Tortola excursions?

[patrsn]

We were on the first DCL cruise to Tortola in 2009. The Baths were amazing and very much worth the effort to get there. We chose not to take a DCL excursion but did it on our own. We didn't have to climb down to the Baths like most tours. Our boat took us right to the beach where we were able to explore. I highly recommend this company. They didn't disappoint. https://www.patouche.com/aboutus.htm

Thanks for this information, I just contacted that boat company about getting us to the Baths from our ship. My family wants to do the Baths but I wasn't looking forward to the climbing back UP part..

 

[Robin2tori]

We were on the first DCL cruise to Tortola in 2009. The Baths were amazing and very much worth the effort to get there. We chose not to take a DCL excursion but did it on our own. We didn't have to climb down to the Baths like most tours. Our boat took us right to the beach where we were able to explore. I highly recommend this company. They didn't disappoint. https://www.patouche.com/aboutus.htm

I have a couple of questions... first, I will be travelling with my 74 year old mother, will she have to climb anything if I were to book through Patouche? Also, Could my 4 year older daughter join? or would it be too much for her? Last question, I'm always concerned about getting back to the ship too late... did you have an issue with getting back to the ship when it was time to leave going through this company?

 

[jiminyC_fan]

There isn't "climbing" per se but they moor out in the water and we had to swim a tiny distance to get to shore. There is no dock so I'm thinking it wouldn't be good for either your mom or daughter. We had zero problems with time. They knew our onboard time and we made it just fine. Gosh, I hate to be the bearer of bad news.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Can anyone recommend an excursion to the north shore beaches on Tortola? Most of the Disney ones seem to only go to those beaches for an hour then head back to the town.

 

[Jreneej1]

We will be in Tortola In November and want to take our 2 boys (11, 7) snorkeling. Would you recommend we do a DCL snorkel excursion or set one up with a local company? Two of the DCL excursions are already full so the only one left is Norman Island.

 

[hanscarlet]

we did this and it was our favorite day of the cruise:
Tortola Excursion Review - Fort Recovery Beachfront Villas Review (Non-Disney Excursion). We are a family of four with two girls ages 4 and 7 and my oldest daughter is on the autism spectrum and is high functioning (HF). Due to some of my daughter's challenges, my husband and I try and find excursions that are relatively private and focused so we can enjoy ourselves without worrying about how my daughter's potential outbursts or discomfort in being out of her element with negatively impact others' experience. We found that the cost of a one night stay at Ft. Recovery Beach was reasonable to pay because we were looking for a quiet beach and a room accessible for the young kids to use to get out of the sun or if my daughter needed a break for sensory overload issues. We have done day passes at other cruise stops and found their summer rate reasonable however I don’t think I would pay the winter rate for a day pass so I hope the resort explores a general day pass rate for future cruisers interested in having a similar experience. We also like the private room because we can shower up at the end of the day which allows us to stay on the beach just a tad longer so we don’t have to rush back to the ship in order to get ready in time for dinner.
I selected this hotel after considerable research for few reasons:
- Great trip advisor reviews
- Nice looking beach from the photos
- Close to Soper’s Hole Marina
- Same side of the island as the port (wasn’t interested in driving through the windy hills to the North side of the island)
- Staff was extremely accommodating – I called and asked for a room closest to the beach because of the kids needed a break and they gave us Villa 1 which was wonderful
While on the way to the hotel, the cab driver indicated to my husband, “Why are you going to Fort Recovery? There is no beach there, go to the North side and see all the development” So my husband got discouraged but I pressed on and we continued on our trip. While pulling into the hotel, it looked like a rustic jungle so I think my husband was still a bit leery. We checked in and the check in desk is also quite rustic, but we received our key and we were escorted to our Villa by the nice staff lady at the front desk. Well we saw the beach and we were totally happy! It was a perfect beach for us with a gorgeous view of St. John! And no crowds! It was quiet and perfect!
After enjoying a few quiet, relaxing hours on the beach in the morning, the staff at the hotel were kind enough to call a cab so we can go to Pusser’s at Soper’s Hole for lunch. What a wonderful establishment and beautiful marina!
If you are looking for a relaxing, but activity filled day in Tortola, consider a day at Ft. Recovery – it was truly a memorable experience and a highlight of our overall Eastern Cruise.
Prices = $250 for one night stay for summer rate +$80 RT cab fare for family of 4 from port (excludes cab fare and cost for Soper’s Hole). Call ahead and make sure they give you a room that is ready by 10am. Happy to answer any questions you may have

 

[Princessmama 2]

We will be in Tortola In November and want to take our 2 boys (11, 7) snorkeling. Would you recommend we do a DCL snorkel excursion or set one up with a local company? Two of the DCL excursions are already full so the only one left is Norman Island.

Take a look at Aristocat Charters in Tortola, a non-DCL excursion. They get good reviews on TripAdvisor and also on this board. You can email the owner and he's prompt with a response and they do have a route that will take you to Norman Island if you wish (unless another route has been scheduled for the day you're there). We're scheduled with them in October and can't wait.

 

[rhinodadz]

As @Princessmama 2 said checking TripAdvisor is a great idea - there are several private snorkelling excursions that are highly rated. We're booked with Kuralu in October (Aristocat was fully booked). Good luck!

 

[cruiselovinbunch]

The DCL site lists an excursion that includes a hike through the Sage Mountain National Park and beach time at Cane Garden Bay. Of course all the photos I've pulled up on the Internet look beautiful. Has anyone done something like this? We're all fairly fit so not too worried about the hiking part -- just want to know others' opinions about the scenery and/or the experience.