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What is (are) the best suggestion(s) for to-do's bewteen 3:00 and 9:00PM in Tortola?

7x5090g

By 7x5090g,
in Tortola

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7x5090g

7x5090g

Posted
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Hi there:

 

Going to be there in Oct on board MS Noordam. Any suggestions? HAL site says Docking at 3 and leaving at 9. I have a 3 year old and 4 grandparents travelling with us.

 

I can skip the beach since it's be dusk by the time we get there.

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7x5090g

7x5090g

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I'd also like to know what to do in the evening in Tortola as our ship does not leave port until midnight. Thanks!

 

Interesting AlohaPride. Your cruise and mine should have the exact itinerary but mine says 3:00 to 9:00PM and yours is midnight:confused:

 

Still no response from anyone else?:confused:

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  • 2 weeks later...
Pyrate13

Pyrate13

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Hello all,

As I said in another post, I don't understand why the cruise lines pull into a port like Tortola at those hours. The main attraction in the BVI is watersports, you know, beaches, sailing, snorkeling etc. The evenings are for relaxing, eating and going to a club or bar and listening to the music.

There are some shops in Road Town as well as temporary booths that are set up on cruise days. There is also the Botanical Gardens which are nice but only good for an hour or two at the most.

One thing you all might consider is a taxi to West End. There is a few shops there, a Pusser's Pub and a couple of good resturants. You can often catch a local band at the Jolly Roger. You don't go over the mountains for those that are worried about that although you really shouldn't, the taxi drivers do it every day, they know what they are doing.

For those arriving at 2:00, you will have some beach time but not a lot. Consider a taxi to Smuggler's Cove and arrange for a pick up after a short stay, then continue on to West End to join the later arrivals.

If I had more idea of what the ships are offering for shore excursions I could give you a better opinion of whether they are worth looking into.

Hope this is of some small help.

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Joanandjoe

Joanandjoe

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As pointed out by Aloha Pride, the Noordam, which was originally scheduled to be in Tortola from 3 p.m. to Midnight, will now be there only until 9 p.m., killing the chance for night life. Why they leave 10 hours before their port stop in St. Thomas at 7 a.m. the next day is a mystery: a rowboat could probably do the trip in 10 hours, at least in daylight.

 

Here are the Noordam's shore excursions. Most of them would make sense even an hour earlier; but arriving at 3 p.m., when sutset is before 5:30, is silly. Any suggestions? If we were arriving earlier, we'd try the Baths, the Sailaway, or a beach. We still might do the forest hike and beach.

 

Forest Hike & Beach Adult $49; Child $29 Approximately 4 hours Departure Times: 3:15 pm

Sea & See Adult $74; Child $59 Approximately 4 hours Departure Times: 3:15 pm

Snorkeling by Boat Adult $59; Child $39 Approximately 2 1/2 hours Departure Times: 3:15 pm

The North Shore & Pusser's Landing Adult $39; Child $24 Approximately 3 1/2 hours Departure Times: 3:15 pm

Tortola Dolphin Encounter Price $139 Approximately 2 hours Departure Times: 3:00 pm

Tortola Dolphin Swim Price $169 Approximately 2 hours Departure Times: 3:00 pm

Tortola Highlights Adult $39; Child $22 Approximately 3 hours Departure Times: 3:30 pm

Tortola Land Rover Safari Adult $89; Child $79 Approximately 3 1/2 hours Departure Times: 3:15 pm

Tortola Secrets Adult $49; Child $35 Approximately 3 hours Departure Times: 3:30 pm

Virgin Gorda & the Baths Adult $59; Child $39 Approximately 4 hours Departure Times: 3:15 pm

Virgin Islands Sailaway Adult $59; Child $32 Approximately 4 hours Departure Times: 3:15 pm

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7x5090g

7x5090g

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As pointed out by Aloha Pride, the Noordam, which was originally scheduled to be in Tortola from 3 p.m. to Midnight, will now be there only until 9 p.m., killing the chance for night life. Why they leave 10 hours before their port stop in St. Thomas at 7 a.m. the next day is a mystery: a rowboat could probably do the trip in 10 hours, at least in daylight.

 

The only reason I see this change is that they can open up the casino earlier. St Thomas can be seen from Roadtown by the naked eye.

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AlohaPride

AlohaPride

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As pointed out by Aloha Pride, the Noordam, which was originally scheduled to be in Tortola from 3 p.m. to Midnight, will now be there only until 9 p.m., killing the chance for night life. Why they leave 10 hours before their port stop in St. Thomas at 7 a.m. the next day is a mystery: a rowboat could probably do the trip in 10 hours, at least in daylight.

 

 

Aww Man! I wanted to go listen to some live music! HAL sure has a way lately of spoiling all my fun :p

 

We were thinking about taking the Virgin Gorda and the Baths tour. but it's sooo late in the day. And I've seen enough sun sets...

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Joanandjoe

Joanandjoe

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Aww Man! I wanted to go listen to some live music! HAL sure has a way lately of spoiling all my fun :p

 

We were thinking about taking the Virgin Gorda and the Baths tour. but it's sooo late in the day. And I've seen enough sun sets...

 

We couldn't agree with you more, Mary & Keaka. While we're not big club people, one of the worst things about cruises is that you're never in port at night, and we were planning to eat dinner in Road Town and go to a club. It's annoying that Zuiderdam gets to be in port from 2 to 10, so they can go to the Baths before sunset and have dinner in town, while we're only there from 3 to 9, when it's too late for most day activities and too early for night activities. Dumb use of time by HAL.

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skywalkervadar

skywalkervadar

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I'm absolutely certain that the casino is the reason for going to sea between Tortola and St. Thomas. A strong swimmer could almost swim between the two (ok, maybe not but you get my point).

 

On a past cruise, we left St. Thomas at 5 pm and arrived in Tortola at 7 am the next morning? That's 14 hours for a half hour island hop. Why don't they give passengers more time on the islands you might ask?

 

Money ... which is what they make in the casinos ... the very casinos that can only open in international waters.

 

Sounds like a conspiracy to me ;o)

 

 

 

-------------------------

 

Celebrity Constellation - Feb 2004

HAL Zuiderdam - "Take me to your Lido" Cruise I - Dec 2004

NCL Spirit - "Take me to your Lido" Cruise II - Dec 2005

HAL Westerdam - "Take me to your Lido" Cruise III - October 2006

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surdacki

surdacki

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My wife and I love Tortola and go there almost every year. This will be the first time we are there on a cruise. When we fly there we usually find out the cruise ship schedule so we can be "off island" when all the "cruise people" are there. (We do a fair amount of cruises ourselves, but the ships crowd what we like as a slow, sleepy island). It is definitely a relaxed, easygoing island. What is most important is what day of the week you will be there as different restaurants have entertainment on different days of the week. The other question is what kind of food do you like. There are many good restaurants, but realize most run on "island time" and it may take up to an hour to get your food. Now if YOU'RE on island time...no problem...just more time to talk to friends over your rum.

 

We are on the Norwegian Spirit 9/30 and during our St. Thomas day, we're taking the ferry to Tortola for the day!

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Pyrate13

Pyrate13

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Can you give me the directions from the pier? Is it close enough to walk? Cost?

 

Thanks

 

Sorry it took so long to get back to you but I was on vacation with no computer access.

 

From the cruise dock you head away from the dock toward town along the paved road, on your right you will see a marina, this is Village Cay, head past the front of the building (not the water side) and go out to Decastro St. go right on Decastro to the roundabout. If you look across the roundabout you will see a gas station, that is on the corner of Fleming St. go up fleming a short way and you will see Fishlock Rd., take that to Pickering Rd., turn right on Pickering. Across from the police headquarters on Pickering you can see the gardens. If I remember correctly you will need to go up around the corner onto Huntums Ghut Rd to get to the entrance.

 

There are lots of places along the way where you should be able to grab a local map at no charge. There used to be a Hertz and an Itgo car rental office just off the cruise dock, they would both have them.

 

The gardens used to be free and only asked for a donation however I hear there is now a small entrance fee but I'm not sure.

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  • 2 weeks later...
CaWino

CaWino

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I enjoy going to Tortola for land based vacations. In my opinion, at about 6pm you can't beat the Sunset from any of the beach bars\restaurants in Cane Garden Bay or Apple\Carrot Bay to the west.

Best place to find out about live entertainment on Tortola is:

Limin' Times - Entertainment Magazine serving the BVI

Hope this helps.

I will be there Nov 11 - 19

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  • 3 weeks later...
michmike

michmike

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pyrate13 had recommended this restaurant on another thread and we were in Tortola on Westerdam last week so decided to give it a try. Was a great decision. Had a very good meal looking out across the harbor at the ship. Food was excellent as was the service. We arrived at 5 and they normally don't start serving til 6 but they were accommodating and fixed us up with drinks and appetizers and had dinner to us just shortly after 6.

 

The gnocchi w/ gorgonzola sauce was to die for.

 

Entrees in the $25 range and everything is alacarte, but wonderful food and a nice midweek break from the ship's dining room.

 

We used a taxi driver named Tobin who was great. He took us to the restaurant and then came back and got us after dinner. He also does island tours. Had a nice Ford? van. His e-mail is tobintaxiservice@yahoo.com and his cell phone number is 1-284-499-2159. I would definitely recommend him.

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