Tortola with MSC

[sk84fungirl]

For those that have cruised recently, what did you do in Tortola?

 

Our original plans were to spend time at Pursser's Marina Cay. However, it appears that our port time will not allow us to do so. We are in Tortola from 7:00 - 2:00. From what I have researched, the first ferry to Marina Cay does not run until 10:30 and we would have to return on the 12:15 ferry.

 

So, our other options are to tour with the ship or hire a driver. We've narrowed or choices through the ship to:

 

-Tortola Highlights which includes a stop at Cane Garden Bay.

 

-Virgin Islands Sail and Snorkel which takes you to Norman Island for swimming and snorkeling

 

-Beach Transfer to Smugglers Cove

 

Would like to hear your feedback on the above as well as your experiences.

[camofwilliamsburg]

I think you will find more answers on the Port of Call section. Good Luck.

(Our next MSC Caribbean cruise,Poesia Nov 1-11)!

[bobar]

we swam with th e dolphins at dolphin discovery..was the best and most intimate of any of their operations in the caribbean...pd the 149 for the ship tour cause we werent sure how far away it is but i t is very close and you can probably take a cab and go to their website and get it for about $40-50 pp less....regardless it was outstanding!!:cool:

[AshNicole331]

We plan to do the Baths excursion. I've heard nothing but wonderful things - A friend just came back from the Baths on Celebrity and she said it was beautiful.

[sheld]

We just did a bus tour of the Island. We went to the very top of the mountains! A little scary, but the views were breathtaking!!

[edenrayne]

We just did a bus tour of the Island. We went to the very top of the mountains! A little scary, but the views were breathtaking!!

What was the name of your tour?

I think there are two "Island" tours available.

Do not want to do the scarey one!!

[sk84fungirl]

We are considering the Tortola Highlights through the ship. I think that is the name of it...:o

 

Really want to go to Pusser's Marina Cay, but the first ferry does not run until 10:30 and we would have to return on the 12:15...barely time for lunch!

[woodofpine]

The Baths on Virgin Gorda (basically huge granite boulders forming beach front caves and pools - very pretty) is sort of 'the thing' to do visiting Tortola; they're nice although often over populated on multiple ship days.

 

If that doesn't appeal to you, the sailing excursion to Norman Key sounds like great fun and a very BVI thing to do. The BVI are not heavily developed or populated - but they have topography and fine beaches, truly idyllic. The sound running between the islands ('Drake Passage') is sheltered from heavy seas making the BVI very popular with the sailboat crowd (Virgin Gorda is at the east end). You'd cross Drake Passage from Tortola going to pretty little Norman Key which lies between Peter Island and St. John of the USVI. If avoiding crowds has appeal this would probably one of the nicest ways in the Caribbean.

[sk84fungirl]

The Baths on Virgin Gorda (basically huge granite boulders forming beach front caves and pools - very pretty) is sort of 'the thing' to do visiting Tortola; they're nice although often over populated on multiple ship days.

 

If that doesn't appeal to you, the sailing excursion to Norman Key sounds like great fun and a very BVI thing to do. The BVI are not heavily developed or populated - but they have topography and fine beaches, truly idyllic. The sound running between the islands ('Drake Passage') is sheltered from heavy seas making the BVI very popular with the sailboat crowd (Virgin Gorda is at the east end). You'd cross Drake Passage from Tortola going to pretty little Norman Key which lies between Peter Island and St. John of the USVI. If avoiding crowds has appeal this would probably one of the nicest ways in the Caribbean.

 

 

Thank you!

[New_To_Cruisin]

We took one of the many tour buses waiting for tourists at the pier when we docked. It cost us $6 US each way, and the driver took us to Cane Garden Beach on the other side of the mountain. The trip was nice, beautiful vistas of the port. We spent our entire time in Tortola at the beach enjoying the sun and swimming. We perferred to get some beach time in rather than going on any of the tours, but that's a matter of personal choice :)

[KatSab]

I would not recommend the transfer to Smugglers Cove. We did that In Jan and had about and hour and half on the beach at most. In addition, it is not the most serene waters as it appears in pictures. The angle of the beach causes a very strong ripcurrent which made it nearly impossible to sit in the water and relax. My kids had swimmies on, but a tether would have been better to keep them from floating away at the instant you let go of them.

 

My original plan was to take the trip to Jost van Dyke, but they canceled that on us. :mad:

 

My parents did a mini cruise that they loved, but i do not remember the name of their excursion.