GREAT trip! Book on-line www.newhorizonscharters.com, or call 340-775-1171 and book with Holly over the phone. Don't forget your passports, or birth certificates w/photo ID.

You'll spend about 1.5 hours at The Baths, an hour at Marina Cay for lunch, about 45 minutes for snorkeling off Guana Island and a couple hours at the Soggy Dollar on Jost.

Another great one is Captain Nautica. After the Baths, they go to Nanny Cay for lunch on Tortola, then to the Indians for great snorkeling. About the same price, and well worth it, too.

Thankyou!!! A million times over! I have heard that Captain Nautica has you swim in to the Baths and that a woman said the water was a bit rough, and her husband couldn't do the swim, so had to stay on the boat. True or false? I am a comfortable swimmer. What do you do on Jost, besides the Soggy Dollar? Good beaching and walking? Thanks . ANd Marty, you're about indespensible(sp?)!!!!! Thanks again!!!~dl

It's true that Cpt. Nautica has you swim, but all but the worst of swimmers will make it no problem. Sometimes the people get there and then don't want to swim back, so they bring the boat up to the beach for you, if need be. But usually not needed. Sometimes the waves can be rough, but the norm would be the waves coming out of the East, so the bay is in the lee.

(thanks for the compliment...you're making me blush!! 🙂 )

Marty,

I have to disagree with you for the first time......my husband's mother and step-father have a boat and he spent alot of time in the water growing up. I am the one "dltrek" is referring to with the husband who had to spend the afternoon on the Captain Natica boat because of the rough water. I on the other had can swim (but not like the people who work on these boats for a living). I made it. I think it has more to do with physical endurance. My husband nor I are ones who exercise.

And on the Captain Nautica trip, they now stop at the Indian's first then go to the baths. You don't stop for lunch until 2:00 or after. I think that is why they have you arrive early and check in at their store in Red Hook. They direct you to a small coffee/snack shop nearby to grab a bite before getting on the boat.

Thanks for the update!!

My husband and I took the New Horizons II trip last week (just back from six nights in VI -- trip report to follow soon, I promise).

If you are going with a bunch of friends, and want an experience with lots of free-flowing Rum Punches, very nice snacks, a long initial ride to your first stop (about an hour), a lightning fast tour of the Baths with LOTS of tourists all over, lunch at a VERY tasty spot (we LOVED Pusser's), 45 minutes of average snorkeling, then a final stop at Jost Van Dyke to just drink some more, you will enjoy this trip.

We were really looking for a trip that would provide us with lots of snorkeling opportunities. In our opinion, New Horizons II was the wrong trip to help us meet that goal. We only had one snorkel opportunity, and even from my limited snorkel experience in the Bahamas, it was not a very good spot. When we arrived on Jost Van Dyke, several people on our boat wondered what we were supposed to do there. Having some drinks, buying some t-shirts, or sitting on a beach chair for about a half-hour were the only options. There were several people who would have loved an opportunity to get more snorkeling in, but we were advised that there was nothing off the beach to see.

In addition, the boat was 45 minutes late in picking up the four folks from St. John due to a person in St. Thomas forgetting their travel documents and having to return to their hotel to get them. This significant late start led to a shortened Baths trip amongst literally 100+ tourists clamoring over the rocks and sand. I would not travel again with a trip that had more than a 15-minute wait period -- it led to a greatly diminished experience.

From a comfort perspective, the Breakaway, which is also owned by New Horizons, is a much newer and larger boat, and looked to be much more comfortable to ride in.

I think that if you are coming over from St. Thomas and aren't interested primarily in snorkeling, you will have a good time. But we were on St. John, where it is already very laid back and full of lots of beautiful nature sites. This trip did not offer me enough "bang" for the significant bucks.

Thanks for your review Roka. We are not particularly interested in drinking lots of rum, eating where we are dropped, and seeing the Baths with 'a crowd'. Would like to see the natural aspects of Baths, Virgin GOrda, Jost, Tortola. Any body got any ideas? We are already booked at ecotents on STJ and then Secret Harbour on STT. Perhaps we will book another trip to BVI another time. It sure sounds like STJ and STT have PLENTY to offer!!~dl

i agree...i have been looking for a cruise when we are there in april with my cousins who have not been to either the usvi or bvi....but after reading this thread and several others i am realizing that going to virgin gorda and tortola is way too much for the first short trip

they will have plenty to do and see in st thomas and st john...

NOW I JUST HAVE TO FIND A BOAT that will do a nice day of LOCAL visits to beautiful spots...sort of a sightseeing trip and beach going.....st john and st thomas...we are at secret harbour

any advice appreciated

Checkout
www.stjohnlinks.com/charters/breath

tried that link doesn't work

still looking for a good boat trip for the day any ideas

Have you considered renting a boat from See and Ski? They will provide you with a captain and he can take you wherever you wish to go.

Marty -

How do I get in touch with See and Ski?

Thanks,
Cathy

Hello Cathy,

See & Ski 340-775-6265

You can also try Water's Edge 340-771-7356

--Islander