Horizon Yacht Charters is offering to refund the full cost of up to two first issue passports for US Citizens who are planning a sailing vacation in the Caribbean with them next year but may be affected by the new travel initiatives introduced by United States Departments of State and Homeland Security.

Tortola, British Virgin Islands (PRWEB) July 13, 2005 -- Horizon Yacht Charters, one of the Caribbean's fastest growing yacht charter companies with bases in the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and the Grenadines, is offering to refund the full cost of up to two first issue passports for US Citizens who are planning a sailing vacation in the Caribbean with them next year but may be affected by the new travel initiatives introduced by United States Departments of State and Homeland Security.

US citizens can currently travel with birth certificates to and from the Caribbean region but from December 31, 2005, US travellers will be required to have a passport to re-enter the United States.

"The cost of applying for a passport has been identified as one of the reasons that may prevent people from travelling overseas, so we decided to take that issue out of the equation," said Andrew Thompson, Director of Horizon Yacht Charters. "We will pay for the passport and related filing costs, which amounts to $97 for an adult."

Many Caribbean countries are lobbying for an extension of the deadline and while Horizon Yacht Charters fully supports these efforts, this passport offer is a pragmatic approach to what may be inevitable.

"A large percentage of our guests are citizens of the United States of America" stated Andrew Thompson, Director of Horizon Yacht Charters, "Our aim is to minimise the impact of this travel initiative on those who do not have passports but who have already made plans for a sailing vacation in 2006 with Horizon Yacht Charters in the British Virgin Islands, Antigua & Barbuda and the Grenadines. We also want to encourage future guests, who currently do not possess a passport, to come and enjoy sailing in the Caribbean with us."

Horizon Yacht Charters advises guests to check the details on the US State Department's website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html. The recommendation is to allow a processing period of 6-8 weeks for new passports but this time frame may increase as the deadline gets closer. In order to qualify for this passport refund offer, guests must book their bareboat or crewed sailing charter of seven nights or more direct with a Horizon Yacht Charters base in either the British Virgin Islands, Antigua & Barbuda or the Grenadines before December 31, 2005 and present their new passport and official receipts upon checking in at the base.

Horizon Yacht Charters has a charter fleet of 38 yachts in the BVI, 12 yachts in the Grenadines and 10 yachts in Antigua & Barbuda. Horizon is the Caribbean dealer for Bavaria Yachts and Fountaine Pajot catamarans.

For further information on Horizon Yacht Charters, its bases and fleets visit: www.horizonyachtcharters.com or e-mail: e-mail protected from spam bots.

For further information please contact:
Sofia Fay
Horizon Yacht Charters
Tel: (284) 494 8787    
Toll Free: 877 494 8787
E-mail: e-mail protected from spam bots