Whenever I have friends or family visit I take them on that trip. It is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!! Book it and you will be so thrilled that you did! The crew is great, the drinks are tasty, the boat is fast. The Baths are incredibly pretty and photograph well. Marina Cay is a hoot and the food is tasty. Snorkeling off Guana Island is superb. Lots of coral and undersea life (fish, turtles, rays, etc.). And The Soggy Dollar Bar is a great way to end a wonderful trip. Swing the ring! It's addictive!! This will be a highlight to your vacation. I promise.

Marty,

How long do they give you at the Baths?

I second Marty's comments, I've taken guests on NHII several times and everybody's had a great time. As I recall, we were at the Baths for most of the morning, certainly enough time to explore, swim, etc. Next stop was lunch, then more snorkeling, then Jost Van Dyke, then home and collapse.

Are there any restrooms available? Did you see any children on the trip?

Yes, the boat does have a head, though I've never used it. The longest you will be on the boat is about 1/2 an hour.

And yes, you are allowed to bring children, but this is geard towards the adults. I don't mean to make you think that people are going to be getting naked, or anything, but the cocktails do flow pretty freely (mimosas and bloody marys as soon as you board! Woohoo!) which loosens most folks lips and lowers some inhibitions.

You'll be at the Baths for a couple of hours. They give a guided tour at the start of that time. You will be at the Republic of Cuervo Gold (Marina Cay) for lunch for about an hour or so. Snorkeling off Guana for about 45 minutes to an hour. The rest of the day will be on the boat getting to and from and.....TA-DAAA! The Soggy Dollar Bar! Well, at least on the beach at White Bay....it's up to you if you want to hang at Soggy...which I highly recommend. Or, heck, head over to Sidney's (sp? Just doesn't look right) Peace and Love...that's pretty darn cool, too!

Is this the only boat tour to the BVI? You all speek very highly of New Horizon's 2, what happened to New Horizon's 1?!!? It does sound great & alot of fun, just don't know if I wanna pay that much. I think just getting to the islands is treat enough for us.

The New Horizons ($110) is a sailboat, while the NH II ($125 + $20 for C&I) and the Breakaway $120 +$20 for C&I) are powerboats. There are several other trips to the BVI, I just think NH II is the best....well, for that type of trip it is. Captain Nautica ($115 + $20) does a trip to the BVI and it's awesome, too. Just slightly different style of trip than NHII. Limnos' trip is geared more towards familys, but they do an excellent job. They were running a summer special, and it was so popular that they are continuing it through the high season. These are double decker, powered catamarans, with a sun deck, shade deck, restrooms, freshwater showers and they serve a light breakfast, picnic-style lunch and open bar all day long. They go to the Baths on Virgin Gorda and then to the Caves on Norman Island (the island that was the inspriration for the book "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stephenson). All snorkel gear is provided. Check this out....$85 + $20 for C&I!! Amazing deal!! www.limnoscharters.com

Marty,

You seem pretty knowledgable about the different trips. We have been considering New Horizons II. I like the idea of a fast boat. I'm pretty prone to sea sickness. So I like the idea of getting to the next location quickly. Also, in my experience fast boats more or less skim over the waves so there isn't alot of the up and down motion that slow boats have. What I want to know is how does this compare to the Limnos trip? Is it also a fast boat or would I have to load up on dramanine to get through it? I llike the $$$ for the Limnos trip much better. $85 vs $120 sounds good. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

The Limnos will probably be a better trip for you...and not just because of the money. It is a MUCH larger boat, doesn't go as fast, but, being so big, the waves don't affect it much. The NHII, which is something like a 38', scarab-style boat, scoots right along, but the trip will be bouncier. I don't hear many people complaining about seasickness on it, but, then again, maybe people that get seasick alot don't go! Haha! Book the Limnos and just sit on the top deck, I'll bet you'll be fine...then again, with an open bar all day long, even if you're sick...you won't care! Haha!

Thanks Marty,

Bouncy doesn't bother me. I remember taking a small motor boat, maybe 22 feet, over to Jost Van Dyke last time we were there. I thought that my teeth were going to shake loose but it didn't make me sick. The kind of motion that gets to me is the slow rolling kind of motion. You know, up and down, up and down. Sometimes a slow big boat is worse than a fast small boat. I would also like to go to Jost and the Baths which Limnos doesn't do in the same trip. Our trip isn't until April so we have a while to decide. Thanks for the input.

I'm still trying to decide between the NH2 and Breakaway. I assume the iteniary is different ( different snorkeling spots). I know it's the same company. Which would be better for teens?

4 islands on NHII, only 3 on Breakaway. I'd lean towards the NHII, myself...then again, I am 36 years old, instead of in my teens. Go to www.newhorizonscharters.com and http://visitbreakaway.com/ But, I still think the teens wil like the NHII better. Just for the simple fact that that you se one more island.

~Marty

Do ya think it is better to book NH2 when we get to St. Thomas? Are there **specials** that we can hook up with when we get there, or would you recomend booking online before we arrive?
And, what kind of ~perks~ so ya get when you sit & listen to all the timeshare presentations?

At Bluebeard's Castle, they will offer you 2 free air tix (worthless), a bottle of rum (yummy!) and some coupons, one of which is for the New Horizons Full Day Sail. When you are getting yourlugage at the airport, there are little booths that do different things, like rental cars and whatnot. Bluebeard's has one right across from the luggage carousel. Ask if Cathie is there. Tell her you know me and that I told you to come see her. She'll get you all set up. After you get your VIP card, then go to the Activities Desk in the Lobby at Bluebeard's, and Brittney will book you.

We have booked a trip on the New Horizons II for Weds., Dec. 8th (40 year old female who loves the water with her 51 year old partner who does not especially care for the water -- in fact, he already said he does not want to snorkle. But, since I love boats and water and want to see the Baths, he is going with me. But, I will have to go out and play golf with him in return. Anyone else going Weds., Dec. 8th on the NHII?

Please, please, please post pictures and a report of your NH2 trip. I'm still trying to decide if its worth the money which is a little tight right now.

Have fun!

Dale, Here are some of our pics from Sept.
It was a great time and well worth the money.
Bill
http://www.pbase.com/Bill_l

Hi Marty,

After reading through most of this, I'm wondering if NHII is a real party trip with lots of drinking going on all day. If it is, that's fine, but that's not for me, and I'd rather know ahead of time. A drink or two is fine, but not all day long. Will it be as nice of a trip if I intend to stay sober?

You mentioned several other trips, most of which do sound nice. What about Stormy Petrel? Would you care to share any info about that one?

Thanks very much.

Chuck

Some boats are essentially party boats/booze cruises ---emphasize their open bar and stops at island bars, with a snorkel stop or two thrown in. Others are more snorkel/education trips with knowledgeable caps who love to introduce folks to the Caribbean ecosystem. You should ask a lot of very specific questions to be sure you're getting the kind of trip you're looking for.

We had a great trip with Phil Chalker on the Wayward Sailor. Ain't no party, ain't no disco. Just a fine day discovering the wonders of the Caribbean with a pleasant and knowledgeable host.

http://www.waywardsailor.net/