Can cruise ship passengers book a boat tour?

Yes. If your ship docks in Road Town you can book a private boat for the day independently, and plenty of the people we take out on a port day did exactly that. The only things that matter are where you are collected from, how long you have, and who is watching the clock.

Where we collect you

We pick you up at Village Cay Marina in Road Town, a short walk or a very short taxi from where the ships dock. We send you the exact meeting spot with your confirmation, so there is nothing to work out on the morning.

Every tour ends back at Village Cay. That is the same place you left from, which sounds obvious and is not always true of the alternatives.

The timing, which is the whole question

Pickups run from 7am and we time yours to when your ship comes in. You are on the water almost as soon as you are off the ship.

We have you back at Village Cay at least an hour before your ship sails. Watching your ship’s schedule is our job, not yours. If the ship is delayed, we move the pickup with it. If a change of schedule means you cannot come at all, you are refunded in full.

What you can actually reach in the time

Four hours, or five if you extend. One destination, done properly, rather than three seen through a window.

There are three to choose from. Norman Island and the caves, where you snorkel the sea caves and The Indians and then take the beach and a drink at Pirates Bight. The Soggy Dollar on White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, which is one of the best beaches in the Caribbean and the bar that invented the Painkiller. Or The Baths on Virgin Gorda, the giant boulders and hidden pools, which is the longest run and involves a swim of about 100 yards each way from the boat.

The extra hour, if you take it, buys a longer swim and a slower stop ashore rather than another destination.

What it costs

The Cruise Ship Special is $1,000 for the whole boat for four hours, or $1,200 for five. The Baths costs $100 more because it is the longest run. That is per boat and not per person, for up to 12 guests, and nobody else is aboard.

Your licensed, fully insured captain, the fuel, all cruising permits, snorkel gear and an iced cooler with water, sodas, beers and a Painkiller each are in the price. So is the government tax. Lunch ashore and gratuity are not.

Why not the ship excursion

A ship excursion puts you on a big boat full of strangers, on a route and a timetable that suit the operator. You see the stop, you queue for the ladder, you get called back.

This is the other way round. One fast boat, your group only, a licensed captain, and a plan that bends around you. Stay in the water longer, skip the part you are not interested in, and get back to the pier with time in hand.

How to book it

Message us with your ship, the date it docks in Road Town and how many of you are coming. We confirm the boat is free, usually the same day, and a deposit holds it. We take Zelle or card, and card payments carry a 4% fee. The balance is paid on the day.

Every guest signs a snorkelling and boat passenger waiver, and it comes with your confirmation, so there is nothing to print or queue for.