It would help if you told us where you're staying.

F.I.

We're staying at Blackbeard's Beach Club.

In the middle of September, the crowds are all a memory. Most of the sailboats take 6 people max. One of the smaller power boats is Pirate's Penny/Stormy Petrel (10 max.) and you will get a nice overview of the US and BVI. When you get here call- some boats may be out of the water at that time.

In the middle of September, the crowds are all a memory. Most of the sailboats take 6 people max. One of the smaller power boats is Pirate's Penny/Stormy Petrel (10 max.) and you will get a nice overview of the US and BVI. When you get here call- some boats may be out of the water at that time.

Will do. Thanks.

For a good Day-Sail try the "Fury" (Capt. Mike Coyle) sailing out of the Marriott 340-643-7733.

This web-site (VINOW) offers sailing excursions as well.

You can also take a (public) ferry to Tortola or Jost Van Dyke from Red Hook....see the ferry boat schedule on this web-site.

Have a great time.

F.I.

Thanks so much FI. I'll look into the ferry's and take a look at the "Fury". 🙂

Congrats on your 25th anniversary!!

A day charter is a popular choice in St. Thomas... beautiful water, great weather, island hopping, snorkeling. You'd likely be ok waiting until you got on island to find something since its off season. Some boat operators however take time off during off season; taking their boats out of the water or leaving the USVI on their boat to avoid the peak months of hurricane season and/or to take a vacation. For this reason you may want to research the boats now and contact the ones that appeal to you. Make a list of those that will be operating during the time frame that you are here, and bring that list with you if you decide not to reserve in advance. You can find a bunch of options at St. Thomas Day Charters.

Snorkeling is a part of most of the day charters and you can also do some shore snorkeling on your own. On St. Thomas; Sapphire Beach, Coki, Secret Harbor, Cowpet have good snorkeling from shore.

Seeing the islands... Plan to do a day trip over to St. John. You can do that on your own via ferry. If you rent a car on St. Thomas you can take it over to St. John on the car barge. Otherwise you can rent a car there, taxis are readily available, you could rent a dinghy and explore that way or go hiking. You can also do a day trip over to Water Island. Ferry schedules for both islands are on the ferry page on this site (see the Ferry Schedule link in the top header).

PS: The suggestion for calling ahead also applies to restaurants. While reservations aren't really necessary in terms of securing a table this time a year, you do need to call before to make sure they aren't closed. Some restaurants do close for a few weeks during off season for renovations, so owners can take vacation and so on.

--Islander

Islander, thank you so much for the information.

We have a car booked and plan to take it over to St. John for a day. I'll start my list of day charters and restaurants and make some calls. Thanks for the heads up on that. 😉

sun n fun

Sun n Fun:

Check with your rental car agency to be sure that they allow the vehicle to be taken to St. John. I know that Hertz doesn't allow it.

F.I.

F. I.

I booked through Thrifty and they do allow taking the car over to St. John. I'd heard that some of the car rentals don't allow it so I double checked before booking. I hope what they told me doesn't change when I go to pick up the car.

There is a sailboat out of Sapphire Marina that only takes a small number of guests on each trip. The boat is named "Night Wind" and you should be able to book a day in advance by phone once you get there.

sun n fun,

You say you are staying at Blackbeard's Beach Club, but I think you may have mixed up your pirates a bit and meant to say Bluebeard's Beach Club. There is no Blackbeard's Beach Club. I just returned last night from a fabulous two-week stay at the resort.

With that said, there is a day sail offered through Bluebeard's that is a wonderful bargain. I've done it several times and always enjoy myself. The only drawback to it is that you said you would rather a smaller boat with few passengers. If you go to the Sunday gathering at the Beach Club you will receive a VIP card that will entitle you to 50% off the regular per person price of $120 on the New Horizons Full Day Sail. http://newhorizonsvi.com/snorkeladventures.htm It is a large sailing vessel, that holds up to 35 people, but I've been on it in August with only 16 guests. In September, low season, chances are good it would not be crowded at all.

You can also get a 20% discount on the New Horizons II powerboat trip to the BVIs. http://newhorizonscharters.com/ I have never taken this trip. At the Sunday gathering at Bluebeard's Beach Club there is also a chance to win a free trip on either.

Just some additional food for thought.

Have a wonderful time.

Gerie

Gerie,

Thanks so much for correcting my typo. I knew it was Bluebeard, I don't know what caused me to type Blackbeard and what's worse I didn't catch it. LOL

Great to hear you had a great time at the resort. We're really looking forward to the trip. Can you tell me more about the Sunday gathering like what time on Sunday's? That sounds like something you don't want to miss. I'm all for discounts. 🙂

A large boat is fine, I was just trying to avoid a large number of people, but 16 people is not too bad. You said you took the full day sail, where all did they take you?

Any other advise you can give of places to go, etc would be greatly appreciated. We have never been to the island and welcome suggestions from those that have been.

Thanks,
sun n fun

sun n fun,

First of all, you realize that Bluebeard's Beach Club is a timeshare resort, right? And just about anything done there is an attempt to get you to put down big bucks and buy into timeshare, right?

The Sunday gathering is at 1 pm on the terrace off the front desk. Get there early if you have any hope of getting some rum drink or some pre-packaged granola bar type snack or Otis Spunkelmeier muffin. At this gathering, though, they will tell you about all the events at the resort during the week, like shopping shuttle, beach party, farewell dinner, happy hour and karaoke night, Coral World trip, etc. Vendors from Limnos Charters, New Horizons, Homer's Night Snorkel and Lisa the masseuse will also discuss their excursions and packages with you, offering discounts.

But let me back up. When you check in, Victoria the activities director will direct you into the little "vacation ownership" office where you will be told you need your parking tag. (A little clue....you don't need no steenking parking tag!) Then you are asked to sign up for a 45 minute presentation about vacation ownership. I'm pretty sure this little talk is what gets you your VIP card for the discount on the New Horizons and the Atlantis Sub. The card can also be used for discounts at restaurants and stores on island. The 45 minute spiel is very doable IF: you insist they allow you to do it at the Beach Club and not the Elysian, you watch your time and hold them to 45 minutes, you hold fast to your sales resistence and tell them you could buy much cheaper on the resale market.

Oh, and ask Nilda, the woman who will give you your parking pass and sign you up for the timeshare talk, for a coupon for a free tote bag from Del Sol.

No guarantee there will be only 16 people on the daysail, but it is possible. They take you from Sapphire Marina over to Honeymoon Beach on St. John for a long, wonderful snorkel at the beautiful reef there. During the sail there they provide various breads and a drink (I always have a very good Bloody Mary). Then you board the boat and have a buffet lunch before they sail over to Christmas Cove at Greater St. James island for more very good snorkeling. Then sail back to the marina about 4:30 or so.

Perhaps a little more than you wanted to know, but I hope it's helpful. I've been going there for years and am quite familiar with the routines.

Gerie,

Great info and very helpful...thank you! Yes I knew it was a timeshare property. A friend of mine has two timeshares and gifted me with a week wherever I wanted to go. I just thought that I wouldn't be approached to buy into the timeshare thing but that's okay.

I am a little confused....you get the VIP pass if you go through the spiel or if you attend the Sunday gathering? I can do the 45 minute thing if it will get me discounts and a free tote bag. :o) I have no problem holding to my guns either. I just hate those timeshare presentations. Are you a timeshare owner since you have been going there for years? If not, did you sit through it and if so were they pushy? We went to one about 20 years ago and they were down right mean. I thought there was going to be a fight at one point because the sales rep would not let us leave. I am not joking he kept blocking our way and insisting in a firm voice that we sit back down. It was a nightmare. Needless to say, my husband kept his cool but he also got us out of there.

Sorry for all the questions, hope you don't mind. :o)

sun n fun,

Of course I don't mind all the questions. Ask away.

But, I've sent you a private message in response rather than clutter up the message board with the ins and outs of timeshare sales nonsense at Bluebeard's Beach Club. Check you private messages.

Gerie

Gerie,

I sent you a PM and let me know if you didn't get it. It's not showing up in my sent box so I'm not sure if I did it right. Thanks.

sun n fun

My advice because my age works is this
If you have the time drag it on even further than the 45
Seem interested

But the closer is that you have 2 kids that are a year away from college
This is your last getaway knowing money will be tight for the next 6 years
But this is a property we may be interested when they clear school

They give you all the packages
Nobody looses
They will call in the closer and that is when Hubby needs to look him straight the eye and say no thank you

TomB,

Did you do that yourself at Bluebeard's Beach Club or are you just speaking in general about any timeshare?

sun n fun