Shores excursions in Tortola and St. Maarten

[Joal]

Any HAL shore excurson in Tortola that is worth booking? Has anyone taken
the North Shore and Pusser's Landing? What about in St. Maarten? Has anyone here done the French Marigot and Butterfly Farm? We have been in St. Maarten before, but not in Tortola. Leaving next Sunday on the Westerdam. Any suggestions about worthwhile excursions will be much appreciated.

Joal

[drk]

We booked a great day sail in Tortola through Patouche.com...check out their website. Many good reports about them in the ports of call section.

[cru1s1ng]

The Lord Sheffield sailing tour (St. Martin) has a lot of very good reviews on the ports of call boards. I've booked that one. There are 7 :eek: ships in St. Martin that day, so I'm glad I got a spot. www.lordsheffield.com (http://www.lordsheffield.com)

[BenBar1]

We took the shore excursion to the Baths at Virgin Gorda. It was truly awesome. The scenery is unbelievable, and we really enjoyed the boat ride to Virgin Gorda and walking around the baths. It does involve some strenuous walking, but the scenery was really worth it.

Ben and Barbara

[mjmagee]

We just did the Virgin Island Sailaway in Tortola and it was great. Great catamarran sail across the channel. Great snorkeling. Great beach. Nice little rum punch on the way back. Staff were great, filling you in on all the history of the islands. Highly recommend it. In St. Martin we liked the Sea and see or something like that. Does a tour of both sides of the island and an submarine ride off of Marigot and a little time for shopping too.

[Joal]

Thank you all for your replies.
The excursion to the Baths and Virgen Gorda in Tortola sounds real good. Will try to book that one. Wife does not like the idea of sailing, so that is out. Have been to St. Maarten and taken a shore excursion from the QM2 which was very good. Beautiful island.

Joal

[the2ofus]

Recommend that if you do the Sea and See in St. Maarten that you take a morning tour. We took the afternoon tour and got caught in end-of-work-day traffic, bumper to bumper all the way back from Marigot. We were on the second-to-last tender back to the ship.

We did the Virgin Gorda/The Baths excursion and really enjoyed it. Do not plan to carry anything when you do the trail among the rocks, unless you have a very small backpack. There are places where you really want both hands free.