We just got back from Disney's first sailing to Tortola on the Magic Apr 25-May 2, 2009.
After reading favourable reviews on the Baths in Virgin Gorda, we decided to do that as an excursion. Disney cruise line offers the excursion only for ages 5 and up at a price of $68 or $89. We decided to do the excursion on our own not only to save some money but so that our 3 year old could come with us.
Once you leave the ship, it's maybe a leisurely 10-15 minute walk to the ferry dock. Just follow everyone else walking into the small "downtown" area and continue walking along the water. It's only a few minutes walking past the downtown area and everyone walks there, so i don't think anyone will need a taxi.
We bought ferry tickets from Speedy's (speedysbvi dot com) which were $38, not $30 as stated on their website. Children under 5 are free which was a bonus. The boat didn't arrive at the dock until maybe 5 minutes before the scheduled time so don't worry if you don't see the boat at first. I guess there's a Smith's ferry as well, but the 10:30am departure time worked well for us, and on Tues and Thurs the boat returns at 2:45pm (this is not shown on the website), which gave us enough breathing room if we missed it as there is also a 3:30pm ferry. Cruise boarding time was a relatively late 6:00pm. If it's any consolation, if you do miss boarding the cruise ship Speedy's also has a ferry to Charlotte Amalie, so you could meet up with the cruise ship the next day quite easily.
The ferry docked in Virgin Gorda after a 30 min ride, and Speedy's has a open air bus that is a 5-10 min ride to the actual baths. The bus ride both ways is included in your ferry fare.
Entrance to the baths was $3 per person, and you can take a short walk down to the beach on a dirt path, or i guess take the "devil's" route which we did not do. There's a decent enough looking restaurant at the entrance and a snack bar on the beach.
We entered the rock formations from the beach, and our just turned 3 year old was fine walking through the various areas, although we didn't go from end to end. He could climb up and down the ladders himself, with relatively little help (just dad there to catch him if he slipped), and there was a part you need to hold a rope for balance with, which he walked with me holding his hand and my other hand holding the rope with no drama. He actually liked hanging out in the shallow water pools, so i'm not sure what all the fuss was about not being 5 or older to do the excursion. We didn't feel the need to go end to end so there may be other more tricky areas (i doubt it), but don't let that prevent you from bringing your young kids! It was definitely worth it, and i'm a bit of a jaded traveller having been many places and countries before.
Snorkelling was decent enough, and the beach was small but uncrowded when we were there.
By the time we left the beach around 2:00pm, the Disney cruise excursion was just getting there, so i'm glad we went on our own and got to be at the beach during the best part of the day. The other Disney bath excursion was there much earlier in the day at the sacrifice of sleeping in. The shuttle bus to the ferry dock leaves the beach entrance 30 minutes before the ferry is to depart the dock at Virgin Gorda. We arrived maybe 2 minutes late at 2:17pm and the bus was already gone. Luckily, there were other drivers there who could take you in a pinch. Although the drivers weren't with Speedy, at the approval of the one driver (i guess they all work for the same guy) they gave us a free ride to the ferry dock (we tipped a few bucks though!). 2:45pm sharp the ferry left for Tortola. Not much for shopping in the town, better off waiting for St. Thomas.
Later we exchanged stories and found out the Disney bath excursion had a boat that left right from the cruise dock, but on the way back it had to dock at the ferry dock since the water near the ship was too rough. I believe lunch was at the restaurant near the bath entrance which you can go to yourself (or like us have a big breakfast and wait until you get back on the boat to have a late lunch).
All in all a great excursion, the baths were really interesting and had great photo ops, and our 3 year old not only easily survived the trip he enjoyed hanging out and playing inside the baths. Do yourself a favor and go and don't be afraid to bring the little ones!
After reading favourable reviews on the Baths in Virgin Gorda, we decided to do that as an excursion. Disney cruise line offers the excursion only for ages 5 and up at a price of $68 or $89. We decided to do the excursion on our own not only to save some money but so that our 3 year old could come with us.
Once you leave the ship, it's maybe a leisurely 10-15 minute walk to the ferry dock. Just follow everyone else walking into the small "downtown" area and continue walking along the water. It's only a few minutes walking past the downtown area and everyone walks there, so i don't think anyone will need a taxi.
We bought ferry tickets from Speedy's (speedysbvi dot com) which were $38, not $30 as stated on their website. Children under 5 are free which was a bonus. The boat didn't arrive at the dock until maybe 5 minutes before the scheduled time so don't worry if you don't see the boat at first. I guess there's a Smith's ferry as well, but the 10:30am departure time worked well for us, and on Tues and Thurs the boat returns at 2:45pm (this is not shown on the website), which gave us enough breathing room if we missed it as there is also a 3:30pm ferry. Cruise boarding time was a relatively late 6:00pm. If it's any consolation, if you do miss boarding the cruise ship Speedy's also has a ferry to Charlotte Amalie, so you could meet up with the cruise ship the next day quite easily.
The ferry docked in Virgin Gorda after a 30 min ride, and Speedy's has a open air bus that is a 5-10 min ride to the actual baths. The bus ride both ways is included in your ferry fare.
Entrance to the baths was $3 per person, and you can take a short walk down to the beach on a dirt path, or i guess take the "devil's" route which we did not do. There's a decent enough looking restaurant at the entrance and a snack bar on the beach.
We entered the rock formations from the beach, and our just turned 3 year old was fine walking through the various areas, although we didn't go from end to end. He could climb up and down the ladders himself, with relatively little help (just dad there to catch him if he slipped), and there was a part you need to hold a rope for balance with, which he walked with me holding his hand and my other hand holding the rope with no drama. He actually liked hanging out in the shallow water pools, so i'm not sure what all the fuss was about not being 5 or older to do the excursion. We didn't feel the need to go end to end so there may be other more tricky areas (i doubt it), but don't let that prevent you from bringing your young kids! It was definitely worth it, and i'm a bit of a jaded traveller having been many places and countries before.
Snorkelling was decent enough, and the beach was small but uncrowded when we were there.
By the time we left the beach around 2:00pm, the Disney cruise excursion was just getting there, so i'm glad we went on our own and got to be at the beach during the best part of the day. The other Disney bath excursion was there much earlier in the day at the sacrifice of sleeping in. The shuttle bus to the ferry dock leaves the beach entrance 30 minutes before the ferry is to depart the dock at Virgin Gorda. We arrived maybe 2 minutes late at 2:17pm and the bus was already gone. Luckily, there were other drivers there who could take you in a pinch. Although the drivers weren't with Speedy, at the approval of the one driver (i guess they all work for the same guy) they gave us a free ride to the ferry dock (we tipped a few bucks though!). 2:45pm sharp the ferry left for Tortola. Not much for shopping in the town, better off waiting for St. Thomas.
Later we exchanged stories and found out the Disney bath excursion had a boat that left right from the cruise dock, but on the way back it had to dock at the ferry dock since the water near the ship was too rough. I believe lunch was at the restaurant near the bath entrance which you can go to yourself (or like us have a big breakfast and wait until you get back on the boat to have a late lunch).
All in all a great excursion, the baths were really interesting and had great photo ops, and our 3 year old not only easily survived the trip he enjoyed hanging out and playing inside the baths. Do yourself a favor and go and don't be afraid to bring the little ones!
I have been researching "DIY" Baths for our upcoming August cruise. The excursion fee was just a little too steep for a family of 5 for a few hours at the beach!
