Two Popular Yacht Charter Destinations in the Caribbean
The Caribbean is made up of about 700 islands, reefs, and cays that are divided into thirty governmental jurisdictions. Some are highly easy and popular for chartering, while others are less accessible. The Dominican Republic and Haiti have issues due to their exposed coasts and distance from neighboring islands. It’s not that you can’t charter in these locations, but there’s a reason why other destinations are more popular.
The most popular destinations provide visa exemptions to the United States, EU/Schengen Areas, the United Kingdom, and other countries. If you have a passport from one of those countries, you do not require a pre-approved visa. On most islands, numerous languages are spoken, including Creoles and local dialects. Even if you don’t speak the language, you’re likely to meet someone who does.
United States Virgin Islands (USVI)
The main islands of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) are St. Thomas, St. John, and Saint Croix. There are over fifty more islands and cays scattered nearby.
English is the primarily spoken language. The airport at St. Thomas is easily accessible, with several flight options from Europe and North America.
Many Virgin Islands catamaran charter boats operate out of St. Thomas to cruise the United States and the British Virgin Islands. It is the most developed island in the US Virgin Islands and the finest site to stock your charter and shop for duty-free items. There are several restaurants in the capital, Charlotte Amalie, as well as hotels and resorts around the island. St. John and St. Croix are less developed, having national park areas and smaller towns and amenities. Cruise ships also leave and stop at Charlotte Amalie, making it a crowded harbor when the ships arrive.
British Virgin Island (BVI)
The BVI archipelago consists of approximately 50 islands and cays. Sixteen have permanent inhabitants, except Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke.
International flights to Beef Island are plentiful. If they are chartering from Tortola, BVI Virgin Islands catamaran charter may fly into St. Thomas and then take a ferry to their boat. Road Town, Tortola, is home to the BVIs’ principal charter bases, as well as the greatest shopping for food and booze.
The BVIs are less developed than the USVIs, yet resorts, restaurants, and bars are spread over the populous islands. The inhabited islands are noted for their nightlife and social hot places, such as Foxy’s and the Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke and the Willie T on Norman Island.