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My husband and I, along with another couple, are booked on one of those dreaded cruise ships that so many complain about 🙂 We have taken a captained charter boat trip to the BVI two times before and loved it! Background - our ship docks in CA on Monday, May 1st around 7 am. It departs again around 5 pm. We really just want to go to the Baths again and maybe Trunk or Cinnamon Bay if time permits.
Opinions please - Does time permit for this and/or is this a bad move generally given we are on a time schedule? Or should we just do the 'ole ferry to St. John and back with the hoardes of other people?
LLBL, come on give us more details (it will help on suggestions)! Has the other couple been to STJ before? Are they going to be with you for the day? I really feel that trying to do even a half-daysail on a cruise ship schedule is too rushed (but thats my opinion). Check out some of the past pages on this board surely there are things and places you haven't done on the islands that you could mix with the beaches (or something else)to make your day unique and something great to remember.
You should be able to rent a boat in Red Hook - they normally leave around 9ish and if your ship leaves at 5, then you CAN be back in Red Hook in plenty of time to make it back to the ship before you're watching it sail off without you. It's a bit pricey, but you can go where ever you want and on YOUR time frame.
Food for thought 🙂
ETA - (don'tcha hate it when you forget something?!?)
Where is your previous port of call? Will you have to clear customs when you arrive on STT? THAT can put a heck of a crimp on ANY planned excursions!
Thanks for the advice. We would take a powerboat charter (not day sail) since there is no way we could sail anywhere close to where we want to go in a day. We have been to the Baths twice before, and that is really where we want to go. Nauti Nymph has said we can get there on a 29' twin engine in 1.5 hours (from Red Hook). So in theory this could work. Also, they said we could hit Trunk Bay as well if time permits since it's on the way.
As far as the customs issue -- very good question. We board initially in San Juan and the first stop is STT. Not sure when and where we clear customs. I'm aware we have to do the same for a private charter going into Virgin Gorda, which usually takes about 20 min.
The private charters leave Red Hook as early as 8:30, so if we're back by 4 - - it could work in theory. Just a little nervous that something may go awry. Chicken Little as I am....
If you decide to go for it
You may want to have the fall back plan.
OK we miss the ship. What hotel is near the airport?
What does a flight cost to my next desination to meet the ship?
Does possible additional cost warrant the risk.
If next stop is SXM or Tortola - no big deal
Aruba it may not warrant the risk
Or take the NIKE approach and Just do it!
Hi Landlocked,
If your first stop is STT from SJU you will not have to clear customs in STT - good thing. Now for the bad news... if you go to the baths (BVI's) you will have to clear customs in STT before you get back onto the ship. Also if the ship leaves at 5pm you are required to be on board no later than 4:30pm. IMHO too rushed and risky - enjoy the cruise and have a relaxing day 🙂 and don't worry about being on of "those" passengers we have taken probably 15 cruises (got back last week actually) and now live on STJ as we "discovered" our paradise while visiting on a day trip from the ship 🙂
