I've used NHII it was great I think It is a faster boat so you have more time at the stops.

Have done the New Horizons II trip several times (with difference friends each time). LOVED it. Great people operating the tour, you get just enough time in each location to make it worth while, and end the day at Jost Van Dyke - one of the most beautiful and relaxing places around.

Have not done Stormy Petrel. Sorry - no help there.

Good Luck! Have Fun!

Thank you both for quick responces and advice!!! I think we are going to go with NH II because it does make most of the stops 🙂

Put another vote for NHII up there! G-R-E-A-T trip!!

Marty, have you heard about Stormy Petrel? When I called, they said that their advantage over Horizons is that Horizons just sales the north side and Stormy Petrel does both south and north, so you see more of the islands ... is that true? I am losing my mind because both Stormy and NH II seem to be nice, but I don't know which one to choose... please help!

I just take the ferry to Jost. I'm not a snorkeler, and the only place I really NEED to go is to my hammock on Ivan's beach.

However, last year some girls in our group took NH II and raved about it. I talked to the Stormy Petrel folks, and they sounded great to work with too.

Stormy does a great job, but I have no idea how they can say that they do both North and South...so does NHII....right up Drakes passage, then, after Marina Cay and after snorkeling Guana, you go the North side of Tortola to Jost...sounds like they are trying to pull some sales BS to me...that alone would make me choose NHII...but, don't get me wrong, I have sent many people on SP and they all said it was good....I've just hear more raves about NHII and it's the one I use when I have friends and family visit....

Thank you Marty! One more question - I found 2 ways to book the NH II:

http://www.newhorizonscharters.com/ or http://www.bestofusvi.com/bvi/newhorizons.html

Is that the same thing? Who should I book from?:S

I'd go direct to their website...this way, we know all of your dough is going to the NH people and not to someone else as commission...don't get me wrong, I'm a salesman by trade and get paid only commission, but I believe the people on the boat actually doing the WORK deserve the pay...and a huge tip! They are gonna treat you like royalty!!

Makes sence and they also give a 10% discount if you book through the web. I am done! I am booking NH II!
Thank you so much everyone!!! -Julie 🙂

Have fun...and don't forget your passport...and put on sunscreen first thing in the morning! And get a waterproof disposable camera or two...yer gonna need it!!

Passport NOT mandatory yet!

Not mandatory, but it is a good idea, as it's much faster to process....

k,

did st pet in decd o5. liked fact only a small group, we had 9 & max i believe is 12. good cap and mate and personal details on trips over and back and excellent treip and explanation trhu baths. rte was around north side of tortola to vg; time at harbor to look around while cap did customs stuff; then to baths where you swam in from boat did great tour and back to boat; then to cooper island for lunch; then a great snorkel at the indians (best i've had in 9 trips to stj); back thru franis drake channel to cruz bay ending. she did the north and south sides of tortola. good trip and smaller group well worth extra $$$ to us.

papabou

we booked with the guy at the little booth in the shops area across from the coast guard offices. who ever you go to baths with i suggest you check bvi cruise ship sch and avoid a day with larger ship in port there.

Thank you for your post papabou! I Stormy Petrel does sound like a good trip as well. I guess the biggest difference is whether to make a stop on the beach of Jost vs Snorkel at the Indians - which ones are more exotic?

Marty..It is no longer to process.

Cynthia....having cleared customs and immigration into the BVI for the past almost 11 years, I can assure you that the passports go faster than the driver's license and bith cert.....if only for the 20 seconds longer it take for the agent to read two documents vs. one....but when I am clearing ten people at once, if everyone doesn't have a passport, it will require an additional 5-10 minutes to clear....5-10 minutes that could be better spent on the water, IMHO....