Current conditions in Bahamas

[Joeboat46]

Leaving for Bahamas next month for several month cruise. Been there a lot and
know the area well, especially Cat and Long Islands where we plan to spend most
of our time.
I am aware of the COVID requirements for entry. I am asking anyone there now
what are the current general conditions regarding availability of fuel, groceries,
restaurants, crime, or anything else you can think of. Are there many cruisers there now ? Have you encountered anything novel to these current times ?
Can you think of anything the locals are in need of that we could bring ?
Thanks for any responses.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Joeboat.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Joeboat46

Leaving for Bahamas next month for several month cruise. Been there a lot and
know the area well, especially Cat and Long Islands where we plan to spend most
of our time.
I am aware of the COVID requirements for entry. I am asking anyone there now
what are the current general conditions regarding availability of fuel, groceries,
restaurants, crime, or anything else you can think of. Are there many cruisers there now ? Have you encountered anything novel to these current times ?
Can you think of anything the locals are in need of that we could bring ?
Thanks for any responses.

Everything seems normal here except there are fewer tourists with exception of there being MORE mega yachts running around because they cant go to caribbean. Just follow the corvid reqts and come over.

[chris mac]

We have been here since end of november. Availability of grocery and fuel has been fine. I have heard on vhf some marinas being full, but we always anchor so I didn't pay a lot of attention to who and when.
Crime is minimal in the family islands, same as always.
Restaurants are not too busy and could use the business.
We just ate at wild orchids in rock sound a couple nights ago. Fantastic food and service!! But we were the only table
Sb1 is correct about the mega yachts. Places like staniel cay and highbourne have a ton of them. The outer islands, not so much.
There are less cruisers here this year, georgetown is a good example of that. The ones that are here seem to be exploring outer areas. Ragged island was pretty crowded, 20-30 boats when we were there.
Conception had 8 or so. Even little san Salvador had 6 the night we were there.
For bringing supplies, for the most part it's the same as always. Except abacos. Building supplies and tools would be welcomed there, as well.

[jim King]

We spent ten days in the Exumas last month and it was a pleasant experience even including the minimal Covid restrictions. (negative test before entry and five days after). You can get a free test at Staniel Cay and a few others. Yes there were a lot of mega-yachts in some places but most of the smaller less populated islands were ours alone.
have a nice sail. I'd go back in a heart beat.

[garychurch]

Have been in the Berrys, Exumas and Eleuthera since January 12

There are about half as many sailing and motor vessels as usual. However the Exumas Staniel Cay and North are overrun with Super and Megs Yachts.

Marinas seem to be more crowded than usual with some like Highbourne, Staniel and Cape Eleithera full at many times.

Check on constantly changing Covid protocols due to new more contagious variants. Recent government actions just about put New Providence snd Abacos off limits.

Provisioning is normal and crime non-existent away from Grand Bahamas, New Providence and Abacos.

Screen shot below are of super yachts at Shroud Cay!
Good luck.

[garychurch]

Have been in the Berrys, Exumas and Eleuthera since January 12

There are about half as many sailing and motor vessels as usual. However the Exumas Staniel Cay and North are overrun with Super and Megs Yachts.

Marinas seem to be more crowded than usual with some like Highbourne, Staniel and Cape Eleithera full at many times.

Check on constantly changing Covid protocols due to new more contagious variants. Recent government actions just about put New Providence snd Abacos off limits.

Provisioning is normal and crime non-existent away from Grand Bahamas, New Providence and Abacos.

Screen shot of super yachts at Shroud Cay Exumas.

Good luck.

[Woodland Hills]

Originally Posted by garychurch

Have been in the Berrys, Exumas and Eleuthera since January 12

There are about half as many sailing and motor vessels as usual. However the Exumas Staniel Cay and North are overrun with Super and Megs Yachts.

Marinas seem to be more crowded than usual with some like Highbourne, Staniel and Cape Eleithera full at many times.

Check on constantly changing Covid protocols due to new more contagious variants. Recent government actions just about put New Providence snd Abacos off limits.

Provisioning is normal and crime non-existent away from Grand Bahamas, New Providence and Abacos.

Screen shot of super yachts at Shroud Cay Exumas.

Good luck.

Can you elaborate on why NP or Abacos are essentially off limits?

[garychurch]

I say again.... check the Bahamian Government websites for the latest Covid restrictions.

[Woodland Hills]

So you were just trolling us with that comment? Or are you in the habit of making bold statements and then running away from them? And here I thought you had some particular insight or experience you could share........

[Nickodemus]

We are in the Bahamas now (Rock Sound, Eleuthera). Masks and social distancing are required, but otherwise, things are the same as usual. Crime continues to be virtually non-existent on the out islands, fortunately. I’m not sure that there has been any increase, except perhaps in the Abacos, which is more a result of Dorian than because of Covid. If you are thinking of bringing anything, I would maybe suggest masks, since they are expensive here. School supplies are always welcome, as is candy for the kids.

After the last post repeating to “check the government website”, I logged on to see if anything new was up (or proposed), but didn’t find anything startling. There is a curfew on some islands (it’s usually 10 pm to 5 pm), which doesn’t impact the average cruiser. Here is the official website if you’d like to see it: https://opm.gov.bs/covid19/

The five day testing here is easy if you are in the more populated parts of the Bahamas. Staniel Cay, George Town, Hope Town, Marsh Harbor, Green Turtle Cay, Spanish Cay, all have easy testing available and the price is included in your Health Visa. BTW, be sure to PRINT your Health Visa to present at Customs/Immigration.

Hope that helps. This is our fifth season here, and other than it being quieter, Covid hasn’t really impacted our activities at all. Safe travels.

Melanie

[vlathom]

I hear that Marsh Harbour still has a security problem.

[Nickodemus]

SORRY! Meant to say that the average curfew is from 10 pm to 5 AM. Not all islands have curfews though - mostly just the bigger ones.

Melanie

[garychurch]

Originally Posted by Woodland Hills

So you were just trolling us with that comment? Or are you in the habit of making bold statements and then running away from them? And here I thought you had some particular insight or experience you could share........

What don’t you understand? The Bahamian Government makes the rules for opening and closing the islands. They can make these changes without any notification for whatever reason they wish. Why do you think I have any inside knowledge of authority to tell you what the Government had done, is doing, or will do?

The advice to people who are smart enough is not to rely upon third party guesses but to consult official sourced of information. Surely you recognize this is the intelligent thing to do instead of trolling others.

[donahue62]

Originally Posted by garychurch

What don’t you understand? The Bahamian Government makes the rules for opening and closing the islands. They can make these changes without any notification for whatever reason they wish. Why do you think I have any inside knowledge of authority to tell you what the Government had done, is doing, or will do?

The advice to people who are smart enough is not to rely upon third party guesses but to consult official sourced of information. Surely you recognize this is the intelligent thing to do instead of trolling others.

Thought your original post was on point and good advice.