TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands St. John.

My wife and I have sailed the BVI 6 times in in the past 10 years. But we have never ventured over to St. John. We have 2 weeks on a boat just the 2 of us and thought we might try it for 3 or 4 nights. What is the process on a charter boat and how hard is it to do. Also what are the anchorages like and are there any with restaurants within dingy distance? Thanks. Clod.

Discuss with your charter company to make sure you have paperwork on board.

Check out of BVI (You and your "crew"). Can do 24 hrs in advance. I prefer checking out JVD.

Sail to USVI: If boat is registered with CBP can use ROAM app and accomplish online (US Residents).
If above not available, report to Cruz Bay (moor around point) . Dingy in (PFDs, Flashlight, portable VHF recommended) and lock dingy to right of ferry. Walk to Custom's office with entire crew.

Returning to BVI, check into BVI. If you report crossing into BVI waters prior to Customs opening, expect to pay "Over Time Fee".

St John is probably the most beautiful and serene islands in the Caribbean.
They don’t have the type of beach bars you find in the BVI.
In St John you wear sandals or shoes and tie up at the ferry dock in Cruz Bay and your surrounded by restaurants and bars all within a few short blocks.
You walk into a bar or restaurant and they welcome you and the service is excellent and mostly by young College students who come down to enjoy the the islands.
There isn’t any snobby looks or a wait service that likes to ignore you.
St John is for the
Most part a very
Positive experience

The anchorages are very nice and mostly secluded. Plenty of moorings widely spaced supplied by the US park service at $26/night. Not supposed to use underwater lights. You can definitely spend 3 or 4 nights as you have suggested and enjoy every minute. C&I, if you have to go in person, will be a tad surly but much better experience than the British side.

You can clear in to USVI at Cruz Bay STJ or Red Hook STT - must have all the crew in person - do not have to clear Out.
The anchorages are extremely quiet in STJ, Cruz Bay or Red Hook do offer grocery shopping and restaurants, Christmas Cove on Great St.James has a pizza boat, Water Island has 2 beach bars, Magens Bay STT has a beach café, Maho Bay STJ has a beach bar, Honeymoon Bay STJ has lunch and bar.
The National Park in STJ has some excellent snorkeling, great beaches and land hiking. No fighting over moorings -- Great Cruz Bay has a Westin and some private rental moorings, hotel food.

So, if we got our boat over to Great Harbour before customs closes, can we check out then but leave in the morning?

Also wondering about the same thing coming back. If we pulled into a harbor (maybe Little Harbour) before sunset but didn't come ashore, would we be ok to check in the following morning?

TIA!

I’d be careful with the clearing in. If you read BVI customs closely you must clear in upon arriving or make arrangements. Applies 24 hours a day.

On the first, you have 24 hours to leave BVI waters after you check out through Customs. Leaving the next morning is a piece of cake.

Going back to the BVI, may I suggest that there is no better time, and no better opportunity, to enjoy Leinster Bay/Waterlemon Cay than on that last night in USVI waters? Arrive there early to midafternoon to enjoy swim and snorkel. Next morning take the walk to Annaberg Sugar Plantation ruins, then the short sail to either Great Harbor, Jost or Sopers/West End to check back in. AFTER customs opens, and without hoping that maybe, baby, you can game that entry without getting caught doing something not quite legit.