Latest entry requirements, BVI and USVI

[Bullshooter]

Quote from Montanan:

"Does anyone know if the exclusion zone is still in force as to traveling into BVI waters?"

Apparently not, according to posts on this other thread:


http://https://www.cruisersforum.com...es-259307.html

[Bullshooter]

Auspicious,

I sent you a PM. (I posted here to tell you because I never seem to notice when someone PM's me.)

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Bullshooter

Auspicious,

I sent you a PM. (I posted here to tell you because I never seem to notice when someone PM's me.)

I just replied. I don't usually notice either, but I'm waiting for one from someone else.

I forgot to write that you should feel free to email me. dave@auspiciousworks.com . I'm much more likely to get those. *grin*

[proudsailor]

Whole process is a chore. Just got back from an Antigua charter. Hoping my PCR test got returned in time for the flight to Antigua was unnerving. What was near stroke inducing was the process of getting a negative test within one calendar day of return to the US. Between issues of connectivity and limited local knowledge, I will sail in home waters until these rules are no longer necessary. Good luck!

[EatSleepBoat]

Originally Posted by Bullshooter

Well, it may come to that, but if I can move my flight back a day without a huge cost, and stay overnight in the BVI and get another test, plus pay for a room overnight, it might work out.

I still would like to know if anyone has experience with BVI customs regarding the Quarantine Accommodations cost insurance, which could be a deal breaker.

Call me a cautious optimist, but I am still hoping to "out" the company about a great trip where they helped me to navigate these challenges.

Your insurance probably covers “Trip Delay”. The definition of this will have various “Hazards” and if you then check the definition of “Hazard” it will likely include “Quarantine”. That’s how ours worked this month (Jan 2022).

[mud bug]

I chartered in the BVI early December 2021. I had medical insurance, but was never asked for it, FWIW. But that being said dealing with covid requirements was a complete cluster. Missinformation, changing requirements, officials giving conflicting information, delays etc. made it a nightmare. I was sorry I went and won't consider traveling there again unless and until this gets corrected. I spoke with many locals that feel the same as we do. Very little faith in the government's decisions and restrictions, and incompetence. I feel sorry for them. This is just our experience, but I have no plans of returning and have what should be a good time turn into something that i don't want to repeat.
Sorry I spent the time and money to go there.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by proudsailor

Whole process is a chore. Just got back from an Antigua charter. Hoping my PCR test got returned in time for the flight to Antigua was unnerving. What was near stroke inducing was the process of getting a negative test within one calendar day of return to the US. Between issues of connectivity and limited local knowledge, I will sail in home waters until these rules are no longer necessary. Good luck!

And what would have been stroke inducing was receiving a positive Covid test result and then knowing one was going to remain in the BVI until one tested negative and could schedule a return to the USA and being forced into quarantined in paradise for who knows how long.

All too often people assume that they will be able test negative, but with omicron's capacity to breakthrough even being double vaccinated and boosted, and having tremendous contagiousness, one simply cannot realistically assume your travels will include a timely return.

Traveling during a pandemic, especially internationally remains ill advised, nothing new on that subject. This remains a time for staycations and discovering nearby places.

[Bullshooter]

Originally Posted by EatSleepBoat

Your insurance probably covers “Trip Delay”. The definition of this will have various “Hazards” and if you then check the definition of “Hazard” it will likely include “Quarantine”. That’s how ours worked this month (Jan 2022).

Thank you!

My policy has Quarantine in the definition of Hazards, and Trip Delay coverage is $1,000. I was trying to find out if that means that this policy wording qualifies as PROOF that Quarantine Accommodation Cost is covered. Do you think this would be accepted at BVI Customs? It sounds like it worked for you.

[contrail]

Originally Posted by Bullshooter

Quote from Montanan:

"Does anyone know if the exclusion zone is still in force as to traveling into BVI waters?"

Apparently not, according to posts on this other thread:


http://https://www.cruisersforum.com...es-259307.html

A friend of mine in the BVI charter industry just checked with Customs, a couple days ago, and yes, you are correct, the exclusion zone is no longer in force.



Montanan has noted that Greg Romney is the Deputy Commissioner of Customs (Wade Smith is Commissioner). He is pretty good about answering questions, although he occasionally just ignores him. The problem lies in the fact that the various Customs Officers are often not aware of an interpretation or a recent change. This has been the case, for years and decades. But, almost invariably, when an Officer makes a mistake, well meaning or otherwise, the bosses back him or her up, covered in the "at the discretion of the Officer" clause. Sometimes this can be really egregious, although it tends to work in your favor as often as not. If you have something in writing, either from the regulations or over Greg Romney's signature, you are much better off. Be prepared.

[Bullshooter]

Regarding the BVI-required insurance, I believe my policy will be sufficient, based on EatSleepBoat's experience, and these words on the BVI Travel Insurance website:

"The British Virgin Islands Government and the British Virgin Islands Airports Authority do not verify the adequacy of cover provided by any of the contents of the policies or other products offered. It is the sole responsibility of the purchaser of a policy or other service to be satisfied that the policy covers the risk sought to be insured against.

See this link: https://www.bviaacloud.com/covid-19-...avel-insurance

[lestersails]

Just cleared in and out of BVI for a 9 day bareboat. It really wasn't difficult at all. We came in to Road Town from Charlotte Amalie via Smith's Ferry (very nice, new ferry by the way) booked at the last minute because we missed our flight on Cape Air. We are fully vaccinated, had our negative COVID tests from the clinic at Dulles airport that morning (i.e., being well within the <48 hour BVI requirement), and had a paper copy of our travel insurance.
On arrival at the Road Town Customs and Immigration, they were very well organized and helpful. They had a lady greeting us to discern what our status was (vaccinated or not and in need of a COVID test there or not) and directing us to exactly where we needed to go. There were several steps we had to go through but each was efficient, smooth and each person we dealt with was courteous (and we very much so to them). FWIW, they glanced at my printed statement of coverage for travel insurance - not sure it really mattered at all who it was or if it was even real. We were through the whole process in <30 mins.
To exit to go to St. John, we needed to use the USVI portal.
https://www.usvitravelportal.com
You have to input a bunch of information, answer questions, and upload a negative COVID test result and your vaccination record. Upon doing so, within <5 mins we got an email with a provisional approval (orange QR code) and within 15-20 mins we got our final approval (green QR code). Upon arriving at C&I at St. John, we went through immigration, baggage X-ray, and customs, and then a desk outside the back where they scan your QR codes from your phone. Again, it all took <20 mins and everyone was efficient and friendly, including the two National Guard Troops who were doing the QR code scanning.
Our BVI departure COVID testing was arranged via a referral from our charter company where a technician was at our boat within 10 mins of docking at the end of our charter and did a rapid antigen test on us at the boat and we had the test reports sent to us within 15 mins by email. $125 each.
emelmedical@gmail.com
The ferry from Tortola to St. John is NOT operational. We had to arrange for a private water taxi. Very pricey, but worth it to avoid these steps to get from Scrub Island to St. John:
Water taxi from Scrub Island to Beef island
Taxi from Beef Island to Road Town
Ferry from Road Town to Charlotte Amalie
Taxi from Charlotte Amalie to Red Hook
Ferry from Red Hook to St. John
Our water taxi was expensive, but if you have a party of six, it is only about $150 per person and man was that guy good and was his boat fast. He sped us through BVI exit process in no time at all and escorted us most of the way through US Customs. Note that hey require that you have you have your QR code for US entry before boarding the water taxi. The company was ChillOut Charters. They also run water taxi service to St. Thomas, I believe, but I don't know the cost.
Our experience was that with the exception of having to actually get (and pay for) the COVID testing and the cost of that water taxi, getting in and out of the BVI was hardly any different than in pre-COVID times. In some ways, it was better - in years past (pre-COVID) we have had some pretty indifferent and inefficient experiences in BVI customs and immigration.
The cruising was pretty great - the numbers of boaters seemed significantly lower to us than in years past. Mooring balls pretty widely available in most bays. In contrast, there were an unbelievable number of sailboats at mooring and anchor in St. John outside of Caneel Bay - so I wonder if some of the BVI charter business has shifted to USVI because of COVID.

[Bullshooter]

Thanks for the info lestersails.
You said "Our water taxi was expensive, but if you have a party of six, it is only about $150 per person..." Was that for one way, from the BVI to the USVI, or for two ways?

Do you have a ballpark estimate of the total spent in going back and forth, with water taxis, ferries, COVID tests etc.?

[lestersails]

Originally Posted by Bullshooter

Thanks for the info lestersails.
You said "Our water taxi was expensive, but if you have a party of six, it is only about $150 per person..." Was that for one way, from the BVI to the USVI, or for two ways?

Do you have a ballpark estimate of the total spent in going back and forth, with water taxis, ferries, COVID tests etc.?

That water taxi fare was ~$900 one way. We had a bigger party, but several cancelled at the last minute, leaving three of us to split that bill - kind of a bear, but what can you do?
COVID test at Dulles airport $225 per person, I think
The ferry we took was from the Charlotte Amalie Ferry Terminal to Road Town. $60 per person.
Taxi from Road Town to Scrub Island Water Taxi ~$30
Water taxi to Scrub is free.
Our BVI departure COVID test was $125 each
Our private Water Taxi was $900. That was from the marina where our boat was, via Sopers Hole BVI C&I checkout, to St. John C&I - door to door if you will.
Costs a good amount, to be sure, but we missed a bareboat last year altogether due to COVID, so, in the big picture, I am ahead, right?

[Bullshooter]

Thanks for the info. $900 one way, yikes. I'm still looking at options.