TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Voyage Charters

Any recent feedback on Voyage Charters? This will be our first charter in the BVI's (or ever for the matter). Family of 4 (2 kids 11/9). We are thinking of chartering a 480 and a captain. Is this a nice boat? Truthfully, I did very little research as I was very impressed with their sales associate. Our plan is to fly into STT spend two nights and then head over to Tortola the night before our charter. We will either stay on the boat (they charge $750) or find a nearby hotel. Any suggestions? Our return flight from STT is at 1:30 on the day our charter ends. I am nervous that the ferry times won't be favorable, and I will need to take a private taxi. If so, what time would you recommend we leave Tortola to catch our flight. We do have global entry if that matters.... Oh, and it is on a Saturday in late July. Appreciate the feedback!

Voyage Yacht Charters is a first class operation. It is family owned and operated, among one of the best in the BVI. Smaller operation than others, but highest quality service. If you were to check social media sites, you can't find any negative comments, pretty unusual. I have used about ten different charter operations over the last 30 years, and this is the best.

All of the Voyage Yachts are great, obviously the newer ones cost more, but are in the best shape.

I particularly like that they are based at Sopers Hole, a beautiful, clean harbor. I stay on board the night before just to make getting underway the next morning that much easier. A few good places to catch dinner within walking distance right in the harbor area.

If your flight is at 1:30 pm on a Saturday, plan on either taking the 7:30 am ferry or getting a water taxi at 8:30 am.

Voyage Charters is the best charter company in the BVI. Period.

thank you CarolinaSailor!! Your vote of confidence for Voyage is all I needed. Is Sopers Hole near a ferry? Looking on-line it shows about a 30 min ferry ride from Tortola to STT. Assuming its on-time I was thinking 10:00am would be plenty of time. Arrive St Thomas at 10:30--taxi to airport by 11:30 at the latest. Would 2 hours not be enough time for carry on and Global Entry? Sorry I am truly starting here with a blank slate, and I want to maximize my time on the water and prevent a water taxi as its about $200 per person (one way).

They are a good charter company from a charter customer standpoint. The base staff is excellent. I would however never recommend anyone purchase a boat to go into their fleet. The ownership structure I understand has changed since I owned a boat with them but some of the same players are still involved.

Currently no 10am ferry but maybe by the time you charter it will change (likely it will). on weekends, you need every but of 2 hours at the airport. Most recommend 3 but the GE will help. Be sure you're comparing apples to apples. The ferry is well over $100pp these days so a $200 private boat is not as unreasonable as it sounds.

Check all these details closer to your trip.

Keep in mind the Voyage 48 is small for its length. It should be priced in line with 43 to 45 foot cats. It will however out sail almost all cruising cats out there!

Main issue will be what ferries are running on the specific day you will be travelling. The ferries out of Road Town take 1 hour to get to the ferry dock in STT. Then add one to two hours to get through both USVI and US customs/immigration (yes, you go through both in way back from BVI) and security, even with GE. Right now there is no Sopers Hole to STT ferry right now. May change, but I would not count on it.

If you take a water taxi, takes a total of 2.5 -3 hours from being picked up to the airport (includes going to St. John-Cruz Bay for USVI C&I, then being dropped at Red Hook Then taking taxi to airport). Then you go through US C&I at airport. Saturdays are busy even in low season.

Best advice I can give you to avoid stress - just go ahead and take early transport from BVI to USVI, eat lunch at or near airport and take it easy. It is a travel day. Cutting it close, getting sweaty and bothered not best way to end vacation, imo.

Make your trip less stressful and use a water taxi..Ocean Dreams is based in Sopers Hole and will take great care of you with land transport in STT as well as water taxi. I own a Voyage and make the trip several times a year. The water taxi will drop you off right at your boat. Staying on board the night before is a great way to start your trip. You will have a great trip.

I'm thinking if your budget allows you to book the Voyage 480 and captain, and fly your family of four to St. Thomas, you could also handle the private water taxi. Both 'Chillout' and 'Island Time' have good reviews. Do your family a favor and opt for the private water taxi and they will handle all the logistics of travel between USVI and BVI. A sleep on board at $750 is a little pricy, so perhaps take a taxi from Soper's Hole to Sebastian's on the Beach (or other accommodations), as there is no lodging at Soper's Hole. The Voyage 480 is a great boat, with generator, air conditioning, and water maker. It also sips fuel.

thank you all for the amazing feedback and recommendations. We booked with Voyage (thank you CarolinaSailor). I will get a private water taxi R/T from Ocean Dreams (thanks Knotthead). I will check out Sebastians (thx NoelHall). thank you all!!