Where can I charter a yacht this winter 2020/2021?

The Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and South East Asia are ideal destinations for chartering a yacht during COVID-19. 

Whether it’s island-hopping through the Caribbean, exploring the incredible natural wonders of South East Asia or leaving footprints on pristine beaches in the Indian Ocean, itineraries in these regions are perfectly suited to a social distancing yacht charter. With a focus on rest, relaxation and enjoying the natural attractions on offer, these destinations are the perfect antidote to a hectic year.

Read on to discover everything you need to know about booking a yacht charter in 2020/2021. 

The Caribbean

The sun-soaked islands of the Caribbean are a playground for superyacht vacations, with miles of sandy beaches and no end of little coves where you can drop anchor and while away the day. 

And did you know that only 2% of the Caribbean is inhabited? Island discovery awaits!

Antigua and Barbuda: Open

Cool crowds and laid-back island lifestlye; Antigua and Barbuda have become one of the most sought-after hotspots for a winter vacation on a superyacht. 

To enter Antigua and Barbuda by yacht you need to:

• Submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 7 days prior to arrival.
• Submit an Eseaclear declaration prior to arrival.
• Clear customs at English Harbour or the Nevis Street Pier in St. John’s. You cannot clear customs in Barbuda. To clear out of Antigua and Barbuda, your yacht must go via Nevis Street Pier in St. Johns or at Nelson’s Dockyard

If you’re arriving into Antigua by commercial airlines or private jet to start your charter you will need to:

• Submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 7 days prior to arrival.
• Provide details about your accommodation (in this case your yacht) to customs officials.

Providing all the above conditions are met, during your charter: 

• You will be allowed to cruise freely between all the islands in the travel bubble, including Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Kitt’s & Nevis, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Monserrat, Anguilla, BVI’s and Barbados.
• You may be required to allow your crew to monitor and / or keep a log of your day-to-day health, including temperature checks.

Bahamas: Open

There’s no shortage of things to see and do on a yacht charter in Bahamas: Swimming pigs, sunken planes, iguana-covered beaches, incredible sandbars and awe-inspiring grottos are just the beginning. No wonder it’s such a family favorite. 

To enter the Bahamas by yacht you need to:

• Submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 7 days prior to arrival. You will need to supply details about where the test was performed. Children under 10 are exempt from testing.
• Apply for a Bahamas Health Travel Visa AFTER receiving a negative Covid test result. You can apply at travel.gov.bs. The cost will be between $40 - $60 depending on the length of your stay and this visa covers travel health insurance, which is now mandatory. Once this visa is completed you will be issued with a confirmation QR code.
• Stop at the Port of Entry of your intended destination. Every member of your charter party then needs to provide copies of their Travel Health Visa and  their negative RT PCR test results to officials before disembarking. 
• Approved ABM Marina Testing Sites / Port of Entries include:  Bay Street Marina and Nassau Yacht Haven, Old Bahama Bay (West End), Grand Bahama Yacht Club and Port Lucaya Marina (Freeport),  Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour and Baker’s Bay Resort & Marina plus Sandy Point Public Dock, Cape Eleuthera Resort & Marina, Romora Bay Resort & Marina and Valentines Resort & Marina,  Staniel Cay Yacht Club
• Upon your arrival at the Port of Entry Testing Area, you will present the confirmation QR Code to the testing officials, where a Rapid Antigen Test will then be administered. After completing the Rapid Antigen Test, you will proceed to Bahamian Immigration & Customs.
• On exiting Customs & Immigration, you will be asked to go directly back to your yacht to receive a notification of your Rapid Antigen Test result.

If you’re arriving into the Bahamas by commercial airlines or private jet to start your charter you will need to:

• Complete steps one and two above (obtain a negative PCR test no more than 7 days prior to arrival and obtain a Bahamas Health Travel Visa).
• You will still need to visit a Port of Entry Testing Area, where you will be asked to present your QR code and you will then be eligible for a Rapid Antigen Test. The Port of Entry Testing Area should be available at your airport of choice, but be sure to confirm this if you are flying privately. 
• After the test you will travel onwards to meet your yacht and receive notification  of your Rapid Antigen Test result.

Providing all the above conditions are met, during your charter: 

• On day 5 of your visit (96 hours after arrival) each member of your charter party will need to take a Rapid Antigen test. You will be asked to quarantine on your yacht while awaiting results, which are typically texted or emailed to them within 60 minutes. However; if you have not come on land at any time during your charter, you will be exempt from this Rapid Antigen test.
• You will be required to answer a daily online health questionnaire during the duration of their visit. 
• Please note that changes in the Bahamas are occurring weekly, so you’re best advised to keep an eye on the official government website.

Belize: Closed

BVI’s: Open

Great for snorkelling, swimming and pressing pause on life, the USVI’s are a paradise on earth. 

To enter the BVI’s (British Virgin Islands) by yacht you need to:

• Submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 5 days prior to arrival (Children under 5 are exempt). 
• Submit a negative PCR test on the day of arrival.
• Submit a negative PCR test on day 4 of arrival.
• Download an approved app in order to be issued with a Travel Certificate (printed as well as digital). Access this via: BVIGateway.BVIAA.com.
• Remain on your yacht during a 4-day quarantine unless you’re arriving from another island within the travel bubble (see above). 

If you’re arriving into the BVI’s by commercial airlines or private jet to start your charter you will need to:

• Follow all of the steps above.

Providing all the above conditions are met, during your charter:

• You will be allowed to moor in certain areas across the BVI’s during the 4-day quarantine. After the 4-day quarantine you will be allowed to move freely across the BVI’s. 
• If you are planning to travel to the USVI’s or Puerto Rico, you will need to take a test to depart the BVI’s. The cost is $75 per person and the average turnaround time for results is 18 – 24 hours

Florida: Open

All marinas in mainland Florida are currently operating as normal, with no major restrictions on domestic or international arrivals. However if you’re looking to arrive by air, you will need to check the travel status on the country you’re planning to travel from. 

A yacht charter in Miami or other hotspots in Florida is a great way to see another side to this thriving metropolis. Escape the packed beaches and overcrowded restaurants and enjoy tranquil waterways and sunset meals.

St Vincent/ The Grenadines: Open with stringent quarantine measures in place

To enter St Vincent and the Grenadines by yacht you need to:

• Your crew will need to contact the port authorities to request permission for entry, via email at svgarrivals@gmail.com. The authorities will instruct the crew on the tests and forms you may or may not need to complete.
• Your crew will need to send negative PCR test results, estimated time of arrival and last port clearance to svgarrivals@gmail.com 24 hours before arrival. The number of days between the test taken and the arrival date varies according to where you’re arriving from. 
• Complete a pre – arrival form (available via https://stv.servicedx.com/travelform) for each passenger and send a copy of the email reply with the negative PCR test result to coronavirustaskforcesvg@gmail.com.
• In some cases, you will be retested again upon arrival in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

If you’re arriving into St Vincent and the Grenadines by commercial airlines or private jet to start your charter you will need to:

• Submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 5 days prior to arrival. 
• You will more than likely be asked to quarantine upon arrival. Where you quarantine will depend on your country of origin and anywhere else you have visited recently. You will either be asked to quarantine in a hotel or on your yacht, but the yacht may not be allowed to move from your designated mooring. 

Be aware that the rules on quarantine and arrival in St Vincent and the Grenadines are very clearly laid-out, but there are a lot of different caveats and circumstances that could affect your charter. You are best advised to get in touch with local authorities directly to receive advice, particularly if you are visiting St Vincent and the Grenadines as part of a longer itinerary or you have visited more than one country in the 21 days before arrival.

St Barts: Open

Known for its celebrity-studded restaurants, designer boutiques and legendary New Year’s Eve celebrations, chartering a yacht in St Barts is the ultimate luxury vacation.

To enter St Barts by yacht you need to:

• Submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. Your crew will need to email your results, along with information about your last port of call, to port authorities. For arrivals to into Gustavia your crew can email: directeur@portdegustavia.fr.
• If you have spent 14 days on your yacht in St. Maarten or Guadaloupe prior to arriving in St. Barth’s, you do not need to take a test.

If you’re arriving into St Barts by commercial airlines or private jet to start your charter you will need to:

• Submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival OR submit a negative Rapid Antigen test taken no more than 48 hours prior to arrival. Children under 11 are exempt. Please note that only certain Rapid Antigen tests are accepted.
• If your charter includes time staying land, you may be required to submit a second test after day 8.

Providing all the above conditions are met, during your charter: 

• You can enjoy yourself! Be sure to check out all the must-see luxury attractions in St Barts.

St Lucia: Open

Sugary-sand beaches, plantations of juicy pineapples and mangoes and jungle-coated pitons: St Lucia is an oasis of life and color. 

To enter St Lucia by yacht you need to:

• If you are visiting from another Caribbean region/island within the travel bubble you are exempt from quarantine as long as you have spent 21 days in that bubble. You still need to submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 7 days prior to arrival. 
• If the above does not apply, you still need to submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 7 days prior to arrival. 
• If you are not exempt from the 14-day quarantine because you have spent less than 21 days in the travel bubble (or for another reason) please see the quarantine options below. Please note that if less than 14 days are spent at sea, the remainder of the quarantine period must be observed at anchor, on the designated quarantine dock, or in a COVID-19 certified property in accordance with the Marine Protocols.

If you’re arriving into St Lucia by commercial airlines or private jet to start your charter you will need to:

• Submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 7 days prior to arrival and email to sarscov2ell@gmail.com.
• Complete a Travel Registration Form and a Health Screening Form.  See full details here: https://www.stlucia.org/en_UK/covid-19/international-arrivals/

Quarantine Options:

1. Quarantine on shore at Covid-Certified Accommodation. 

2. Quarantine on designated quarantine Marina Dock

3. Quarantine at anchor

St Maarten: Open

The home of white sand beaches, rolling green hills and no shortage of beach bars and buzzy restaurants, St Martin (also known as Sint Marten or Saint Maarten) is a vibrant island to add to your Caribbean yacht charter itinerary. 

To enter the St Maarten by yacht you need to:

• Determine whether you are arriving from a place deemed to be high-risk or low-risk. Full details can be found at the bottom of this page: https://stmaartenehas.com/travel-requirements/ 
• High-risk: Submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 120 hours prior to departure from past port. If testing is not possible, yachts must quarantine upon arrival and testing will be arranged from there. 
• Low-risk: A test must still be submitted prior to arrival, but the time between test taken and arrival in St Maarten is reduced.
• Your charter party will not need to submit a not test if they spend less than 48 hours in St Maarten for refuelling or provisioning, but you must stay on board during this time.

USVI’s: Open

Waterspots-lovers rejoice: The US Virgin Islands are awash with crescent-shaped bays bordered by crystal-clear turquoise water which are primed for scuba and snorkelling. 

To enter the USVI’s by yacht you need to:

• Submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 5 days prior to arrival. The result needs to be passed to the marina officials where your charter yacht is berthed. 
• Have your crew fill out the Travel Screening Portal Form and supply a certificate to customs officials.

If you’re arriving into the USVI’s by commercial airlines or private jet to start your charter you will need to:

• Travel advice varies between countries, so be sure to do your own research and follow local government advice. For updates, you can text: COVID19USVI or 8888777.

The Indian Ocean

One of the most magical destinations on the planet, the Indian Ocean is replete with fine-as-flour beaches, castaway desert islands and sun-warmed blue sea. A yacht charter is the perfect way to explore everything that this Eden on earth has to offer. 

The Maldives: Open

Perfect for divers and marine-lovers, chartering a luxury yacht in the Maldives gives you unrivalled access to superior dive sites and well-known nature hotspots.

There are no travel restrictions imposed on specific nationals, but generally speaking you’ll need to submit a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure to the Maldives. Yacht-goers must also submit a Traveler Health Declaration and submit this electronically before clearing customs. 

The Seychelles: Open

The islands of the Seychelles are perfect for anyone in search of adventure; Jurassic jungles, incredible wildlife and a taste of local culture and customs await. 

The Seychelles are not yet open to American travelers, however nationals from most other countries are permitted to enter. Countries are divided into category 1 and category 2, and each category has different conditions of entry. In most instances you will need to submit an application for Health Travel Authorization. You can find the full details on the Seychelles official website: www.tourism.gov.sc and www.health.gov.sc

South East Asia

Another invariably popular destination for winter yacht vacations is South East Asia. From the city glow of Singapore to the emerald bays of the Andaman Islands, this region is pimed for exploring by boat. 

Two of the most popular yacht charter destinations in South East Asia are Thailand and Indonesia's Raja Ampat archipelago. At the time of publishing neither are open to international travel but both are set to re-open in mid-December.

Please bookmark this article for more all the latest updates and information. 

To learn more about chartering a yacht in any of these destinations, or if you’re interested in booking a yacht somewhere more unusual, please get in touch with your chosen yacht charter broker.

Be aware that all the information above is subject to change and you should check all advice on local government websites before booking and travelling. To view the complete fleet of yachts available to book today, check out all crewed luxury charter yachts.