TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Provisioning Options?

Heading to BVI next week and considering my provisioning options.
Personally I find it very annoying that every time we have provisioned online there has been so many substitutions. I know that the online provisioning is big business in BVI, which makes me wonder why their shopping lists are all so outdated and inaccurate. This year I plan on ordering the staples and going to the store in person for fresh produce and meats.

Looks like there is RiteWay, Bobby’s, and OneMart.

Who has best selection?
Best Fresh Produce?
Best fresh poultry/meat?

Thank you!

We provisioned with Riteway last month. On the order form I always note "no substitutions please."
We got most of what we needed and then shopped at the smaller Riteway right near TMM charter company for produce. With the exception of sandwich makings, we brought our meats with us vacuum sealed and frozen in a soft sided cooler.

CottageGirl. I like your style. I’ve been looking for an excuse to get a vacuum sealer. I will probably bring some steaks and chicken that way. I still need to decide on where to get fresh produce. We are going out of Nanny Cay. I know there is a small grocery outpost there, but I’ll probably make the trip into Road Town for final shopping. Would love some local opinions on best quality/selection.

Like who has fresh pineapple juice vs canned for PainKillers? No particular reason…just asking for a friend LOL.

We go to Tortola to shop about once a month, and usually wind up going to all 3 stores. To answer your specific questions:

Best selection: None of them. They each have different stock. Riteway is the largest, but they will fill a large expanse of shelf with the same item. OneMart and Bobby's have a lot of things that Riteway doesn't carry, but in much smaller quantities.

Best fresh produce: OneMart's produce is usually fresher. Riteway has a larger selection.

Best fresh poultry/meat: Riteway by a long shot. For the very best meat, go to Steakation.

Ahoy Captain,

I recommend using Riteways as your primary/only source.
Riteways has the most reliable delivery infrastructure - Relatively Speaking.
Please be Prepared for Substitutions and Omissions with every Delivery. Choose your Battles Wisely.
The more Venders that you get involved – the more chances for delays and other issues.
Here is a short list of Food and Liquor Provisioning sources in the BVI –

https://www.riteway.vg/shop-groceries.html - Riteways Food & Liquor

https://www.frenchdelibvi.com/ - European Food & Wine
https://relishgourmetfood.com/ - Specialty Food & Wine
https://grapeexpectation.revelup.com/weborder/?establishment=1#about – Specialty Food & Wine
https://www.steakationbutchers.com/ - Specialty Butcher - Now a Short walk from The Moorings / Sunsail at Wickhams Cay II
https://da-dk.facebook.com/seafoodkingdombvi/ - Frozen Seafood
https://onemartsupermarket.com/provisioning/ - OneMart Food & Liquor
https://www.bobbyssupermarket.com/provisioning/ - Bobb's Food & Liquor
https://caribbeancellars.com/ - Liquor
http://www.ticobvi.com/ - Liquor

As an Option -
I would suggest You drop your Galley Captain and Galley Crew at Riteways on the way in from the Ferry.
Then drop the remainder of the Crew at the Yacht.
Then send the same taxi back to pick up the Galley Captain and Crew.
Or
Everyone to the Yacht and then only the Galley Captain and Galley Crew do the Round Trip on the evening of your Arrival.
Or
The Galley Captain and Galley Crew do the Round Trip early the next morning while the Captain and First Mate do the Yacht Briefing.

I Need More Quality Cats for Chartering !
Fair Winds, Brent
thecaptainscompass.com Yacht Charters and Management
heatseekerinternational.com 5% Comm and Sales-Tax-Free Yacht Brokerage

Our main reason for bringing a cooler is we do most of the prep work at home & then freeze - taco meat, grilled chicken, breakfast sausage, etc. It makes eating on the boat much less of a chore for whoever is cooking that night. We have a Polar Bear brand soft sided cooler that will keep things frozen solid for a good 48 hrs - highly recommend the brand.

As for fresh pineapple juice, I've never seen fresh anywhere. Most juices are now in paper cartons.

I can't say enough about Steakation for meet and premade meals. Yes, it is a bit pricy but hands down the best meat in the BVI, not even close. Probably better than most meat I get at home as well. Recommend - Burgars, Mahi, Chicken breasts and anything on a skewer

I read where people bring food items with them from home. Isn’t there rules about what you can bring and get past clearance?

Droner, there was a thread about this just about a year ago (link is at the bottom of this post), and you'll see some very helpful posts, including one on May 15th by GeorgeC1, which I'll reproduce here for your convenience:

Post by GeorgeC1:

"BVI Customs - Importation of food products
Yes, charter guests may bring food into the British Virgin Islands. For the time being and due to the resurgence of Hoof and Mouth and Mad Cow Disease in the not so distant past, a law is still in effect that bans the importation of any meat products unless an application is submitted to the Department of Agriculture for approval.

Permits cost $25.00. For more information, please call the Department of Agriculture at (284) 495-2532.

Good quality, fresh foods are available in the BVI from several grocery stores and provisioners on a year-round basis. All carry USDA grade meats as well. BVI import duties charged on food products range between 5% and 15% of the invoice value. Please be sure to have your invoices with you.

BVI Customs Department
Phone: (284) 494-3475
Open from 8:30am to 6:30pm

We are aware that people bring in USDA approved meats and packaged meats from the U.S. every day of the week (without any documentation other than receipts) and the folks at Customs don't say anything and they don't confiscate these products. I'm just saying ... this is the law and on any given day,

Here is the link to the government website: http://www.bvi.gov.vg/services/importation-meat."
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https://www.traveltalkonline.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/301225/Searchpage/1/Main/40123/Words/%2Bcustoms+%2Bfood/Search/true/re-travel-cooler-advice-needed.html#Post301225

So you are saying it’s against the law but people do it anyway and get away with it?

Against the law... what does that even mean anymore?

We've only brought food once and were prepared to pay a duty if requested.
We declared the contents and it's up to customs to exact a fee, which they did not.

My conscience is clear.

I report what I bring. As posted it’s up to customs to decide if they want to collect a duty.

George C1 and Mr. EZgoin are right on the money, and I do the same thing. I declare EVERYTHING (even my two packs of cigarettes) and I even bring grocery receipts if it's feasible (one shopping run the day before my departure to purchase what I'll be bringing down with me). On one occasion I got charged a few dollars, but that was the only time and it was early on in my numerous trips here since buying my property.

My advice: NEVER lie on a government form, because it's absolutely not worth the trouble you'll end up with if someone wants to make an example out you.

I put in my online order with Riteway on Monday. We'll arrive on June 1 and I told them to deliver to the Moorings between 3 and 6 pm. My flight lands in the afternoon so there's a chance I won't be on the boat when they arrive. I assume they will get directed to the proper boat by The Moorings staff. Is that true?

I've never provisioned with them before. Is there anything I need to do at this point? Should I follow up or confirm closer to the date or something?

I specified "no substitutions" but I know that it's merely a suggestion/plea. What is the process for a) rejecting/replacing the unwanted items and b) getting anything they may have forgotten from the list?

I or someone from my crew are likely going to go to the store after we get there to get a few more things so would I reconcile any issues then?

Thanks!

If you're at the Moorings, do stop by the French Deli across the way.

I assume you are a sleepaboard for that night. Riteway knows the Moorings drill down cold. They will confirm your boat and put the provisions onboard. Items requiring refrigeration will be put in the fridges. The rest will be on the cockpit table. They are good about refunds or exchanges if issues. The Moorings also has a quite good market behind the pool for last minute items. As mentioned above the French Deli is worth a visit!

Yes, sleep aboard the first night. Thanks for the reassurance.

Easiest dinner when you arrive tired is to go to the pool bar. If you have a bunch of kids works great. They can swim waiting for the food. Ask for the Bar/Sandwich menu. The burgers and Mahi sandwich are decent.

I should have added 3 to 6 is a suggestion. If your food is not there by 6 you can ask at the checkin counter to call. They will call Riteway to get an update. Not unusual to arrive 7 or a bit later. As posted hang out at the pool. On initial checkin get your boat briefing scheduled as early as possible in the AM.
G

Second the recommendation for French Deli.

Yeah, this is one thing that kind of irks me with the sleep aboard option. Ostensibly, it's to enable an early departure the next day but (in my experience anyway), it's fully dependent on when you can get them to schedule a chart briefing and/or a boat briefing.

You are doing good if you can get at least one of them done on arrival day so you only have to get the other done on departure day. Maybe it's a way to gate the departures so that everyone isn't leaving at once in the morning.

The Moorings chart briefing is sadly done online now. You can do it at home before you show up.

Really? That's it?

I did the online thing but I was thinking surely that's just a primer and there would be an actual one - with up-to-date information on conditions, opportunity to discuss options and anchorages, and just generally TALK to someone about the trip.

That's. Disappointing.

I agree, your boat briefers are usually pretty knowledgeable. Most also serve as skippers so ask him any questions you might have.