Destinations

Bahamas Reopen on July 1. Here’s What You Have To Do

By Peter Janssen on June 23, 2020 Destinations

The Bahamas will reopen to international travelers on July 1. All visitors must present a negative COVID-19 test, taken in the past 10 days, and complete an electronic health visa. Here’s the official word about what you have to do from the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation: NASSAU, Bahamas, June 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation is preparing for Phase 2 of the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan, which will begin on Wednesday, July 1 and allow for the resumption of international travel to The Bahamas, with the exception of visitors from China, Iran, Italy…

How To See Amsterdam by Boat This Summer

By Peter Janssen on June 17, 2020 Charter, Destinations

This isn’t exactly blue-water cruising, but it sure looks like fun, for a whole lot of reasons. First, Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in the world, which isn’t surprising given my Dutch-derived last name and the fact that a great-great-grandfather was a Dutch sea captain (or so the story goes). But Amsterdam is so full of history, art, and fascinating architecture that wandering along its ever-present canals is a pleasure, no matter what your family heritage. Here’s a great story from Dutch News about how to see the city by water, even for a short visit: There is,…

Bahamas Reopen to Boating on June 15

By Peter Janssen on June 3, 2020 Destinations, On Watch with Peter Janssen

Tourism officials in the Bahamas just announced a two-phase plan to reopen the islands to international travel. In Phase 1, recreational boats can return starting June 15; in Phase 2, the islands will be open to international air and ship travel starting July 1. Dionisio D’Aguilar, the Bahamas Tourism Minister, said that Phase 1 “is expected to see the opening of the tourism sector with the return of boaters, yachters, and private aviation being allowed to enter the destination. We are starting with these smaller special interest groups as they provide a more controlled segment. They all will pre-register electronically,…

Florida Keys Open to Visitors on June 1

By Peter Janssen on May 20, 2020 Cruising Life, Destinations

The Florida Keys will open to visitors on June 1, after being closed for almost two months to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The checkpoints on the access roads in the upper Keys will be lifted; the roads had been blocked off since late March to anyone who did not live or work there. The Keys are a major cruising destination, for people cruising on the Great Loop and for people who simply want to enjoy some of the best boating, fishing, diving, and most exotic locales, in the continental United States. Marinas that had been closed are now scheduled…

Details for New Protocols for Yachts, Charters, in the Bahamas

By Peter Janssen on May 12, 2020 Destinations

Here’s a good look at what the new protocols mean for boats and charters in the Bahamas, now and for this summer, from Denison Yacht Sales. Take a look: A breakdown of the Bahamas State Of Emergency and new protocol for yachts, boats, and charters in light of the coronavirus If your boat is currently in Bahamian Waters, or you had plans to shelter in the Bahamas with your vessel, you will need to take action in light of the new protocols set in place for COVID-19. The Commonwealth of The Bahamas issued a statement on April 14, 2020 stating…

Miami-Dade Opens Marinas: Lines Form

By Peter Janssen on May 6, 2020 Destinations

People couldn’t wait to get back on their boats when Miami-Dade opened up parks and marinas there last week, after being closed for six weeks because of COVID-19. The pent-up demand was so great that people camped out next to their vehicles on Friday night, waiting for the 6 a.m. Saturday opening at Blackpoint Marina in South Dade. Police had to direct traffic there (see the picture at top) as hundreds of cars and trucks trailering boats lined up, waiting to get in. The marina has four launch ramps, and police let in ten cars at a time. But by…

Trouble in Paradise: Cruisers Overwhelm USVI

By Peter Janssen on April 26, 2020 Cruising Life, Destinations

So many cruising boats have headed to the U.S. Virgin Islands recently because of the COVID-19 pandemic that they have caused worries about overloading the finite resources on the islands there. At this time of year, there usually about 270 boats moored or anchored in the USVI – St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island. Now there are about 600. The problem is that many ports have closed across the Caribbean to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The USVI, subject to U.S. laws, at first welcomed cruisers. On March 27, Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr., said the islands…

Bahamas Announces New Protocols for Boating There

By Peter Janssen on April 18, 2020 Cruising Life, Destinations

Bahamas Government Protocols for Boating in The Bahamas April 2020 April 14, 2020 Updated 4/17/20 The Government of The Bahamas has released official COVID-19 related protocols for foreign and local boats that are currently in the waters of The Bahamas. The Bahamas Safe Passage Home and Sea Quarantine has been established by the Association of Bahamas Marinas as an orderly way to help boats either remain moored or leave Bahamian waters safely while minimizing the risk of spreading the virus throughout the islands. The program will be in effect until normal border travel is restored. Please note that our program…

New Marina Opens in the Breathtaking Maldives

By Peter Janssen on March 30, 2020 Destinations

While most of us are trapped at home during the current crisis, it’s helpful to remember that there are some incredibly beautiful places in the world, waiting for us when all this is over. Consider, for example, the newly opened Yacht Marina at Crossroads in the Maldives. The Maldives are a chain of 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, about 620 miles from India and southwest of Sri Lanka. They’re rich with marine life, including 187 species of coral, 1,100 species of fish, 21 species of whales and dolphins, and five species of sea turtles. And gorgeous waters and beaches.…

Eastport, Maine: All the Way Down East

By Peter Janssen on March 23, 2020 Destinations

If you’re cruising Down East this summer, you might want to think about heading all the way Down East, to Eastport, Maine. It’s as far as you can go in the United States, just across the bay from New Brunswick, Canada, and near the top of the Bay of Fundy, with its powerful currents and 23-feet tidal range. But if you want to experience real cruising, away from the crowds, where you can travel for hours without seeing another vessel, it’s the place to go. You won’t see many people either; Eastport’s population is only about 1,300, but you probably…

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