British Virgin Islands Travel Information

COVID-19 Travel Guidelines

It is important that you refer to our main COVID-19 page for British Virgin Islands to see detailed guidelines and information sources before you go on vacation.

Read Covid Travel Guidelines

It is important to NOT travel via the Dominican Republic as you will be denied entry.

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How to Get There

Airport 
Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) – Please note that you will be required to pay a $10 USD tourist tax in cash upon arrival. You will need to keep your receipt for the remainder of your stay.

Cyril E. King International Airport (STT) – You will need to take the Roadtown Fast Ferry into Roadtown Harbour, Tortola

Please note: The St. Thomas ferry connection is currently operating with two ferries a day with limited capacity. Until further notice reservations can only be made directly with the ferry companies. Click here for information on current British Virgin Islands ferry operations and entry procedures.

*If you travel via St. Thomas, enjoy the benefits of the British Virgin Islands Tourism Board Meet and Greet service. Staffed with a professional team of tourism ambassadors, the USVI Greeter Program is structured to accommodate guests who seek connections to taxis, ferries, the seaplane, luggage inquiries, and more. The service is accessible from kiosks stationed in the Cyril E. King Airport and the Edward Blyden Marine Terminal in Charlotte Amalie. For additional information, you may contact Mr. Kevin Hughes at the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board by email: [email protected] or by phone: 1.284.494.3134.

Servicing Airlines:
American Airlines
Liat
InterCaribbean Airways
Seaborn Airlines
Cape Air

Flights
Due to the number of flights we organize, the Moorings can offer some great rates to many destinations. Please make sure you contact our in-house flight specialist at 866.649.2003 before you book your flights.

Private Charter Flights
Through our partnership with Tropic Ocean Airways The Moorings offers private charter flights from San Juan (Puerto Rico) or St. Thomas that take you directly to your yacht. Contact our in-house flight specialist at 866.649.2003 to book a private seaplane. Other private charter flights, e.g. from the U.S., are also available.

Transfers 
Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (Beef Island) to the Base
Take this opportunity to pre-book your premium transportation to The Moorings Village on Tortola, for a stress-free travel experience. Our dedicated transfer provider, Wheatley's, tracks your flight to ensure a taxi bus with Mooring's signage is awaiting your arrival, with:

• Air-conditioned minibusses serving complimentary bottled water, from Beef Island direct to The Moorings Reception area
• Reliable on-time service
• Special contracted rates & taxi/ferry packages
• No delays waiting for taxis to arrive, or fill up with random travelers

To book your transfers with The Moorings, call 888.350.3575.

Cyril E. King International Airport in St. Thomas to the Base 
For your convenience, you may purchase your ferry tickets or a combination of ferry/taxi tickets in advance of your charter. The distance is approximately 60 min by ferry transfer. 

Round Trip Cost with Shuttle: $90 USD per adult round trip ($74 USD per child) including a shuttle to and from St Thomas to Road town and back no stops.
Round Trip Cost without Shuttle: $60 USD round trip ($40 USD per child) excluding shuttle.
St. Thomas Port Tax: A $10 USD Port Tax is required for anyone leaving St. Thomas traveling to Tortola. This can be paid in cash at the Ferry desk upon check-in.

To view the full ferry schedule, please visit roadtownfastferry.com. The schedule is subject to change so we highly recommend checking this page prior to your charter.  When booking your ferry please ensure that you are allowing yourself enough time to get through security and customs.

Please contact our Vacation Planning Team at 888.350.3575 for more details regarding all available options or to book your transfers.

Please note: The St. Thomas ferry connection is currently operating with two ferries a day with limited capacity. Until further notice reservations can only be made directly with the ferry companies. Click here for information on current BVI ferry operations and entry prodecures. 

Car Rentals
Major car rental agencies, such as Hertz and Budget, as well as local ones, are available on Tortola. The client will need a BVI license, obtainable with a valid driver's license for $10 USD per driver.

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What's on Board

Coolers 
Coolers are available at the base on a first come first served basis at no additional charge. Only one per boat.

Provisioning

Order your provisioning in advance and enjoy more time on the water. Online orders must be placed 14 days prior to your departure date. 

Visit our online BVI Provisioning Store

Moorings Care packages are included on every yacht. These packages contain some of the basics to get you started for your vacation.

There are also a number of grocery stores within walking distance, or a short car ride, from the base which you can use as long as you follow current travel restrictions, for example Riteway Supermarket, One Stop Superstore, Bobby's Supermarket, and The Ample Hamper. Hours of operation vary based on the day of the week as well whether it’s the low or high season, so be sure to call your desired store ahead of time.

Mobile phones 
Check with your service provider for information about cell coverage in this region. A mobile phone is available free of charge if you wish to have one. A security deposit of $200 USD against loss of the equipment is needed upon departure. On average half the cost of an international cell on roaming, you will only be charged for the calls you have made. View our extras page for available wireless communications packages.

Music/iPods 
While most of our newer boats have Bluetooth capability, we cannot guarantee all boats are outfitted with this equipment. For your convenience, we highly recommend you bring an AUX cord so you can listen to music from your mobile devices.

Electricity
In the BVI, 110/60V AC, 60 HZ standard US 2-pin plugs are used. The Moorings docks are equipped with 110V power outlets. All yachts are equipped with power cables and 110V plugs. Yachts must be hooked into shore power or must have the generator on (if applicable) to use the boat outlets for hairdryers, computers, etc. There is a 12V cigar lighter outlet by the chart table on all of our yachts and many yachts now have USB ports. Some larger vessels may be outfitted with Three Phase Electricity. 

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is now available on all Exclusive and Exclusive Plus yachts in the BVI. For an additional fee, Wi-Fi can be added to Club yachts. Please visit our extras page for more information.

For more information on what's included on your yacht, please view the full list here for Bareboat Charters or here for Crewed Charters.

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Health & Safety

Travel Advice
Your health and safety are important to us. For advice on how to stay safe while on charter, please review Travel Advice Information. Current travel and safety information can be obtained by visiting travel.state.gov

Swim Safe 

Swimming is often a fun and important part of a vacation. However local rules, flag systems, currents and where swimming may be permitted, can be different and vary from country to country. Snorkel vests, Life Jackets and Diver Down flags are all available on board. 

 Children:

• Talk to children about water safety at the start of a vacation, making them aware of the potential dangers.
• Accidents can happen at any time on vacation, but often they happen on the first and last day, so keep watch and do not get distracted when your children are playing by, or in the water.
• Children in or near water should always be supervised by an adult and never left unattended. 
• Get in the water with them, it is easier to keep an eye on them as well as good fun. Floatation devices are highly recommended for children but are not a substitute for supervision.

 Be aware of your surroundings

• Check warning flags and signage on the beach and only swim where it is permitted. 
• Beware of dangerous currents, these can be very powerful. Not all beaches have lifeguards and/or warning flags.
• Beware of underwater hazards, such as reefs, rocks, sudden changes in depth and marine life.
• Never swim where a sign says not to e.g. in zoned areas for jet boats or jet skis.
• Never swim at night or after drinking alcohol.

 Look out for others

• Never swim alone, ‘buddy up’ with others in your party and use the snorkel vests provided.
• Know how and where to get help. If you see someone in difficulty; raise the alarm, preferably the emergency services. Ensure you know the correct number for the country you are in.

Do not overestimate your ability

• Consider swimming lessons before you go if you think it would be useful to learn proper swimming technique.
• Even if you regularly swim in a pool, remember that open water swimming can be very different. 

BVI have a range of interesting diving spots, but it is not permitted to dive independently. Rendezvous diving is advisable, which can be booked through local operators on the islands. SailCaribbean have an office on our base – they are a PADI 5-star IDC centre offering rendezvous diving at various points throughout the BVI, for certified and non-certified divers. Sailcaribbeandivers.com

All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets, harnesses, snorkel vests & diver down flags. You can see all this equipment demonstrated in our online safety briefing, and we strongly recommend that you make use this equipment during your vacation. This safety equipment will be displayed in the saloon of your boat on boarding - If you have any questions feel free to ask our base staff during your briefing. 

We have a very limited supply of children's life jackets on base so highly recommend that if you are travelling with children, you bring their own. This ensures that children have correctly fitting jackets that are comfortable for them. 

Children should not be allowed in the dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and should wear a buoyancy aid or harness whilst on deck. 

Children under the age of 16 should not operate an outboard engine and should be supervised at all times when in the dinghy. 

Vaccination and Immunization Information
This destination is generally risk-free of contagious disease. Visit cdc.gov for the latest information.

Travel Insurance
The Moorings offers comprehensive travel insurance for your peace of mind. If you have your own travel insurance, verify that it covers the destinations and activities of your Moorings vacation.

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