blue_water

For Coz, the best beach clubs are typically busy and you may want to try the bar hop us or something similar…

Highly recommend Fat Fish Adventures for GCM. Small group on jet skis, you hit Stingray City with fewer boats there than with the options mentioned, plus the reef and possibly Rum Point or another beach stop. Great crew and fun day, can’t recommend them highly enough! If you can take the last excursion of the day you get an extra hour… https://fatfishadventures.com/ https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147365-d1006098-Reviews-Fat_Fish_Adventures-Grand_Cayman_Cayman_Islands.html

For a snorkeling or other water excursion at this port I’d much prefer to have something lined up when I arrive. You would normally be able to book with one of the reputable independent outfits that cater to cruise ship passengers, but you are there tomorrow so you probably aren’t seeing this. But if you are, google the Pearl Island snorkeling excursions, or check Viator.

Yes those early port times are difficult… I’d suggest taking one of the shared island tours that include a stop in Cane Garden Bay. You’ll enjoy spectacular views from high, and have a chance to enjoy CGB with a tour of the distillery and a lunch at Myett’s or another spot if you’d like. Then shop the port after the tour. Drivers offer 3 - 4 hr shared island tours at very reasonable rates (~$25 - $30/pp). Just a thought!

I would be ok with the 1:45 return as the ferries are quite reliable. I would just be in line at 1:15 to be safe. But that still gives you another ~2+ hours! And a chance to go to the Baths after the biggest crowd has already left…

For Tortola, highly recommend AC’s private tours, book early! http://www.info-res.com/actaxibvi/ https://www.bvitourism.com/acs-taxi-service If not available try Stoutt’s https://www.stouttstaxiandtour.com/

For future reference, You will find separate forums for Tortola (BVI), St Croix (USVI), and St Thomas/St John (USVI)…

Ok, yes you are there only 8 hours so your options for the Baths are limited, unfortunately. The best you can probably do is the 7:45/11:30 ferry. The Baths will be busy, and I would suggest just enjoying Brewers Bay on Tortola and experiencing the Baths at another time, either on a longer port stop or a land vacation. Tortola and the BVI are a wonderful place to spend more time. But you can spend ~2.5 hours on VG and experience the Baths if you really want that…Just get in line for the return ferry a little early…

See my above reply tigers…

No you can use a bill and a quarter. You just hand the $$ to the driver as you get off, no machine involved. The drivers are great and we usually just give them $2/pp… Great question!

Yes there are shops, also Pusser’s Road Town Pub for refreshments, and they have some very nice (but pricey) clothing in their shop. You can also get that “Cheeseburger in Paradise” at the very spot that Buffet’s song comes from, Village Cay…

Just hop the first ferry to VG. The ferry terminal is a short walk from the cruise dock. Your time in port can make a huge difference in your experience, especially at the Baths. When you arrive on VG you can just hop a shared safari taxi to the Top of the Baths if your time is limited. Or if you have time and want to avoid the crowd at the Baths, you can work with a driver to drop you at Savannah Bay first, then hit the Baths after the biggest crowd has cleared out. The drivers know how to help you, and the fares around the Valley are inexpensive ($3 - $4/person per ride for your party of 5). Or you can rent a car from Mahogany if you want to also tour the North Sound… Your time in port makes a difference… There may also be independent outfits like Aristocat, Kuralu, and Patouche offering cat sails to the Baths where you swim in from the boat if that interests you…

The main bus stop where you hop on is at Frederick & Bay if I remember, just a couple blocks to the right of the dock. They ask that you use exact change $1.25 USD or Bohemian. You can tell the driver where you are getting off and he will usually remember. But it is normal to say “bus stop please” as you approach your destination… the #10 is the main bus, but the others go through the neighborhoods and a driver can tell you which bus you want… They drop you where you got on in town…

Taxis are expensive, just hop the jitney (bus) that stops at the beach and drops you in town or wherever you want to go for $1.25

For Nassau check out the “Rum, Reggae, and Rhythms Tour”. You can find the itinerary (Graycliff cigar “factory”, chocolate shop, wine shop, and John Watling’s rum factory, + Bob Marley’s house/property if renovations have been completed). You can find great reviews on CC’s sister site TripAdvisor. You book through TA/Viator, and the tour is provided by BahTours for $65 USD/pp. Fun, low-key day if you want something like that..

The new stage/cover was nearly completed May 5, not sure if that will be used for live music/entertainment or what…

Drake’s Seat is just a vantage point to see Magens Bay from above; MountainTop is a shopping stop, with amazing views of the north shore; Skyline Drive is a scenic drive with a stop at a lookout where vendors are waiting for you, and the skyride/gondola to Paradise Point is a short ride up to PP where you can have a cocktail/lunch with a view of the harbor. So no history really, other than what you learn from the driver… There is a historic section in Charlotte Amalie that you can do on your own, or with an independent tour. Search this forum (or Google it) for ideas on the historic area for self-excursion ideas… Regarding the other stuff, are you interested in an island tour to the most touristy spots, perhaps with a stop at the most popular beach? If so you can choose one of the tours offered by the cruise line, or better yet one of the popular independent tours.

I know they offer day passes (limited numbers) to Baha Bay (the water park) for $160/adult (those over 48”), $65 for those under 48”. You also have access to the public areas (casino, restaurants). Last I knew they did not provide access to the beach lounges and other guest facilities to day visitors. Perhaps that has changed?

We always use ISIS for long-term (5-6 mos) rentals in Playa, and when we spend a day on Coz. Excellent family-run outfit and very honest. The owner, Margaritaville, passed but it is still a great outfit. We rent an intermediate sedan for $900 pesos (~$45 USD), no need for a Jeep on Cozumel. Recent gas prices were ~$21 pesos/ltr, or $4/gal. But you won’t use that much gas…Definitely book ahead and get confirmation.

Yes Spring Bay is much easier to access, but as noted no public facilities. You’d need to walk back to the Top of the Baths restaurant for restrooms, etc…Or better yet Mad Dog Cafe. Be sure to carry water… https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Spring+Bay,+British+Virgin+Islands/Top+of+the+Baths,+Spanish+Town,+British+Virgin+Islands/@18.4314074,-64.4421792,548m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x8c057925b0efc5a7:0x75176fec07a7e26e!2m2!1d-64.4459545!2d18.4321559!1m5!1m1!1s0x8c0573df809631bd:0x6a8de662a9897170!2m2!1d-64.442391!2d18.4293272!3e2

Junkanoo is ok and a close option you can walk to. Goodman’s Bay is a short jitney ride ($1.25/pp, exact change) and a better choice. You can hop a #10 bus where they pick up and drop off at Bay and Frederick Sts. The buses stop to return you to the cruise dock. We just stayed next to Baha Mar and the Melia (still closed) for two weeks and they were bringing sand in every day by the truck loads. The beach in front of our property was nonexistent, but in front of the Melia (which is still closed) we had a small beach all to ourselves. Not sure if Baha Mar offers day passes, you can check. There is no public beach access on that section of Cable Beach that we know of. There is a public beach access next to Sandals, but no amenities that we saw…

Looking at the independent excursions you get much more but you pay more too.

It was already “that” port, IMHO... Similar to Cozumel in that unless you want a beach with zero amenities, there just isn’t any way to escape the mega-crowd you are a part of with so many ships in port… We’ve avoided cruising to Nassau for years, I know others do as well, or just stay on the ship if it has to be part of the itinerary. But we did very much enjoy a recent two-week vacation there.Two very different worlds I will say (visiting by cruise ship vs land). The people who live here are very warm and welcoming. And you have time to explore Eleuthera and other Out Islands if that interests you. Highly recommend a land visit - short flights from the east coast of the US, and after visiting and wintering in Mexico for 20+ years, it’s nice to have the English language and $USD!

From what we saw 2 weeks ago construction will be going on for awhile. It is very disruptive between the dock and Pompey Square, but it looks like it will be worth it when completed. The new restaurant and bar inside the dock area was expected to be open now..,

Meant to add you may board a #12 or another bus, just as long as they are going that direction…