TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Travel Issues C Virus

Ahoy Captains,

Hopefully this information is Helpful -

Th BVI Gov has Wisely Halted the arrivals of Cruise Ships for 30 Days
https://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/temporary-halt-cruise-ship-calls-bvi
The BVI Gov has Wisely Reduced the Points of Entry to the BVI
https://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/bvi-ports-processing-vessels-arriving-foreign-ports
For those of you Escaping to the BVI, the BVI Gov now has 2 Levels regarding Health Standards for Arrivals , #1 is Countries of Special Interest , #2 is High Risk Countries.
https://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/revised-bvi-quarantine-advisory
https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/fi...cial_concern_and_high_risk_countries.pdf
#1 Is Nope for Foreigners and Quarantine for Locals.
#2 Is Yes if You and your crew are all Healthy. Health Screening at the Port of Entry and either Welcome to the BVI, or, a 14 Day Quarantine.
Please consider arriving with a Hard Copy of a Covid-19 Negative Test within 48 Hours prior to your arrival to expedite the Screening.

I am Biased, but please consider that Lounging on a Yacht in the BVI is quickly becoming one of the Safest Places in the World for the next few months?

Fair Winds, Brent from The Captains Compass.

So countries of special interest are no entry and

High risk countries are ok if you are healthy...extra screening?

How do we get a hard copy of a negative test when people who need to be tested can’t get one done?

Its not lounging there that is an issue...it is getting there. Its not like I can go down to a CVS 48 hours before flying and get my crew of 8 and myself tested...and I have to cancel within 15 days of chartering to get credit...

And the list of countries/states for BVI entry is very fluid...even though Virginia is where I live I fly out of DC

And they could change their policy to mandatory 14 day self quarantine as New Zealand just did

And hope that JetBlue doesnt cancel my DCA SJU flight

And hope that BVI's overbearing C&I people dont unnecessarily quarantine 1 of more of my crew (or me as Captain) for 14 days...

I also imagine by May, BVI will have a positive case of Coronavirus as USVI now has 1.

Macaroni - COVID-19 tests are generally available outside of the USA, which is known to have some serious issues at present in getting tests done. But what sucks is that despite having a negative result I can't head back to the BVI and the boat at present, since I'm coming from Germany and the BVI has prohibited me from coming in, test or quarantine notwithstanding.

I'm in the same situation. My charter is April 24 and flying out of DC. It's not like we know the future, especially with this scenario to give advance notice.

I have every intention of going, but how we control what the US or BVI governments do? People are paying between 4-12k for charters and could lose it all.

From what I have heard talking to guests is that the entire United States is now being considered a "High Risk" area by the BVI government. This means that when you travel to the BVI from the US you are subject to additional screening. So far, this screening simply consists of questioning and filling out a questionaire regarding recent travel experience. "Have you visited China?", "Have you visited Italy?", etc. The Government Press Release says that they can take any Resident or Non-Resident into a 2 Week Quarantine following this screening if they do decide so. But I have yet to hear of this happening to anyone.

The screening procedure (as of yet) has not involved taking a temperature or a medical screening by nurse/doctor.

Regarding the 14 day quarantine - If you arrive on a private vessel or charter boat from USVI to BVI and then somehow don't pass the questionnaire, I sure hope that you would be allowed to return to your vessel and immediately depart the BVI instead of being forcibly placed into a 14 day quarantine.

i was wondering same thing about plane...although it would be interesting to see if plane or US would take you back...

FYI, Cape Air met us at the ferry dock in VG and gave us vouchers for the ride over to Trellis. No issues with customs and immigration at SJU.

They were taking temperatures of folks getting off of ferries Friday

Be aware people, that the St. Maarten government is prohibiting ANY flights of inbound passengers from either the US or Europe, as of March 17, for at least two weeks. Tourists that are currently on island have no idea when they will be able to get home, unless some airlines send down empty planes to pick them up. Food for thought...

food indeed; we're due out on the 20th, planning to delay final decision till the 19th but that decision may well be out of our hands by then.

Got this yesterday from a friend in BVI- not sure what additional screening is?

https://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/revised-bvi-quarantine-advisory

Getting stuck down there wasnt even on my list...and as much as a dream as that would be someday today isn't that day

"additional screening" by the arbitrary and capricious C&I officials - not for me.

We are heading down May 2and. Fingers crossed things relax a bit by then.

We are due to fly in on the 28th March. it is looking increasingly unlikely as either the UK will be on a list of high risk countries and I don't fancy being quarantined in a repurposed naval vessel (which is what the BVI premier is asking the UK govt for), or the UK will have gone into full lockdown by then.

Isn't there a Chinese curse that goes "May you live in interesting times..."? Oh, the irony.

Stay safe and socially isolate responsibly, fellow travellers.

I am reading that the airports are getting overrun with frustrated passengers waiting hours for check in etc. Is this not time for Trump to order out the National Guard to help out at the airports to help alleve, soothe the problem?? Is this not what a competent President does..and should have done about a week ago?? besides..I thought the idea was not to get into crowded situations..have the you seen the pix of people jammed against each other? This is a national disgrace.

I got this email from guests who arrived yesterday: "We came to the BVIs yesterday our crew today. No real issues as we are all US citizens coming from the US with no international travel within the last 14 days."

I saw this too. Was this issue caused by the travel ban to Europe and American's returning to the States?

Update from New York Times regarding Puerto Rico just now:


RIGHT NOW: Puerto Rico is closing all businesses except supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations and banks and is instituting a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

I can only imagine this also means closing airports. No time frame for when this goes into effect.


Article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/...amp;module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

Just wondering Mal, how would that alleviate the problem? Can the NG check people in, find them new flights, take over TSA (since they are not trained for that), make people leave the airport?

Was wondering how long it would take for someone to make it Political.

Trump tried to restrict travel from China in December but could not get the permission from Schumer and Pelosi. They called him a racist Etc.
Remember the Swine flu under Obama where 70 million were infected, 300,000 hospitalized and 17,000 deaths and non of the news programs said anything about it.
Trump is doing very well and in no way disgracing our nation.

Well Said

I would suggest if folks want to get into the politics of this (and that it fine by me) start a new thread! Let's keep this one on topic. Pretty Please. We are scheduled to leave a month from today and trying to figure out just what to do. There is some great information flowing here and helping us assess our trip.

Cheers,

NO, if you want to talk about politics, go to a different board!!! We will NOT be talking about politics here. PERIOD.

Well said, Carol! :-) I get a belly full of politics elsewhere!!

Absolutely agree. I am leaning on this board to help me decide if I’m going to make it down there in May. You all have been very informative in a situation that seems to change by the hour. Please keep that part going.

+2 ....hopefully I get to see NDFANINNC at Cow Wreck and buy him and his bride drinks...but he wants to know we dont have 7 college castaways that need to bunk up with them as they cant get home...:)

Even though BVI mimics US "screening and quarantine" policy, the BVI does not have ability to house and quarantine even a few dozen people. So the ferry being unloaded is not going to be directed to a Quarantine Building. If overtly sick(fever), you may be denied admission (and sent back on next ferry?).
Quarantine could be potentially, go directly to your villa/charter boat and do not go to shops/bars/restaurants, etc

Or am I wrong about the BVI Quarantine capabilities?

I do not think you are wrong at all. I do have yet to hear of anyone arriving to the BVI actually being quarantined. I have, however, heard 2 rumors of possible quarantine locations:

1.) The old Peebles hospital
2.) The Premier allegedly asked the UK to have access to a Navy ship which they could re-purpose as a quarantine location

Again, just rumors and I have no facts or articles to back these up.

Haha! Would be glad to. Look forward to seeing you all at Cow Wreck in May.

Rumors and no facts is how the BVI government functions. Nepotism and laziness rule in all government departments. Someone connected will find a way to monetize this disaster to the detriments of the good citizens. And be clear this Corona is going to crush the BVI economy like Irma except for the lack on physical damage.

in my humble opinion, after spending 2 months yearly since 1981 in the BVI and living in California, there is no way I'd travel to the BVI until this situation resolves. A close friend just competed in the Caribbean 600 and upon his return in his sailboat, to Miami was held off for two days while he was cleared. Can you imagine what the customs in the BVI might do when during normal times it might take that long to clear into BVI.. LOL

Here is an interesting development...

https://medium.com/@BolongoBay/an-announcement-from-bolongo-bay-beach-resort-regarding-covid-19-51004f7fc330

Note their advice to leave "while you have a choice"

Wow...that was very well written and is a tough call to make. In Illinois, as in other states, they have shut down bars and restaurants until the end of the month. Miami just closed their beaches until April 12th. While nobody likes this, that old saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure comes to mind. Be well everyone.

Having a horrible mental image of the charter boat briefing that includes a Q flag.

Very sadly we've taken the decision to cancel our trip , flight and quarantine issues are changing daily and once there there's no guarantee that a plane will be around to bring us back. just fyi we we're British and were coming this Friday 20th for 2 weeks bareboat.
love to all the folk there, stay safe & we'll see you soon x

We are supposed to fly March 26..St Thomas, Philadelphia San Francisco on AA. If anyone hears any pertinent news we'd be very grateul..impossible to get anything out of AA but, at the moment, it looks like a go. What we dont want is to leave CRC and get stuck on the way back! We can stay here and damn the tax filings! Any news from fellow TTOLers would be greatly appreciated.