Excursion help St. Thomas and Tortola

[mousefan73]

We did the Baths at Tortola on our own a few weeks ago. It was super easy and cost a total of about $150 for 4 people.

I would shoot for the 1st ferry of the day and return on the 12:15 ferry. That gives you plenty of time to explore and if there is an issue with the 12:15 return ferry, there are at least 2 more just in case.

I would love to do that, but my mom has balance and walking issue. she can walk but cannot do uneven surfaces etc...and I am not sure if there is ample seating. would you take an elderly to baths??thx

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I would not take elderly people. My parents were on the cruise with us and I would not have encouraged them to go even though they are in fairly good shape.

There are definitely a couple of areas they would have had a lot of trouble with and I didn't see an alternate route. Climbing over/around rocks, up as ladder, across a little bridge. They could turn around and go back but the path back was also questionable.

That being said, it was a really great experience!

 

[mousefan73]

I would not take elderly people. My parents were on the cruise with us and I would not have encouraged them to go even though they are in fairly good shape.

There are definitely a couple of areas they would have had a lot of trouble with and I didn't see an alternate route. Climbing over/around rocks, up as ladder, across a little bridge. They could turn around and go back but the path back was also questionable.

That being said, it was a really great experience!

thanks you confirmed my decision. we cant do Jost island ( not sure if thats the name) as it's noted one must be able to get off a boat directly into water.. mom cant do that either

 

[Gentry2004]

did you do the norman island snorkel? that is what I am considering. love to hear more about it!

I’m not sure. I just read the description of it and it doesn’t sound exactly the same. We took a boat to a snorkel location for probably 30-45 minutes and then docked at the beach at Pirates Bight for probably an hour or so. It was gorgeous and had an awesome bar/restaurant. The beaches in both Tortola and St. Thomas are so stunning. I would not want to miss them at either place.

 

[Gentry2004]

did you do the norman island snorkel? that is what I am considering. love to hear more about it!

Just looked it up - it was the Treasure Island Swim and Snorkel (TT44.) at least when we went, we got off the boat onto a small dock at Pirate’s Bight. But I would confirm for your mom.

 

[Lisa F]

Just looked it up - it was the Treasure Island Swim and Snorkel (TT44.) at least when we went, we got off the boat onto a small dock at Pirate’s Bight. But I would confirm for your mom.

oh my gosh that one wasn't even on my radar. The boat for the norman island snorkel (TT20) looked kind of dumpy. The Rebel Yell looks great and gets great reviews online! Thank you so much, I think that is the one I will book!

 

[hcox31]

were you on the excursion that was only 3.5 hrsßß we are booked from 8:45-12:15.. T11. How much time was on the beach? did it seem rushed... this would be a perfect excursion if it got us back at 3pm or so.... then I wouldnt be reconsidering.. I am consdiering taxing it just to the beach

yes, I believe it was T11. we had a bit over an hour on the beach. more than enough time in the hot sun. didn't seem rushed to us at all.

 

[Gentry2004]

oh my gosh that one wasn't even on my radar. The boat for the norman island snorkel (TT20) looked kind of dumpy. The Rebel Yell looks great and gets great reviews online! Thank you so much, I think that is the one I will book!

If you go to the side in front of the Pirates Bight restaurant (the right end of standing on the dock looking at the beach), you can use their beach chairs for free as long as you plan to order something.

 

[awilliams4]

Just looked it up - it was the Treasure Island Swim and Snorkel (TT44.) at least when we went, we got off the boat onto a small dock at Pirate’s Bight. But I would confirm for your mom.

We did this excursion. Definitely recommend it.

 

[Lisa F]

But I would confirm for your mom.

oh btw i am not the OP, just taking eastern SWDAS cruise in february! Reading along because I'm interested. I have not really known what I wanted to do in Tortola, but kind of wanted to snorkel. People overwhelmingly seem to prefer the private excursions but they are all day and that is too long of a day for my son, half a day is perfect. I have been looking at the Disney excursions but the "norman island" snorkel looked meh and I never even looked at this one until you pointed it out, so thank you!!!

If you go to the side in front of the Pirates Bight restaurant (the right end of standing on the dock looking at the beach), you can use their beach chairs for free as long as you plan to order something.

Do you remember what time the excursion was? Was it through lunchtime or morning up to lunch? Or could I just order a drink there? What do people do who don't want to eat, you just can't use the chairs but can sit on the beach?

We did this excursion. Definitely recommend it.

awesome! I completely can't believe I never noticed this one before. Sounds just right and the cat looks beautiful!

 

[awilliams4]

oh btw i am not the OP, just taking eastern SWDAS cruise in february! Reading along because I'm interested. I have not really known what I wanted to do in Tortola, but kind of wanted to snorkel. People overwhelmingly seem to prefer the private excursions but they are all day and that is too long of a day for my son, half a day is perfect. I have been looking at the Disney excursions but the "norman island" snorkel looked meh and I never even looked at this one until you pointed it out, so thank you!!!



Do you remember what time the excursion was? Was it through lunchtime or morning up to lunch? Or could I just order a drink there? What do people do who don't want to eat, you just can't use the chairs but can sit on the beach?



awesome! I completely can't believe I never noticed this one before. Sounds just right and the cat looks beautiful!

This excursion was about 3-4 hours...perfect in that you get to eat lunch back on the ship and also, 4 hours out/in the water and sun is PLENTY. I believe we met on the ship around 8:00 a.m. in the morning or so. We ordered drinks at Pirates Blight...it was very cool. The island is still beat up from the hurricanes in that things are brown and not so much green but that was the only thing that wasn't ideal.

 

[Lisa F]

This excursion was about 3-4 hours...perfect in that you get to eat lunch back on the ship and also, 4 hours out/in the water and sun is PLENTY. I believe we met on the ship around 8:00 a.m. in the morning or so. We ordered drinks at Pirates Blight...it was very cool. The island is still beat up from the hurricanes in that things are brown and not so much green but that was the only thing that wasn't ideal.

Agree that 3-4 hours is plenty out in the sun and the sand. We live on Martha's Vineyard so the beach is not a huge deal to me (obviously the beaches in the caribbean are completely different than new england though). We loved castaway cay but it has that completely disney immersion feel as well so we'll probably spend the whole day there, but I am not interested in whole day excursions where I wouldn't feel comfortable dozing off for a while and need to have cash on hand and are basically stuck if we want to go back early. It's also vacation so I don't want to be completely exhausted, especially with back to back port days... I thought two half day excursions... a snorkel at Tortola and then I want to book the swim with the sea lions on St. Thomas in the morning... then come back for lunch and then maybe go visit the synagogue after lunch (we are jewish and I think my son would really enjoy that). I think a full day excursion on Tortola would be hard to follow up with another port day the next day and we would not enjoy it as much.

I'm glad I can just order a drink as I'd likely do that. Not super interested in paying extra for mediocre tourist food when I already have it paid for on the ship!

 

[awilliams4]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/P...2a97147118c9e15!8m2!3d18.3179544!4d-64.613176

Agree that 3-4 hours is plenty out in the sun and the sand. We live on Martha's Vineyard so the beach is not a huge deal to me (obviously the beaches in the caribbean are completely different than new england though). We loved castaway cay but it has that completely disney immersion feel as well so we'll probably spend the whole day there, but I am not interested in whole day excursions where I wouldn't feel comfortable dozing off for a while and need to have cash on hand and are basically stuck if we want to go back early. It's also vacation so I don't want to be completely exhausted, especially with back to back port days... I thought two half day excursions... a snorkel at Tortola and then I want to book the swim with the sea lions on St. Thomas in the morning... then come back for lunch and then maybe go visit the synagogue after lunch (we are jewish and I think my son would really enjoy that). I think a full day excursion on Tortola would be hard to follow up with another port day the next day and we would not enjoy it as much.

I'm glad I can just order a drink as I'd likely do that. Not super interested in paying extra for mediocre tourist food when I already have it paid for on the ship!

https://www.google.com/maps/place/P...2a97147118c9e15!8m2!3d18.3179544!4d-64.613176

 

[4wdwfanatics]

We did the Baths at Tortola on our own a few weeks ago. It was super easy and cost a total of about $150 for 4 people.

I would shoot for the 1st ferry of the day and return on the 12:15 ferry. That gives you plenty of time to explore and if there is an issue with the 12:15 return ferry, there are at least 2 more just in case.

We would like to do this on our upcoming cruise. When you said you took the 1st ferry, was this the 7:45 or 9:00? We would like to take the 7:45 but since debarkation is at 7:30 I don't know if we will have time. TIA.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

We took the island drive/beach break in June and enjoyed it. Drive was pretty & time on the beach was just enough & back on the ship for lunch. We’d take it again

 

[VTNuke]

were you on the excursion that was only 3.5 hrsßß we are booked from 8:45-12:15.. T11. How much time was on the beach? did it seem rushed... this would be a perfect excursion if it got us back at 3pm or so.... then I wouldnt be reconsidering.. I am consdiering taxing it just to the beach

We did the Eastern trip on the Fantasy in 2018.

The Baths are on Gorda, so there's a bunch of travel to get to the beach. I think the ferry from Tortola to Gorda was between 20 and 30 minutes. Then, because we were the first trip back to Gorda since the hurricane, the driver took us to see the best views of the island. He also stopped and talked to us about the experience and their recovery. That took another 30 to 45 minutes. When we finally got off the bus, we had a 10 minute hike down the hill to the Baths. The first area was a small beach with a ton of boulders (not rocks, boulders) and a swimming area. It was pretty cool. Then we went through the caves (do a search on YouTube and you'll find video of the passage). It wasn't too taxing, but it's not great for people with walking issues or kids too young. The other area has food, a shop, picnic tables, wild chickens, and another beach area. The hike back up to the bus area wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be when we were heading down to the Baths. Another 15 minute bus ride to the ferry and then 20 to 30 back to the dock. The experience was pretty cool, but not the best "beach" day. It's definitely more on the active side and you'll spend at least an hour of your time traveling. You can do this trip on your own, but we were a bit nervous about going to another island on our own and the possibility of missing the boat if there were issues.

In St. Thomas we took a taxi to Meagan's Bay on our own. That was much more of a "beach" day. I think it was $20 a person for the ride and entrance into the area, which I think was like $20 cheaper than if we had done it as a DCL excursion. This is a really beautiful area and worth seeing. It can get a bit crowded.

I enjoyed both trips, but Castaway Cay was better and had way less stress.

 

[mousefan73]

We took the island drive/beach break in June and enjoyed it. Drive was pretty & time on the beach was just enough & back on the ship for lunch. We’d take it again

wThanks! just curious where the bus drops you off, is it a short walk into town? we were thinking if first having lunch and then heading back out to shop a bit or shop and then lunch.. are there shops and things to see near the boat too?

 

[tntstults]

We did the Baths at Tortola on our own a few weeks ago. It was super easy and cost a total of about $150 for 4 people.

I would shoot for the 1st ferry of the day and return on the 12:15 ferry. That gives you plenty of time to explore and if there is an issue with the 12:15 return ferry, there are at least 2 more just in case.

By chance what time did the first ferry leave that you took? Did you have any issues getting of the ship in time and over to where the ferry picks up?
Thanks!