Luxury Crewed Yacht St. Lucia, Windward Islands

Travel Notes

This Travel Notes page provides useful information about St. Lucia. From airport procedures to currency exchange, it will tell you what to expect to make your vacation smooth and worry free.

• Address & Map
• Arrival & Departure
• General Information
• Banks & Money Exchange
• Activities & Sports
• Cruising Information
• Provisioning (Food & Drink for your boat)
• Health & Safety

Address & Map

Base Manager
Mrs Lene VOLNEY

Address
The Moorings Ltd
Marigot Bay, St. Lucia, WI
 

Hours of Operation
8:00am - 4:30pm, 7 days a week.
 

Base Facilities
Restaurant, hotel, pool, gift shop, ice, snorkeling gear, kayak rental, showers/toilets, customs for clearance, supermarket, laundry, car rental, post office and bank. Portable phones are available.

Base Map

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Arrival & Departure

How to Get There
Two ways to get to St.Lucia:
1. Fly to St.Lucia’s George Charles airport; take a taxi to the base; distance is approximately 30 min by taxi; approximate cost is US$30 for 1 – 3 persons; US$8 each additional person.
2. Fly to St Lucia’s Hewanorra International airport; take a taxi to the base; distance is approximately 85 min. by taxi; approximate cost is US$70 for 1 - 3 persons; US$20 each additional person.

Servicing Airlines
Air France
Air Canada
American Eagle 6777
British Airways
BWIA
Caribbean Star
Delta
LIAT
US Airways
Virgin Atlantic
Due to the number of flights which we organize, the Moorings can offer some great rates to many destinations. Please make sure you contact your Vacation Planning Specialist before you book your flights.

Customs / Immigration
A valid passport (for each passenger) & crew list is compulsory for clearance.
Expiration date must be no earlier than 3 months after your planned return. 
A customs declaration form must be completed at the port of entry

Arrival / Departure Procedure
Embarkation: Charters start at 12:00 noon or 6:00pm (with evening start).
Briefing Times: Boat/Chart Briefings are scheduled at 10:00am for noon starts / 3:30pm for evening starts. All head charterers are required to attend the briefings.
Disembarkation: All charters end at 12:00 noon at which time the boat must be returned and ready for debriefing and checks.
Important:  Bareboat charters, that intend to visit the French Islands, need to advise the Moorings vacation planning department accordingly.

Late Arrival Procedure
If arriving after office hours, a welcome letter and the keys for the yacht will be left with security. A welcome board on the yacht will indicate the captain’s name.

Taxes / Departure Tax
Departure taxes are included in the price of the airline ticket.

Taxi
Southern Taxi Association - Tel: 758 454 6136
Vigie Airport Taxi Service - Tel: 758 452 1599

Car Rental
Most major car rental agencies are located at both airports and at the major hotels.
Available are Avis, Budget, Cool Breeze Jeep-Car Rental, Courtesy Rent-A-Car,  CTL Rent-A-Car, Hertz Rent-A-Car, Inter Island Car Rental, National Car Rental, St. Lucia Yacht Car Rental, Wayne's Motorcycle Centre.

Driving is on the left, British style.  Seat belts should be worn.
Drinking and driving is against the law.  Observe the speed limits, especially a 30 mph limit within Castries. Parking tickets are issued for vehicles parked in "no parking" zones, and the penalties start at around EC$500.

In case of a breakdown or accident, make sure to have the telephone number of the car rental company. If a breakdown occurs during business hours, the company will send a mechanic to fix or exchange the car. If it is after business hours, leave the vehicle and report the breakdown first thing the next morning.

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General Information

Area: 619 Sq Km (239 Sq Mi)
Population: 153,100
Capital City: Castries
Official Languages: English & French-based patois
Ethnic groups: African, mixed decent, European and East Indian
Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Industries: agriculture, clothing, electrical components, fishing, food processing, rum distilling, tourism
Tipping: 10-15% is generally acceptable if it has not been added already.
Electricity: Electric current is 220 volts, 50 cycles AC. (A few hotels are 110 volts, 60 cycles)
Time: UTC/GMT -4 hours

Holidays & Festivals
1 January: New Year's Day
22 February: Independence Day
1 May: Labor Day
July: Carnival
1st Monday August: Emancipation Day / Bank Holiday
1st Monday October: Thanksgiving Day
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: 2nd Day of Christmas

Hotels
Discovery at Marigot Bay
The Village Inn & Spa
Marigot Beach Club Hotel & Dive Resort
 

Restaurants
Marigot Beach Club
JJ’s Restaurant & Bar
The Shack Bar & Grill

Post Office
There are Post Offices in most towns in St. Lucia. Hours are 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Cards and letters can be posted from the base.

Internet Connectivity
There's an Internet Cafe at JJ's Paradise in the Bay and in Marina Village. There's also WiFi access from Chateau Mygo Restaurant. 

Cellular Phones
Your cell phone may work in the Caribbean, check with your service provider for coverage. Leave your cell number with Customer Service before casting off.

Tourist Information Centres
Tourist Board, St. Lucia
P.O. Box 221
Castries, St. Lucia, West Indies
Tel:  758-452-4094/5968
Fax:  758-453-1121
Email:  SLUTOUR@candw.lc

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Banks & Money Exchange

Banks
The Moorings cannot exchange any money or traveler checks.
A 1st National Bank is located in the Marina Village and is open every day, except Saturday and Sunday afternoon. There's also an ATM machine beside the bank.
Banking Hours: 8:00am – 3:00pm / Mon – Thurs; 8:00am – 5:00pm / Fri.

Currencies / Money Exchange
Accepted Forms of Payment
US Dollars and US$ travelers checks or EC Dollars are used throughout the Windwards. Visa and MasterCard are also accepted in most places.
Exchange Rate valid as of: 8/21/2009
£1 =4.32 EC Dollars
US$1 =2.62 EC Dollars
€1 = 3.71 EC Dollars

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Activities & Sports

 Snorkeling or Diving
All of our bases offer snorkeling gear. Please check availability for children’s sizes.  You may wish to pack your own snorkeling gear.  Scuba diving packages are available through Dive Fair Helen which is close to the Moorings Base. Make arrangements in advance by contacting: http://www.divefairhelen.com/

Fishing
No fishing license is required. Fishing equipment can be rented through Captain Bravo. Please contact your Vacation Planning Specialist for arrangements in advance and the equipment will be delivered to you.

Deep Sea Fishing
A number of boat charter operations on the island offer whole and half-day deep sea fishing excursions. Seasonal catches include mackerel, king mackerel, white marlin, barracuda, kingfish and sailfish.

Kayaking
Kayaks can be added to your charter contract. Please contact your Vacation Planning Specialist for more details.

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Cruising Information

Marina Information
Located to the left of the Yacht Operations Building client will find showers that are open from 8:00 am to 6:00pm daily. At Customer Service clients will find weather information.

Cruising Permits
There is no formal cruising tax for the windward regions as the BVI. However, clients must clear customs as they pass through each country and, generally fees are associated with the clearing process.

Electricity Information
Electric current is 220 volts, 50 cycles AC. (A few hotels are 110 volts, 60 cycles.) Most sockets take 3-pin square plugs (UK standard) but some take 2-pin round plugs or flat American plugs, which are rarer. Adapters are generally available at the hotels.
Yachts - The standard voltage on all yachts is 12 volts. In order to use electronic equipment that is 110v, you will need an inverter suitable for use in a cigarette lighter unless your boat has a generator. You can rent an inverter at the base while available.

Mooring & Park Fees
There is no formal cruising tax for the windward regions as the BVI. However, you must clear customs as you pass through each country and, generally, there are fees associated with the clearing process.

Sailing Area Restrictions
In St. Lucia, anchoring is strictly forbidden in Soufriere in the area managed by the Soufriere Marine Management Area, but they do supply moorings.

Charterers can choose to explore the island and its anchorages on the western coast, head south to the Grenadines, or head north to Martinique and Dominica.

Customs Costs
Customs cost when sailing to Martinique is approximately $40 USD per boat to depart St. Lucia and $25 USD to clear back into St. Lucia - approximate total of $65 USD.

Interesting Sites
We recommend you visit the Itinerary page, your chart briefer and cruising guide, but among our favorite places are: The Pitons, Souffriere and Rodney Bay, Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Union Island and the Tobago Keys.

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Provisioning (Food & Drink for your boat)

Moorings Provisioning 
On a Moorings Crewed Yacht charter, all of your food and beverages are included (alcohol too)! Your gourmet Chef will prepare delicious meals, snacks and drinks that are customized for your dietary needs and preferences.

After reserving your yacht, we will provide you with a Cuisine and Beverage Preferences Form, where you may indicate the personalized selections for all guests. This assists your gourmet Chef in preparing dishes and drinks customized for everyone to enjoy. Speak with your Moorings Vacation Planning Specialist for details.

Supermarkets
There is one supermarket near the base. Other supermarkets are approximately 30 minutes from the base. Opening hours vary based on days of the week.

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Health & Safety

Travel Insurance
Moorings offers 'Charter Care' which is a comprehensive travel insurance scheme for your complete peace of mind. If you have your own travel insurance, please make sure that it covers all of the destinations and activities of your Moorings vacation.

Vaccination and Immunization Information
St. Lucia is generally risk-free of contagious disease.
At time of publication, an International Vaccination Certificate is not mandatory.

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