Provisioning in St Thomas

It's been about 7 years since we sailed in the BVI/US Virgins

We will be passing by St Thomas on our way from BVI to the Spanish Virgins.

I assume that it's cheaper to provision in St Thomas than BVI. Is it a significant difference or not worth bothering about ?

Which would be the best place to provision in St Thomas ? I assume it's either at Red Hook or around Charlotte Amalie ?

Thanks for any inputs

Bob

If you stop in Red Hook, you can go across the street to Moe's. If you are in Compass Point, the Food Center is close.

Cost U Less!!

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understand while Cost U Less is inexpensive think Sam's Club with larger than normal portions. The liquor prices are very good as well. I would shop Plaza Extra for smaller portions also in the TuTu area. They also have very good pricing, especially on beer.

There are excellent provisioning options in St Thomas (Plaza Extra, Cost-U-Less, and Pueblo which is closer to downtown) and you will save on provisioning costs. However, I think it's not worth the bother if you are on a 1-2 week charter.

To maximize time on the water, I would provision from Riteway or Bobby's while the boat is still at the charter company dock. Have the provisions delivered or have some crewmembers provision while you're doing the boat checkout.

If you come to STT, you'll either have to pay for dockage or schlep provisions to the boat by dinghy. You'll also have to clear in to C&I in Cruz Bay or Charlotte Amalie, which you can bypass if you want to head straight to SVI (will need to clear in there).

Thanks for all the inputs.

We will be sailing for 4 weeks, Spanish Virgins, St Croix, St John and then back to BVI. The boat is in a partnership, hence he extended time !!
Getting proviisions delivered to the boat in BVI would be the easiest but probably more expensive than St Thomas..........any idea what the price differential is ??
As you say it may not be worth the effort.

Thanks

Bob

I would estimate 20%+ if you go to Cost-U-Less for bulk purchases and then to Plaza Extra for the other items. Both are competitive on booze depending on what's on sale that day. In November, Plaza Extra had Carib cans onsale for ~$19. I also got a 5% discount on the total provisioning purchase of $1000+ just by asking the store manager. These two stores are only a few minutes apart.

If you go this route, anchor or grab a mooring ball near Frenchtown Marina at west end of Charlotte Amalie harbor (check with CYOA on mooring availabilty), dinghy to the marina, then walk the 150 yards to pick up your rental car (that you reserved in advance) from the Avis counter at the seaplane base. A 24 hr minivan rental will cost about $70 (<$50 for a sedan) with pickup/dropoff at this location - more flexible and less expensive than a roundtrip taxi.

for a 4 week trip - you will save a worthwhile amount of money with a CostUless stop in STT.

Its worth considering a stop in Fajardo to provision. Especially if you do not have a water maker. Doing Culebra, PR, Vieques, St. Croix lets you hit the small and big.

Ralph's Wholesale Supermarket is impressive. There is also a Walmart, West Marine and a lot of other stores. El Yunque rainforest i a great day trip and the many kiosks at Luqillo have great food and beach access.

https://dinghylife.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/puerto-rico-2-nights-october-23-24-2015/

We stayed at Puerto Del Rey marina. Its worth setting up your account ahead of time. You will need copies of your insurance policy and they will keep the copies for your file.

Cheers, RickG

Since all the Tortolans come over to shop at Cost-U-Less, I'd say it probably is worth it...

Given the four week time line. I would reserve a rental car for the day at the Sea Plane terminal in the main harbor of St Thomas from Avis. Make sure you specify the Sea Plane terminal. Sail to St Thomas directly anchor in the main harbor or come to Frenchtown Marina. Clear in customs, pick up your car do your provisioning take a quick tour of de Island by car while your out and about. Turn the car back in the next morning and head to Culebra.

Or with that much time to burn you could spend a night at any of the West End anchorages, Honeymoon on Water Island, Linberg or Brewers.

Jay

Thanks Jay and BaardJ for the Frenchtown marina and Avis car rental advice. Will plan on this approach.

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thanks
Bob

Thanks Rick,

Will look at this, rainforest looks an interesting excursion

Bob

On this topic, I'm flying in next Sunday 19 February to pick up a boat to deliver back to the Chesapeake Bay. I'm provisioning for a crew of five (so lucky) for eight days. I have a rental car. My plan is to shop Cost-U-Less on Monday and fill in at Pueblo. The boat is anchored out in the harbor between Grande and the CG station.

Comments and advice are welcome.

For best selection and price I would go to Cost-U-Less then the nearby Plaza Extra, and then to Pueblo for any missing items. Currently down here for 16 days and this worked out best for us.

That said, I provisioned from Pueblo last year for a 4 person 8 day passage to Annapolis and it was completely acceptable.

Not to re-direct this thread, but does anyone have any experience with Sunrise Provisions to share?