Tortola Excusions

[Mikkjim]

Hi there, first of all My soon to be DH and I received our documents yesterday! So we are doing the document dance!! Zuiderdam 4/30

Yea!

Also, I'm wondering which excursion would you guys suggest.... We are traveling with a bunch of our family and friends for our wedding so I want to make sure I'm well educated so of course I look to you guys!

I'm 29 and my soon to be DH is 33 years old, so something fun but not too intense.

So which one is best

Virgin Island Sail Away

or

Virgin Gorda & Baths

So, any feed back will help.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done the Virgin Gorda and Baths - loved it.

[fgtex]

The Baths on Vigin Gorda are really spectacular assuming everyone is up to the climb down the path ( which is not too difficult ). Great place for snorkeling or just bumming out on the beach. The resturant at the "Top of the Baths" is good too and has a freshwater pool that you can use if you eat there.

[seapointer]

If we take the 4 hour HAL trip to the Baths, is there enough time spent at the baths?

If we do a private excursion, which seem to all run from 9am to 4 pm, will we be cutting it too close for a timely return to the ship (which leaves at 5pm)?

[fgtex]

I've heard differing views on this about whether to use the HAL excursion or go with a private excursion. Also depends on what you mean by a private excursion - if you are talking about one of the daysails ( like with Patouche ) or just jumping on a water taxi ( like Speedy's ) and going over that way.

When I did the Baths it was not during a cruise but during a land vacation in Tortola so timing was not a big issue. We jsut took a water taxi over and back. There are frequent water taxis that run between Tortola and VG which take around 30-40 minutes. The taxito the Baths was only a short ( less than 10 minute ) ride from the dock. Going independent would be less costly but if you book the HAL package you won't get left behind.

2 to 3 hours at the Baths is probably enough time to enjoy so either way it would probably work out.

[bluefish]

My advice would be that if you go to the Baths (which are great by the way) that you take the Hal excursion. I did the Speedy's taxi on my own and would not do that ever again. You will think that if you go on your own, you will have more time at the Baths. I think that you have more time waiting on the dock in Tortola, waiting for taxi to Baths, and waiting again on hot dock in VG to go back. I did. Plus when you get to the Baths, about 11am the crowds are getting big and stay big the whole time you're there. If you don't like crowds, like me, you won't like this.

My advice is either go on the HAl excursion to Baths, get back, eat lunch on ship, then have all afternoon free in Roadtown OR skip Baths, take taxi to Cane Garden Bay or other beach on Tortola, rent chairs/umbrellas, have good time, no stress about getting back to ship on time.

Hope it all works out for you. I'm sure you'll have a good time either way.

[Islandbuoy]

we enjoyed the sailaway--- the snorkeling , beach, and rum punch all were nice

[HeatherInFlorida]

Hands down for us .... Virgin Island Sailaway. Do a search and find the threads about it. A lot of us wrote reviews and there are links to pictures, too.

On the other hand, it depends what you're looking for. Virgin Gorda and The Baths (if you've never done it) is a fabulous day.

You can't go wrong with either one.

[mllewis48]

We were in Tortola in April 2004 and was only interested in an island tour.......we did not book anything on the ship but instead, after speaking with another couple, we choose to take a tour on the "Raggae Express" with Karen Freeman, tour guide. This was a newly purchased, air conditioned bus that seated about 20 passengers. We toured the entire island stopping at several locations for pictures, etc. It took about 3 1/2 hours with free rum punch the entire time. We stopped at Cane Garden Bay beach to allow anyone that wanted to swim to do so, lasted about 45 minutes. Karen was fantastic and the cost was also great!!!

I would highly recommend the trip......

[OCruisers]

Mikkjim .... Very much agree with HeatherInFL! We've done both -- you really can't go wrong with either of the excursions you're considering!!! :)

Here's a review posted in the Ports of Call Section under Caribbean Other that you might enjoy reading:

Virgin Island Sailaway Review (click here) (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=132229)

Tortola is a great port! Have a WONDERFUL time!

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[K&RCurt]

We did the Virgin Gorda / Baths excursion in January and had a great time! We had a great morning on the "second" beach once we got there (even though it rained) and we got back to the ship in time to have lunch. We then went and walked around Roadtown.

If you drink, don't neglect to go to Pusser's for a Painkiller!

[Mikkjim]

:) Thanks so much for your feedback!

[stefhef]

We did Patouche back in February. We told them that we absolutely must be back at 4. They had us back at 4, and had a taxi waiting outside for us. We were at the dock at 4:07. BTW, you are supposed to be back on the ship at 4:30 - it leaves at 5:00 exactly.

If you have a large crowd, you could hire the whole boat and dictate exactly when you want to come and go. I would recommend that. Go to the Ports site and find a whole host of providers - Patouche is just one of many.

Also, we also stopped at Cooper Island which was beautiful, no crowds and had great snorkeling.

[jakeman]

mllewis48 - were can I find inforamation on Regaee Express - sounds good - especially the air conditioned bus - we are going in July.

[mllewis48]

Jakeman,

The Raggae is not a cruise sponsored tour, she was located at the end of the pier as is the other locals trying to make a buck!

The bus is owned by a local on the island that also owns a restaurant at Cane Garden Beach.

We heard about the trip from another HAL cruise member and decided to try it.

It was well worth the money!

[Ziggy7]

We went on the Virgin Sail Away snorkeling excursion. The waters were clear blue and snorkeling was good. We went to Morgan’s island to the caves to snorkel, there were lots of jellyfish and luckily they were not the stinging kind. Back onto the catamaran to a private beach with one bar on it and a closet sized gift shop. The beach was pleasant but very rocky and sharp coral hurt your bare feet getting in and out of the water, we did wear water shoes however before we were able to get on the catamaran we had to take off our shoes and put them in a container, no shoes allowed on the catamaran, we would have protested had we known about the beach area, so wear flip flops to the catamaran and carry your water shoes in your beach bag.

Still it was very beautiful and worth the money! :)

[MetathoraX]

http://www.islandsonline.com/smithsferry/

Mikkjim,

This is the website for the company we are doing our shore excursion the baths in tortola when we are on our April 2nd, 2005 Zuiderdam cruise. We are getting the $35 package and will be there from 9am until 2pm or 4pm, whichever we choose. This will give us ample time to snorkel (bringing our own equipment) and go to the baths. I will let you know how it goes when we return

[Oceanwench]

http://www.islandsonline.com/smithsferry/

Mikkjim,

This is the website for the company we are doing our shore excursion the baths in tortola when we are on our April 2nd, 2005 Zuiderdam cruise. We are getting the $35 package and will be there from 9am until 2pm or 4pm, whichever we choose. This will give us ample time to snorkel (bringing our own equipment) and go to the baths. I will let you know how it goes when we return

I will look for your review of this trip.
There are 5 of us thinking of going with the $35 package ... just concerned about getting back in time.

Did you book this online already? I've heard you can book it at the dock too.