Caribbean yacht charter to resume this summer as COVID-19 cases decline

By Katia Damborsky 19 May 2020

St Barts is among the first Caribbean destinations to reopen its ports, while Antigua has said it will open for international travel from June 4 and the Bahamas has set a tentative reopening date on or before July 1.

Caribbean yachting destinations are beginning to reopen for superyachts, meaning that Social Distancing yacht charters in these tropical cruising grounds will be feasible in the coming weeks and months as COVID-19 curve flattens.

The Caribbean is perfect for Social Distancing vacations, thanks to a wealth of small islands and plenty of private aviation services at your disposal.

It’s also a great destination for our US-based readers who might be looking to stay closer to home for their next superyacht vacation.

St Barts

flat sandy beach in the caribbean, with blue water and palm trees

St Barts, which currently has no cases of Coronavirus, has reopened all of its ports to superyachts, subject to certain health and safety protocols.

Grenada

In the northwest of the Caribbean, the small island of Grenada has also opened its ports. Again, there are a number of strict health and safety protocols in place.

These restrictions may alter some of the activities you might expect to experience on a superyacht vacation, such as on-shore excursions and dining in restaurants. Our article on Social Distancing Superyacht Charters will explain more, and the two features below will provide you with inspiration.

Why Dining On Deck Is Better than Any Restaurant

Social Distancing Yacht Charters: Learning new skills on your next superyacht vacation

Other Caribbean yacht charter destinations are also taking steps towards reopening for international travel.

The Bahamas

The Bahamas is set to reopen ‘on or before July 1’.

The Bahamian Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has said; “We are looking at a possible date for commercial travel on or before July 1 of this year.”

"These dates may change depending on the circumstance. I want to repeat, however, that this date is not final."

"It will be adjusted if we see a deterioration of the COVID-19 infection trends or if we’ve determined that the protocols and procedures are not in place sufficiently to warrant this opening."

We might expect yacht charter in the more remote Out Islands to resume ahead of more popular tourist destinations such as Nassau, the Exumas and Eleuthera.

Dr Minnis also relaxed restrictions on several Family Islands, allowing commercial activity to resume on Cat Island, Long Island, Abaco and Andros.

These islands now join Ragged Island, Rum Cay, Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay, which were given the green light to resume commercial operations earlier this month.

Judging by this, we might expect yacht charter in the more remote Out Islands to resume ahead of more popular tourist destinations such as Nassau, the Exumas and Eleuthera.

We have the perfect itinerary for you if you’re considering a Social Distancing yacht charter vacation in the Bahamas’ Out Islands. This 10-day Bahamas Social Distancing itinerary offers useful advice about flying in privately and highlights peace, serenity and an escape from the crowds.

How to enjoy a crowd-free yacht rental in the Bahamas

How to enjoy a crowd-free yacht rental Bahamas

US Virgin Islands

The government of the US Virgin Islands has outlined a 5-point plan for reopening the islands for international travel by June 1 2020, according to local media reports.

The details of the new plan were announced by Governor Albert Bryan Jr. at the end of April.

“We anticipate moving from this [...] stay at home status to the [...] open-door status on June 1st. That is the date marked tentatively for the reopening of USVI to leisure travelers,” the Governor said during his address.

Antigua

Antigua has announced it will be opening its borders in June, with the first American Airlines flight set to land on the island on June 4.

Flights from Europe are thought to resume from July onwards.

Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez has said that visitors may have to undergo a COVID-19 test at least 48 hours before boarding a flight, among other proposed measures.

If you would like more information about the travel status of the world's yachting destinations, Social Distancing vacation ideas, and advice about superyacht rental amid the COVID-19 crisis, please refer to our Coronavirus Yacht News.

You can also view and compare all Caribbean crewed charter yachts.