help all day trip to the Baths / Stormy Petrel and Pirate's Penny - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

fvandewouwer · 01-02-2009, 09:40 AM

Happy New Year to all of you

Need some advise for St Thomas dd april 4th Charlotte Amelie from
7 am till 5.30 pm (RCC Adventure of the Seas )
I did find an excursion ( Stormy Petrel en Pirate's Penny ) but their timetable does not match ours and they offer a private charter but we simply can not afford it so I wonder if you all can give us an alternative to do

Last year we went to St Thomas and missed The Baths so this year we would like to do this in combination with some snorkeling at Norman Island and if there is enough time a little shopping at St John.

Their itinarary is

Cruise the seldom seen north shore of Tortola.
Shop & Stroll in Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda
Snorkel & Explore the caves & grottos of the famous Baths.
Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Cooper Island Beach Club
Dive into pristine off-shore snorkeling on a secluded reef. ( which is Indian Cove - Norman Island )

I was thinking about renting a boat and do this on our own ( also very expensive and is it practicle ??? )
or
send a request through this forum to find 6 persons that would like to do this tour with us so we could share the price of a private tour The charter fee is $1350 + $30 per/person international fees
or
something similar like this with a matching timetable

we ( 2 couples ) love to snorkel ( do this for 25 years so would like to see the most beautiful reef ) we love quiet trips, small groups ( no booze boats or cattle boats or fun boats ) and to have something to eat would be great but is not that important.

Hope you all can help me finding something else because I am searching now for weeks and begin to feel a bit desperate.

Thank you all for sharing and wish you a great day from cold cold Belgium
Frieda
__________________
sorry about my English mistakes, but it is not my first language

laser110 · 03-04-2009, 04:12 PM

Frieda,

Hi. First, let me say that both Pirate's Penny and Stormy Petrol have been around for a long time and they have a great reputation. I remember as a kid doing a day on Pirates Penny.

I don't think you would have time doing it if your off a cruise ship. I am not sure if they have a modified version of thier trip for cruise passengers, but I recall leaving very early, like around 7:30 AM and being in Spanishtown, Virgin Gorda somewhere around 9:30AM to clear Customs. We were at the Baths pretty early and off to Cooper Island for lunch around Noon. I think it was then off to The Bite at Norman Island and stop at the Willy T. I don't recall the whole trip and at the time they didn't go to the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke, but I recall being back late, somewhere near 4:30 or 5. A very very long day.

Scott

fvandewouwer · 03-09-2009, 06:27 AM

Hi Scott,

Thanks for your reply and yes we realized that we just have not enough time to go to the Baths.
We decided to do a sail around St John (Jester sailing) and hope to have some great snorkeling and most important to be back on time to the ship.
I know from a past cruise that all islands are very beautiful so I am certain we are going to have a great day.
Thanks again for your answer, wish you all the best
Greetings’ from Begum
Frieda

laser110 · 03-10-2009, 02:22 PM

Frieda,

Glad I was able to help. I am sure you'll have a good time on the St. John sail also.

Scott