Frequently Asked
Questions

The casual atmosphere of the Virgin Islands is one of our favorite things about this dreamy paradise. Warm sun-drenched days blend seamlessly into magical sunsets and star-studded nights. The warm breeze off of the ocean keeps you comfortable into the midnight hour. Whether you are lounging on board or looking to explore the islands by land, pack for comfort. We have put together a guide to help you with the daunting question – what the heck do I bring?

Have a look at our Caribbean Packing Guide

There are multiple ways to get to the BVI, including the Tortola airport. The airport code is EIS. The Tortola airport has many flights daily from Puerto Rico and St Maarten. You can also fly into St Thomas and take a scenic 45-minute ferry ride into the BVI. The ferry arrives at multiple ports in the BVI. Private Water Taxis are also available. See our Post on Getting to the BVI for more detailed information.

There are various airlines flying directly into St. Thomas. The airport code is STT. Flights are also daily from Puerto Rico, code SJU. Once in the USVI, short flights will take you to St. Croix or the British Virgin Islands including Virgin Gorda.

The British Virgin Islands require a valid passport. Be sure it doesn’t expire within 6 months of entering the country or they are likely to deny entry. The following measures are to be adhered to by all non-British Virgin Islanders entering the Territory: Bona fide visitors may be granted entry for up to one month at the ports of entry, provided that they possess return (or ongoing) tickets, evidence of adequate means of support and pre-arranged accommodations during their stay. Visitors wishing to stay longer will need to apply for an extension.

Please check for visa requirements if you are a US citizen. Non-US citizens should check the requirements for entry to the US Virgin Islands if traveling through the USVI and BVI.

From North America:
U.S. citizens traveling by air to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda must present a passport or other WHTI-compliant documentation to enter or depart from the United States.
For Canadian and United States citizens, a passport is required.

From Europe:
European citizens need a valid passport to enter the British Virgin Islands. However visitors that are residents of certain countries require a visa in order to enter the BVI.

From the Caribbean:
Please note that citizens from some islands may need to obtain a visa to visit the British Virgin Islands. Visitors from these Caribbean islands need to have a visa in order to enter the BVI.

15-20% of the charter fee is standard for the crew gratuity in the Caribbean. Your crew is on call 24/7, working hard to ensure you have the experience of a lifetime. They begin preparing for your charter the moment they receive your requests in a preference form. The gratuity is given to the crew at the end of the charter in cash, Paypal, Venmo, or individual checks.

You will find more information for Mediterranean and alternative tipping guides in our How Much to Tip on a Yacht Charter guide.

In the unlikely event of you canceling your charter, all payments are forfeited. However, if the yacht can re-book a different charter for the same dates, there is a chance of a partial refund. In some cases, a future date can be chosen, and the deposit can be held. Please inquire about the COVID-19 amendments.

Anytime is a great time to visit the Caribbean. Temperatures range from 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Winds are slightly higher in the winter months. You can expect slightly higher rates during holiday weeks, and anchorages are busier. Generally, Thanksgiving through Easter is considered the high season. New Years’ charters are booked up to 18 months in advance.

Yes, All yachts have wifi. Please keep in mind it is not as fast or reliable while sailing from island to island.

All yachts have VHF radios and cell phones. All yachts have WiFi onboard for guests’ use. Turn off cellular roaming and activate WiFi calling, unless you are in the US Virgin Islands. Please check your cell phone provider to see about roaming charges on your phone plan. AT&T works best around the US Virgin Islands.

Your private yacht chef caters to most special diets and allergies. The chef plans a menu around your preferences. It is not uncommon to have several special diets on one charter. If this is a need, we will inquire with yachts during the search process and discuss it with the chef.

Yes. All yachts are fully air-conditioned and equipped with water makers and ice makers. Generators provide power to run all systems anytime required.

Travel insurance is always a good idea and we highly recommend it. Major travel insurance companies can cover cancellation due to extreme weather or an Act of God, emergency medical issues, and other specific situations. Trip insurance is a must during the Hurricane months of August, September, and October.

All yachts in the collection are all-inclusive with a professional captain and private chef. Larger vessels may have additional crew such as deckhand and stewardess. All meals, snacks, standard ship’s bar (liquor, wine, beer, and soft drinks), fuel for the vessel and tender, insurance for the vessel and crews, all water sport activities are part of your package. Not included are crew gratuities.

If your charter is PLUS expenses, this means you will be required to pay your APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) which will cover your food, drinks, fuel, any dockage fees, moorings and cruising permits. Whatever is not used upon completion of the charter will be returned to you. This is commonly an additional 30-35% of your charter fee. Additionally, If there is a Tax in the area of your charter, you. may also be required to pay VAT (which are the taxes to charter in that country).

Have a look at our All Inclusive vs Non Inclusive post to learn even more about the differences of each.

There are no longer any more COVID restrictions when traveling  U.S. OR British Virgin Islands by air or sea. Traveling into the USVI you will be required to show a valid government form of ID (unless you are from outside the US, in which you will be required to have the passport from your home Country).

Traveling into and out of the BVI as a US Citizen, you will be required to only have a valid, non-expired U.S. Passport.