BVI Ferry
 

My husband and I are traveling to Jost Van Dyke (first 4 nights) and Virgin Gorda (next 5 nights) in August. We will be flying into St. Thomas. I tend to get a bit seasick, though I normally do okay on the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John. We are definitely opting to fly back from Virgin Gorda to St. Thomas via Air Sunshine on the last day (I can't take a 2 hour ferry ride). But I am thinking about braving the 1 hour ferry ride from St. Thomas to Tortola (and then the 25 minute ferry ride from Tortola to Jost Van Dyke). After our stay on Jost Van Dyke, we will ferry from there to Tortola, and then from Tortola to Virgin Gorda. Can someone tell me what the ferry ride is like between St. Thomas to Tortola, in particular? Is it like the ferry ride between St. Thomas and St. John? In other words, being the USVI and BVI, is it fairly protected waters through there and not as choppy as being out on the open sea? Do you think I'll be okay for the 55 minute ride from St. Thomas to Tortola or should we spring for the flight? (The difference in price is about $200.) Thanks!

Simple answer - the ferry between St. Thomas and Tortola stays in the protected waters of Drake's Passage. You'll never be out of sight of land and unless there is a major stom brewing you should be OK.

I agree with A Traveller. I get very seasick and I have never had a problem on the St. Thomas/Tortola route (or any of the BVI/USVI routes. It probably won't even take 55 minutes if you go from West End to Charlotte Amalie. The ferry from Tortola to JVD is direct and only about 30 minutes.

do you use Bonnie? Several of my friends swear by it for seasickness ... it is pill form (antivert if by prescription) and comes in patch too I think. Take before symptoms appear.

I use Bonine too, get seasick and have never had a problem with the Virgin Island ferries. They aren't like being on a small boat - they are big and stable. Plus as mentioned, they stay in protected waters.

You probably won't have a problem at all.

Bonine makes me drowsy...just something to consider