Ike Witt Charters

[BarryOtt]

Hi:

 

We just returned from the Feb 18-25, 2007, Millennium cruise in the Caribbean.

 

On Thursday, Feb 22 we were in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. We booked (via the internet) a cruise and snorkel with Ike Witt (pronounced "I Quit") charters. Their website is www.ikewittcharters.com.

 

Captain Pat takes a maximum of six people on his sailboat. We were four people. The normal excursion is 7 hours, however we asked him to cut it to 5, which he did.

 

We took a "taxi" (more like an open bus that holds about 25 passengers) from the cruise pier to the American Yacht Harbor at Red Hook. The cost was $11/person, and took about 1/2 hour. We met the "Ike Witt" at the American Yacht harbor. No need to take a ferry to St. John.

 

Our intention was to visit St. John for some snorkeling. However there were some heavy winds overnight, so Captain Pat said that the snorkeling was not good there...We went somewhere else...

 

We had a great time. The sailing was fun (sailboat, not a motorboat) and Captain Pat is a really interesting character.

 

Before snorkeling we had a fruit plate, that was nice and refreshing. Then we all went snorkeling (including Pat, who gave us some instruction as well as pointing out some interesting underwater stuff.) Pat came out to the boat to make us lunch (chicken Caesar salad) while we snorkeled some more. He provides free drinks on the boat.

 

In the afternoon we headed back to American harbor and to our ship via another taxi.

 

All in all it was a great day, and I would recommend it. Pat knows the area well, as well as knowing the other boaters.

 

Back on the Millennium, others at our dinner table said that they did the power snorkeling excursion and saw more than we did under water. However later they did admit that their water was cloudy (from sand) and that we probably had better visibility. That is the benefit of someone like Pat. He is flexible based upon current weather conditions. He is licensed to go into the National Park to take snorkelers.