Getting into The BVIs
Entrance Regulations and Steps - Un-Vaccinated or Partially Vaccinated
International travel is again available almost worry free!!!!
For those that are "UnVaccinated" or "Partially Vaccinated" the steps are now the same for everyone.
All travelers must present a negative PCR or rapid antigen test result taken up to 48 hours before entry.
To help ease concerns about travel with the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, we want you to know we are committed to working with you and delivering a safe and fun experience.
We have been working earnestly with experts, studying epidemiology data and recommendations with risk mitigation professionals to develop a safe plan for adventure travel. Our goal is to provide students an incredible experience this summer, and we want you to feel confident when enrolling.
Comprehensive Travel Insurance is required by the island nations we visit in order to enter their countries and will also further protect your investment
Sincerely,
Captain Jon Buchheim and the Odyssey Expeditions Team
Updates:
How to Navigate Your Pre-Trip Responsibilities & Gain Permission to Travel to the British Virgin Islands
All parents and students should prepare at least 2 weeks prior to the program’s start date in the BVI. The purpose is to provide an overview of all of the resources that we have created to help you successfully navigate all of the Pre-trip COVID-related forms and logistics.
Pre Trip Timeline of Action Items You Must Complete
In the two weeks leading up to your program start date, you'll need to start preparing. COVID-19 protocols have added lots of specific tasks and logistics for which
ONLY YOU can be responsible. We've created the materials below to help you navigate these processes, but you will still need to remember the Seven Ps "Proper Prior Planning Prevents P**s Poor Performance." Failure to plan could easily jeopardize your experience this summer.
Out of Date since June 15. This is the official BVI Entry Protocols :
bvi.gov.vg/travel-protocols
Minimizing the risk before, during, and after international travel
We are also very committed to minimizing the risk of our travels bringing Covid-19 infection to the islands or onto the vessels as well as minimizing the risk of catching the virus during the travels. I would like to speak now about measures you will need to take in order to make traveling during a pandemic safe for all.
We will need your commitment to take these measures so that we do not have the risk of having an active Covid-19 infection aboard the vessels, or to be bringing Covid-19 into a nation that is relatively free of the disease!
We need our participants to arrive disease free for the safety of the other participants aboard the vessel as well as the island nations we visit. It is our responsibility not to spread this disease around, and taking these steps of traveling to another nation during a pandemic requires us to be extremely responsible.
Our extent of interaction with the local communities will be limited, we live and explore remote areas aboard mobile sailing platforms, so this will actually be easy just by avoiding indoor spaces and interactions ashore, so our biggest challenge is ensuring that participants are free of Covid-19 before traveling to the voyage and do not pick it up during their travels to and from the voyage.
This Odyssey Expeditions Covid-19 Travel Protocol is evolving and will potentially have changes as governments and agencies review and change their policies.
We created some
"Self-Help" resources, as we are not physically capable of assisting each family step-by-step. Please download, print, and read each resource before you need it. Follow your Timeline carefully, and create a personal checklist to ensure that you don't miss a critical step. Our focus has now shifted to operations with the majority of our staff moving to the BVI. Consequently, our US office is short-staffed and may not be able to help you if you have not fully read, understood, and followed the instructions.
Tips for success:
- Start by downloading your Timeline from the table below. It refers to specific events you need to complete on particular dates. Do not stray from your Timeline.
- Plan to take a local proctored test or order your online COVID19 test kits from Quest Diagnostics. These kits come with two tests, one each to be used for your Pre- (48 hr) and one for spare. Rapid Antigen kit $70
This test kit will require you to download the free NAVICA™ digital health app to your phone and establish a health account. Navica App
We want to use this brand of test kits because they are affordable compared to in-person testing and the students will be familiar with the process for the return testing during the voyage. The QD kits do not have limited proctoring hours and will afford ease of use and minimal voyage disruption.
- During your 7-Day Pre-Trip Precautionary Health Period, the decisions you make should be in keeping with your vaccination status. The current infection rate in May is up to 6 times higher this year 2022 than 2021. Take this precautionary period seriously. If you test positive for COVID-19 at any point, you will not be able to join or complete our program. You may also jeopardize the experience for others, which is not fair.
- When completing the BVI Gateway Application, is no longer needed or available to enter data.
Self Help Resources:
Start Here:
Vaccination Card:
You won't have one of these.
COVID-19 Testing
Currently the BVIs have a pre-Entry testing protocol.
- Travelers must present a negative PCR or rapid antigen test result taken up to 48 hours before entry.
Governments can change or modify testing requirements without notice, and your tuition does not include these fees.
"Proof of Health Insurance":
The BVIs are requiring all travelers to carry a Trip Insurance that covers the cost of COVID-19 treatment and quarantine. The
Student Deluxe by TravMark fulfills ths requirement. A copy of the benefits page will be needed to be uploaded to the BVI Gateway App. If you did not purchase from Student Deluxe. You
still need to purchase a Travel Medical insurance. Here is a link for some inexpensive insurance choices that will fulfill the BVI requirement. To keep the costs a minimum, you can choose not insure the cost of the trip and only select medical coverage outside the USA. Your personal healthcare would cover any costs for treatment in the USA if needed. (sub $20) These policies will produce the "Visa Letter" needed upon purchase. Please enroll for a Travel Medical policy on this website -
https://www.insubuy.com/covid19-travel-medical-insurance/
Pre-trip Protocols
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7-day pre-trip precautionary period
We require all students take part in a 7-day pre-trip precautionary period before joining a voyage. During this 7-day precautionary period each student must follow all health guidelines and requirements set by their local, state, federal, health authority or governmental organization. All students will need to err on the side of caution during this period by greatly limiting the possibility of exposure. Remember that current infection levels are up to six times higher than they were last year. Your ability to join the voyage is determined by the decisions you make during the precautionary period and you must document and self-certify that you are doing so! Every non-essential social gathering should be left out, including getting together with friends and non-household family, eating in restaurants, or even going to the dentist.
Even for those that are vaccinated, thank you, you are asked to still be as safe as possible before the voyage.
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Negative COVID-19 test
This test is required to be a RT-PCR or Antigen test taken within 48 hourw of traveling. The results need to be presentable on an official document (electronic or otherwise) that clearly shows the following:
- Laboratory name and contact details
- Student’s name
- Test taken, stating correct type: RT-PCR or Antigen
- Date and time that the sample was taken
- Negative result for COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2
- BVI Gateway
The Gateway is no longer needed
Travel Day Protocols
Home COVID-19 Rapid Test
We highly recommend that you administer one a rapid antigen tests at home on the morning of your departure to test. This will help assure that you will not test positive for the rapid antigen test administered at the arrival port in the evening (this will avoid surprise quarantines). This test does not need to be proctored if you do not want to as it is just an double pre voyage check.
If you test positive on this test you will test positive on the test at the BVI Ferry Port Entry.
DO NOT TRAVEL TO THE BVIs IF YOU TEST POSITIVE!
THEY WILL QUARANTINE YOU FOR 5 DAYS, THEN RETEST YOU UNTIL YOU TEST NEGATIVE.
CALL OUR OFFICE IF YOU ARE POSITIVE. DO NOT TRAVEL!
If you test
Negative on this test you can proceed on your day of travel to the BVIs.
Reducing the Risk During Travel
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We need all students to take maximum personal health precautions while traveling to the voyage. This includes wearing a properly fitting N95 or KN95 face mask, not touching your face or eyes, proper hand sanitizing and washing (applying hand sanitizer frequently after touching common surfaces throughout the airport, aircraft, or ground transportation). Remember nose inside of mask. The airlines are not requiring masks, but there are plenty of travelers wearing them. You will not be out of place doing so. It is important not to bring COVID-19 to our close living conditions aboard the vessels.
In order to be a safe flyer the following PPE Supplies should be carried to an from the voyage:
- Three quality (3) washable cloth face masks
- Two 3.4oz "travel size" bottles of hand sanitizer
- Two "travel size" packs of antibacterial wipes to clean common surfaces while traveling.
- Click on the link below and watch a short 2:33m video created by CNN's medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Dr. Gupta's tips for staying safe before - and during - your flight
- Click on the link below and watch a short 1:55m video created by CNN's medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Dr. Gupta demonstrates how to stay safe on a road trip.
Upon arrival to the BVIs
Local health authorities will verify the information you have submitted and ask for your travel authorization letter. You will be given an arrival health check which will include temperature and a COVID-19 rapid Antigen Sars CoV-2 test.
If tested negative you shall be allowed to move freely within the Territory subject to adherence to the COVID-19 enactments and protocols, including physical distancing protocols, wearing of masks and sanitization measures.
Upon arrival to the vessel, Odyssey staff will conduct a general health and temperature check. If symptoms develop, we will immediately contact the medical hotline at 852-7650 or the Public Health Unit at 468-2274.
US Re-Entry Procedures:
The USA has suspended the re-entry Negative COVID-19 Testing.
If you are 18 year old and are UnVaccinated or Partially Vaccinated you currently may not use the Ferry back to USVI. You must fly out of Beef Island to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Students should remain vigilant during their travels home. Following the CDC guidelines for air-travel. Wear a mask, disinfect seat touch areas, wash hands, the things we have been doing for a year+.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN???...
We have been carefully considering the ‘what if this occurs’ aspects of the voyages. As the voyages are conducted on mobile sailing vessels, a range of potentialities exist:
Should a student start showing sign or symptoms of a Covid-19 infection, what is the plan???
The answer to this is variable depending on what our geographical location is, how ill the individual is, what stage of the voyage are we in, is immediate medical care required? Irregardless, our strategy includes:
- Initial isolation and quarantine of the individual to the greatest extent possible. As this is difficult aboard a vessel, we would prioritize relocating the individual to shore-side accommodations. Depending on the severity of the symptoms it may be necessary for a parent/guardian to travel to the shore-side location to assist the student during recovery. It is a requirement for the student to have travel insurance to cover the cost of any additional lodging or food during an isolation period. Odyssey will work closely with BVI officials and medical professionals to ensure appropriate documentation of the positive test result and subsequent isolation requirement to aid in insurance claims. Parents will be welcomed to join their child in a hotel, and consideration for travel back home will be determined by BVI and international travel rules.
- The student would need to be tested to establish a firm diagnosis, at which time they would be required to vacate the vessel until they can be shown by a test to be infection-free. A known positive diagnosis aboard will require the rest of the vessel’s shipmates and crew to be tested and re-enter a “QUARAN-TEEN”™ period.
- We would follow up with careful monitoring of the health of all of the crew and shipmates aboard and may need to conduct a deep cleaning of the vessel and accommodations.
- It is possible the government may require additional quarantine period and testing should any crew member test positive at any time. The cost for any non-vessel accommodations and all testing falls upon the student and parents.
It must be firmly understood by all participants and parents that the policies of Odyssey Expeditions are not the final say, the government officials may make changes or decide upon additional isolation, quarantines, tests, or protocols and parents and students need to be financially prepared and insured for the potential to any additional changes or expenses. The government could at anytime mandate a stay at a government facility, with the expense as the responsibility of the student and parent.
