length of time to motor from sopers hole to customs/ferry dock in USVI

[sandymwp]

we are in a quandary as to how best to shuttle our guests to and from St. Thomas. we have some flying in and some out on the same day. we will have one person leaving tortola, so she will need to get to the airport by 10:45 flight. we think that if we moor in Sopers Hole the night before, get her up early and into a taxi, that we can head out to the USVI to drop off 1st weeks guests and pick up the other 8 that have flown in. I know we have to check out of BVI and into USVI.....help, please, with suggestions. the problem with those flying into St. Thomas is that their flights arrive at 3:45, and we don't think there is anyway to make the ferry. a charter ferry trip is $125 per person/one way. don't think my son can afford $625 one way....

thanks for any advice.

[Privleoplag]

Is the one person leaving Tortola flying out of EIS? What about just getting over to Redhook after checking in at St. John and having your guests taxi to and from there? Or what about sailing over to Charlotte Amalie after checking in at St. John?

[sandymwp]

needless to say, this is the first time we are talking about doing this. just concerned about the check out/check in/check back out/check back in.....I assume we have to do this...out BVI/in USVI....out USVI/in BVI. we will then have to head back to roadtown for provisioning, lol.

[Privleoplag]

You do not need to check out of USVI, but you do need to check into BVI, and out of BVI, and back into USVI.
Soper's Hole, to customs at St. John is about 8 nm, a bit more.. so if you know how fast you can motor your boat, that would give you an idea. Customs at St. John is usually quick, but you can't count on that, because a charter with 8 passports may be ahead of you. Or like one day when I came in there, it was full of people. Usually, it's a in/out process and quite quick.

Provision in Cruz Bay, St. John.

[contrail]

Originally Posted by sandymwp

we are in a quandary as to how best to shuttle our guests to and from St. Thomas. we have some flying in and some out on the same day. we will have one person leaving tortola, so she will need to get to the airport by 10:45 flight. we think that if we moor in Sopers Hole the night before, get her up early and into a taxi, that we can head out to the USVI to drop off 1st weeks guests and pick up the other 8 that have flown in. I know we have to check out of BVI and into USVI.....help, please, with suggestions. the problem with those flying into St. Thomas is that their flights arrive at 3:45, and we don't think there is anyway to make the ferry. a charter ferry trip is $125 per person/one way. don't think my son can afford $625 one way....

thanks for any advice.

There is usually a late ferry out of Red Hook, supposedly leaving at 5, but often later. If the guests don't check luggage, it should be an easy thing to make, with luggage, a bit tighter. But, get the phone number of the ferry (Native Son), and you can usually call and ask them to wait for a few minutes for a late group, if it's not too late. Also, there are ferries to and from Cruz Bay to Charlotte Amalie, that can sometimes be a convenient way to avoid Red Hook. NO idea of the schedule, but I am sure you can google it. I believe the first ferry from Charlotte Amalie to Road Town is at 8:30, which would be too tight for the EIS guest, so the one thing you absolutely have to do is to start the day somewhere in the BVI, most likely Soper's Hole.

[sandymwp]

Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to come up with great suggestions. We think we have made a plan.......and we have learned a lesson......to be more definitive when we invite guests to our boat. The next time around we will let everyone know that if they don't want to spend the extra money to fly to EIS and want to fly to St. Thomas, that they need to book a flight that arrives by 2'ish in order to catch the last ferry or to plan to spend the night in St. Thomas and take an early ferry over to Tortola. Sometimes being too accommodating backfires. Thanks again......you never know when I might again need some good advice.

[Privleoplag]

If you decided to pick them up at Redhook, if you anchor out, it can be quite rough if the winds are up, and not a dry ride in the normal dinghy, and not an easy transfer from dinghy to boat. Ferries run into Redhook about every 1/2 hour it seems, until late, about 11 pm or so, and when they do, if you're anchored there, you will rock and roll! American Yacht Harbor charges $35 to do a pickup at their dock. There's a pretty good grocery there too (Moe's), if they'll let you take the time to shop waiting for the pickup. Or dinghy in.
If you're doing the pickup in Redhook, I'd get out of there, go over to Christmas Cove just a mile or two away, or anywhere else. Ferries also affect the west side of St. John quite a bit too. Try to get some where flatter. Sometimes moorings are available at Christmas Cove, if that's what you prefer. Or find some spot on St. John. I don't now, maybe you want to get back to the BVI, but you'll be late for customs, and you're supposed to go to a port of entry and stay on the boat. Raise the yellow flag, go in the morning to C&I.

[zboss]

We always have our guests stay in St. Thomas overnight if they can't make the ferry. There are worse places to spend an evening.

[contrail]

Originally Posted by sandymwp

Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to come up with great suggestions. We think we have made a plan.......and we have learned a lesson......to be more definitive when we invite guests to our boat. The next time around we will let everyone know that if they don't want to spend the extra money to fly to EIS and want to fly to St. Thomas, that they need to book a flight that arrives by 2'ish in order to catch the last ferry or to plan to spend the night in St. Thomas and take an early ferry over to Tortola. Sometimes being too accommodating backfires. Thanks again......you never know when I might again need some good advice.

How true! In addition, going down to St. Thomas also wastes at least a half day getting back to the BVI - and it's not a pleasant half day - unless you specifically want to see St. John. Tell 'em you are in the BVI and they need to get there! There is an old cruising saying for guests: "we are the target, you are the arrow!"

[Sdwcheney]

Do your provishning on St. Thomas, you will save $$$$ over the BVI. Dock or anchor near cruise ship peer, Kmart and Grocery Store just up the hill. Pay one of the stock boys, and they will help you load supplies on the boat. Lots of cruisers do it that way to save $$$$$

[Thenaz007]

We are trying to plan this for the first time, and it's anything but straight forward. Carry-on's only into St. Thomas and then 2 taxis ($40?) for 6 people to "the ferry dock to Beef Island" - hopefully cab driver knows correct one. Wait up to two hours for ferry (hoping which ferry is discernable). Hope its obvious when to get off. Customs. Another 2 Cab fares to marina ($40?). It was $300 apiece more to fly into EIS.
My recollection of customs in St. John was quite efficient, handling a ferry of 30 mostly commuters in about 30 minutes.

Any clarifications on "the correct ferry from USVI to Beef Island" ?

Really appreciate the help!

[wcapital]

Originally Posted by sandymwp

Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to come up with great suggestions. We think we have made a plan.......and we have learned a lesson......to be more definitive when we invite guests to our boat. The next time around we will let everyone know that if they don't want to spend the extra money to fly to EIS and want to fly to St. Thomas, that they need to book a flight that arrives by 2'ish in order to catch the last ferry or to plan to spend the night in St. Thomas and take an early ferry over to Tortola. Sometimes being too accommodating backfires. Thanks again......you never know when I might again need some good advice.

You have hit the nail on the head....for next time! Be more definitive....or even (as I have done after many such logistical quandary / cluster ***k situations) take over as travel agent for all your guests' coming and going!

[msette]

a taxi fare from soper's hole to the airport won't be a lot less than a room for the night.
i second provisioning in st thomas. use the safaris and there are a number of great stores within reach. yes, anchor in main harbor, free garbage, easy access. tell your son to take the taxi to yacht harbor (by the main cruise ship dock) and it is a short dingy ride to the dock and there is also customs in the harbor eliminating the side trip to st john to check in (the mooring balls are private). crown bay marina easy access fuel and water. can be noisy at night but no worse than the bvi.

[RickG]

This isn't that hard. Your people can make the Tortola ferry with an on time 3:45PM arrival. Book Kevin's Taxi (1-340-643-0025) for the transfer from the airport to the ferry dock. Have your crew meet you at Cane Garden Bay via taxi from Sopers Hole. If their plane is late they'll need to get a room on St. Thomas and head to Tortola the next morning; Emerald Beach Resort, Mafolie, Olga's Fancy, Windward Passage are the usual options.

If you want to visit St. John (you do, but maybe not this trip) then you can check out of BVI at Sopers Hole or Great Harbor, JVD and check into USVI at Cruz Bay. Your crew can take the short ride on the people ferry from Red Hook. If you draw 5' or less, you can anchor for three hours in Cruz Bay Creek in the designated anchorage across from the US customs dock. That would make crew change a bit easier. Otherwise, there are mooring balls at Lindt Point and Caneel Bay that are a 10 minute dinghy ride. Check back into the BVIs on the way back

Thenaz007, there is no ferry to Beef Island from the USVI. You would need to take the Road Town ferry (preferably) or Sopers Hole ferry and taxi to Beef Island.

Cheers, RickG