Flying to the Caribbean for your Yacht Charter

Because airline reservations are one of the largest single costs of a bareboat charter vacation, you want to shop carefully for the best fares.

This can be a very time-consuming task, but we think that in most cases you'll find your best price either through the travel agency that we work with, or by using Orbitz (which often alerts you to special offers that you can only get directly from a particular airline). Using Orbitz you can save time and effort having round-the-clock access to real-time travel information, check flight schedules, hotel rooms and car rentals and make your own bookings easily and securely.

Sometimes a travel agent can save you more than the fares you can find on-line, or get you more convenient flights. Before purchasing your tickets online, we suggest that you check with Judy Shapiro at Caribbean Travel, phone 800-327-5540.

Flights usually cost more on weekends than weekdays, and special offers may apply to weekday travel but not to weekends, as seats are often allocated based on load factors. Flying on a weekday can save you up to $200 or more per person if you get lucky and happen to come across a special promotional fare.

Passports: Passports are now mandatory for all travelers to the Caribbean, even the US Virgin Islands. And, unless you are a U.S. or Canadian Citizen or resident alien, you must also have a special visa to sail back to the U.S. Virgin Islands by yacht (ferries or airlines, which are common carriers, do not have this requirement.)

Unless you are either U.S. or Canadian, we strongly urge you to check with your travel agent to find out if you need visas for either the U.S. or British Virgin Islands, or for any other Islands that you plan to visit.

Getting Around Between Islands

Travel between islands can be accomplished by airplane, ferry or water taxi. By far the most popular and affordable means is by ferry and there is frequent service to most destinations in the Virgin Islands and limited service in the Grenadines. Of the most importance to our clients is service between St. Thomas and Tortola. There are three ferry companies: Smith's Ferry (340-775-7292), Native Son, Inc. (340-774-8685), and the Tortola Fast Ferry (340-777-2800). While reservations are not required, you should phone the ferry company that you plan to take to get an up to date schedule, as this information is not guaranteed. Current rates are around $30 each way, and there are senior and children's fares. While a round-trip ticket costs a little less than two one-way tickets, we advise you not to purchase one, as you may wish to take a different ferry company for your return trip.

There is a great deal of competition between the ferry companies for your business, and you may well be accosted by someone upon arrival at the ferry company who will drag you to the ticket window of the company that he works for. In particular, beware of someone telling you that you are buying a ticket on the "fast ferry" as all companies claim that they have fast ferries! Only the Tortola Fast Ferry operates high-speed catamarans between Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas's main town, clost to the airport) and Roadtown (Tortola's main town, where your charter probably begins.

Ferry Schedules
Use the following links to check ferry service from St Thomas to Tortola and Back. Note that the schedules often vary depending on the day of the week, and that ferries depart St Thomas from either Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook. Red Hook is much further away, so if you can, you'll want to leave from Charlotte Amalie, unless you are staying at a hotel on the east end of the island. Similarly in Tortola, ferries arrive at and leave from either West End or Road Town. Smith's Ferry and Native Son ferries that originate in Road Town often make a stop at West End (also called Soper's Hole)and some make another stop at Cruz Bay in St John. Only the Tortola Fast Ferry offers direct service from Charlotte Amalie to Road Town with no intervening stops along the way.

Click Here to learn more about the Tortola Fast Ferry

Click Here to learn more about Smith's Ferry

Click Here to learn more about the Native Son Ferry

If you must travel outside of these times, you can contact Dohm's Water Taxi (340-775-6501) for a rate quote, or consider flying. Four Star Aviation (340-777-9900), Air Sunshine (284-495-8900) and Fly BVI (800-435-9284) can all arrange flights between St Thomas, Tortola, Virgin Gorda or Puerto Rico.

Seaborne Aviation in St Thomas recently started limited scheduled seaplane service between St Thomas and Tortola, but only on certain days. If the service is popular, more flights may be added. For a current schedule, call Seaborne at (341)-773-5991.