Any word on Voyage in Sopers Hole

Any word on Voyage Charters? They posted a vague message on their website a few weeks ago.

We have a charter booked spring of next year and were bringing a boat load of first timers to the BVIs. Speaking with them last night, they do not want to go and wish to cancel the trip. In all honesty I do not blame them as it is an expensive vacation and I also believe recovery will take quite some time, far longer than 6 months.

I told them that given the circumstances we need to give Voyage a few more weeks to assess their fleet and damage etc before we cancel the trip. IF we cancel there is a 20% cancelation fee which is rather steep. If Voyage cancels the trip then I am assuming they will refund our deposit. With that said, they are a small charter company, who even knows if they can survive this event.

My husband and I have been traveling to the BVIs since 2008 and feel the need to help boost the economy when it is time for visitors to return. We will do so, albeit but on a smaller vessel and most likely alone. We will wait a few years to bring newbies.

I expect that reasonable infrastructure for a sailing vacation will be back sooner than 3 months. It won't be like last year, and more like the bvi of 20 years.

I also expect that voyage will be up before your charter date and will not cancel your trip

The amount of wrecked building material, now, mixed with household garbage, on the streets will take months to remove. Our beautiful islands won't be clean for a long time.
Also, anchorages, mooring fields, marinas and channels need to be inspected and cleared of wreckage and new, sunken wrecks raised or moved to deeper water. Navigation is going to be tricky

SailByNight:
I would expect all the "mooring fields" were empty, especially where charter boats frequently go. Also "redline" areas for any recent wrecks which may impact a 4-5 ft draft vessel.

Prior to Irma, there was SO much belly aching about mooring fields being too crowded , and how great it was years ago when you could anchor with very few boats around.... This will be the time to experience that (probably for only a short time) as I expect the mooring fields will be redeveloped as the charter fleet returns.

I do agree the land based infrastructure will be most noticeable, as I remember the images of Hugo (in Charleston SC) persisting for quite some time after it hit.

I expect Voyage Charters will be up and running, at least on a limited basis, my early 2018.

Check before you assume that Voyage will refund a charter deposit due to a hurricane event.

We had a booking with Conch, and their terms explicitly state no refund for trips cancelled or curtailed due to a storm.

We have two boats booked in early June with Voyage. I figure there's about a 70/30 chance the trip happens. We've just decided to be very patient. There's no rush. In another month or so, they'll have a better idea of what their future holds. Until that time, I'm not worrying about it.

We have a charter booked with BVI Yacht Charters in June and we will be there!!

I am sure all of our favorite spots will have something up and running and the water we love so much will be just as blue...and the people we love so much will still be there...

I am planning to be there in June. I will help with the cleanup in any way I can. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I am confident that a lot if not most anchorages will have something going by spring/summer of 2018.

Availability of boats will likely be the main issue affecting charters next year.

If your charter is not cancelled by the charter company, then, please - by all means - go on your charter. The BVI people need your support. They need to make a living.

I think that you will find whatever anchorage businesses that are open to be far more friendly than normal.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> We will be there as well. My biggest question is will Riteway and all the provisioning outlets be running and able to deliver goods that we need on island. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />
BVI Mariner will hopefully have some good updates on anchorages and other information as well.

....besides....I wouldn't risk missing Mal's upcoming beach party <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

If the charter company does not have the type boat you booked they should upgrade you to a larger boat or refund your charter. At this stage it's tough to tell which charter companies will return to operation and which may shut down. If the smaller companies shut down I suspect getting a refund may be difficult. Voyage has had some financial issues however they restructured with assistance from a white night so I am not sure where they stand now. Charter companies generate the bulk of their future bookings from now through Feb and the bulk of their actual income from charters from 15 Dec through June. It's going to be critical for all the companies to get boats on the water for the winter season if they are going to survive. I fear bookings are going to be very week.
G

I just read Chuck's most recent installment...it will be interesting to see how and when they begin the movement of the damaged boats

I just checked Moorings, they too will NOT refund due to circumstances beyond their control (like a hurricane).

Voyage doesn't seem to have the agreement details up on their website, but I suspect this is standard.

Well, sorry, if the person paid with a credit card, you can dispute the charge, based on services that are not rendered. That's federal law.

The Moorings has been fully refunding all charters through 31 Oct. They have been rebooking charters after that to other locations if requested. I expect the refund policy will be extended to a longer time frame.
Don't confuse the policy with storms interrupting a charter with the charter company being unable to deliver a boat. They are different animals.
G

DFish, we're in much the same situation with a mid-February charter with eight people (including eight first timers) with TMM. Got an email from them last week that said they're continuing to clean up and evaluate as they go. I think that my wife and I will probably still go even if we are on a small monohull instead of a large cat because we want to support the BVI. Obviously it's hard to make plans and to offer advice to the other crew with so much uncertainty. I just try to keep in mind that these sort of logistical problems are trivially insignificant in comparison to the life-altering situations that the people and businesses down there are facing on a daily basis.

LaserKing, yes those are our thoughts exactly. I am urging my friends to be patient, because quite frankly, I believe the BVIs are still in daily survival mode. It seems rather cruel to pull the plug on the charter right now. Our problem of whether to charter or not is so incredibly trivial given what the people of, not only the BVIs are facing, but everyone impacted by the hurricanes this season. I cannot begin to comprehend what they are going through.

However, there is absolutely no way our friends will go. They said as much this weekend and quite frankly, I do not blame them being their first time there. I cannot control what they chose to do. My husband and I will not take out a large cat on our own - its far too expensive for the 2 of us. Like you we will most likely charter a small vessel if we can find one. Its too early to tell. Right now just trying to figure out what to do with the charter on the books.

So to confirm, I got off the phone with Moorings about 30 minutes ago. Our charter was actually Hurricane Irma week and they are giving us a full refund. Didn't ask who else that applied to, but I agree, this is very different than missing a couple days from a passing storm.

Hoping to get down there in June as well! I am a newbie to this, but hope to arrange to swing by the party!

^^^ Riteway is already open and serving the public. Seems they were damaged near as much as others. I was relieved to see them, as locals need market right away and boaters will need as they take to the waters in December/January.

I just got off the phone with Voyage. The vessel we were chartering has been completely lost. I know how many boats they are left with versus many were in their fleet pre Irma. We are talking a significant reduction in fleet. They want us to be patient for a few more weeks or so before making a decision. I believe they will try to re-assign us to another catamaran for our dates if available. But for now, they are first dealing with charters up until the end of this year, whether it be full refunds for those they cannot accommodate or boats for those they can.

Sounds like we have a few options:

1. Cancel now and absorb a 20% cancellation fee. However they indicated the banks aren't up in Tortola and it will take time to receive the remaining refund of 30% - not sure how long.
2. Possibly move our travel dates to the future sometime and not lose 20% cancellation fee, they keep the 50% deposit already put down
3. Wait and see if they are able to re-accommodate our group to a new boat for original dates

All in all, I do not know what to do. I feel bad for them and for everyone involved. I could hear the desperation in the Voyage Reps voice. They are trying to salvage what is left of their business. If we all pull out (meaning not just us, but all charterers), it could sink them financially.

I do know my friends. They will not go and I don't blame them. They are waiting for me to handle this. I was, after all, the person who convinced them to go in the first place.

My husband and I will likely go at some point because we want to help stimulate the economy, but it will not be on a Voyage Cat. It is just too expensive for the 2 of us. I do not want to round up another group of friends to go. It will be a hard sell....

I just don't know what to do!

Can always have faith in those Canucks....
Jus' sayin'
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

Am I gonna get flamed for that ?
LOL - go ahead.. bring it on

No flaming from me..love Canucks..but my LA Kings more!

Hmmm... Gretzky.....

I may be showing some "age" with that last comment
LOL

Daughter or dad? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Be aware that if a company shuts down or files bankruptcy you will not be able to charge back a credit card deposit. The account has to have funds to cover the charge back.
G

While I can completely understand someone thinking/wanting to cancel, on the other hand, I wonder what it was that made them want to go? By that time, the majority of the scenery will be there (leaves grow back..etc). The warm weather will be there. The crystal blue waters..etc.

The biggest changes will be the lack of bar/restaurant options and in some/many places signs of what Irma did. I think much of that could be minimized by then though. Once infrastructure is up and running and homes being worked on, I'm sure appearance will be somewhat high on the list as well since it is a tourist destination.

Not expecting you'd convince them otherwise, just curious as to what sold them in the first place?

Good point. In the past, I found that if I had to convince a newbie to go sailing, they usually didn't work out anyway. This could actually be a blessing.

What sold them was the blend of vacation... a little bit of everything. Sailing, water activities, beach bars and some very nice restaurants and activities ashore. Perfect for blend newbies who aren't big sailors.

I couldn't imagine mooring at BEYC or even Saba by then. Or dining upstairs at Leverick by that time. Rather I see this trip next year more along the lines of sailing in the Grenadines in terms of development ashore. I find that appealing, but I know this group wont.

I certainly wouldn't take this particular group South - not their kind of trip. The BVIs were perfect for them.

For the record, we have traveled with them before and know their expectations.

d_fish... the original questions was "what to do?"

seems simple... if you booked a specific cat
and this cat is no longer available... does this not default to a refund?
Reasonableness says it should - as they cannot deliver what you bought - perhaps the sailing world works differently

Then - decide afresh

Aside from the dining options, I'd imagine most of the other stuff might be viable. But I'm sure what they have seen already has them turned off from the whole thing.

On a related note, I thought BEYC said they hoped to have rooms available in 6 months? I think at the time they stated it, that it may have been premature and very optimistic, but they've also done construction there and may have a good idea as to what it might take them?

Regarding dining, I think you'll be very surprised. Sugar Mill is opening in October as planned, Brandywine has already served meals and will probably be back in full swing soon, I'm guessing Leverick will have something by Spring, Wonky Dog will be open, and I'm sure there are many more things.

Not to be an a$$, but your friends should lose their deposit if they aren't willing to give some time for things to recover. If they are really that anal about things being perfect, they should have paid for travel insurance to cover their perfect vacation.

Agree with Jason totally but , the latest from Dennis at The Sugar Mill is a December opening. In the meantime I'm sure there will be plenty of options from fish fries to beach bar b q 's. In a way this may be a throwback to those wonderful, less commercialised times in the BVI's that got us there in the first place. Jason..are you back on island..if so how was the trip and the hassle to get in?

Not back yet but still trying.

I Can't imagine there being much of BEYC in 6 months. Maybe a couple of the villas that are lower on the hill facing Saba rock are fixable. But there is not much left in the way of any infrastructure or restaurants, buildings, etc there.

Wow....
I'm going to leave it at that comment

Tough call. As I mentioned in a previous post, we're in sort of the same fix. All but two of the eight of us booked for February with TMM have been sailing in the BVI multiple times ( I'm on my 20-something trip since 1980). I'm not as optimistic as some about the infrastructure being ready for even a limited charter business by this winter, but I will gladly be proven wrong if that's not the case. D Fish, sounds like with you're group you should just consider getting as much of a refund as you can and you and your husband just get a monohull if available. (I think that's what my wife and I are going to do). Your friends can go some other time when things are a more back to normal. I'm not sure if many of the smaller companies without deep pockets are going to survive this. I'd probably try to get as much deposit money back as possible. I'm personally waiting to see what the status at TMM is going to be, but I've got another 7 weeks before I have to declare on my deposit. Good luck.

We are planning on being there Dec 10th-20th. So I will be sure to report back on how things are then. I know Moorings/Sunsail plan to be open by then too.

The Moorings has made the Sep owners payments due this week on their boats ontime. I take that as a excellent sign concerning their future plans.
G

Looking at what Voyage offered you for the different scenarios seems much different than what others are reporting for various charter companies. That makes me think that they're holding on to cash for dear life. That doesn't make me optimistic about their future.....or my scheduled June trip with them.

The skeptic in me has me wondering if that is because they don't know the state of boats yet? Hopefully that continues, because I believe a totaled boat could mean termination of the contract. Would be a very good sign. And I imagine the more goodwill towards owners, the more likely they would be to sign up again. I have to think it would be easier at this point to get existing owners to stay vs trying to get new owners in.

They have a excellent idea of the state of the fleet. A totaled boat does mean the end of the contract when the insurance is paid. They can't begin repairs until the adjusters sign off each boat. They have been on the island for a while now. So far I have been pleased with their response. Time will tell but they seem to be doing all the right things with regard to the owners and customers who have booked charters.
G

Received an email from Moorings yesterday and we went back and forth a couple of times (sales call, looking for me to become an owner). They are adamant that they have plans to come back bigger/better than ever in the BVI.

Glad to hear they are doing well and have a good plan. We wouldn't hesitate to start over with them again. Just wasn't the right timing for us to start over so we just kept our boat and moved to Swain Sailing School.