Ok
We did Stormey Pettrel and Pirates Penny and thought that they did such an awesome job of the tour of the Baths!
We are considering doing NH Next year but we are taking Newbies and im worried that the Baths tour wont be the same- Hmmm
So Maybe this question will help tiger and help me
Who has the better Baths Tour and Why?

Marty: I promise we will never discuss semantics again. Okay?:-)

We loved New Horizons....great for the $$$$$$
do not forget your passports

EE....let's stay away from semantics! Haha! We're all good, no worries!

I am not a STJ local - far from it - as we live 1000s of miles away, but have the wonderful opportunity to visit (as visitors) to this jewel of an island every year.

We have done 3 excursions to the BVI. On 2 of them we did the standard Baths/JVD trip on both NHII and Bad Kitty. We actually like Bad Kitty better - one of the main reasons was the boat was more comfortable (smoother, more stand-up room) - and very fast in the water. Not that NHII was bad - far from it - just that one of our friends is not motion friendly and BK is smoother.

A third trip we took was with a private person - renting a boat from See and Ski out of STT. This by far was the best adventure since we could do our own thing and on our own schedule - and they knew cool out of the way locations that can vary depending on the weather and sea conditions. However, I would not recommend this for the long trip to Virgin Gorda since the boat-style is not made for the longer trip.

Enjoy - and also IMO (whether it be subjective or objective...)

What I am curious about is how charter companies are dealing with the new Coast Gaurd/911 rules about picking-up/dropping-off passengers since they have to be done from certified docks (not NPS) - that I read about months ago???

Thanks blujahz, I went to look at the Bad Kitty on their website and it does look like it's easier to walk around and room to get out of the sun. The reviews also said it was an easier ride. Might be changing my mind from NH to BK!!

Can you tell me the web site for Bad Kitty?
I typed it into google and a bad site came up:-o
Not good when i am on the company computer
Thanks

blujahz wrote:

What I am curious about is how charter companies are dealing with the new Coast Gaurd/911 rules about picking-up/dropping-off passengers since they have to be done from certified docks (not NPS) - that I read about months ago???

Not sure what you mean. Charter boats between the USVI and the BVI have always been required to check in at both ends and that hasn't changed.

Google Bad Kitty excursions St. Thomas and the site will come up. I think it's Calypso.

Bad Kitty is thru Calypso
http://www.calypsovi.com/index.html

not trying to steer business form NHII - as they were good also. Bad Kitty was moored in Great Cruz Bay (Westin) when we were there last June - and very easy for us.

STT Resident -
As to the 'pick-up' question - a while back - last summer? - there was a notice that the Coast Guard would no longer allow pick-ups from non-secured areas (e.g NPS dock) - whereas the Westin dock is approved (and somewhere else that I can't recall).
So.. I was wondering whatever became of this. When we were picked up by Bad Kitty last June - they picked us up from the Westin beach (not dock) and then picked-up other passengers at the NPS dock. How are charter companies dealing with this - or has it become a non-factor?

Added - here is a link to what I mentioned above...
http://www.saildivebvi.com/serendipity/archives/1325-New-coast-guard-regulations-for-SOLAS-boats-in-the-USVI.html

Thanks Everyone

Tiger 123. I just got back from STT and did the NHII trip. This was my third go round so obviously I had a great time the previous two times. Not so this time. I was informed at arrival 7 AM that I was on the Breakaway - Not the NHII, the boat I wanted and reserved - Breakaway holds about 30 people and it was packed. Our party of four had to split up on the boat for the entire day. The entire day was rushed. Thru the baths in record time. The snorkeling on diamond reef was good but imagine 30 people in the water in the same location banging into each other. The final stop white bay and the soggy dollar was a mess. They could not get the boat very close to beach so they anchored in about 11 feet of water. The current was fairly stong and they gave out noodles for people to paddle into the beach, of couse they ran out and started with bogie boards. I actually saw a elderly woman floating away from the boat - not to the beach, and one of the crew jumped in with flippers to haul her into the beach. So a good part of the time at white bay was spent paddling in and back to the boat. The NHII, by the way was anchored there as well in close proximity to the beach. I will say the service provided on the trip was great. But unless you have a gaurantee you will be on the NHII, I would not do it. I have voiced my concerns to New Horizons and have had no response. Check out trip advisor there are similar tales....

NHII review - ouch -

STT - no response to the SOLAR secuity issue? - no one knows or a non issue? that is surprising...

4 weeks...

As for the inspected vessel issues. I stayed on St John a few weeks ago and Breakaway and New Horizons were picking up on St John at the Ferry Dock in Cruz Bay which is secured. I don't know what they are doing in St Thomas.
Jay

Anyone know what the JVD excursion boats like Daydreamer are doing since the Customs at Great Harbour was closed down? A sidetrip into West End would certainly shorten the amount of time to enjoy JVD. Thanks. Any update on when they will reopen Customs at Great Harbour?

I can vouch for the Pirate's Penny or Stormey Petrol trip to the BVI's. We had a wonderful time with them. Smaller group, fun tour, great hosts. They are out of convenient Red Hook.