Planning the Perfect BVI Crewed Yacht Vacation Starts with the Right Travel Route
If you’re dreaming of a BVI crewed yacht vacation, your journey begins with getting to Tortola—the main gateway to yacht charters in the British Virgin Islands. In our pre-COVID world, more than half of the crewed charter yachts were able to offer a pick up from St Thomas, USVI. That all changed when the borders between The USVI AND BVI closed in March 2020. When they reopened, new regulations were put in place and it has become increasingly difficult to offer a St Thomas pick up and a BVI itinerary. Looking forward to 2026, we strongly recommend taking the stress and guess work out of changing regulations and simply plan to begin your charter from Tortola. There are now direct flights to Tortola’s Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) from Miami, and several other convenient travel options that will get you to your luxury catamaran or motor yacht with ease. Wlms Yacht Charters offers assistance on these options and we are happy to discuss with you which route works best for you.
5 Options From The U.S.
Option 1: Fly to Tortola (EIS) via Miami (MIA)
The most popular and seamless option is flying into Tortola (EIS) via Miami on American Airlines. This route is available on American Airlines smaller jet, the Embraer 175 and they are currently offering this between 3-5 times per day during the months of November to July. This is a very new service and time will tell if they offer this year round. We took this route in November, 2024 and enjoyed the convenience of getting into the U.S. very quickly! There are some drawbacks to taking this route. We can discuss this route with you in greater detail if you’re looking into the Miami to Tortola flight.
Option 2: Fly to Tortola (EIS) via San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
The most popular and seamless option is flying into San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) from major U.S. cities like Miami, Atlanta, New York, or Charlotte, then taking a short 40-minute connecting flight to Tortola (EIS). Several regional airlines, including Silver Airways and Cape Air, offer daily service to Tortola. San Juan is one of the larger airports in the Caribbean and there are abundant discount airlines that fly into San Juan which can make this one of the most economical options.
Option 3: Fly to St. Thomas (STT), U.S. Virgin Islands + Ferry to Tortola
Another excellent route is flying to St. Thomas (STT) and then taking a ferry to Road Town, Tortola. There is also a ferry that departs from Red Hook, USVI to West End, Tortola. With 4 different ferries running daily service there is usually a ferry that correlates with your incoming St Thomas flight. There are also now over 25 flights into St Thomas each day which has brought down the cost of flights into St Thomas.
Travel tip if you’re considering this route: Crewed yacht charters typically begin and end at 12pm. If you are planning to fly out of St Thomas the same day your charter ends….we STRONGLY recommend you choose a flight that departs as late in the afternoon as possible to account for ferry travel times.
Curious How The Charter Yacht Booking Process Works? Leave us a note….we’ll provide you with some basic information on what we do for our charter clients and how the process works!
Option 4: Fly to St Thomas (STT)+Private Water Taxi to Tortola
If you have a few extra days, staying at a resort in St Thomas or St John USVI before your yacht charter begins can be a great way to ease your way into your vacation. If you plan this route, or if you’re a large group flying into St Thomas, private water taxis from St Thomas to Tortola have become very popular in recent years. Not all private water taxis are created equal and this can be cost prohibitive. We have taken several private water taxis to Tortola over the years and are happy to discuss this in greater detail on whether it’s right for you. It’s a luxurious option that aligns perfectly with the tone of a high-end BVI crewed yacht charter.
Option 5: Private Charter Flights+Private Water Taxi
For those seeking ultimate convenience and speed, private charter flights are available from the continental U.S. and also from San Juan, St. Thomas, or St. Maarten with service to Tortola or Beef Island. It’s a luxurious option that aligns perfectly with the tone of a high-end BVI crewed yacht charter.
No matter your route, Wlms Yacht Charters can help coordinate airport transfers and local travel arrangements to ensure your arrival in Tortola is smooth and stress-free. Once there, your unforgettable BVI crewed yacht vacation truly begins—turquoise waters, custom itineraries, gourmet cuisine, and endless adventure await.
