BVI Tips and Advice
 

Just enterering to offer my experienced information and advice about sailing and land-visiting in BVI. DH and I own a catamaran anchored in BVI. Much travel experience between the two of us--especially on Tortola. He is down there right now acting as captain and tour guide for friends and family during the holidays. Please post me a note if you are a first-timer to BVI and have any questions. It's wonderful, the real rustic Caribbean experience if that's what you so desire.

P.S. This is not a sales pitch. We use our boat only for ourselves, friends, and family. After the apartment in Trastevere "accusation," I have to confess I am still a little bit paranoid about recommending anything or offering myself as a source for information. Trust me. I can help you with the BVI.

Awesome that he can captain for self and friends.

My friends took a charter last year with 4 other couples. Captain was a single man.

Captain sunbathed nude on the boat one day, hit on my friend (yes, her hubby was on the boat.

Friend was told that when they ate or drank off the boat, they had to pay for the expenses of the captain and the cook. On one trip, the captain and cook bought drinks for others at the bar. My friend and her group had to pay a $150 bar tab run up by the captain (did not include drinks of my friend and her group).

Hopefully this is an exception to the usual when chartering a boat and captain for a week. PS, The captain was not the owner of the boat.

LvSun, sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with this so-called "captain." If you rented through a charter company, I hope you reported his behavior to his employer. I don't have any experience with being on a boat that is chartered or has a hired captain. I've only been on our own boat with my husband plus friends and/or family. I guess it's fortunate that I'm married to the captain and don't have to encounter such rude and unprofessional behavior. Since our guests are exactly that--our guests, they pay us nothing. Generally they do contribute to groceries and booze for on-board consumption and will occasionally pay for the captain's and his wife's dinner ashore. I hope that you go to the BVI again and will have a better experience the next time. I don't go as often as my husband does because he likes the sailing life a lot better than I do. But I have been down there many times, on the boat and on land, and can hopefully help others with the experience I've gained. If I don't know the answer to your question, I will just ask the captain!

Hi JGarvey,
That is something my wife and I would love to own one day. A cat in the virgin isles. Woud your hubby be interested in taking us(wife, me and 1 yr old) on a day trip circumventing Tortola? (ie Norman Peter Gorda Joste) If so let us now what that might cost. We have looked into quite a few companies but the cost for most wasnt in our budget. Limnos was the most likely candidate. We are staying in Cruz Bay area St John but we could drive to Coral Bay for pu possibly? Just an idea?
Thanks

herbster, it's not clear if you are presently there right now or if you are still planning to go in the future. My husband is in Cane Garden Bay right now; we spoke today. He will be in BVI area until the end of January. Right now I am a sailor widow, doing the holiday with children and friends--my choice. As a matter of fact, we have friends (another cat owner) who have spent much time on their boat (as captain and cook) while taking cruisers around. Their baby (from infancy through toddlerhood) was with them from the beginning. They gave customers what they called "the screaming baby discount." But--I am getting off the subject. Please write back and tell me if you are in the islands now or will be there later, and I will forward this email to my husband (Captain Tom)on the boat and see what he thinks about taking you out for a day trip. He would probably enjoy the company!

Thanks for the quick reply! I apologize for not giving the dates. We arrive 12/31 and leave 1/5/07.
I look forward to hearing from you or the cap. Sorry to hear about widow for the holidays. We have often thought about packing it in here and bringing our little girl with us to the islands.
Thanks,
Herb

Dear Herb, well my DH will certainly still be there and would probably be delighted to show you the boat and sail you around a bit, if the two of you can figure out a way to hook up. He will have friends aboard during that time, but that should not pose a problem. I will contact him tomorrow and see if he can figure out a way to get in touch with you.

Don't feel bad about my not being on the boat for Christmas. I am leaving him alone in Feb./March and going to spend a month in Rome to visit our daughter. I'm even renting my own apartment. I prefer land, history, art, architecture, language, etc. He prefers boats, sailing, diving, snorkeling, and doesn't seem to mind seeing the same beaches over and over again. I hope you will be able to meet.

Thanks JGarvey! Email is [email protected] Have a great time in Rome! My wife and I are similar to both of you. She wants me to go to Europe and I am fine on the same beaches and island hopping.

Herb, this must really be fate. I see that your email has "sprint" in it. My husband used to work for Sprint years ago and runs his own business now in Telecommunications Consulting. I wil send him your email today. Sounds like as a couple we have a lot in common. We'll talk again soon.

Joanna

Herb, sent your email address to my husband and he will surely contact you soon. He loves to talk to other cat enthusiasts. Only problem may be that you are on St. John in USBVI and he stays only in BVI. But he is still going to contact you and investigate what might be possible.

Thanks for the help and giving him my email. We could probably drive and leave the car in Coral Bay so it would be real close to Tortola. I will look forward to his email. Thanks much!

Herbster, I'm totally confused here. How can you "drive" from St. John to Tortola? What exactly are you talking about? You can only get there by water ferry, right? Help me out with this. Hope you hear from Tom soon.

Joanna

We are staying near Cruz Bay, St John and can drive the rental car to Coral Bay, St John which is a short boat ride from Tortola. Coral Bay is on the west end of St John.

Isn't Coral Bay on the EAST side of St John??

Yup, my bad. I meant to say east end of St. John.

I keep reading about hiring taxis to get around Tortola etc. Is there any kind of local bus system that travels around the island?
thanks

Nope, sorry. And you are always taking your chances with the quality of the taxi and the driver. Although charges are supposed to be controlled, always check when you get in, especially how the rate may or may not be determined by number of passenger. Some people love the BVI because it is still pretty rustic and unspoiled, but there will be some unknowns to deal with. My husband is down there right now with his cousin and his wife, on their way by catamaran to Anagad--lobster dinner on the beach, candles, sand in your toes. Hope you enjoy it all, the good along with the inconvenient. jg

Herbster, are you there yet? I have to recheck your dates. DH is still there now with his cousin and his wife. I get confused with his schecule and itinerary, but I do know that they are on Anegada tonight enjoying a lobster dinner on the beach with their toes in the sand. If you are still interested in hooking up with him for a short sail on the cat, please contact him through his email that I gave you earlier. It might still be a possibility. jg

jgarvey - thanks so much for the offer. My husband and I are going on a catamaran cruise of BVI starting June 30th. We are touring with Tradewinds Cruise Club. This will be our first experience with this type of vacation and would appreciate any advice you can offer. I believe the itinerary is already determined, but if there is a "must do" suggestion, we may be able to customize. Also, any packing tips? I am already concerned about overpacking. And then finally, we are flying into St. Thomas and taking the ferry to Tortola. Our flight is scheduled to arrive at 2:05 pm and there is a ferry at 3:30pm and 4:30 pm - should we be concerned about timing? All information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.