TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands BVI - USVI - BVI logistics

Hi All,
Looking to see if I have this procedure basically down.

Due to spring break times, us parents are coming into STT on a Friday and heading over to sleep aboard/finish provision/do the checkout. The girls come in to STT Saturday early afternoon.

So we we thinking of spending a couple of days in the USVI as we have not done that on our last several charters. We we thinking of picking the girls up in Red Hook or Cruz Bay on Saturday afternoon.

To do the procedure as I understand it is, clear into BVI on Friday, get the boat. Clear out of the BVI on Saturday and clear into USVI at Cruz Bay. Spend time on St John and then all 6 of us clear into BVI when we return and then clear out again when we leave at the end of the charter.

Do I have the facts right?
Thanks for the help,
Ellen

Sounds right.
Note that you don't clear out of the USVI, you just leave.
However, as you indicated you have to clear out of the BVI.

We did this in Jan and it worked out well. My kids had a late afternoon flight so we took a slip at American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook and overnighted there. Nice marina and an easy pick up spot. Another good place to meet is to pick up a ball at Caneel Bay and let the kids ferry to Cruz Bay then taxi to the Caneel Bay resort. Very nice restaurant and bar there. Might be easier than taking the dinghy to Cruz Bay for the pick up depending on time of day and amount of luggage.

I freely admit I am not a boat person, but wouldn't it be more convenient to just rent your boat in the USVI?? I'm sure I'm totally missing something.

Thanks for the info. I didn't think about luggage!

And Carol yes it probably would make sense to charter out of STT but sometimes plans don't come together that way. We originally thought we would all be traveling together.

Yes it would have been. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Since you did not a slip at Red Hook overnight is probably your best option.

Jay

With all the angst over ferries from STT to the BVI in general, I just don't understand why people wouldn't start out chartering in the USVI. As I said, I'm not a boat person, so I'm sure there are lots of issues there I totally don't understand.

Perhaps if in this instance they truly want to hang out in the USVI. But there is likely a reason that nearly every boat going out of STT spends most to nearly all their time in the BVI and vast majority of BVI charted boats don't go the other way.

For many years we rented houses and vacationed on St. John ..so when had a boat in charter and now a personal power boat we occasionally visit friends on ST. john. but when having guests come down we would always recommend those coming through STT to meet us at West End. it is simplest for all involved. For a week or ten days there is more than enough to do in the BVI and then some without any clearing needed anywhere.

Additionally all things being equal Pillsbury Sound out of STT is likely to be the roughest stretch of water on the entire trip . Not really the best way to introduce new crew to your boat.

Many times we would head to Sopers, dinghy to Jolly Roger.(Fish n Lime) ..swill adult beverages, watch the ferry our guests were on arrive..mosy up to customs..go back to the bar with them.. Dinghy to boat and begin their adventure in a very relaxed manner.

I believe the cruising fees for US charters at BVI C&I can vary greatly up to several hundred $ .

I never understand the desire to avoid a relatively easy hour long ferry trip for guests who were savvy enough to make their way from North America to STT..to spend several hours or a day or two and clearing out-in-in to spare them the ferry ride. Maybe oughta pick em up in Miami on the boat if they can't handle a ferry ride. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Disclaimer..have no boat in charter..could care less where people charter from or pick up crew.

Its not that hard to do the clearances and St John is a great place to hang out for a day or two. My wife would have me do the drill just to get a fresh squeezed mango margarita at Margarita Phils across from the customs area anyway.

Will, You are right about us wanting to spend some time on St John. It has been awhile since we have done that and this travel hiccup has given us the excuse to do that. I agree about meeting in West End, that was the original plan. We also are not sailing, we are on a power cat, so some of the thoughts that sailors might have about the wind and which way to go etc are not relevant to us. Gives us a bit more flexibility I guess.

Thanks for the help, we are going to get a slip in Red Hook. Our friends have never been to Duffy's, so we have that going for us...
Ellen

Easier to fly direct to STT for sure, from the Eastern US, but all my trips there have taken me on a connection via SJU and for my part the vacation starts when we get on that tiny plane for the trip to Beef Island... the view of the islands on the approach to EIS is a great way to start the experience! Also - avoids any of the ferry hassle too. I have also picked up people who join us mid trip from the beach at Trellis bay after they have done the short walk from the airport. Also very handy.

"To do the procedure as I understand it is, clear into BVI on Friday, get the boat. Clear out of the BVI on Saturday and clear into USVI at Cruz Bay. Spend time on St John and then all 6 of us clear into BVI when we return and then clear out again when we leave at the end of the charter."

Just to be clear:

The paperwork for clearing in and out of the BVI and USVI when arriving or departing on a ferry is different than the paperwork when arriving or departing via charter vessel.

Depart St Thomas via ferry ( no clearing required)
Arrive BVI via ferry (entire party completes Immigration Arrival & Departure Card, Head of Household completes HM Customs BVI
Declaration, pay some tax)
Depart BVI via Charter Boat (Captain Only - Clears out of BVI, pay a variable tax)
Arrive USVI via Charter Boat (entire party - Clears into USVI)
Depart USVI via charter boat ( no clearing out required, just a hearty wave will do)
Arrive BVI via Charter Boat ( Captain Only- Clears into BVI, others must remain on charter boat, big fine$ if they go to bar or gift shop)
Depart BVI via Ferry (Present passport, pay departure tax, return back side of Departure card)
Arrive USVI via Ferry- (Head of Household Completes US Customs Declaration)


I have some of the forms on my web page for reference. Scroll to the bottom of that page.

Whew! Someone please buy me a beer!

Best to have a few days rest between some of these steps.

Good luck,

Tony

I suggest not going to St. Thomas at all. Go from Tortola to St. John and spend the night there. Have your kids take the St. John ferry from St. Thomas when they arrive. We did this in December and it was easy. To clear in at St. John you can either take a mooring in Maho Bay or another bay (if there is a North Swell you don't want to be in Cinnamon Bay as it gets rolly) and then take a cab to customs (make sure everyone on board goes to customs). Or you can take the boat to Cruz Bay and go right up to the dock at the customs office, clear and then find somewhere to overnight. Cruz Bay is really crowded without available mooring balls. You might also be able to clear in and out of Tortola when you arrive by ferry. We did it and the only issue was that the customs agent cleared us in, then made us wait for everyone from the ferry to clear and then she cleared us out. You have to have the boat paperwork and information to be able to clear out. Just ask the charter company for it.