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Hello. Quick questions: How likely is it to be able to get a "relatively" last minute sail or power boat trip? Within a day or two? Or generally most of the favorite boats booked up in advance?
Background info:
We will be on STJ few days (Maho), then STT (Secret Harbour) for week in early June. We have been to both before, but only briefly as a cruise stop. We want to see more this time, and so have a "to do" list, but I don't want to stress the family with excess activities. I have searched on these boards and some other sources for recommended daysails/power boats. My plan is to print out a few of the ones that seem most suited to us, but want to wait until we have a few days there and see how the other "to do" items go before reserving. We may be so happy just chillin' that we will decide not to do another outing. We will go to the Baths...think I have decided on ferry for that (have read mutiple threads on pros and cons...that seems to suit our needs...BTW thanks to anyone who ever left an opinion on that!). We may want to get to Jost. We may want a sail (?sunset maybe), just for the sail, not necessarily to go anywhere special. We will have a rental vehicle. We will do many beaches - kids like the sand/water, husband and I like to snorkel (have lists of several recommended for each preference).
I just wanted to get a feel for whether all of the "popular" boats will be booked up if we wait until the day before we would like to go. Actually, I think I may be OK with that since we will have plenty to do...just wondered what our chances are.
Thanks in advance for any comments.
We recently sailed with Captain Pat on the Ike Witt out of Red Hook to STJ on a day sail to do some snorkeling. Due to 4 people canceling at the last minute my wife and I were the only 2 people on the trip. I would think most of the popular charter sailboats may be booked but as in our case they may have some last minute cancelations so it might be a good to call and check.
Hi, CMom,
This is what we experienced. We didn't know what day we would be spending on St.John, so we didn't reserve a Jeep in advance. We had a car on STT, but the car ferry (on ly one running) was more of an ordeal than I wanted and I also wasn't sure I wanted to take anything less than a 4 wheel drive to STJ. SOOO, we got on the ferry to STJ with a wish list - 1. find a jeep for rent and drive to remote beaches (Waterlemon); 2. Rent a dinghy to take ourselves snorkeling; 3. Take a sail/off shore snorkel cruise; or 4. last choice - taxi to Trunk. Options 1 and 2 were quickly overruled - we went to about four rental agencies before we learned there wasn't a vehicle on the island that hadn't been reserved. SO, on to option 3. There are a couple of captains that have advertising boards right at the ferry dock. We tried to call, but didn't get through. About to hail a taxi when we tumbled upon the kiosk by the national park entrance - This guy gets a cut of anything he books, and he has LOTS of options. Several books of boats -licensed captains who live on the island or on their boats and hope to support their lifestyle with a charter here and there. Within a few minutes, we had a captain on a beautiful 42' sailboat - and our half day sail was underway. He was able to get two more on the trip just as we were ready to leave, but he would have taken just my daughter and I. He had all the gear on board and was well provisioned for an impromptu event - No caviar and champagne, but a nice trip. The kiosk was key to getting this done. The kiosk guy AKA "concierge" gets 20% - he takes credit cards. The captain needs cash. Hope you have a great trip!! Oh, check out Ruth's spice shop downtown - really neat store and nice lady.
Thanks for the comments. Very helpful. So, Creekdweller, the dinghy rental was all booked up, too? I was thinking we may reserve one of those a few days ahead. Hoping this will be adequate. We will probably go back over to STJ one day to do that, so we can plan ahead.
Thanks again.
Yes, the dinghies were all booked. The conceirge guy was a real surprise for us. I think he had two looseleaf binders full of pictures of different boats and packages available that he could call up on a moments notice. When he called our captian, he got voice mail but he said - "He'll call right back" - He sure did - within a minute or two. And, he was anchored right around the bend, and ready to go anytime we wanted. It was almost too easy!!
Cool. Adding "concierge guy" to "The Master List". Did you get a feel for whether prices via concierge guy were high, low, or about the same as if you got this activity through some other means? Either way, sounds like it really helped the happiness of your day when you could have been disappointed.
There's a couple of places in Cruz Bay that you may want to try. When you get off of the passenger ferry, go straight to the first street and turn left. There is an activities booth there. they may be able to find you something last minutes. Otherwise ask someone how to get to Mongoose Junction which is a restaurant/shopping area at the north edge of town (Left from the ferry dock, a five minute walk). At the furthest entrance to Mongoose you'll find Trevor, "the man under the stairs". This is probably the "concierge guy" that creekdweller mentioned. We booked parasailing through him the day before we want to go and he had it confirmed for me within about 10 minutes.
I think the prices were just about the same as we would have been charged if we had booked in advance. Without checking, I'm thinking it was $60.00 per person for half day. The concierge took his 20% out of that.
