Entering the BVI

[Allied39]

Originally Posted by bobnlesley

Come on guys, be fair to the OP. He's probably grown up in the USA so will firmly believe that Muricans are a higher form of human life, to whom international laws should not apply.

Just ugh.

[Flagman101]

If you fly in St-Thomas but pick the boat in Tortola, how will you get to Tortola?
The fast ferries get you direct to the customs dock.
It"s all fenced. Nobway of getting of yhe ferry without going to customs.
Only way in would be to sail in. Go way of getting your boat impounded
Also the charter company will ask for valid passports.
They need copies for the paperwork, cruising permits etc
Do expect mor frequent controls. Covid complicates things
Honnestly i would be lookibg for a way of getting the passport expedited. If not possible...lesson learned for your friend i guess.
If you are the skipper, you are responsible for any broken laws. I would not let him board.
Also late july for the BVIs...check your forecasts

[LittleWing77]

Jim,

If the Charter is a couple weeks away, your friend could get a replacement passport fairly quickly on an expedited basis (especially since he already has one, so it's not a new passport, just a renewal).

In Canada, it costs an extra $20 and tell him to bring his plane ticket or some receipt showing the dates he's travelling.

I don't see why the passport office in Dallas (it's a metropolitan Texas city, isn't it?) wouldn't be able to sort that out for your friend in advance of your trip - but of course, I'm speaking from my Canadian experience and we're a much smaller country than the US; perhaps it is different here.

Here's a recent thread you might find useful. If you skip ahead to Post #18, you can read about a member's fab time on his BVI charter and what the actual regulations/ restrictions were like on the ground in June.

BVI 2021
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...-246600-2.html

Fair winds and hope you have a great trip!
LittleWing77

[jim3842]

Thank you for the information. Due to Covid all of the appointments are booked up. This person will not be able to go. Have a great day!

[LittleWing77]

Originally Posted by jim3842

Thank you for the information. Due to Covid all of the appointments are booked up. This person will not be able to go. Have a great day!

Well, that really sucks, Jim!

Maybe he should give it a shot anyway...? Get his name on a cancellation list? Maybe try a passport office in a different big city?

Hrumph.
LW77

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by jim3842

This person will not be able to go.

That's unfortunate. Lesson for everyone else reading this... Renew your passport EARLY!

[LargeMarge]

Your crew should be safe(r) as long as they wear a mask (aka 'face-mask') and maintain a six-foot anti-social distance.
These are the official dictates... science.
Do not question it.
.
How many of their inoculation series did they get?
How prepped are they to double-mask?
Are their double-masks in different colors so OfficialsAndAuthorities can determine submission at a glance?
'At a glance' means 'without violating anti-social distances'.
.
As long as they can furnish inoc documents, they should be safe(r).
To be safe(r), should they get re-inoculated?
Should you ask at your local branch of the Surge Patrol?
.
Various versions of inoc dictates change hourly.
Verify your destination dictates prior to departure.
Nobody wants to save for years for a dream vacation, then spend those precious hours in medical quarantine prison!
Especially at several hundred dollars a day.
.
Up-date your crew inoculations.
Carry your inoc docs.
Be safe(r)!

[contrail]

Originally Posted by LargeMarge

Your crew should be safe(r) as long as they wear a mask (aka 'face-mask') and maintain a six-foot anti-social distance.
These are the official dictates... science.
Do not question it.
.
How many of their inoculation series did they get?
How prepped are they to double-mask?
Are their double-masks in different colors so OfficialsAndAuthorities can determine submission at a glance?
'At a glance' means 'without violating anti-social distances'.
.
As long as they can furnish inoc documents, they should be safe(r).
To be safe(r), should they get re-inoculated?
Should you ask at your local branch of the Surge Patrol?
.
Various versions of inoc dictates change hourly.
Verify your destination dictates prior to departure.
Nobody wants to save for years for a dream vacation, then spend those precious hours in medical quarantine prison!
Especially at several hundred dollars a day.
.
Up-date your crew inoculations.
Carry your inoc docs.
Be safe(r)!

Check with the BVI Entry Portal, as some things have changed with the recent major outbreak.
And, FWIW, the BVI has NEVER required double masking!

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by jim3842

No reason to be rude. When I read your response I want to call out A-HOLE!

You assume wrong dingleberry. Flying into St Thomas which is a US territory and a passport is not needed. And I know the requirements.

Don't reply to my thread again. Go troll someone else's threads.

GEEZ!

They may not require one going in but the airlines will not let you on anywhere I’ve been. The plane leaves continental US - passport.

Your crew must have a passport. Pay the exorbitant fees to get it expedited or stay home. BVI has always been a stickler and now is even worse. They do randomly check on the water and they are not kind. The crew member will not be the only victim of official wrath.

BTW, if your passport is within six months of expiration you may be denied boarding in the US.

[scottnzuk]

Poor planning but can happen, the New Zealand high commission in London can make an emergency travel document usually in afew hours. a temp passport if you will. if not sorted see if can get travel document vs passport.

[capn_billl]

Originally Posted by LittleWing77

Well, that really sucks, Jim!

Maybe he should give it a shot anyway...? Get his name on a cancellation list? Maybe try a passport office in a different big city?

Hrumph.
LW77

Recently renewed passport in US. It took over a month to get an appointment, and had to show written proof of urgency, I had to fly to Houston, Florida was booked solid the rest of the year.

Got passport in two days, flew back.

Royal pain, but doable.

Contact State Dept.

[sagablu]

Try a private passport service. I believe that they have a way of getting appointments that are not available to us regular folks. Expensive but might be your best bet

[capn_billl]

I would avoid them.

1. They are expensive.
2. They are slower than getting a direct appointment with State Dept. (Same day, or next day).
3. When I finally got my appointment the person warned me not to sell, or exchange my appointment, or book one on behalf of someone else.

They specifically stated agents, or services were forbidden from booking at this time to keep appointments open, and prevent scalping.