There is a definite backlash against them in Europe as we cope with more and more passengers here in the BVI's. I just read that Nice is banning all cruise ships with over 900 passengers and a pal returning from Barcelona told me locals are so sick of the overhwelming crowds they are spraying passengers in open tourist buses with water pistols.Of course Amsterdam and Venice are also clamping down. Just saying...
Mal--I could be wrong, often am, but I was under the impression that there are several people in government who have concessions which cater to cruise ships??
Goes back to Premier Romney who brought them in..his company Romasco has many rights including being allowed onto the dock to pick up passengers, certain dockage fees etc.His company picks up some passengers ,takes them to West End , puts them on one of their boats and takes them to their own bar on Peter Island..getting them $$$ every way.I also heard recently ( not confirmed) that the Gov now gets $18 for every passenger that comes ashore and $8 for those that stay shipbound. The only way this will change is that we are hearing passengers complain about the overcrowding...that they are creating. That may turn away some of the ships. A bad side effect has been over aggressive taxi drivers..one nearly forced me off the cliff the other day as he drove down the middle of the road speaking into his mike.And God forbid you should try and park in CGB on a cruise ship day!!!!
I actually am surprised that people get away with that. That could be deemed to be a deliberate assault, and thus a criminal act, especially with people working in concert.
Knowing loving Europeans I'm sure they are just "cooling them down from the hot Spanish sun"...according to reports I have read the Mayor of Barcelona is responding to cut back tourism, especially cruise ships, following on the heels of similar protests in the Canary Islands..
It depends on which ships. Last week they had them both in Roadtown and a smaller one off Spanishtown with a 4th in the Northsound. I survived that but my head exploded when we found two small cruise ships off soggy!
Looks like there will be a ship in RT on two of the days of our charter. What are the ramifications that I need to consider when planning our itinerary to avoid the crowds?
We are not going to the Baths so I'm not concerned about those crowds. Probably not Cooper either. Other than those two places, do they have large excursions to other places?
We are planning on "the usuals" - Willy T, Saba, Anegada, Jost, Soggy.
Any hints on avoidance tactics would be appreciated.
We are at Saba right now. Two hours before the Super Bowl. It is packed. But it’s mostly boat based, and lots of Kansas City and Eagle fans. Good atmosphere.
The cruise link on this site shows two cruise ships in RT, 6,000 pax. Glad we are 8 on a 53 cat!!!
We came ashore at Spanish town this morning. Got a rental safari truck And drove the island up to Leverick bay. We saw a lot of big taxi trucks driving around. fortunately we missed them. We stopped at the top of the baths. And saw streams of tourist from the cruise boats going down. Drove to copper mine, then to Hog Heaven for lunch. Great time. Go were the crowds aren’t.🥸
We just got back from two weeks in BVI. Two or three days had more than 10k people arriving. It just takes planning if you’re going to the Baths, JVD or CGB. I asked the taxi drivers what they think. Most said they welcome the business, but the infrastructure has a tough time handling so many people.
The Gov, taxi driver and chair renters welcome the business..the rest of the island regulars and residents not so much.One cruise ship day I was at "Myett's" for lunch ..the beach was jam packed and there was a steady flow of shippers asking for internet code and the bathrooms..and one table was occupied by four having lunch..dont believe the bars and restaurants get rich from them..and dont ask the bartenders about tipping if they do sell a beer and a couple of rum punches! I love that one bar has the internet code"buyadrink"...
I have mixed feelings about the cruise ship issue. I would never choose a cruise ship vacation - not when I can sail instead. But I almost always say, "to each his own." I don't like the idea of banning someone or something, but sheesh those ships are so unpleasant in so many ways. Big ships in big cities don't bother me much because they sort of fit in with the scale of the surroundings - thinking Miami. But when you pull one of those big boys into BVI or other small island nation, ack!
I have mixed feelings about the cruise ship issue. I would never choose a cruise ship vacation - not when I can sail instead. But I almost always say, "to each his own." I don't like the idea of banning someone or something, but sheesh those ships are so unpleasant in so many ways. Big ships in big cities don't bother me much because they sort of fit in with the scale of the surroundings - thinking Miami. But when you pull one of those big boys into BVI or other small island nation, ack!
Wholeheartedly agree, some are quick to demean those who choose a cruise, even moreso today because of the huge increase in popularity, and the sizes of the ships today. But yes, the sheer size of the ships and the number of port calls is too much for many of these islands…
We first came to Tortola on land visits 20+ years ago when our friend “Capeye” turned us on to Kareem & Val’s place. We immediately fell in love with the island, and the people. Back then we were easily able to avoid the crowds in CGB by going to Smuggler’s or Long Bay, Beef for the day…Or just hang in CGB and people watch! Even then, walking to Bobby’s I’d see several 20+ pax safari taxis lined up picking up what seemed like hundreds of cruise ship pax! I just wonder how much worse it is there today. I know LB, Beef has been developed to receive day visitors, and there are cruise-ship-sponsored Jeep “safaris” that include a stop at Smuggler’s! AND now they have excursions to Spring Bay, VG! 🤭 Is Savannah Bay next??? 🫣
We've cruised and can attest to the enjoyment of cruising on the right ship and on the right itinerary for that ship. But we also know how intrusive these mega-ships from NCL and other lines are…I wish action could be taken to limit the ship sizes - in these BVI islands at least - to the 90-100k tonnage/2.5k pax ships of the ‘90’s…
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
Maybe they have added all the commercial clap-trap for cruisers by now, but we hit Tortola back in 2009 on Norwegian boat. Tortola was a bit of a bore as a cruise stop. Saw the tiny ancient rum distillery and had a so so lunch in Cane Garden Bay. I cant imagine what 11,000 people do in a day.
Haven't been to Jost in a few years, but I am sure if only 1000 of those 10,000 visit in a day it might never be the Jost I loved.
I would like to plan a day - first couple weeks of March - to go to the Baths. Will likely taxi from Leverick. I have been looking at the Cruise Ship Sched. - great idea to post that schedule btw - to try and plan around Cruise passengers inundating the area. Am i right in thinking the North Sound and Gorda Sound are one in the same as far as the small ships anchoring in Gorda Sound? Also, along with Cruise passengers coming to the Baths from ships anchored in Gorda Sound and anchored just out from Spanish Town, do the the big ships run large excursions from Road Town port to the Baths?
Yes they fill a special Speedys ferry from RT to the Baths about 10 in the morning..best bet is very early or mid to late afternoon otherwise its a zoo..
And those day visitors who want to avoid their fellow cruisers at the Baths are now taking cruise line excursions to Spring Bay…and to Smuggler’s Cove… Long Bay, Beef has already been spoken for, that leaves Savannah…🤫
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
A ship, you'll be lucky. Some days there are three or four. A few days there were 12-15k people on Tortola. A couple weeks ago we went to the Baths later in the afternoon when there was one ship in Spanishtown, none on Tortola. Ratman is done with the Baths.
And those day visitors who want to avoid their fellow cruisers at the Baths are now taking cruise line excursions to Spring Bay…and to Smuggler’s Cove… Long Bay, Beef has already been spoken for, that leaves Savannah…🤫
Spring Bay is currently closed (or at least it was two weeks ago) for "repairs" to the parking lot. There is a wall up, blocking all access to the path. Rumor is the government wanted to stop the curise excursions because they aren't collecting fees like at the Baths.
And those day visitors who want to avoid their fellow cruisers at the Baths are now taking cruise line excursions to Spring Bay…and to Smuggler’s Cove… Long Bay, Beef has already been spoken for, that leaves Savannah…🤫
Spring Bay is currently closed (or at least it was two weeks ago) for "repairs" to the parking lot. There is a wall up, blocking all access to the path. Rumor is the government wanted to stop the curise excursions because they aren't collecting fees like at the Baths.
I would have thought an agreement between the gov’t and NCL, et al would have happened already…🤷🏼
Let’s hope that rumor is all it is…The development/improvement that Ptarmigan noted sounds more ominous…
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
Why does Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" keep playing in my head?.."You dont know what you've got til its gone...They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."
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