Wickham’s Cay II Marina: Road Town, Tortola
Thank you for choosing Virgin Island Sailing® as your charter broker.
This additional information is provided to ensure your charter is well-planned and an unforgettably wonderful experience.
Thank you for choosing Virgin Island Sailing® as your charter broker.
This additional information is provided to ensure your charter is well-planned and an unforgettably wonderful experience.
Your travel to the Tortola, British Virgin Islands will most likely take the majority of a day, and therefore you should plan on arriving the day before you start sailing.
Here are three routes to consider:
✈️ Flights – We recommend checking online with consolidating web sites like Expedia and Travelocity. Sometimes the best fares are found by purchasing your flight segments separately.
🚕 Taxis – St. Thomas Standard Taxi Fares | Tortola / Sebastian’s Rates
🚙Pre-Arranged Taxi Transfer Options
From Airport
From Ferry Terminal
🚢Public Ferries – The public ferry operators work together to rotate their schedules. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Ferry schedule information can be found here: Virgin Islands Ferry Schedule.
Arrival Flight: Your flight can arrive in St. Thomas up to an hour before the ferry departure time.
Departure Flight: You should plan on taking a ferry that is 4 hours or more in advance of your St. Thomas flight departure time.
Typical Ferry Schedules (Holiday Weeks May Vary):
Road Town, Tortola, BVI to Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, USVI: DAILY | 7:30 am | 10:00 am | 11:30 am | 3:30 pm
Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, USVI to Road Town, Tortola, BVI: DAILY | 9:00 am | 2:00 pm | 4:00 pm | 5:30 pm
The ferry cost is $60 one-way or $100 round-trip, plus $10 port fee from St. Thomas to Tortola, $20 departure tax from Tortola to St. Thomas and $10 per piece of luggage. There is a $10 per person BVI Environmental fee paid in cash to BVI Immigration when you arrive in the BVI.
🚤VIP End-to-End Water Taxi – Fly into St. Thomas and glide straight to your yacht in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, with a seamless, VIP-style transfer that makes arrival part of the luxury. Virgin Island Sailing® has partnered exclusively with Dolphin Water Taxi, the Caribbean’s #1 private yacht transfer company, to offer the most seamless and luxurious BVI yacht transfer experience from airport baggage claim straight to your charter yacht.
Assuming you arrive the day before you start sailing, you have two accommodation options for your arrival night:
Passports are required for every one traveling to the Caribbean.
If you arrive to Tortola by plane, you must have a Passport Book. Passport Cards are not accepted and you will be rerouted to St. Thomas at your expense for flights and ferry.
Check your passport expiration dates to ensure your passports are valid until after your trip.
Travelers may now complete the online embarkation/disembarkation (ED) to allow for more seamless processing at ports of entry. You can begin the process 72 hours before arrival into the British Virgin Islands.
If you are arriving by ferry, please follow the procedures outlined here by the British Virgin Islands Tourism Board.
If you are arriving by air, please follow the procedures outlined here by the British Virgin Islands Tourism Board.
We highly recommend purchasing trip cancellation / interruption insurance to protect your investment in the event of unexpected emergencies. 🌴⚓
Travel insurance can provide valuable coverage for situations such as medical issues, flight disruptions, or other unforeseen events that may impact your vacation plans.
🗓️ Important timing note:
You’ll typically receive the most comprehensive coverage when your policy is purchased within 21 days of confirming your charter.
You are welcome to purchase insurance from any provider of your choice. That said, we encourage you to consider a carrier that has updated their coverage to meet the realities of today’s travel environment.
One80 Elite Protect is a travel insurance program specifically designed for vacations and adventure travel, including yacht charters.
✔️ Competitive pricing
✔️ Coverage designed for international travel
✔️ Carefully selected service partners
✔️ Strong support when the unexpected happens
📄 Learn more about coverage details here:
👉 One80 Elite Protect Information Sheet
If you have any questions or would like help reviewing coverage timing, please see the contact information for Rick Bagnall on the link above.
The Moorings is providing snorkel fins in adult sizes. Masks and snorkels are not provided. If you don’t want to bring this gear with you, rentals are available from Blue Water Divers or Sail Caribbean Divers.
🌊 Enhance Your Vacation: Water Toys & Adventures
Adding water toys is a fantastic way to elevate your time on the water — from effortless fun at anchor to unforgettable island adventures 🛥️✨
Below are two options for arranging water toys during your charter.
⭐ Concierge-Arranged Water Toys (Recommended)
We work with BVI Sup Co, a trusted water toy provider we’ve partnered with for many years.
This option is ideal if you prefer a more seamless experience — we coordinate everything for you from start to finish.
✅ Coordinated by Virgin Island Sailing
✅ Equipment selection assistance
✅ Payment handled through your vacation planning process
✅ Delivery and logistics arranged on your behalf
👉 Simply complete Water Toys Rental Form, and we’ll take care of the rest.⚓
🔗 Additional Water Toy Provider – Direct Booking Option
Island Surf & Sail offers a wide variety of water toys and equipment throughout the British Virgin Islands 🌴🌊
Reservations, payment, scheduling, delivery coordination, and service communication are handled directly between you and Island Surf & Sail.
👉 Book directly with Island Surf & Sail. Please note Virgin Island Sailing as your broker.
Fishing: A fishing license is required for any one 18 years or older who will be fishing during your charter – the cost is $45/person. You can rent fishing gear from either water toys company listed above.
We recommend applying for your license in advance. The water toys rental company can assist for a small fee or you can apply directly with the Fisheries Department. The application to apply directly is at BVI Fishing, which includes info about fish and seasons.
Scuba Diving: If you are already certified for diving before your trip, you can rent dive gear. If you are not certified, you can arrange for a dive boat to meet up with you in a nearby bay and take you for an introductory course (1/2 a day) which is a good way to see if you get hooked! See Blue Water Divers BVI or Sail Caribbean Divers for more information on both options.
Licensed for 8 people, the larger dinghy upgraded outboard will get you and your crew to snorkeling spots and the beach in style and comfort. For popular spots where it’s trickier to find a mooring, the RIB is the perfect alternative. Settle into Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke for the night and then take the RIB to White Bay for the afternoon to enjoy painkillers without the hassle of finding a mooring ball or having to move your yacht for the night.
The North Sound boasts a selection of some of the best dining options in the BVI. There’s no need to settle for only one spot when you have the RIB. Pick up provisions from Leverick Bay, enjoy the plunge pool at Nova in Deep Bay, and then zip back to the sound for sundowners at Saba Rock before enjoying dinner at The Bitter End. If you have a mix of snorkelers, beachgoers, shoppers and sailors onboard then give your group flexibility by taking the standard dinghy included in your charter as well. This will also remove the need to make multiple dinghy trips ashore for larger groups.
Get more out of your sailing vacation with a Dinghy Upgrade.
The Dinghy Upgrade is based on availability. Please contact us for availability
Exclusive and Exclusive Plus yachts: Includes a 4G router.
Club Line yachts: A router is not included. If available for your charter dates, a Wi-Fi router can be rented for $37/day – please let us know.
Since there are many good grocery stores on Tortola that offer pre-ordering with delivery to your yacht, we recommend ordering your provisions in advance. This also makes for a smooth and easy start to your charter. If you would like to select some items yourself when you arrive, we recommend at least ordering your heavy and non-perishable items in advance.
Keep in mind that delivery of orders should be after your scheduled boarding time.
Please remember that anything you will consume or throw away – you supply, including charcoal for the grill.
Cruising World Article – Provision Planning for a Sailboat Charter Vacation
Grocery Stores:
OneMart – Road Town, Tortola
Rite Way – Road Town, Tortola
Bobby’s Marketplace – Road Town, Tortola
Specialty Stores:
Relish Gourmet Foods – Offering a well-designed and extensive portfolio of beverages and fine foods to yachting customers for over 20 years. Experienced team will get you a great product, delivered on time and with a smile.
TICO – Beverage Supplier in Road Town, Tortola
Caribbean Cellars – Beverage Supplier in Road Town, Tortola
Good Moon Farm – Organic, local produce in Trellis Bay, Tortola
STEAKATION Artisan Butchery – Fresh Meat and Seafood in Road Town, Tortola
The French Deli – Fresh bread, meat & cheese in Road Town, Tortola
Catered Meals:
Elite Culinaire is owned and operated by Chef Kenetha who is well know for her years onboard BVI crewed yachts. She has completed extensive professional chef training and is now offering chef-prepared meals for bareboat charters. Order Meals Online For Delivery to Your Yacht
You can self provision the day your charter starts at One Mart, Rite Way or Bobby’s in Road Town.
The Moorings also has a grocery store at the marina for any last-minute grocery needs, including fresh fruits and vegetables, deli meats, baked goods, essentials such as sunscreen and cleaning supplies, and an extensive selection of wine and spirits.
If you are provisioning on a budget, you may consider bringing some items with you. You can find a list of recommended provisions items to bring with you at Bareboat Charter Packing Tips.
Prior to arriving in Tortola, you will contact Virgin Island Sailing® for any of your charter needs: Call 800-382-9666 | 941-966-9387 or Email Concierge Team. As your charter nears, you’ll hear from our Concierge Team with useful information and reminders to assist in your planning. Click here to Meet Our Team.
Once you arrive in Tortola, you will work directly with the excellent staff at The Moorings. Their local number is 1-284-393-2331, and their office hours are 8:00am to 10:00pm M-TH and 7:00am to 11:00pm F-SUN. For your friends and family that are not chartering with you, feel free to give both The Moorings and Virgin Island Sailing® phone numbers.
If you experience issues during your charter, you should immediately contact The Moorings to resolve the issues. Although we don’t anticipate issues, even with the most stringent preventative maintenance, sometimes issues do arise. In addition to the local number above, there will be an after hours emergency number provided on board or during your briefing. We can not stress enough the importance of involving your broker is the issues are not being resolved timely.
Without a sleep aboard reserved, your boarding time is 12:00 pm, or with a sleep aboard pre-arranged your boarding time is 6:00 pm. Prior to departing the docks you will receive a full boat briefing and a yacht operations binder will be on board.
If you arrive to the marina before your boat is ready, you are welcome to leave our luggage at the reception area.
In advance of your charter, The Moorings is providing briefing videos to watch before your arrival: Virtual Chart Briefing and Virtual Safety Briefing
Virtual Chart BriefingVirtual Safety BriefingBVI Base eGuide
A check out skipper is offered complimentary. This service must be requested in advance of your charter. The skipper would accompany you to your first overnight anchorage for an even further orientation of your yacht. You would be responsible for his return transportation expense and a gratuity is recommended.
Your charter ending time is 11:00 am for sailboats and 10:00 am for power cats. This is the time you should be ready to disembark the yacht. You will radio into the Moorings for a slip assignment and Moorings’ staff members will be waiting to assist. You are asked to return the yacht reasonably tidy, take off your garbage, pile the linens into one heap, empty out the fridge, and flush the toilets. For power cat charters, the fuel tanks need to be topped off before you return to The Moorings’ marina.
We’ve put together a list of packing guidelines and a downloadable checklist to assist you in ensuring you have everything you need for your vacation: Bareboat Charter Packing Tips
Please also consider participating in the non-profit Pack for a Purpose.
Please Use Only Mineral Sunscreen.
Please help preserve the glorious beaches and stunning underwater world that lure you to our shores so that you and your loved ones can enjoy them for years to come! Avoid sunscreens that contain the “Toxic 3 Os” of oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene – they are prohibited in the United States Virgin Islands. Wear rash guards, hats and use only non-nano mineral sunscreen containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the only sunscreen ingredients deemed safe and effective by the FDA. For a selection of recommended non-nano mineral-based sunscreen lines, see Island Green Living.
Here are some tools to assist with your itinerary planning before and during your charter.
We will also mail you a complimentary Cruising Guide Book & Planning Chart. If you don’t receive this within a couple weeks after confirming your charter, please let us know.
The currency in British and US Virgin Islands is US Dollars. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, but you should also plan on having cash for anticipated expenses.
Many personal cell phones will work in the British Virgin Islands. We recommend contacting your cell phone provider for specific details of their coverage in the British Virgin Islands, and to find out what international calling and texting plans they can offer.
If you have small children in your party please bring a life jacket and harness for each child – it is a law that a life preserver is worn by children under 12 on any moving vessel (including the dinghy). You may be able to rent children size life jackets from Sail Caribbean Divers. If you would like to rent a pack n play, car seat or other children products, check Island Kidz. It is also a good idea to bring snorkel gear for kids; a perfect fit will make them more likely to give snorkeling a try and have fun doing it. It also helps their confidence to practice in the bath tub or pool before you arrive!
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Travel & Insurance
Planning Your Travel 
Arrival Night Accommodations 
Passport Notes 
BVI Customs & Immigration Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) Cards 
Trip Insurance 
Enhance your vacation
Snorkeling Gear 
Water Sports, Fishing and Diving 
Dinghy Upgrade 
WiFi Service 
Provisioning
Provisioning notes 
Order in Advance 
Self Provisioning 
Planning
Contacting VI Sailing | The Moorings 
Starting Your Charter 
Complimentary Check Out Skipper 
Returning The Yacht 
Packing Tips & Checklist 
Itinerary Planning 
Expenses During Your Charter 
Cell Phone Service 
Special Notes For Children