TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Crew Change Strategy

We will be chartering for two weeks in March. One couple will depart on Wednesday on a late PM flight out of STT and another will arrive the next day at STT at about 1:30. I would like a smooth exchange without two nights in a row at the same anchorage and have no desire to spend either night around St Thomas. Have identified two options for drop off and/or pick up--West End or Cruz Bay. West End is simple for us and relatively straight forward for the other couples. We could spend the drop off night at JVD or St John if we check in first. Cruz Bay would require anchoring in the Caneel/Lindt Point area and probably spending the night on the north side of St John. One advantage is the frequent ferries from Red Hook. It's been 30+ years since I have stayed overnight in USVI waters. Any creative suggestions or comments?

Either drop off and pick up as you said from West end - you could drop off on your way to JVD and pick up on your way back the other direction the following day.

Or with two weeks, why not spend a few nights in St. John. Plenty of options on where to stay - you don't even need to drop off or pick up in Cruz bay - they could taxi from a number of locations.

no anchoring in Caneel, plenty of mooring balls, BTW. what is wrong with STT? Christmas Cove is great, free, and excellent snokeling

Water Island/Honeymoon Beach and they can take the Water Island water taxi over or you can pick them up in the dink at Crown Bay.

On St. John, we don't normally overnight at Caneel Bay due to the rolling caused by ferry wakes. But, Cruz Bay has a great day/night life and restaurants. Maho/Francis Bay is a great overnight and there are a lot of balls. Leinster Bay is impressive as well.

Cheers, RickG

A man asks an Indian Brave: why do you ride a horse while your squaw must always walk? The Brave replies: "Because squaw no have horse."

I would be tempted to tell each party leaving and coming to meet me at "such and such a place" in the BVI.

Drop off the outgoing crew at Cruz early enough in the day that you can go to Leinster for that overnight. Not too shabby a place for a night IMHO. Next morning you have a good chance to snorkel around Waterlemon Cay, or a great walk to Annaberg Plantation or both.

The INCOMING crew-- meet them at West End, where you will also check back in to the BVI and they will check in from the ferry. If all goes well with their connections and ferry service, you should still have time to beat feet that afternoon to JVD or the Bight. If not, then you'll stay at WE/Sopers and have dining options as well as retail/provisioning reprieve.

I say that because a night at Leinster means checking out of the BVI, checking in at Cruz anyway. Ferry from Cruz to St Thomas is reliable and often, and your crew has to check into the USVI somewhere, too. Two birds, one stone. The bird in the hand is Leinster.

Picking up your incoming crew in West End off the ferry means they will already be done with C&I.

Another version of that would be drop-off at Cruz, that night at Christmas Cove, pick up at Cruz, and then a beat feet to Leinster. Then your choice of JVD or West End for checking back in to the BVI with your new crew.

Breeze

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Forgot to add that the admiral likes to dine ashore, so that is limiting. I always enjoyed Leinster/Waterlemon in my younger days. Maybe I can talk her into letting me grill some steaks.
Doug