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Virgin Islands - Provisioning
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Pre-arranged Provisioning vs Self-Provisioning
For any bareboat charter in the Virgin Islands you can either go to the grocery store yourself or have the Bareboat company provision the boat for you so the food will be on board when you arrive.
We also have outside gourmet provisioning companies that can provision any boat with any company.
Having the boat pre-provisioned is the most convenient and a great way to go if your vacation time is limited or if you fall more in the category “I eat to live.” The food is of good quality and there is plenty of it. In most cases you get to do quite a bit of customizing with these plans.
Provisioning yourself is usually more for the “I live to eat” people.
The grocery stores offer food items you don’t see on the provisioning programs like yellow bell peppers, romaine lettuce, & whole legs of lamb (great butterflied on the grill). You will also have a greater selection of beverages, beers ,wines & liquors.
Typical prices for provisioning packages are:
Dinners Ashore
Includes 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and daily snacks @ $15.00 - 17.00 per person/day
Split Provisioning
Includes 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 4 dinners @ $18.00 - $20.00 per person/day
Full Provisioning
Includes 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners @ $22.50 - $24.00 per person/day
Not all charter companies offer all three plans.
If your yacht charter includes hired crew, you are responsible for providing crew meals and beverages so you must consider them when calculating your costs for provisions.
If you prefer to have most meals aboard, but would like to eat out a few times, you would select the "split provisioning" option. If you have a party of (4) and you will be chartering for 7 days your costs would be calculated as follows:
(4) persons x $19.00 (split provisioning) x (7) days = $532.00
Once you have selected the yacht you wish to charter, a provisioning list with set prices will be sent to you with your paperwork. Please note that beverage costs are not included in the published provisioning fees. Lists for beverages will be provided together with your provisioning package.
If you decide against pre-ordering provisions, the local stores are very good and offer a wide range of items. In St. Thomas, USVI, the prices are about 10% higher than in the U.S. In Tortola, BVI, it’s more like 15-20% higher.
When it comes to booze, however, the prices in the Virgins beat the U.S. mainland in most cases. For example Jack Daniels is around $12 a bottle and Mount Gay Rum is $7. Wines are slightly cheaper than US and the beer is a little higher. You will pay more for sodas, approximately $10 case for Coke.
When chartering out of Tortola you can bring in provisions through the airport or ferry dock, however, you should be aware that Customs will charge an import duty of approximately 15% on the value of the food. If you are considering bringing your own meats with you on your charter you will need to obtain a license from Department Of Agriculture. If you wish to bring frozen meats for your charter, you should contact the BVI-DOA at 284-495-2532. An application form along with a fee of $25.00 is required. The form may be faxed directly to the BVI-DOA at 284-495-1269 or mailed to : Government of the British Virgin Islands, Department of Agriculture, Paraquita Bay, Tortola, BVI. A minimum of 48 hours should be allowed for processing. If you arrive at the airport without a permit, customs may confiscate and destroy any meat products. Only non-perishable/dry goods may be brought in without a permit. No fruits or vegetables may be allowed. We have forms if you need one.
For grocery stores in St. Thomas:
When chartering with CYOA in Frenchtown, You can walk to the Pueblo supermarket and take a cab back. There is a Gourmet Gallery (Phone # 340-774-5555) at the Crown Bay Marina in the next cove to the west.
When chartering out of the east end with any of the other companies, there is a good new store near compass point called "Food Center" open 7 days / week till 10:00 pm. There is a huge supermarket in Tutu (center of island) called Plaza Extra (Phone #340-775-5646).
There is a wonderful gourmet store in Red Hook called Marina Market (Phone # 340-779-2411).
Their are small grocery stores in Cruz Bay, St. John also.
The best provisioning company in St. Thomas is Fine Food Afloat (Phone # 340-776-2067).
For grocery stores & provisioning in Tortola:
Rite Way Food Markets:
Phone: (284) 494-2263 or e-mail rtwllh@surfbvi.com
Offers pre-ordered provisioning delivered to your boat.
(Free delivery in Road Town area only)
Pasea (East Road Town), Tortola
Pasea store open Monday to Saturday 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM
Sunday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Their web site is: www.rtwbvi.com
Bobby's Marketplace:
Phone: (284) 494-2189 or e-mail islands@surfbvi.com
Road Town, Tortola
Offers pre-ordered provisioning delivered to your boat.
(free delivery anywhere on Tortola)
Open daily from 7:00 AM to midnight
Their web site is: www.bobbysmarketplace.com
Ample Hamper Yacht Provisioners has 2 stores:
(284) 494-2494 (Road Town, Inner Harbor Marina) or e-mail amplehamper@surfbvi.com
(284) 495-4684 (West End, Soper's Hole Marina) or e-mail ahamperw@surfbvi.com
Offers pre-ordered provisioning delivered to your boat.
(free delivery anywhere on Tortola)
Store Locations: Road Town, Soper's Hole & Hodge's Creek, Tortola
Open: Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM & Sunday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Their web site is: www.amplehamper.com
K-Marks Yacht Provisioning:
Phone: (284) 494-6999 or e-mail kmarks@surfbvi.com
Port Purcell, Tortola
Open Monday to Saturday 7:30 AM to 11:00 PM
Sunday 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Ms. Penguin "Heat & Eat" Frozen Meals:
Phone: (284) 494-3690 or e-mail sales@mspenguin.com
(free delivery for orders over $100.00 anywhere on Tortola)
Orders must be placed 5 days in advance of delivery
Road Town, Tortola
Their web site is: www.mspenguin.com
Fine Foods Supermarket:
Phone: (284) 495-2362
East End, Tortola
Probably the best store for one stop provisioning in Tortola is Riteway at Passea. This store offers a great deli, their own in store bakery and butchery departments, extensive liquor and wine, and a good selection of fruits and vegetables. For pre-arranged provisioning, Bobby's Market does a good job. Or, if you are looking for a more gourmet, try Ample Hamper.
The Ample Hamper in West End (Soper's Hole) is a good place to reprovision .
On Virgin Gorda there is a good store in Spanish Town called Bucks.
When you are at The Bitter End Yacht Club you can get a few things at their store and there is a small store at Leverick bay also.
Call us any time if you have questions:
800-382-9666 or 941-966-9387
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