TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Which Customs to enter USVI by boat?

I am new to using this site and was not sure if I should start a new thread for this, but here goes:

I will be checking into the USVI by boat to pick up my crew coming in from the STT airport. I want to meet them at the Crown Bay marina for their convenience and to be near provisioning stores. I see there is a Customs near there, between CYOA and a ferry landing. Is this a good choice for clearing Customs?

It seems most people coming from the BVI go to Cruz Bay, and I have also read that St.Thomas Harbor can be rough as well as crowded. Yacht Haven Grande is also an option, sounds expensive but I believe you can clear Customs there too. Cruz Bay seems to require anchoring the boat (44' cat) and taking a dinghy in, while I think I can avoid that step at the other two, and pull up to the dock with the sailboat. But I could be wrong! If there are no expected hassles at the one near CYOA, then that would be the most convenient.

SO - if it was you, and you wanted to clear Customs, provision the boat, and pick up crew, which Customs location would you choose?

Thank you for any insight you can provide.

We liveaboard in the USVI. If you are US citizens on a boat you own then you can use the ROAM app. Otherwise, the easiest stop is Cruz Bay which is on the way from the BVI. There is room to anchor in Cruz Creek in 6-feet at 18.333685017194174, -64.79540263911107 / 18 20' 01''N 64 47' 43''W. We draw 6-feet, so we grab a mooring at Lindt Point or Caneel Bay and dinghy to the National Park dock that is at the base of the creek and walk to C&I. All crew must be there with passports and the Captain will need the boat documents. You can download the forms from CBP.

If you need provisions, I would anchor in Long Bay (Charlotte Amalie) by Yacht Haven Grande. Moe's is right there and Pueblo is a short walk. The anchorage is fine in the summer.

Cheers, RickG

Do yourself a favor and put the crew on a ferry to meet you in the BVI.

@Jason, that too unless the itinerary includes USVI/SVI/PR.

Cheers, RickG

What I have done in the past with arriving crew is had them ferry to St. John and taxi to Maho where we picked them up in the dinghy on the beach there.

Are you on your own boat? If not please be aware that many BVI based charter companies are not allowing their chartered boats to leave the BVI at this time.

No it is a charter boat. I have a contract that says I will start and end the charter in St. Thomas, but they crawfished on that and I have to go to the BVI to pick it up. Six crew would have to take a ferry to Roadtown (like I do) and taxi to the boat. This would involve clearing into BVI, Clearing out and then back in to the USVI for all, not to mention the minimum $60 each for ferry plus taxi, etc. Our entire charter is in the USVI with no intention (since I booked) to go to the BVI at all. No I will bring the boat to them, but I appreciate the info.

Rick, what is the advantage of Cruz Bay C&I vs. the one near CYOA? The boat only draws about 5 feet so thanks for the lat/long.

What charter company is allowing you to take the boat to the USVI? Really curious about this as you will need to have tests to clear back in and most won’t risk the boat being stuck in the USVI..

Cruz Bay is the first international port of entry.

Why would you go to the BVI to pick up a boat for a USVI trip? Makes absolutely no sense.

Clearing C&I at Cruz Bay is usually much more efficient than at Charlotte Amalie where you'll have to wait quit awhile if they are clearing in a BVI ferry. It's also so much easier to access. Tie up your dinghy to the right side of the National Park Service dock and it's 100yds to C&I trailer. Grab a mooring at Lind Pt or anchor in The Creek as Rick mentions (there is usually room for 3 boats, sometimes 4). I can usually be in and out of Cruz Bay in less than an hour including dinghy rides and a quick trip to Dolphin Market (or The Landins for a Bushwacker).

Depending on how much provisioning you need to do, the nearby Dolphim Market is a short uphill walk and handy for topping off on needed supplies.

In STT I don't feel secure leaving a dinghy unattended tied up along the waterfront. You could anchor in Long Bay and dinghy to CYOA dinghy dock, which is secure, inexpensive (~$10), and 400 yd walk to C&I. From Crown Bay it's a hot 1.1 mile walk to C&I (or $30 roundtrip taxi). The Pueblo market near the marina will likely have most of your basic provisions and beverages. I would probably consider Moe's on the waterfront for provisioning much higher quality steaks and seafood, plus produce and speciality foods not found at Pueblo.

BaardJ - the C&I trailer is no more - the new building is now open.

I would do one of two things. If you really want to sail the USVI cancel the charter and rebook with CYOA. If not ferry your crew over and stay in the BVI. Since they have reneged on their promise with the boat they should give you a full refund. What you are trying to do has a lot of pitfalls and hoops to jump through.
G

As Baard said, the C&I in Charlotte Amalie serves the ferries and can be very busy with a wait. When we chartered out of CYOA (now Waypoints) we still found it more convenient to check in at Cruz Bay. You can walk to Dolphin Market for provisions.

Cheers, RickG

Be aware cruise bay is a zoo now from about 9 am to noon with all the private water taxi’s.

Rick,
Is ROAM app working now? A couple of months ago I was told you could not clear in using ROAM app.

Thanks

Wes

We cleared into the USVI from Martinique on our boat maybe 10 days ago. Still could not use ROAM and had to go into C&I and show vaccination card and test results to national guard people. We went into C&I at the ferry dock in Charlotte Amalie.

Thanks Dennis. That had been our experience several months ago. Hopefully they will resume ROAM soon (even with video confirmation of Vax card and testing if required).

Fax card and testing are no longer required so they should resume use of the Roam app. I am going to emphasize again however I believe the OP is setting himself up for a ordeal. Clearing out of the BVI recently has not been for the feint of heart and the rules seem to change day to day and from customs official to custom official. Unless the charter company can absolutely assure you they have inquired and understand plus have greased the skids including the names of the customs officials involved I would not even consider it. Ferry the guests over and enjoy the BVI. Clearing back into the BVI might present its own set of issues in addition to clearing out.
G

Having just done the other way...cleared into BVI from USVI and then back to USVI from BVI I have to agree with George. Definitely NOT worth it. Do I understand that you want to pick up the boat, by yourself, in the BVI, sail it over to the USVI, pick up the rest of your crew and then sail the USVI or sail the BVI? If sailing the USVI do you have to return the boat to the BVI?

International arrivals into the USVI still require vac cards and test.

Only international arrivals by air.