Jost van Dyke TT14 vs. TT65

[squirk]

Trying to figure out the differences between these two excursions. Would greatly appreciate feedback from anyone in the know.

TT14 is 4 hrs vs. TT65's 6.5-7 hrs. TT14 is $83 vs. TT65's $104. TT14 does not include lunch; TT65 does.

So, for TT65's $31 premium, you apparently get more time at the beach and you get fed.

My questions are:

1.) Approximately how much beach time do you get with TT14?
2.) Do you really get a full 2.5-3 hrs more beach time with TT65?
3.) Is the TT65 lunch any great shakes, or can you do just as well getting food on your own in White Bay? Or alternately, is TT14 a better deal that gets you back to the ship in time to grab a late lunch at Cabanas?

Please and thank you!

 

[NoodlesMom]

Following. I'm wondering the same thing. I started a similar thread last week but unfortunately got no responses. It looks like TT65 includes food and drinks.

 

[squirk]

Following. I'm wondering the same thing. I started a similar thread last week but unfortunately got no responses. It looks like TT65 includes food and drinks.

Yeah, I highly doubt the lunch itself is worth the $31 premium. I think the amount of beach time between the two will be the deciding factor.

 

[squirk]

@NoodlesMom (and anyone else keeping score at home), my TA called DCL this morning and was told that the beach time for both versions were exactly the same, and that the extra 2.5-3.0 hours on TT65 were there specifically to account for the lunch. That seems like an awfully long time to set aside for lunch, doesn't it?

 

[NoodlesMom]

Hmmm. That's interesting. We will be there from 7:00 am to 2:45. I can't book excursions yet so I don't even know if we will have two options.
I'm hoping at least one of them will be offered.

 

[squirk]

Hmmm. That's interesting. We will be there from 7:00 am to 2:45. I can't book excursions yet so I don't even know if we will have two options.
I'm hoping at least one of them will be offered.

Only 2:45? I'd have to think only TT14 could be offered in that case.....

 

[Bettyscruise]

We did the short excursion a few months ago. I think the short one was the only option at that time. We were surprised when the excursion boat captain offered to lengthen the time by a few hours on their own. Of course no lunch was included. Travel time to and from the port to the beach is about 45 minutes. If I had it to do again, I'd stick with the short one because, personally, it was enough "beach time" for my wife and I. We were ready to leave when we did. We had lunch aboard the Fantasy then went to the port shopping area to close out the day.

 

[squirk]

We did the short excursion a few months ago. I think the short one was the only option at that time. We were surprised when the excursion boat captain offered to lengthen the time by a few hours on their own. Of course no lunch was included. Travel time to and from the port to the beach is about 45 minutes. If I had it to do again, I'd stick with the short one because, personally, it was enough "beach time" for my wife and I. We were ready to leave when we did. We had lunch aboard the Fantasy then went to the port shopping area to close out the day.

Thanks. How much beach time did you have? 2.5 hours?

Also - somehow, I am guessing the lunch is nothing terribly special.

 

[Bettyscruise]

Yes, it was about 2.5 hours or a bit more.

 

[squirk]

Yes, it was about 2.5 hours or a bit more.

The group didn't take the captain up on his offer to extend by a few hours?

 

[wombat_5606]

So, @squirk, we meet again! Lol

My take on this choice, is that I'm doing a beach excursion and for me, the more time at the beach the better.

A factor in my decision is that the 4 hour(TT14) is at a cost of $20.75/hour. The 6.5-7 hour excursion(TT65) which includes more time and lunch is between $16.29-$17.54/hour. Quality of the lunch isn't a factor.

I would think lunch is at some local beach venue or one provided by the vendor, regardless of what DCL told you. One trip report I read and I'm not saying it was on JVD, but it showed Disney passengers had a section of the beach roped off and they actually had a small cookout for lunch. Maybe this is a possibility?

I would doubt lunch is at some sit down restaurant away from the beach. I've never done a beach excursion through any cruise line that had a meal included that wasn't at the beach. Not that there isn't a first time, but I've never experienced it in all my years of cruising.

So, IMO, the difference is actual time spent at the beach.

Hope someone who does TT65 comes back to report.

 

[squirk]

A factor in my decision is that the 4 hour(TT14) is at a cost of $20.75/hour. The 6.5-7 hour excursion(TT65) which includes more time and lunch is between $16.29-$17.54/hour. Quality of the lunch isn't a factor.

Hello, there! Thanks for the input.

I have experienced shore excursion lunches that were held on the boat/tender, and weren't anything special. I've also had shore excursion buffet lunches held near the beach, but due to the large crowd size, it took a really long time to get through the buffet once, and eat.

But I agree with you - if TT65 has a cookout lunch on or in close proximity to the beach whereby you can eat for 30 minutes and then get right back in the water for an extra 2.0-2.5 hours more than what TT14 gives you, this is a no-brainer.

I am still scratching my head about the CM telling my TA that both excursions have the same amount of beach time. I suppose I'd get a more authoritative answer if I went to the Port Adventures desk as soon as I board the ship and ask the CMs there.

 

[squirk]

Hope someone who does TT65 comes back to report.

Well, I just did the TT65, and you were right - do not factor the quality of the lunch into your decision-making process. Going back to the ship to eat would have been 100x better.

Also, it takes forever to get there and tender. The meeting time on the ship was 10:15. By the time we gathered up, walked to the ferry and launched, it was 10:45 at the earliest. Another 40 minutes in travel time, and then multiple tenders, and I don't think we set foot on the beach until 11:45. They told us to be ready to tender back by 4:00.

In all, it was like 4-4.5 hours of true beach time. I am not sure I would have enjoyed TT14 because I think it would have felt too short.

If I were to do it again, I would look into making my own way there as soon as the ship disembarks. You could get even more beach time, and the money saved by not going through DCL could be used to buy a decent lunch.

 

[wombat_5606]

Well, I just did the TT65, and you were right - do not factor the quality of the lunch into your decision-making process. Going back to the ship to eat would have been 100x better.

Also, it takes forever to get there and tender. The meeting time on the ship was 10:15. By the time we gathered up, walked to the ferry and launched, it was 10:45 at the earliest. Another 40 minutes in travel time, and then multiple tenders, and I don't think we set foot on the beach until 11:45. They told us to be ready to tender back by 4:00.

In all, it was like 4-4.5 hours of true beach time. I am not sure I would have enjoyed TT14 because I think it would have felt too short.

If I were to do it again, I would look into making my own way there as soon as the ship disembarks. You could get even more beach time, and the money saved by not going through DCL could be used to buy a decent lunch.

You are AWESOME for coming back to report on these excursions!!!

My research had led me to believe that just getting there was a hassle and I was seeing recommendations that we should just do the cruise line shore excursions. I hear the public ferry is unreliable, so my next choice would be private transportation. That could be cost prohibitive for the 3 of us.

Other tours usually include snorkeling, which I have no interest in.

Just to be clear:
#1 Meet on ship, walk to public ferry? or Disney transportation?
#2 Multiple tenders to get off the public ferry? or Disney transportation?
#3 Tenders drop you at the beach?

I'm wondering if I should just stay on Tortola and do one of their beaches.

In your opinion, would you say JVD is a must do or do you think any beach on Tortola would be fine?

 

[squirk]

You are AWESOME for coming back to report on these excursions!!!

My research had led me to believe that just getting there was a hassle and I was seeing recommendations that we should just do the cruise line shore excursions. I hear the public ferry is unreliable, so my next choice would be private transportation. That could be cost prohibitive for the 3 of us.

Other tours usually include snorkeling, which I have no interest in.

Just to be clear:
#1 Meet on ship, walk to public ferry? or Disney transportation?
#2 Multiple tenders to get off the public ferry? or Disney transportation?
#3 Tenders drop you at the beach?

I'm wondering if I should just stay on Tortola and do one of their beaches.

In your opinion, would you say JVD is a must do or do you think any beach on Tortola would be fine?

1.) Meet on ship, short walk to private ferry.
2.) You only need to tender once at JVD, but the tender boat itself needs three trips to get everyone off the ferry. Sit near the back of the ferry, so you are in the first group.
3.) Yes, you step off the tender and you are on the beach.

I have not been to any other beaches on Tortola or JVD, so I can't say if they are better or worse than White Bay.

The DCL excursion was certainly convenient, but I am not sure the convenience justified the upcharge.

In short, it seems like TT14 is too short for our family, and TT65 is too expensive considering that you can get more beach time and a better lunch for less money if you DIY.

 

[wombat_5606]

1.) Meet on ship, short walk to private ferry.
2.) You only need to tender once at JVD, but the tender boat itself needs three trips to get everyone off the ferry. Sit near the back of the ferry, so you are in the first group.
3.) Yes, you step off the tender and you are on the beach.

I have not been to any other beaches on Tortola or JVD, so I can't say if they are better or worse than White Bay.

The DCL excursion was certainly convenient, but I am not sure the convenience justified the upcharge.

In short, it seems like TT14 is too short for our family, and TT65 is too expensive considering that you can get more beach time and a better lunch for less money if you DIY.

Thanks so much for the information.

Here's my problem with the DIY, though, unless I can find someone to take me straight there. You have to leave the port, get a taxi to the ferry, and once on JVD, take another taxi to the beach. Obviously, in the afternoon you would have to repeat these steps. The time of year I'm going, the first ferry I could use would be 10am. The last would be 2pm. It would be approximately $60pp. Taxi's would run about $25pp. Then the advice I got said the ferry times were unreliable, so I could potentially be waiting and losing out on beach time.

So, in that scenario, I'm at the beach for about the same amount of time as the DCL excursion-4hours.

It's just not a good situation. I may just stick to a beach on Tortola.

 

[squirk]

Thanks so much for the information.

Here's my problem with the DIY, though, unless I can find someone to take me straight there. You have to leave the port, get a taxi to the ferry, and once on JVD, take another taxi to the beach. Obviously, in the afternoon you would have to repeat these steps. The time of year I'm going, the first ferry I could use would be 10am. The last would be 2pm. It would be approximately $60pp. Taxi's would run about $25pp. Then the advice I got said the ferry times were unreliable, so I could potentially be waiting and losing out on beach time.

So, in that scenario, I'm at the beach for about the same amount of time as the DCL excursion-4hours.

It's just not a good situation. I may just stick to a beach on Tortola.

Yeah, I see what you mean. I wouldn't do JVD in that circumstance either. I am sure Tortola has great beaches that allow you more breathing room, schedule-wise.