blue_water

Not hard to find… Posts 12, 24 and others…

Depends on the experience you want of course… Our favorite beach is Sapphire, the amenities you want are there, and there is space to find a nice spot. You could head to a beach on STJ and include an island tour, just need to add ~1.5 - 2 hrs to your travel time.

We like to take the water taxi to Caye Caulker. Neat island to tour, then spend time relaxing with the view of The Split from the Lazy Lizard..,

Like St Thomas, St John, Grand Cayman, Belize, Cozumel and most other Carib ports, the best snorkeling is indeed from a boat that is moored/anchored in the most prime spots. Off-the-beach snorkeling is much easier and less expensive when in port, and you can find great snorkeling spots from beaches in all of these ports. But THE best are in cays and on reefs around the islands… For your Tortola stop, the best snorkeling option is with one of the day sails that include stops at the Indians, Norman Caves, the wreck of RMS Rhône, or other spots as weather permits. You will find Aristocat, Kuralu, and Patouche offer these tours, as well as tours to the west that include Diamond Cay and White Bay on Jost. There are also private charters, one mentioned in “The Gorgeous Beaches of the BVI” thread. For off-the-beach snorkeling, Brewers is probably your best bet, many avid snorkelers report decent snorkeling in a specific area there. We’ve not been in some time, but there is natural shade, there should be lounges available, and the restroom “facilities” are rustic if not updated. Nicole’s beach bar serves food and drinks… Gorgeous, old Caribbean vibe vs CGB that is very busy. I’ve read about snorkeling spots at CGB well away from the central area of the bay, but unless Brewers is not comfortable enough for your mom that would by my rec. But if you can get the daysail that is a great option!

Other areas of the island? I can say that we saw many of the Residencial neighborhoods, and the busier tourist areas like Cable Beach and Sandyport, and we were pleasantly surprised at just how nice and welcoming the residents here are! We’ve only experienced that kind of sincere friendliness while living in Mexico. And obviously the islands of the Bahamas are nothing like the Riviera Maya. These are primarily people who work in the service industry, as Nassau is all about tourism, but also elderly folks who are very respectful. For anyone who cares little about getting off the ship and staying near the port, we would highly recommend just taking one of the jitneys (not #10) that pass through the neighborhoods and see that part of the island, and meet locals who get on and off. For $1.25/p, it’s a very inexpensive way to see the island that your fellow cruisers will never experience. And you won’t have that experience in most cities if the U.S. 😉

Just an in any port - or US city - there are areas you don’t need to experience. We spent two weeks on the island and came into town a few times. We walked quite a ways from downtown once and it did get a little sketchy” that far out. But that is where the locals shop of course…It’s just like STT or SXM, the tourist area is quite safe while ships are in port, and definitely walkable within several blocks of the cruise pier. Since you’re not interested in a crowded beach, or trinkets from the market, there’s really nothing to walk the water front or Bay St for other than shops and bars. If you don’t want a water excursion to Rose Island or an island tour to see the history and perhaps a tour of the Graycliff Hotel and their chocolate, wine, and cigar factory for the family, you can now just enjoy the new facilities right at the pier…

You don’t need to be apprehensive about just hopping a taxi on your own. The drivers do this everyday and your driver will tell you what time to expect him back for you. Enjoy Brewers Bay! 😄

Yes, for sure… And don’t get me wrong - thousands of visitors flock to Tulum every week or month! It’s just gotten to be like Playa as that became one of the fastest growing tourist areas in the world…

But I should have added that the excursion to the ruins is not a problem and I would have no concerns going there. It’s just I wouldn’t suggest staying in the Tulum area to friends, there are just better choices today if looking for the Tulum of 25 years ago…

You’re right, Tulum became the new “hotspot” 3 - 4 years ago, and the cartels follow the $$. The cartels are very active, especially in the beach area. In Playa the cartels are pretty well entrenched, or established, and we still see shootings right on 5th Ave and elsewhere. The cartels are still turf fighting in Tulum so yes, we don’t recommend Tulum to friends. We talk to folks who own there or stay every year and they are very defensive of course. But you do need to be aware of the situation, and of course the vast majority of visitors are not. The odds of being caught up in the violence is slim, but…And it’s now sooo expensive there as well. Not the Tulum we knew…

Agree with your choice of doing this through the cruise line. There can be a delay for any number of reasons, including traffic getting out of and especially back into Playa centro. And since our first visit to the Tulum ruins 20+ years ago when there were only a very few vendors and a couple of restaurants, the vendor complex has exploded in size and it takes awhile just to get to the entrance to the ruins. It’s worth the time and effort IMHO, the vast majority of day visitors never get to see this Mayan city…

For first timers to Nassau, if not the adventurous types, you would want to at least explore the port area and that part of town. With succeeding port calls Nassau is a great port in which to enjoy the ship, although many do that so the ship may not be as quiet as in other ports… The closest beach option, Junkanoo, is a bit crowded with Senor Frog’s, Margaritaville, and British Colonial catering to day visitors, but definitely serves a purpose, especially for families looking for a convenient 🏖️

Yes, the only we could do the private charter is by sharing the cost… Is this an NCL cruise?

Hi Shelly, thanks! 😄 The ferry has 5 departures from West End, Tortola, which is a 25-minute taxi from the cruise dock, and 5 departures from Great Harbour, Jost. Times are listed here - https://newhorizonferry.com/schedule/

Yes, Knowing Kim’s history she would probably love one of the east daysails that include the Indians, Norman Caves and the WT or the Bight… One way of making that happen with these port times is by taking a private powerboat charter, and finding others on the Roll Call forum to share the costs. This is definitely a challenging port time for many… Patouche offers that option, as does Sunshine Powerboats. https://patouche.com/ https://sunshinepowerboats.com/ Dive BVI is a popular outfit, and I’m sure you’ve looked at them…

OK. You’ll want the driver to return at an agreed upon time as you probably know…

Taxi fares for cruise ship passengers on Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke were revised as of December 7, 2022, the updated prices are in the link below. https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/si_no_106_of_2022-road_traffic_passenger_fares_amendment_regulations_2022_1.pdf

Taxi rates for cruise ship passengers in the BVI are based on the number of people - 1 person, 2 persons, and 3 or more persons. Taxi fares increased in December, 2022, and I will share the revised fares in a separate thread on this forum… Taxi fare for your group to Smuggler’s Cove will be $15/adult or $60 each way, the toddler will likely be free.

A private charter like https://sunshinepowerboats.com/, perhaps find others on your Roll Call to share the cost…

Just saw this post! The ride to CGB and Brewers Bay is along steep, winding roads, usually in a 20+ passenger safari truck. The ride to Long Bay, West End is along the flatter south shore and then over Zion Hill Road to Long Bay. So not as bad a ride. Same with the ride to Long Bay, Beef Island to the east.. LB, West End is a picture postcard beach near the West End with limited amenities, There is a resort there, and also a public restaurant/bar, unsure about lounges. LB, Beef Island had no amenities but now cruise lines have excursions here and provide amenities. Not sure if you can rent lounges if you go on your own…

Just a heads-up if you are considering going on your own to Cable Beach… We stayed on Cable Beach next to Baha Mar, and the only public beach access we saw between there and Sandyport was next to Bob Marley’s hotel. But that hotel has since closed so no amenities there. There may be another access point, but in all our walks along Cable Beach we didn’t spot them… Cable Beach is now lined with hotels and condos. We met two couples who had taken the $1.25/pp bus to the Baha Mar area looking for a public beach or just beach bars to enjoy. Nothing like that there, and we suggested they take the bus back to Goodman’s Bay which is an easy bus ride from the cruise pier area.

Sure! I’m sure others who have taken this excursion can give you better feedback on the cenote that is included…

We’ve not taken that tour but it looks great. I just posted a thread describing the more popular beaches that I had shared with friends visiting the islands, this is the link if you want to take the time to read that…

The beaches of the BVI are indeed beautiful, and this thread is meant to provide brief descriptions and comparisons of the beaches, and your feedback and opinions are greatly welcomed! For those wanting a gorgeous beach with some amenities and no crowd, there is not that one beach that fits that criteria anywhere, of course. But there are several excellent options to choose from in the BVI, and all BVI beaches are free and open to the public. The taxi fare increased December, 2022, and I and others will follow-up with current taxi fares soon. The fares are segmented, or based on 1, 2, or 3 or more persons. TORTOLA Cane Garden Bay (CGB) on the north shore of Tortola is the primary beach destination for day visitors and bareboaters alike because there are several beach bars to choose from and it is easily accessible by safari taxi and dinghy. CGB is a nice beach in a larger bay that is generally calm but can also be quite rough with sea swells (as is the case with most beaches). CGB is home to several beach bars/restaurants including Myett's, the Elms, Rymers, Big Banana, and Quito's to name a few. Quito Rymer is a popular reggae/island recording artist who plays at his bar Thurs & Fri evenings, not to be missed if you have the opportunity to spend the night. All of these spots have good bar food and drinks and Myett's and others rent lounges and umbrellas. Our pick for THE cheeseburger in Paradise was always Stanley's famous Welcome Bar, as that’s the actual spot, but that is no more…But Myett’s has a great cheeseburger and fish tacos! CGB becomes the most crowded bay in the BVI when cruise ships are docked in Tortola, and if you like a busier or more active vibe CGB is your best choice. Good beer, drink and food choices, as well as some watersports rentals and a water taxi to Jost may be possible. There is also taxi service available if you decide CGB is not for you and you want to go to a quieter beach (see below). Here is a link to a webcam when available – http://www.resortcams.com/webcams/cane-garden-bay/ Brewers Bay is just to the north of CGB and is a very nice beach with great snorkeling. Nicole's beach bar serves drinks and food and rents chairs and has one restroom. Brewers is a bit more rustic but really beautiful. In terms of the number of people you can expect to see there, it is much less busy than CGB, but can become a little busy with ships in port but space to find a nice spot with natural shade. Taxi fare is the same as CGB. Josiah's Bay lies to the north of Brewer's and is a nice beach with rougher water, very popular with surfers and you can take lessons from http://www.surfschoolbvi.com/ https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147354-d6105508-r198572995-Surf_School_BVI-Tortola_British_Virgin_Islands.html Smuggler's Cove is south of CGB and is one of the most beautiful and natural Tortola beaches. Typically calm waves and decent snorkeling off the beach and gorgeous views of Jost and Sandy Cay. Nigel and Miss Patricia should be selling drinks and food so you’d want to check with your driver, or if renting a Jeep stop and grab a lunch and cooler of drinks on the way there. Smuggler's is a little harder to drive to because of an unpaved and bumpy road for the last mile or so and the fare is a little higher than CGB or Brewers. There was a porta potty but that was not present one visit so not sure when there will be one there. The price of a beautiful, secluded beach in paradise! So it gets less of the crowds and attracts more locals and that's the beauty of Smuggler's. You'll need the taxi driver to return to pick you up here. You will pass Long Bay (West End) on the way to Smuggler's and that is a long, beautiful stretch of beach you'll see on picture postcards. Great spot to walk, picnic, or enjoy watching the pelicans dive. Home of the Long Bay Beach Club which once offered day passes but now just rents loungers for $5 each. There is a restaurant and bar and also restrooms available for day visitors. Entry into the water is quite rocky on the west end of the bay but sandier on the east end. Long Bay (Beef Island) is a very nice beach near the airport, very natural with no facilities or amenities and popular with locals. UPDATE - Cruise lines now provide lounges/umbrellas, drinks and other amenities here. Not sure if other guests can rent lounges… Trellis Bay near Long Bay,Beef is a popular mooring bay with a nice pottery shop, De Loose Mongoose bar and great fish sandwiches at Cyber Café. The beach isn't as nice as the others mentioned. However you can take a complimentary ferry over to little Marina Cay which recently reopened after Irma where there is a nice small beach and a restaurant/bar. Nice day if you’ve already visited the other areas of Tortola. A great option for Tortola is an island tour. Drivers at the dock offer different tours at very reasonable rates (2 hrs at $15 – 20pp, 3 hrs with a 1 hr beach stop at $25pp, for example). Tortola is a gorgeous island to tour and there are amazing panoramic views for photo ops. JOST VAN DYKE White Bay on Jost Van Dyke (JVD) is a nice, white sand beach with several beach bars. There's often a busier vibe during the day because a flotilla of cats and motor boats stop there throughout the day to enjoy the vibe. Since it can be a busy vibe along the beach White Bay is not recommended as a destination for those wanting to enjoy nature and a quiet, relaxing beach. But it can also be quieter, just depends on the day. It is a great spot to enjoy drinks at the Soggy $, Ivan's Stress Free Bar, or be entertained by the magic and card tricks of Seddy (Foxy's son) at his One Love Bar. And you can find good music in the afternoon and evening from Rubin Chinnery at Ivan's on Thursdays. UPDATE Seddy and Rubin both passed recently, unfortunately. Soggy $ webcam – http://www.soggydollar.com/webcam Great Harbor is over the hill and home to Foxy's and other places. Foxy's is a fun place to enjoy, the owner (Foxy Callwood) plays guitar and entertains with his stories. This is a very popular spot for New Year’s Eve as well. Great Harbor does not have the nice beach like White Bay but is a good spot for mooring and is where the West End, Tortola and USVI ferries dock. If you choose to visit Jost via the Horizons ferry out of Soper’s Hole, Tortola you will taxi to West End, Tortola, ferry to the dock in GH, and taxi over to White Bay. http://newhorizonferry.com/ VIRGIN GORDA – Valley area There are also nice beaches on Virgin Gorda besides Devil’s Bay, including Savannah and Spring Bays. Savannah Bay is gorgeous and has a snorkeling trail that is popular with those who live/vacation on the island. Spring Bay is near the Baths, and offer a similar topography to the Baths, but not as nice. No amenities at Spring Bay, but it is within walking distance of the Top of the Baths, and Mad Dog’s. And of course the famous Baths and Devil’s Bay are very unique and worth a visit for those who have yet to experience them. Everything is within a short drive from the ferry terminal in the Valley which makes it easy to see this part of VG. The easiest way there is on your own, just walk to the ferry to the left of the cruise ship dock and take the 30 min ferry to Virgin Gorda. You will find many taxis available for the short ride to the top of the Baths, then you will walk down a trail to get to the beach and the boulders. Devil’s Bay is a very nice beach there. The drivers will recommend a time to be back at the top for your return to Road Town. If you are lucky enough to be in port for a longer day you can work with a driver and get dropped at different beaches as you wish, and possibly hit the Baths when not quite so crowded. Taxi fares can be googled and are reasonable. You can also rent a car if you have enough time for that, the North Sound is a beautiful area to tour. If time allows you can have lunch at the Top of the Baths restaurant, or even taxi to the Mineshaft Café to enjoy the panoramic view and their signature drink the Cave In - "It's all in the Juice, mon!". UPDATE - The Mineshaft is no more, but Mad Dog Cafe is a great spot. Also a little shopping is available in Spanishtown a short walk from the ferry dock. Speedy’s also offers packages that include the taxi to the Top of the Baths (same price as buying on your own), and another that includes lunch and a drink at the Baths & Turtle (now Chez Bamboo) restaurant in Spanishtown. With many of the shorter port times today I’d recommend getting back to the ferry a little early. The ferries are very dependable, but everyone else will also want to spend as much time as possible seeing the Baths and the island and will take the latest ferry back. ANEGADA The beaches of Anegada are also gorgeous, this is a flat island as compared to the others and is a bit far away for a cruise ship stop but worth a visit if you return for a longer stay. Summary - So the islands of the BVI offer several options for beach-goers, just depends on the experience you want to have. For a more active vibe hit CGB or White Bay, JVD, for snorkeling try Brewers Bay, and for a more secluded beach Smuggler’s Cove, Josiah's or Long Bay, (West End). There are also some excellent day sail operators that take you to Virgin Gorda and the Baths, to the Indians and Norman Island for snorkeling, and to White Bay, Jost and Sandy Spit for beach time. These include Aristocat Charters, Kuralu, and Patouche. For a personalized, private day, try https://sunshinepowerboats.com/ And be sure to treat the beaches and other areas with respect and pick up after yourselves, the folks who live there will be very appreciative. The people of Tortola are wonderful and a treat to meet. The beaches will also be as pristine as you remember them when you return to spend more time in the beautiful BVI! Enjoy your time in our favorite islands, and be sure to share your experience!

Tortola is a beautiful island with different land and sea experiences, and is well worth exploring for those with the time. This early/short port time just doesn’t allow you time to enjoy one of those well without a private option… Short of hiring a private driver for a tour and to hit a more remote beach like Smuggler’s Cove, a private charter to get dropped at the Baths before your fellow cruisers arrive, or getting lucky with an early daysail with Aristocat, Kuralu or Patouche to the Indians and Norman Caves, a Tortola beach is probably your best option. We head to Smuggler’s Cove or Long Bay, West End when ships are in port as they are a bit more secluded and offer less amenities than CGB. If we were on this early cruise and wanted snorkeling we’d head to Brewers Bay based on others’ experiences… Would you be interested in surfing lessons in Josiah’s Bay?