BVI Common Questions

Click for answers to common questions about our BVI Yachting Experience:

Is this vacation for me? I’ve never been on an extended sailing trip before. Is that okay?

Very few of our passengers have been on a similar trip before joining us. Nearly all of them have called it one of the best vacations they have ever had. Sailing on a yacht around the Caribbean is an amazing experience, both active and relaxing with a great mix of lounging in the sun, stunning scenery, and fun at night. Living on a boat for a week is a thrill and you’ll get used to the accommodations right away.

I’ve never been on a boat before. Is that okay?
It sure helps if you’ve been a on boat, though not necessarily a sailboat. Boating is a different way to travel, a mix between luxury and camping. Our yachts are high-quality for extended cruising, but the living space on a sailboat is very compact. Think of a high-end RV on the water. We’ll make you as comfortable as can be and you’ll feel right at home in just a few hours.

I don’t know how to swim. And I don’t like water. Is that okay?
If you know how to lay out on the deck of a yacht, you would be perfect for this trip. But maybe you should take a pass on this one.

Sailing

How much time do we spend on the boat each day?

The islands of the BVI are relatively close together, so sailing between destinations can be relatively quick. Some days will involve about 2 to 4 hours of sailing, while others could be as long as 6 to 8 hours. Navigation is exceptionally easy since all of the islands are within sight of each other. There is no sailing in open ocean where you can’t see land. Every evening, we stop right in a harbor next to an island and anchor the boat for the night. This allows us to easily go ashore. The schedule provides a great balance of cruising through the water while still leaving plenty of time to spend on the beach, at snorkeling spots, at restaurants and bars, shopping, and other activities.

All of the boats in our group will travel together, allowing for amazing social activities with a large group of really fun people.

Who sails the boat?
Wait – I thought you knew how to sail this thing!

If nobody in your group is a licensed sailing captain, we will provide a captain for you. The captain will be experienced and keep you safe and on course throughout the week. He will not take up a spot in one of the cabins, but he or she will sleep in the saloon – a portion of the galley (kitchen) with a fold-out bed to accommodate an extra passenger or two.

This is a vacation meant for you to relax. You do not need to do any sailing work if you don’t want to. One person onboard will be required to pull a rope every now and then (because certain things require more than the captain’s two hands), but the captain will make it easy.

A normal skipper comes at a considerable cost, but through our sailing network, we are able to attract sailors with appropriate qualifications for a fraction of the price and provide them for you. You will not be required to pay for the captain, but we will expect you to keep him well-nourished by sharing your meals while onboard (most breakfasts and lunches). An external captain does not pay for food, fuel, or other shared boat costs. A captain provided by us is not regarded as an employee; he or she is an extra friend on the boat on vacation with you and your friends.

What are the accommodations like?
Our reservations page provides a diagram of the interior of each boat. Sailboats are compact and comfortable, though not especially spacious inside. You will share a cabin with one other person with a double bed. Cabins have small closets and cubbies for your clothes. Each boat will have multiple heads (bathrooms) and showers. They are small, but you will get accustomed to them right away. Boats each have a full galley (kitchen) and dining table below, although you would most likely choose to eat breakfast and lunch at the table on the deck (some days we will have lunch at a restaurant ashore). The boats have full refrigeration, electricity, stereos, and other amenities that you would expect in conventional lodging, but it is not a luxury hotel. The boats are not air conditioned; you will be outside nearly the entire time except while sleeping in your cabin.

Who is on my boat?
It would be ideal if you could bring friends to fill a boat. The prices are considerably better when booking a full boat together and you can be sure to know everyone beforehand. However, we are happy to help match you with others to fill a boat. Our Facebook page includes a section to meet others who are seeking to join groups together to fill a boat. Each boat will be full with two per cabin unless you wish to pay for additional empty spots.

What are the ages of the group?
Nearly everyone who was traveled with The Yacht Week in the past has been between mid-20s to early 40s. We expect a similar age range for this vacation.

What will the weather be?
The weather during our trip will be absolutely perfect – sunny and mid 80s every day. Actually, we can’t predict that far in advance. But the average temperatures are between 72 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. In our experience it rains for about 30 minutes every day, usually overnight. The rest of the time it is ideal.

Clothing and Packing

What should I wear?

The Yacht Week will provide packing tips as we get closer to our departure date. The BVI is very casual and every person who has ever traveled there has overpacked for the week.

What type of electrical power and current is on the boat?
Our boats have electrical power to charge camera batteries, cell phones, iPods, and other devices (even your laptop, although we don’t advise bringing a computer on your vacation). The boats, however, use DC power and 220 Volts rather than the typical AC power and 110 Volts in outlets in the U.S. Therefore, you will need to use an inverter and adapter. Inverters are similar to what is used in a car cigarette lighter. These can be purchases or rented; The Yacht Week will provide advice on this before we travel.

How can we communicate while onboard?
Many cell phone plans work in the BVI. The VHF radio on our boats won’t reach back to the U.S. Internet access is very sparse on the islands (but available in some places), although your Blackberry/iPhone is likely to work.

Travel to the British Virgin Islands

How do I get to Tortola?

Tortola is relatively easy to reach from anywhere in the United States. You must reach either of two destination points: first, Beef Island airport (code EIS) will bring you directly to the island, only a few miles from our marina in Roadtown. All flights to EIS connect through San Juan, Puerto Rico (code SJU). San Juan can be reached from any airport and the flight from SJU to EIS is approximately 45 minutes on either American Eagle or Cape Air.

Alternatively, you may fly to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (airport code STT). From St. Thomas, there are many ferry boats from Charlotte Amalie (for example, Roadtown Fast Ferry) and other ferry terminals for an approximately one hour ride (~$55 round trip). If you fly to STT, please be sure to check the ferry schedule. The last ferry typically departs around 4:15pm.

If you need any advice on flights, please contact us at info@theyachtweek.com

Taxis are abundant at the airport.

Yacht Booking

How do I reserve a yacht?
You may book a yacht online on this website on our Yacht Booking page. 1 booking equals 1 boat. You can meet others on our Facebook page to form group a get a discount by booking together and sharing a boat.

Is it possible to book a spot on a boat if I am traveling by myself?
It is possible to be placed on a boat with other people, but you must find at least one person to share a cabin with. With two people, you can book a spot on our reservations page.

We recommend that you post a comment on our Facebook page. We have a Discussion topic title “Looking for Crew for the BVI”

How many boats will be on this trip?
Since boat availability is scarce, we will only be able to accommodate as many boats as The Yacht Week can acquire before all high-quality boats are taken. We have many reserved now and will continue to fill boats as long as there is interest and availability. Once our boats are filled it may be unlikely that additional ones are available to charter for our group.

What’s included in the price?
Vacation prices are per person in U.S. dollars. The price includes all aspects associated with the yacht and sailing, including the yacht charter costs, fuel for the boat, harbor and marina fees, snorkel equipment, safety equipment, GPS, stereo, dinghy and outboard engine and cleaning of the yacht.

The price does not include your flight, airport transfers, food and drinks, or any hotel costs for early arrivals or late departures. Meals are not included. You and your boatmates will be able to purchase groceries prior to the trip to stock the boat with food and drink. Such purchases can also be made upon arrival; however, there may be limited availability of goods that you do not order in advance. We will also go ashore frequently for meals. The Yacht Week will provide advice on stocking your boats before we travel.

Why are the prices different for different boats?
Each boat has its own cost based mostly on the size and age of the boat. All of the boats are in outstanding condition, but a five year old boat will have a lower price than a brand new boat due to general wear and tear as well as different amenities inside.

What is the schedule of payments?
An initial deposit is due at the time of the booking as indicated on our Yacht Booking page. One additional final payment will be due in January.

What other costs can I expect?

There may be some additional modest payments required during the trip. In some harbors, we will attach the boat to a mooring ball (a buoy anchored to the sea floor) to have extra stability overnight. Since these moorings are privately maintained, they usually charge a boat approximately $30 per night to stay there (so just a few dollars per person on each boat if you use a mooring). During the trip you can expect to refill the fresh water tanks at least once – these provide water for showers and faucets onboard. There will be a small charge to fill these tanks depending on how much water you use onboard (usually only a few dollars per person).

Remember that you will need to cover your meals, drinks, and nightlife activities during the trip. Prices are comparable to what you would expect in a U.S. city.

Is there a security deposit?
Upon arrival in the marina, all crews need to put a deposit for their boat. The deposit is there to cover any damage that is caused during the week, as a security for the yachting charter company. The deposit is paid the same day of arrival, prior to departure from the marina, and will be handed back to you upon return (as long as you don’t destroy the boat).

What currency is used in the British Virgin Islands?
The BVI uses the U.S. dollar.

What is the itinerary?
Check out The Route

Is it safe?
The British Virgin Islands are exceptionally safe. In all of our previous trips we have never encountered nor heard of any unsafe incident. It is not necessary to lock your belongings (think of Vermont in the 1950s), but the boat can be locked to protect your valuable belongings if you wish. In an emergency, we have means to contact authorities and the coast guard to quickly address any issues. The islands are very close together and we are never far from land or other boats if we need to seek assistance.

What travel documents are required?
U.S. citizens are required to have a passport to travel to the British Virgin Islands. Please be sure that yours is valid and that its expiration date extends more than six months beyond the completion of this trip (a common requirement for international travel). If you are not a U.S. citizen, please check with your consulate about travel requirements for the BVI.

What is the cancellation and refund policy?
By making a deposit you are committing to join us on the British Virgin Islands Spring Break’s sailing trip and to pay the balance of the price 90 days prior to the trip. You are committing to book your flights as soon as possible and to cover the price to travel to Tortola. If, for any reason, you are unable to join the trip after you have committed, you will still be responsible for the balance of your reservation. We will only provide a refund if another person is able to take your place on the boat, at which time, that person will assume responsibility for the balance of your reservation. We are happy to work with you to find a substitute, but you remain responsible for the balance of your reservation unless a substitute has paid your cost. We can change the names on the reservation until 40 days prior to sailing. Please be sure that you are confident in your flight reservations before you make your deposit.

What are the health requirements
You must assure that you do not have any medical conditions that will inhibit your travels with The Yacht Week. The BVI Yachting trip is not strenuous (unless you want it to be). Guests are not required to perform any physical activity. However, if you are interested in participating in the sailing, snorkeling, and other sporting activities, then those are available to you.

What if I am prone to seasickness?
If you are prone to seasickness or nausea, please contact us before you travel. Our guests have found excellent remedies that have inhibited any unpleasant nausea during sailing. We have not, however, resolved nausea from too many cocktails.

Will you be taking photos?
We will take many photos during the trip and share with you as many as we practically can. Occasionally, we will use photographs taken of guests for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photograph not be used, please notify us.

If you have read all the way to the bottom of this page, then you are very diligent. If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@theyachtweek.com


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