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Cruising Permit Fees Up #131344
05/30/2017 06:58 AM
05/30/2017 06:58 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 98
rstevens Offline OP
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rstevens  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 98

BVI Sponsors
Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: rstevens] #131345
05/30/2017 08:44 AM
05/30/2017 08:44 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,148
road town
sleepychef Offline
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sleepychef  Offline
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Posts: 1,148
road town
All the charter companies need to get together and meet with the Minister and tell him directly just as the Trust companies did to stop the work permit increases.

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: sleepychef] #131346
05/30/2017 09:29 AM
05/30/2017 09:29 AM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 288
Kansas
Chriskal Offline
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Chriskal  Offline
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Posts: 288
Kansas
"Arguing about $2, $6 sends the wrong message. The charter boats owners should not do this, the guests will be paying…"

Seems evident the "guests" are only valued for what can be emptied out of their wallets.

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: Chriskal] #131347
05/30/2017 09:48 AM
05/30/2017 09:48 AM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
S
sail445 Offline
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sail445  Offline
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Posts: 3,003
It's just another addition to a:
Rude Welcome
Overpriced restaurants and bars
Rude slow service
Ridiculous tipping demands

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: sail445] #131348
05/30/2017 10:58 AM
05/30/2017 10:58 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
CaptainJay Offline
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CaptainJay  Offline
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Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
I was in Culebra the weekend before last. A lobster dinner was $30. Drinks where $4 and the moorings are free. Customs is handled with a phone call, also for free.

[Linked Image]

Last edited by CaptainJay; 05/30/2017 10:58 AM.
Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: CaptainJay] #131349
05/30/2017 11:20 AM
05/30/2017 11:20 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,169
Rincón PR
casailor53 Offline
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casailor53  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,169
Rincón PR
Pic looks more like Culebrita to me!

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: casailor53] #131350
05/30/2017 12:56 PM
05/30/2017 12:56 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Maria_and_Steve Offline
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Maria_and_Steve  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Definitely Culebrita!!!

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: casailor53] #131351
05/30/2017 01:15 PM
05/30/2017 01:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
CaptainJay Offline
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CaptainJay  Offline
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Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
Quote
casailor53 said:
Pic looks more like Culebrita to me!


Yes it is Culebrita and the moorings where free there as well. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

These are Culebra

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Jay

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: CaptainJay] #131352
05/30/2017 02:12 PM
05/30/2017 02:12 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
S
sail445 Offline
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sail445  Offline
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Posts: 3,003
Yes, Culebra is definitely a bargain with a lot of friendly people and the moorings are well maintained and free. You can also fish without a permit.
Just have to stay away on holidays because of the crowds.

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: CaptainJay] #131353
05/30/2017 02:15 PM
05/30/2017 02:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 167
Roseville, Minnesota
Swifty Offline
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Swifty  Offline
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Posts: 167
Roseville, Minnesota
We just took our first trip to Culebra/Culebrita a few weeks ago and LOVED it! Great food, less crowds, inexpensive and very friendly locals! The only negative was a small group of people who showed up in the Culebrita anchorage in a twin engine speedboat at 11 PM and blared their music until 1 AM. Quite unexpected on a Wednesday night.

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: CaptainJay] #131354
05/30/2017 03:33 PM
05/30/2017 03:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,169
Rincón PR
casailor53 Offline
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casailor53  Offline
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Posts: 1,169
Rincón PR
Dakity and Flamenco Beach, nice pics!

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: CaptainJay] #131355
05/30/2017 04:13 PM
05/30/2017 04:13 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 396
Pacific NW
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snmhanson Offline
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snmhanson  Offline
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 396
Pacific NW
The first rule of the SVIs is: You do not talk about the SVIs. The second rule of the SVIs is: You DO NOT talk about the SVIs. Shall I continue?

Hopefully the SVIs aren't on a course similar to that of the BVIs several years ago. However, as more and more people look for alternatives to the BVIs they are going to quickly realize that the SVIs are much easier to get to, much less expensive, much less crowded, just as beautiful as the BVIs, and in general, a great alternative to the BVIs. I guess there are differences such as not as easily navigable waters, no cruise ship docks, less places to hide from the wind and swell, and the SVIs are not their own country. Nevertheless, the BVI government seems to be doing their best to try to give every other island in the Caribbean a bigger piece of the charter pie.

BTW, does anyone know when the increase in BVI cruising permit fees is going to hit? Or has it already?

Matt

Quote
CaptainJay said:
I was in Culebra the weekend before last. A lobster dinner was $30. Drinks where $4 and the moorings are free. Customs is handled with a phone call, also for free.

[Linked Image]

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: CaptainJay] #131356
05/30/2017 04:14 PM
05/30/2017 04:14 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Rockford, Michigan
aarpskier Offline
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aarpskier  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Rockford, Michigan
Quote
CaptainJay said:
I was in Culebra the weekend before last. A lobster dinner was $30. Drinks where $4 and the moorings are free. Customs is handled with a phone call, also for free.


Heading to the Spanish Virgins from STT in October for those reasons, and: (1) No ferries, (2) Fewer people, (3) No ferries, (4) No cruise ships, and (5) No ferries! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: aarpskier] #131357
05/30/2017 04:43 PM
05/30/2017 04:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 189
Eastern MA
T
tothedogs Offline
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tothedogs  Offline
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Posts: 189
Eastern MA
Where did you have the lobster on Culebra? We are going in early July.

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: tothedogs] #131358
05/30/2017 04:50 PM
05/30/2017 04:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
CaptainJay Offline
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CaptainJay  Offline
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Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
The Dinghy Dock. Ahi Tuna Tacos for $3.50 at Zaco's Taco's as well.

Jay

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: CaptainJay] #131359
05/30/2017 06:52 PM
05/30/2017 06:52 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
S
sail445 Offline
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sail445  Offline
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The SVI and the USVI are people friendly.
When you have dinner you don't have to wait to recharge you cocktail or have a photogenic Moose ignoring you.

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: sail445] #131360
06/01/2017 11:36 AM
06/01/2017 11:36 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 108
JlarsBVI Offline
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JlarsBVI  Offline
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Posts: 108
Those that have gone to the SVIs do you usually charter out of Puerto Rico or St Thomas?

Re: Cruising Permit Fees Up [Re: JlarsBVI] #131361
06/01/2017 03:01 PM
06/01/2017 03:01 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 396
Pacific NW
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snmhanson Offline
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snmhanson  Offline
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 396
Pacific NW
I think most people that sail the SVIs charter out of St. Thomas. Up until recently there has only been one viable option out of Puerto Rico - SailCaribe. However, there are now at least two additional charter companies with small bases in Fajardo - Dream Yacht Charters and Moorings. My guess is that the jump in companies offering charters out of Puerto Rico is in response to the increase in fees to charter in the BVIs coupled with the increased cost and complexity in getting to the BVIs.

I personally prefer to start from Puerto Rico as we get the upwind portion of the charter out of the way first. That way we are not going to be forced to grind into less than desirable conditions in order to get the boat back to the charter base on time. This worked out well for us a few charters ago when we had 20-25 knot winds and 8-12' swells the last few days of the charter. I was sure glad we we were headed downwind back to Fajardo versus straight into the wind and back to St. Thomas in those conditions.

Additionally, I find that at least for us, Puerto Rico is significantly less expensive and quite a bit easier to get to than to St. Thomas, plus Puerto Rico offers much more in terms of infrastructure, provisioning, and pre/post charter options. The territory is going through some financial troubles right now but so far it has not been apparent to the tourist in terms of inconvenience or overall safety. In my eyes it's all the more reason to spend some time there and try to make a contribution to their economy, albeit a very small contribution.

Matt


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