I've been contacted about moving a boat from the islands back to the US and up the east coast. Their site says a 5-day negative test is required, but there is an exclusion for airline crews who stay overnight. Just wondering if that would apply to a delivery Captain. Messaged them but no reply at this point. Anybody know the scoop on this?
No exception for you as your contact will be far greater. You'll go from airport to marina to boat. The requirements for the negative tests are really simple to meet. You test right before your trip there. Then, if you 're there five days, you test again locally. The Bahamas have a very good program at this point. Just comply and enjoy. We just returned from three weeks a week ago. Going back in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for the reply, but I'm not sure how my contact could be far greater as I'll be very much in the same class as crew from a commercial plane. Hence my question. Are you a delivery Captain? It's not a matter of simplicity but a matter of one other thing to have to contend with before making the trip over on short notice.
No exception. If you re flying in as a passenger you need the test and your health visa. Airlines won’t let you board without them. No big deal. Plenty of locations with 24 hours turn around you will also need a return ticket to check in. You may be able to get thru if you have a copy of the boat cruising permit and your license but some airline employees are pretty dense and it s not worth wasting your time and breath. Buy a ticket on Expedia in the morning and refund it after you land. Expedia has a 24 hours no question asked refund policy. That s what I do for all my crews when they fly to meet the boat. where is the boat? Customs can be more of a pita in some places. Nassau is easy by Gtown can be a pain of you don’t have a hotel booking. You ll need a copy of the cruising permit there too
No, you're not in the same class. Yacht crew has to comply. You're not an airline employee and you're trip doesn't involve just leaving a plane and returning to the plane without other contact. You're in contact with transportation, with marina, with others. Read Pascal's post.
You need the test, and print out 2 copies as they're going to want to keep 1, need to apply for the health visa, then need to retest if you're there (in the Bahamas) for 5 days, most marinas in the Bahamas can administer the test.
Thanks for the input, guys, I appreciate it. I'll be venturing out tomorrow to find a place who can do this particular swab test and get the results back to me quickly. Hopefully my PCP can do that, but if not, it sounds like I have other choices who can.
Can't say where you are as here we have all sorts of places set up to handle it. I'd google your area. It's created a whole satellite business with doctors who have decided to add the service.
If you're in Fort Lauderdale, I've used Lab Dr. on S.E. 17th street and they were very fast with the turnaround times.
Here in SoFl the chain of walk in clinics MDnow offers 24 hours turn around. There is also a a site by MIA, good heart testing, which some of my crew have used with same day or 24 hours results. only thing about MDnow is that while the test is free they force a consultation on you... lasted 30” with the doc just suggesting I take vitamin D since it was winter ... $100 for the advice.
No she didn’t ... I said “look at my face... usually I m being told that I shouldn’t be in sun so much!”
Got my nostril speared yesterday and the negative test results today, all for nothing. Owner decided to take advantage of a nice weather window and is crossing to Florida on his own. I'll be picking up the boat in WPB on Wednesday... I hope.