Tortola, Antigua and St. Thomas

[Guest Badgercruiser!]

We have cruised several times but never to Tortola, Antigua or St. Thomas. We would love some information about what to do and what not to do at these ports. Time is limited and we would like to spend it wisely. We will be traveling with our two sons, ages 11 and 13. Thank you in advance for the information!

[joand452]

We went to Tortola and St. Thomas last year. Tortola is good for snorkeling because there's nothing else to do there. We don't snorkel, so took a tour of the island. Lots of great views of the ship, but little else other than lots of wild chickens! There wasn't much in the way of shopping or restaurants, either.

 

St. Thomas was a mix of water activites and shopping. Lots of nice beaches there or you can take the ferry to St. John for more. Jewelry shopping in St. Thomas is supposed to be tops, too. Lots of other shops and restaurants, too.

 

Haven't been to Antigua.

 

Have a great time!!

[Flip2cruise]

We have cruised several times but never to Tortola, Antigua or St. Thomas. We would love some information about what to do and what not to do at these ports. Time is limited and we would like to spend it wisely. We will be traveling with our two sons, ages 11 and 13. Thank you in advance for the information!

 

 

When are you sailing on Liberty?

 

 

Here are a few of the Antigua websites

http://lawrenceofantigua.com/

 

http://www.adventureantigua.com/tour.html

 

http://www.antiguaadventures.com/t-ortx-atv.html

 

 

Here is the link to a day pass at the Grand Pineapple Beach

http://www.allegroantigua.com/english/Day_Pass.htm

 

1 - Full Day Pass

From 9.30am until 6pm.

Includes: Breakfast, lunch and snacks

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

Non-motorized water sports

use of the swimming pool and lounge chairs

US$45 per person + 10% Service Charge

 

Jolly Beach Resort is another option in Antigua

http://www.jollybeachresort.com/antigua.html

 

Jolly Beach Resort provides all of the following Guest - Pass programs:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EFFECTIVE January, 2005

 

 

Day Passes

 

• OPTION 1
  

• 
  
• Valid 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.
  
• Includes full breakfast, lunch, beverage, water sports (non-motorized) and beach towel
  
• Cost: US$50.00 per adult
  

US$25.00 per child for children 2-11 years, 12yrs & above - adult price

 

 

 

OPTION 2

• 
  
• Valid 10:15a.m. - 5:15p.m.
  
• Includes continental breakfast, lunch, beverage, water sports (non-motorized) and beach towel
  
• Cost: US$42.00 per adult
  

• US$21.00 per child for children 2-11 years, 12yrs & above - adult price
  

 

 

 

In St thomas you can go with Godfrey's Tours for $20pp

http://www.godfreytoursvi.com/

[Guest Badgercruiser!]

:cool: Thanks so much for you help and the references to websites. We are booking this week and are deciding between November 12th and December 10th. My husband would love to go on a cruise where John Held is the CD. He is hoping that he will still be on the Liberty when we sail. We love to cruise and do it as often as we can afford to. Will you be sailing on the Liberty?

[Flip2cruise]

:cool: Thanks so much for you help and the references to websites. We are booking this week and are deciding between November 12th and December 10th. My husband would love to go on a cruise where John Held is the CD. He is hoping that he will still be on the Liberty when we sail. We love to cruise and do it as often as we can afford to. Will you be sailing on the Liberty?

 

Im sailing on December 10th. We have a very active roll call already. About 50+ people. Im sure you will have a great time on either sailing.

[phabric]

Check out the different Port of Calls threads here for some great information.

 

In 2004, we used http://www.godfreytoursvi.com for a 6hr tour of St Thomas. He picked us up at the dock in a open truck. He drove us downtown for 2hr shopping (if you don't want to go to town to shop he will pick you up at a later time), 2 hr island tour. He asks which of the 3 beachs people wanted and then he drives to the different beachs for 2 hr. If you don't want the beach he will drive you back to the ship, one couple had not planned on the beach part but changed they minds and enjoyed just seating near the beach for the 2 hr.. He will hold any belongings that you don't want to take to the beach in his cab of his truck. He returned us to the ship after the 2 hr. You pay at the end only $20pp. On a previous cruise we had taken a city tour with Princess and we had not seen as much as we did with Godfrey's tour. You have to make a reservation through his website. He fills up fast as his truck holds about 20.

[MyImagination]

In Tortola you can see the Baths much cheaper on your own. I think the ship charges almost $80.

 

http://www.islandsonline.com/smithsferry/

 

http://www.bvivacations.com/Ferry.html

 

http://www.bvitravel.com/ferries/

[palmtre2]

A great excursion for your kids in St. Thomas is SNUBA. It's almost scuba diving, we booked this ourselves thru Coral World, it was the highlite of my 10 yr old daughters trip. The fee ($60) includes admission to Coral World -not a whole lot to see but the boys will love feeding times for the stingrays, sharks & sea turtles. The snack bar has a shaded area with tables (better than eating on the beach). There are also clean bathrooms, lockers & showers at Coral World. The park is connected to Coki Beach (great snorkeling here) via a boardwalk and you can go back and forth all day long with your wristband.

[tef43]

There wasn't much in the way of shopping or restaurants, either.

A stop in Tortola is not complete without a visit to Pussers.

 

http://www.pussers.com/outposts/roadtown

[MamaParrotHead]

and by FAR, Godfrey was the best tour and best spent time on our whole cruise. He makes frequent stops to take in the view and take pictures, is very knowledgeable about the island, very friendly and helpful.

[OCruisers]

Badgercruiser .... Since you and your family have never been to Tortola, you might want to consider going to The Baths of Virgin Gorda. In the book, 1,000 Places To See Before You Die, The Baths is listed as one of the 1,000 !

 

There's a thread in the Ports of Call section under Caribbean Other with a site for an absolutely WONDERFUL map of The Baths as well as a description on each. Wish we'd had it our first time there:

 

The Baths of Virgin Gorda -- Map & Info (Click Here)

 

Hope this helps! Have fun planning!

 

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[DreadPirateRobert]

Sadly it's been quite a few years since my last visit to Tortola but at one time Cane Garden Bay was flat out gorgeous. There was a little shack of a bar called Stanleys. It was right on the beach so you could wander in and out between swims.

Beer was cold, music was laid back and the barkeep was friendly with a great accent.

Ah, that was a great place to spend an afternoon.

[SouthernCaribbean]

I would recommend Lawrence of Antigua..great time and nice man.

 

http://lawrenceofantigua.com/

[DaytonCruiser]

If you want something different try Eli's Eco Tour

 

http://www.adventureantigua.com/tour.html

 

Also Paddles is great

http://www.antiguapaddles.com/

[Guest Badgercruiser!]

Thanks for all the information. We'll be booking prior to the end of the month.

[Flip2cruise]

Eli recently updated his website. He has a new boat and tour. You save 10% by booking online.

 

http://www.adventureantigua.com/book.htm

 

Extreme Circumnav - Using our 45 ft offshore racing boat, specifically designed for our excursion.

 

Eli Fuller of Adventure Antigua has finally come up with another Adventure to match his wildly popular Eco-Tour. You have probably heard all about the Eco-Tour which was designed to be a re-creation of Eli's childhood days, spent exploring the secret spots of the North Sound. This new Xtreme tour takes adventurers right around Antigua's rugged, 365 beach coastline. Count them if you can!

 

Eli designed this tour to stay within the same theme of his famous Eco-Tour, but to be different enough for you to enjoy both on the same vacation. The main highlights of this Xtreme adventure, making it totally unique, are the high speed Miami Vice style run, through the amazing islands of the north sound with its myriad coral reefs, the Stingray City Marine Park swim where you can have your picture taken actually holding one of these ancient and beautiful fish; the Robinson Crusoe style, buffet lunch at Green Island with your toes in the water; the tour of Nelson's Dockyard with your own on-board local historian; the guided snorkel trip at the awesome Pillars of Hercules with its volcanic boulders below the surface, and the swim and beach combing at the extremely secluded and beautiful Rendezvous Bay. This tour is done within the same timeframe as the Eco-Tour, and we manage to do this because our newest boat is FAST. Between stops our new boat will race you past the beaches and shores of Antigua so you'd better be a quick counter to get the 365!

 

There are however a few things you have to keep in mind before you decide to go on this tour because, like the Eco-Tour, this tour is not for everyone.

1) The boat is a high performance 45-foot power boat using three, eco-friendly, 225hp Four Stroke Yamaha engines that sip fuel. Top cruise speed is an exhilarating 40 MPH which we will be doing passing the islands of the North Sound. If you "feel the need for speed" then this will be your favorite part of the trip! But if high speed thrills have never been your thing, then you would definitely be happier on the slower paced Eco-Tour.

2) Although the boat has been designed for offshore racing, the 5 mile run from Stingray City to our Lunch Spot on the North of Green Island could be a little "bumpy" for some. This tour is not recommended if you are preganant. Also, if you dislike wild, amusement park rides then again, this tour isn't for you. However, if you are the extreme kind of person who likes some excitement and wants to experience what an offshore powerboat race feels like then the spray of this wild, open water section will keep you smiling.

3) This tour has some really great spots to stop along the day, but it is not all about snorkeling and beaching. We will have 2 stops for snorkeling including the Stingray City stop, but if all you want to do is snorkel, then another tour will be your best bet.

4) This isn't the booze cruise your parents did in the "good old days". If you are" young at heart" (and not "faint of heart") it could just be the thrill of a lifetime but you need to understand that the Xtreme tour has been designed for people who are fit and are leading an active lifestyle.

 

So if you are up for some extreme action and are loving the idea of getting into the water with dozens of very friendly rays (they will come up and touch you!!), and if the image of that 40mph burst past the islands of the North Sound, and the adventurous ride in the Atlantic - if all this turns you on… then you are an ideal candidate for the Xtreme adventure! ….. And speaking about booze, we do serve our famous Eco-Tour rum punch, but only at the end of the tour when the adventure is drawing to a close.

 

Our new Xtreme adventure is unbeatable as a way to see the coastline of our beautiful island and it could definitely be the most fun you have ever had on a holiday excursion.

 

Nov-May US $170; May to Nov US $150 - Snorkeling gear, food and drinks are provided.

[vicocala]

We will be traveling on Holland America, not sure if the same tours are available thru Carnival, a sister line, but we will be taking the forest hike and beach in Tortola which includes a hike to the top of Sage Mountain, the highest point in Tortola and time at Cane Garden beach.

 

 

In Saint Thomas we are taking the Kon Tiki Party Cruise which most folks on the HAL board feel is worth the time and money.

 

Not going to Antiqua, but would like to someday.

 

Happy sailing and blue skies!

[Flip2cruise]

We will be traveling on Holland America, not sure if the same tours are available thru Carnival, a sister line, but we will be taking the forest hike and beach in Tortola which includes a hike to the top of Sage Mountain, the highest point in Tortola and time at Cane Garden beach.

!

 

 

How much is Holland charging? Carnival has a similar tour for $45

 

http://www.carnival.com/ShoreExcursionDetails.aspx?portcode=TOR&excursionname=Sage+Mountain+Hike&excursioncode=435008