Destinations

{ Are you ready for the best day of your vacation? }

The possibilities are endless for a fun day on the water. Our captains have years of experience and can provide plenty of guidance and insight to help make your day on the water the best day of your vacation.

The first decision to make is whether to head over to our neighbors in the British Virgin Islands or stay “local” within the US Virgin Islands.

BVI Update 9/28/2022

It's been almost a year since our last BVI update, so we thought it was time for another one. The BVI is open to US-based charter boats, but unlike the pre-pandemic days when all we had to do was show up, do some paperwork, and pay some customs fees, the rules have changed. The process US charter boat companies need to follow to get licensed and permitted to do business in the BVI is long, arduous, and expensive. Ridiculously expensive. You can find a great article that explains all of this here.

Shades of Blue is a small company and the bottom line is that we cannot afford it. Most small charter boat companies can't either. Even if we were to pay the nearly $20k in fees, we would most definitely need to raise our prices significantly for BVI trips. So a day trip to the BVI would be in the $2000-2500 range. Right now, the best bang for your buck is to take the ferry to Jost.

So what is being done about it? Well, we are told that the US Coast Guard, lawyers, and politicians are actively involved and "looking into this". In fact, there was a meeting between the USVI Governor and the BVI Premier on September 22 where they discussed cooperation between the two territories with regard to several topics, most notably tourism and boating. So, while this is a step in the right direction, we are still not prepared to start running BVI trips right now. Fingers crossed for changes for the better in this area in the future.

British Virgin Islands | Learn more...

US Virgin Islands | Learn More...

British Virgin Islands

After clearing customs, the rest of the day is yours to do some exploring. The British Virgin Islands have something for everyone. Pristine beaches, world class snorkeling, floating bars and restaurants, and exotic natural wonders.

Here are just a few examples of how you could spend a day on the water in the BVI:

Nothing beats a relaxing day on Jost Van Dyke. First, stop off for a swim at Sandy Spit, a small uninhabited island where Corona commercials were once filmed. Next, head over to Little Jost Van Dyke to visit the Bubbly Pool. Lunch options on Jost Van Dyke are numerous, as are the number of beach bars. White Bay is the epicenter when it comes to beach bars- take your pick -Ivan’s Stress Free Bar, Hendo’s Hideout, Foxy’s, Seddy’s One Love, and of course the famous Soggy Dollar. You can’t go wrong with a day on Jost Van Dyke.
A very popular trip is the “Triangle”. After clearing customs on the West End of Tortola, we will head east to Norman Island where you can snorkel at awesome spots such as the Caves, the Indians, or the Aquarium. Grab lunch at Pirate’s Bight or the Willy-T and then head west over to Jost Van Dyke to finish the day with cold PainKillers at the edge of the water in White Bay.
Another very popular trip is a visit to Virgin Gorda to see the Baths. The Baths is best described as “exotic” and is a collection of massive granite boulders on land and in the water with trails that wind through, around, and over them, the scale of which cannot be truly appreciated unless you see for yourself. After snorkeling among the boulders, you will swim in from the boat and follow the trail from the beach through caverns and shallow pools, often climbing ladders and stairs to get up and over the boulders. After exploring, there are many options for lunch depending on where your afternoon takes you. (Please note that the trip to the Baths is nearly 40 miles from St John and is weather dependent. If the winds and seas are up, it can be a very bumpy and often unpleasant ride. The final decision to go the Baths will be made by the captain, as his/her top priority is the safety of the passengers and the boat.)

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US Virgin Islands

By staying within US waters, you will save time and money:

You will not be required to clear in and out of customs saving you $70/person
No customs paperwork - more time for having fun
Less fuel

There’s still plenty to do and see in the US Virgin Islands. Here are a few sample itineraries:

Want a quieter day? Then perhaps take a ride over to the secluded north side of St Thomas and check out Hans Lollick island and some great, less visited snorkel spots. Pull into Magens Bay and stroll one of the top rated beaches in the world.
If you’re feeling adventurous, perhaps a drift snorkel between Lovango and Congo Cay followed by snorkeling a couple of shallow wrecks. Fuel up with lunch at Pizza Pi, the floating pizza boat in Christmas Cove or perhaps a nice sit down lunch at Lovango Beach Resort. You can finish up the day sub-winging in Caneel Bay..
Head over to the south side of St Thomas and do some snorkeling with the turtles at Buck Island. Next, head over to Water Island for lunch at Heidi’s or Dinghy’s right on Honeymoon Beach. Rent a golf cart and explore Water Island, snorkel right off the boat, or chill with some cold drinks on the beach. Lots of options.
Circumnavigate St John visiting the various bays and beaches on the north shore for some swimming and snorkeling. Many of the best snorkeling spots on St John are accessible only by boat. Look for turtles at Maho. Swim in and for lunch and drinks at the new beachside tiki bar at Maho or the new floating taco bar, Lime Out, on the east side of St John. There are lots of shoreside options for food and drink in Cruz Bay in St John as well.