TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Provisioning verses grocery shopping BVI

Hi. First time to BVI. There are 4 couples renting a 50’ catamaran with Moorings. We are taking a ferry from St Thomas and get to the Moorings marina by 10:30am. We can get on our boat at Noon. Trying to figure out if a grocery store is convenient and has good selection so we can go shopping for breakfast, lunch, water , beer , wine and liquor and carry it all back to the boat. Moorings offers a provisional service and I think there might be a couple other options for grocery and or alcohol but not sure if we should use them. Would love your input. Thanks

Riteway, One Mart, Bobbys, Caribbean Cellars all are close by, and you can shop and provision quickly. Check out their websites in advance for what they usually stock. You will probably be happier picking your own stuff.

When are you going? We are doing the same this weekend (4 couples, 50 foot, Moorings). Placed an order with Riteway on their website for delivery to the boat. We were going to buy the booze ourselves after we decided what beer and rum we liked best, but I learned through this site that no stores sell alcohol on Good Friday. Thank God I found that, because my team would not have been happy! Also, I thought I read on my Moorings briefing that they have suspended their own provisioning service. Double check.

No. We are coming down the first week of May. Thanks for heads up about Moorings maybe suspending their provision service. I will check into this. Where were you going to buy your alcohol before you heard that no stores will sell on Good Friday? Thanks

CarolinaSailor - thanks for your comments. When you said you can shop or provision quickly- please clarify. It sounds like we should look at the stores’ websites and shop that morning verses ordering from some provision service. How far are these stores from the Mooring’s marina? Thanks again.

Directly across the road from Moorings is a Riteway and Cash and carry. Typically we do a hybrid model where we provision the heavy stuff and then send someone by taxi to get the fresher stuff and lighter stuff. Ticos is also right there for liquor

although the stores are close the main road separating them from Moorings has a lot of traffic and barriers between the directional lanes.

Also bring spices and some stuff like that from home

Riteway is walking distance others may require a cab. My experience over the past many years has led me to the following method of provisioning. Hope this helps as a guide.

This is a note I sent to my crew for this year's trip:

Grocery and spirits websites so you can start to peruse what will be available:

https://www.riteway.vg/ https://caribbeancellars.com

Provisioning plan is in four parts:

1. (Completed about a week in advance) Frozen foods (proteins) in coolers to be checked in as baggage;
2. (About one week in advance) Initial online order of heavy items like drinking and cooking water (water on-board is non-potable in my book, used for cleaning and showering), beer, heavy paper products, etc.;
3. (List to be developed a few weeks in advance) Items that we take in our luggage - we will communicate and divide up a list of non-breakable or squishable, non-liquid items such as spices, snacks for adults & kids, pasta, etc.
4. ( on arrival day) Riteway in person shopping for perishables, wine, cereals, and other items not already packed. Will re-provision as necessary throughout trip.

Special dietary needs should be incorporated into all meal planning.

Don't forget to check the French Deli, directly across from the Moorings.

Easy to order from riteway online. 10% delivery fee.

BVI has lots of online provisioning options to take advantage of.
I would hit the easy button and pre order before you arrive. Saves a lot of time.
Most have free delivery, some do not.

I agree. We brought frozen meat the last three trips in a Polar Bear backpack cooler - not doing it anymore. Steakation has fantastic meats and yep their prices are crazy high but we have decided that an extra $100 in light of what we are spending anyway isn’t a deal breaker and and we are tired of lugging extra baggage.

We have everything preordered and delivered to the boat including our first meal (Naturally Tasty is wonderful and great customer service). Only issue I have had in our 6 trips this past year was on our 1/2 arrival - all the stores had super low inventory due to the holidays. We just winged it and picked things up as we sailed.

I guess it depends on how much time you have. We've done it both ways... after a long travel day ( we're from Montana so it's a trek ) it's AWESOME to get to the boat and everything is already there. Then we pick up extra stuff as we go. I agree with Chuck. Hit the easy button and pre-order then sit back and bring on the rum!

What is Steakation? Never heard of it but sounds interesting....

Steakation is a new butcher in Road Town, across from the ferry terminal. They specialize in higher-end meats, sausages, etc.

I also like the seafood place in Pockwood Pond. He has all sorts of seafood, with an emphasis on quality.

Big thanks on both of these tips....will definitely try them both in June.

Don't forget about Grape Expectations. They have online ordering and will deliver to your boat. All nice high quality stuff, that comes frozen solid and individually vacuum packed for easy storage. This is where the crewed yachts and megayachts provision.

Also, the only place I buy steaks and seafood now...

Jason, will they custom cut? We are pretty picky on thickness for certain cuts of meat.

Steakation probably will. Grape Expectations is an importer, not a butcher. That said, sometimes I buy the whole tenderloin and cut my own individual filets.

Thanks - will try the whole tenderloin route with Grape next trip.

Bespoke provisioning services from www.bvicompleteprovisioning.com

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Jason, overall as between Grape Expectations and Steakation, do you find a significant difference in price or quality of product offerings between the two?

Haven't tried Steakation yet primarily because the products from Grape Expectation come individually wrapped and frozen.

Id like to offer an alternative to the massive provision at the beginning of your charter. We do many mini provisions along the way. WAY less waste. Way less hassle (others may think differently). Way cheaper. Way more flexible. We meet so many wonderful shop owners, support the small business and occasionally dont get what we want.

Our first provision is usually booze, beer, wine, a few days worth of snacks, breakfast and lunches to get us started. Then with each successive stop we top up on things and make plans for the next day or two. Super easy.

Just how we like to do it. I got sick of all the food wasted/spoiled..etc..... Works great for us.

Any particular places you recommend on VG, Anegada, JVD, CGB for resupply?

Thank you

We use Rudy’s in JVD and Lil Bits in Anegada. Also pick up a few things at BEYC.

In CGB, Bobby's is very well stocked and the shop at Columbus Sunset has a surprising selection.