Tag Archives: USVI

OH NO — WHERE IS MY PASSPORT?

So, you’re just itching to get back on the water and enjoy another private luxury yacht charter vacation.  Suddenly, you remember your wife mentioned it was time to renew your family’s passports…six months ago!

Now you’re in a pickle.  You go to the United States Department of State website, and your heart sinks…  According to the site, the total time it takes to process a routine passport application, and for you to receive the mailed passport, is 4 to 6 weeks.  Yikes!

Even with expedited (code for: “more expensive”) service, it will still take at least 2-3 weeks from the time of application, including mailing time.

Without valid passports, it looks like that last-minute charter yacht vacation is going to be put on hold.

Or is it?????????

NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO PASSPORT REQUIRED

Fortunately for you, there are several great Caribbean yacht charter destinations where a passport is not required to enjoy a luxury yacht charter holiday.  These destinations are often overlooked by Americans – bypassed for the traditional charter hotspots like the British Virgin Islands, St Barts, and the Bahamas.  Most are within a half-day’s travel time from much of the United States, and are all are well worth a visit by boat.

Here are three of our favorite destinations where bare feet and bathing suits are the dress code, and passports are not required…

THE NO PASSPORT REQUIRED LIST 1 of 3

• US VIRGIN ISLANDS (St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island) – Just a rock’s throw away from the more popular British Virgin Islands, the USVI is ideal for a short-term getaway, say 3-4 nights.  Yes, there are dozens of small islands to visit in the BVI, the USVI has some great protected anchorages, wonderful snorkeling, fantastic nature preserves, and a major international airport in St. Thomas that makes coming and going a snap.Yacht Charter tip:   consider starting your trip from Red Hook (St. Thomas), on the east end of the island, versus the downtown area of the capital, Charlotte Amalie.  This way, you can avoid the congestion and large crowds of tourists that swarm Charlotte Amalie when the numerous cruise ships arrive. 

• Things to do:   There are just SO many wonderful activities to do in St. Thomas.  Here are just a few (thanks to the USVI Tourism Bureau):

• Visit a tropical botanical garden
• Zipline the Virgin Islands
• Take a helicopter tour around the island
• Skydive in St. Thomas
• Go duty-free shopping
• Volunteer at the local animal shelter
• Go on a birdwatching tour

NUMBER 2 of 3

• SPANISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (Vieques, Culebra, and a multitude of smaller islands and cays) – Did you know the Spanish Virgins are only 6 miles off the eastern coastline of Puerto Rico?  The United States military used these islands for bombing practice until 2003, so there has been little exploitation in term of commercial development – a round-about way to say the islands are pristine and unspoiled.  The water is crystal clear, and the reefs are teeming with marine life.Yacht charter tip:  Try to plan your luxury yacht charter during the week, and not on the weekend – local boaters from the mainland invade on the weekends!Things to do: For fantastic vistas, hike up to the small lighthouse on the highest hill on Culebrita island, or snorkel or SCUBA dive the reefs along the 12-mile chain of little islands known as La Cordillera

NUMBER 3 of 3

• KEY WEST (and the nearby Florida Keys) – This is truly the easiest destination to reach for Americans, as you can get there by plane, car, or even by boat.   The southernmost city in the United States, Key West is an island paradise and unlike anywhere else in the country.  The locals are quirky but fun-loving folks, and there’s plenty of points of interest, and lots of protected anchorages in the adjacent lower Florida Keys chain of islands.Yacht charter tip:  many of the world’s largest yachts call South Florida home.  A large fleet of luxury yacht charter vessels are based in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.  Consider a one-way charter, starting in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, then cruising south through the Florida Keys and concluding in eclectic Key West.  A one-way trip will give you more exposure to the unique charm of the Keys, and you can fly home from Key West International Airport.

   

• Things to do:  Cruise to Fort Jefferson off the coast of Key West, and snorkel in the clear waters; stroll the shops, art galleries, and casual bars along Duvall Street;  experience the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

FORGET YOUR PASSPORT AND START PACKING

Booking a luxury yacht charter in one of these passport–free destinations is as simple as contacting the charter professionals here at 1-800 Yacht Charters at https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/book-now-contact-us/ .  You don’t even need to tell us you forgot to renew your passport – we’ll probably guess, anyway!  Just tell us the destination you wish to visit, your desired dates, how many guests in your party, and your preferred budget.  We’ll take it from there!!!

This entry was posted in News Frequently Asked Questions Educational and tagged Giftivism and Generosity, Florida and Florida Keys, Frequently Asked Questions, virgin islands yacht charter, volunteer, Spanish Virgin Islands, snorkel, No passport required, USVI, Fort Jefferson, St. Thomas activities, what to do, travel documents, yacht charter tips, zipline, skydive, birdwatching