Bahamas to Open June 15, 2020 post COVID19

Their here to help..

I have a customer that would shoot over from Port Everglades to Port Lucaya every other weekend. He'd fly in Thursday night after work, leave Friday Morning and be there in 3 1/2 hours, clear customs......come back Sunday afternoon, fly home first flight Monday morning and go straight to work. Had some friends over there at the marina, and that was his deal. He did that for a few years and then hasn't used the boat much in the past 2 years.

I took the test today, we're supposed to leave on Monday (27th?) and coming back on August 9th. It was very uncomfortable to say the least but only for a few seconds. We all went together and took the test at the same time. We shall see.

That's cutting it close. I'm hearing between 3 (ideal) and 10 days to get results. Avg. about 7 days.

Ahh, Err, Ohh

Just a spit test and a IR read?

Test has to be within 10 days of going there AND have to get approval from Bahamas Minister of Tourism also before going. I didn't arrange it, no owner set up the date and time and we all went together.......Boat is getting a lot of work done so if we have to delay a day or two for that we're still covered......IDK.......We're all in the same boat....so to speak........But the owner paid $169 per person for each test, so might be expedited considering we all paid for our testing. IDK.

CAPT RALPH- No they stick a long qtip up each nostril until I swear it hits the back of your eyeball.

In that case, the back of my skull.
I'm a boat owner, like my wallet, not mush left up there any more.

Yeah very unpleasant. Result times vary greatly. We ve had people getting results in 25 hours others in 7 days...

time to receive the travel visa has been increasing. Late June it was near instantaneous, now it s 30 hours between the time you fill out the form and you receive a green flag email.

One day, some way some how, when the Bahama Government has finished raping the recreational boater.
It's to big of an issue for the charter fleets, but one month, all should just not go and let those lil weasels squirm a bit.

In a country where tourism is near their only resource, They need to visit some time on their knees, one way AND the other.

After all the relief efforts after the storm in the northern banks, We are the threat and treated as aliens, the source of their cash.

We had a great time in the Tortugas and keys a few years ago, aiming there again now.

Their house their rules ...

Sorry but the tortugas are as far from Mia-FTL as the Exumas and you have just a couple anchorages with no communications. Compare this with 130nm long string of islands with 200+ anchorages.

AND Nobody else is there in our face. We don't touch a dock usually in the Bahamas, so this may not be an issue. The issue, No Hoops to jump thru to have a clear water vacation. No transit fees to pay. Our safety issue would just be returning thru the FL keys. Even the last time, we anchored off. Bunkered in Liquordale till home.
You may want to consider this on your charters. It is just as clear water and plenty of places to hide.

On average we spend one night at the dock maybe once a week, usually in Staniel. We always anchor out. Been here a since July 1 and I haven’t much contact with anyone. Once at chub checking in to clear and that’s about it.

My point was partial; clear water in the Tortugas, no Customs or Immigration headaches & expenses. No C-19 test. You could turn west and your customers would not know much difference.

They will... tortugas is 1/100 of the Exumas. Not even close

I would take Key West over Nassau or Freeport if given the choice. For those reasons, more activities, better restaurants....... cheaper....... BUT, I wouldn't take the Tortuga's over the Exumas or Abacos.

That's if you stop at docks and restaurants, then you will have issues. If you out cruise, never land, the outer banks west of the fort are pristine. I think it is close with no issues.
We will miss the liquor store in Marsh Harbor (under the big land antenna) and the cheap island rum. Other than that, frack them. Clear water is all we wanted to begin with.

Some of us aren't THAT anti-social. I'm sure even you've got to stop for rum once in a while......unless you found an old stash in the fort....and that's why it's SO appealing......LOLOLOLOL

We did the same years ago and plan to do the same again when this Virus thing settles down. We like Fl Key's.

Well, wherever everyone is or is going, heads up on the storm brewing...allegedly to be named later today.

I have absolutely no doubt, that you play by the rules, Ken, but I wonder if someone could use the anonymous mail-in to do an end around and send a "clean" sample. Is there a precaution for that?