Hello Jackson,

Not clear on what you mean. I am thinking you are visiting on a Windjammer Barefoot Cruise or maybe barefoot is a typo and you meant bareboat? Also what type of suggestions are you looking for (beaches, diving, attractions...)? 🙂

--Islander

Thanks Islander, Yes we are first visiting with Windjammer Barefoot cruises, then staying for a few days afterward. I am hoping someone on the board has also been thru the windjammer cruise, and can share any ideas to prepare for it. I have followed ALL of the beach, accomodations, etc. threads, so REALLY appreciate your message board! Can't wait for January!! Coming from Seattle area. Thanks again!

Jackson: Are you on the Legacy out of St Thomas??

Yes we are EE. With the standard Monday - Saturday stops.

They leave from the Crown Bay area (or did last year)- lots of fun around there. Tickles is in walking distance. Then you will do the Tour de BVI. I am not familiar with the ship's offerings at each stop. Do you have some specific desires? Snorkeling, diving, beaching, shopping, etc???? I predict you will have fun.

We sailed on the Mandalay 4 years ago and had a great time. Pack light, the cabins are small and there is not a lot of space to store large pieces of luggage. Bring a first aid kit to fix any injuries you may get, the first aid supplies on the ship are meager. Benedryl, sundblock, aloe jell for sunburn, dramamine for seasickness, ace bandages for sprains, antibiotic ointment, lomotil or peptobismol. The decks and stairs are slippery when wet, I'd not walk on them in flipflops, bare foot is safer.
Beach towels and anything else that is heavy or thick fabric will take forever to dry - we used a flat sheet as a beach balnket and the chammie camping towels to dry off with after swimming, both are light weight and pack up small, so you don't have to haul around a lot of stuff. Bring some rope or cord to use as a clothes line in your cabin. Zip lock bags to keep stuff dry. A day pack. Thats all I can think of at the moment. If you have any questions, I'll try to answer them.
Have a great time!
Lisa

Thanks Lisa! This is the "stuff" that I am looking for. When visiting ports, do you generally need to taxi to snorkeling/beaches, or are they within walking distances? Thinking also of the Baths, similar question. Thanks again!

I called my friend who did the BVI sail, unfortunately she did not know about needing money for taxis to get to beaches, since she spent her time on board getting her scuba certificate done. She did say taxis were easy to find in the ports where the boat docked. You will need money for the taxi from the airport to the dock. The ship will help arrange a taxi from the dock to either the airport or your hotel when you leave.

We sailed from Greneda to St. Lucia, some beaches were in walking distance, other beaches you took the ship's launch boat to get to, other times we just swam off the boat when it was moored.

They have snorkel gear to rent on the boat.

A great message board for windjammers is coconutelegraph.com, but the site is down for construction right now. Hopefully, it will be back up before you sail.

Lisa