Thread: TORTOLA -- Your Opinion

Originally Posted by Ziggy7

Welcome to CLF!!!!

Thank You

we went to tortola and had a really good look round road town. it's such a beautifull place. we went to the former govenor's mansion and had a great time there. we were planning to go over to virgin gorga but there just was not time, so we'll leave that till next time.

We are heading there in March and have a Norman Island Snorkel trip with Celebrity for a blink of a time in port planned. So...I have checked not been there yet.

FinelyCruising .... Really do think you'll like it.

We were on a X ship (Galaxy) cruise several years ago and did an excursion with a snorkel stop at Norman Island. Normally, the snorkel stops there are at a very calm area with extremely clear water. Also, the sail over from Tortola to Norman Island was absolutely beautiful ... so worth it for the sail alone!

LuLu - Thanks for the notes, this is exactly what I was hoping for!

I wanted to make sure I came back here to give an update. As was predicted by Lulu, this was a beautiful stop. I had no idea that Tortola was in such close proximity to St John and St Thomas, and the sail from the pier to Norman Island was indeed stunning! We enjoyed the caves and there were some new fish we had never seen before...only wish we were there longer...it is a beautiful setting.

I was on a cruise last November with my sister and we went to Tortola for the first time. Just beautiful. As the ship pulled into the port it was beautiful scenery. Colorful buildings and lovely rolling hills in the background. My sister wasn't feeling well so I decided to explore Tortola on my own.

I decided to walk over to the ferry and take the ferry to Virgin Gorda. Ship departure was at 2pm and we were to be back onboard at 1pm. I walked off the ship at 8:30am thinking this was plenty of time. Wrong!! Don't be deceived by the ferry schedule. As I learned, once they dropped us off on Virgin Gorda (after a 30 minute ferry ride there) the return ferry is most of the time late. When they weren't on time for the 12:30 pick up back to the ship I was sweating bullets. I was really scared the ship would sale without me. Well, they showed up at 12:45 and I walked onto the ship at 1:29. Almost in tears.

It's a beautiful island and I never felt scared walking about on my own. People were very friendly also. Just be sure if you decide to go over to VG that you have PLENTY of time. I want to go back someday with my husband and really explore Tortola as I didn't get to see anything there the day I went.

Originally Posted by IlliniFan

I decided to walk over to the ferry and take the ferry to Virgin Gorda. Ship departure was at 2pm and we were to be back onboard at 1pm. I walked off the ship at 8:30am thinking this was plenty of time. Wrong!! Don't be deceived by the ferry schedule. As I learned, once they dropped us off on Virgin Gorda (after a 30 minute ferry ride there) the return ferry is most of the time late. When they weren't on time for the 12:30 pick up back to the ship I was sweating bullets. I was really scared the ship would sale without me. Well, they showed up at 12:45 and I walked onto the ship at 1:29. Almost in tears.

Thanks so much for reminding all of us that the FERRY is on "Island Time"!

Originally Posted by LuLu

Thanks so much for reminding all of us that the FERRY is on "Island Time"!

thats for sure, manjana perhaps!!!!!!

We were there 03/19/09 on our Solstice cruise. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see much of Tortola itself because we had booked a ship's tour to Virgin Gorda to see The Baths. We had heard that there wasn't a lot to do on Tortola except the beaches; and since we live in SE Florida, that's not a big draw for us. The Baths are on the list of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. It would have been better to have stayed on Tortola because there was not enough time alloted to explore The Baths. In hindsight, I wish we had stayed on Tortola.