We made it! Flew DFW → MIA → EIS today—our go-to route for getting to the BVI. ✈️ There are plenty of ways to get here, but for us, this is the smoothest. Not a fan of the whole land at one airport → taxi to a ferry → wait an hour → taxi again situation. No option is perfect, so you just have to pick the one where the worst part is the most acceptable—because the best parts always take care of themselves. 🙌
Flights were both early, so all good there. ✅ The only hiccup? Landing at Gate D2 in Miami while our Tortola flight left from Gate D60. That was a hike. 🏃♂️ At least we got our steps in (and then some).
BVI Customs & Immigration—Super Smooth! 🏝️✅
BVI new Customs & Immigration Portal lets you fill out your entry form up to 72 hours ahead, so we knocked that out last night. 🖥️ We were in the middle of the plane when we landed, but after taking some arrival selfies 📸 (as one does), we ended up near the back of the line at immigration. Didn’t matter—this was the fastest we’ve EVER gotten out of the airport! Even quicker than those times we landed on Cape Air with just a handful of other passengers.
The portal gives you a PDF with a QR code, which I kept trying to show off like some kind of VIP pass 🎟️, but turns out they didn’t even need it. Just handed over my passport, and they instantly pulled up my form, matched my uploaded passport photo with the one in my hand, and waved me through. So fast! 🚀
Minnesota Representing! ❄️☃️
There were at least about a dozen people from Minnesota on our flight and we chatted with maybe half of them. 🇺🇸❄️ We actually lived there for about 18 months, but 57 inches of snow in a single day on Halloween ‘91 chased us right out. 😂 The place was COLD, but then and now, Minnesotans are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Must be their proximity and shared border with Canada. 🍁
Once outside, Wheatley Transportation was waiting for us. Oh, and as always, Wheatley was rock solid. But I had to text Rico anyway—just to let him know we’d landed. 📲
Overpacking? Absolutely. 🎒🛶
Yeah, we overpack—on purpose. But at least we’ve made it easier on ourselves. Now we store our snorkeling gear and Starlink Gen 3 at Store It BVI. 🏊♂️🛰️ Told Mickey we needed our stuff, and—boom—when we arrived at The Moorings, it was waiting right outside customer service. When we’re done, they pick it up. Couldn’t be easier.
Home Sweet Boat ⛵🏡
When we got to The Moorings, our Leopard 42 sailing catamaran, Dauntless, was all set and waiting. 😍 There’s nothing like stepping aboard and not having to do a thing to get it ready. The Moorings did an awesome job prepping it for us. 👏
That said… someone must have “broken in” and left an unopened bottle of rum in the galley. 🤔🍹 Oh well, finders keepers! Whoever left it, cheers and thanks! 🥂
First Night Traditions 🍽️🍷
After unpacking and setting up Starlink, we walked over to Charlie’s for dinner. Both Liz and I went for the rack of lamb, and it did not disappoint. 🤤
Tomorrow’s Plan? 🏝️⚓
Our lifelong friends Tia and Antonio join us in the morning, and then we’re off to Peter Island to check it out now that it’s reopened. 🏨🌊 Ed L sent me a short clip from their Super Bowl watch party—it looked incredible! Definitely a more luxurious way to experience the game instead of a rowdy beach bar scene. I can go either way, but I wish we had arrived a day earlier! 🏈🍻