip around too many provision stops

Speaking of prepared meals. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy a Brandywine Estate Restaurant meal on board by stocking a few frozen meals from the restaurant! The lasagna is great and so is the fish pie. Lots of great soups to try too. Available at Riteway, Onemart, Relish, Grape Expectations, Pantry at Leverick, and Brandywine itself.

Want to eat like you are on a crewed charter? Get your meats where the crewed charter do. Check out Grape Expectations. Super high quality meats and fish! All vacuum packed in individual servings and frozen solid so storage is easy.

If you're going to pack a cooler, consider a few vacuum sealed bags of frozen cookie dough balls. On those nights you're hanging on the boat, there's nothing better than a fresh baked cookie and glass of rum. :-)

While not an official provisioning stop, when we were in Great Harbour JVD last month, there was a lady at the end of the dock selling the most delicious breads - chocolate banana, carrot, and rum cakes. We bought 3 loaves and had to hide them till next morning's breakfast!

One very overlooked place for provisioning, laundry, moorings, and restaurants is Fat Hogs Bay. The grocery store Rite Way even has a dock you can use. Want a slip for the night try Penns Landing and right at the end of the dock is the Red Rock Restaurant IMHO one of the best paces to eat in the BVI. Granted you wont find beaches there.

Ok... Maybe a lame question. We arrive a 3 days ahead of charter. In terms of provisioning, can you shop in person at Rite-way and have the items delivered (including frozen) the next day?

Not really. You either shop as you normally would, or place a provisioning order ahead of time and pay a 10% premium. They claim they run everything through the cashier, but I have been charged the original amount with no adjustment for missing or substituted items.

If you're staying at Scrub, check to verify the rooms have full-sized fridges. That way you can go to several stores until you have everything you need.

They do have full size fridges...very nice. And great view of your compound on the hill...:)

Awesome. I learn something new everytime Im on this forum. Thanks for sharing.

Hi All - for people in the know. T - 2 weeks to go and starting to nail down provisioning. We will be chartering out of Scrub Island with DYC. Trying to decide if we keep it simple and swallow the additional cost provisioning through Scrub Island Market (just looking at Carib beer as a bench mark - they are basically $48 for 24 vs. $36 at Riteway, vs $24 at Caribbean Cellars (CC) !!) so image other items will be priced accordingly.

For people with first hand experience and/or knowledge, can you tell me:

a) if Riteway delivers directly to Scrub island and the charter base or if they only deliver to Trellis and we have to lug to Scrub on the ferry?
b) if CC delivers directly to Scrub island and the charter base or if they only deliver to Trellis and we have to lug to Scrub on the ferry?

Thanks, this will help us make a decision on how to provision for the trip. There is a couple that will be arriving the night before while we are arriving early evening for our sleep aboard - but don't want to make them lug water, beer wine, etc. in the hot afternoon son if we can avoid it!

cheers!

I have never seen a Riteway or CC boat, so everything goes on the Scrub ferry, or you could pick it up by dinghy in Trellis. Beverages are cheaper at the importing company, so prices of brands vary according to where you buy.

If your friends rent a car from the airport, they could hit all the markets, including the French Deli, butchery, fish store in Pockwood Pond and supermarkets.

thanks - don't expect them to have their own boat. More wondering if they arrange to have it shuttled over to the base via the ferry or if we have to meet them at Trellis and do it ourselves. Cheers!

I'm quite certain they will delivery to the scrub Island ferry. The delivery to all other boats for provisioning villas on other islands. You could just ask them.

We chartered with DYC out of Scrub last June. We provisioned with Riteway and CC, the same way that we have with any of the other charter companies that we have used. They deliver to the Trellis docks, and it gets loaded on the Scrub ferry for delivery to your boat. The entire process worked the same as any other provisioning we have done.