Ferry Schedule

Does your ferry leave from Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook? Any way you can do just carry on? Going to be impossible, or at the best, tough!!! If you flight is even a little late, you are screwed. Bags come out very, very slowly. Taxis wait until they are full before leaving the airport and then drop off along the way.

If your ferry leaves from CA. you only have carry on, flight is on time, and you pay for a taxi to take just your party (meaning you pay the going fare, per person, for a full van), you can make it with time to spare. If anything else, you won't make it. Sorry, but I suggest you start thinking about alternatives.

Edited to add: You can alway use the Water Taxi . You need to call at least 24 hours in advance; 340-775-6501, but it is expensive, and you still MUST arrive in BVI before Customs and Immigration closes. If it were me....I would plan to spend the night on STT.

We are leaving out of CA, other plans are not at all possible. Carry on is also not an option, how much is water taxi for 8 people?

Juanita has covered everything. You will need to call the water taxi and see if they are available when you need them, and how much they will charge. I don't know Spirit's on time record for that flight, but you may very well find yourself in need of a back up plan to stay on STT overnight. A 3:30 arrival with checked bags for eight people will require a lot of luck to make the BVI before customs closes.

The last time I arrived on the 3:30 flight, I shared a taxi to Red Hook with a group of folks bound for Tortola. They caught the 5 p.m. ferry, but it was close.

A taxi to Red Hook would take way longer then the 5pm out of CA. I heard it is doeable if the flight is on time.

What folks are saying is that it may be doable, but you are taking a chance and should be prepared to make other sleeping arrangement for that night. You will probably end up spending the first night on STT.

I think it would be cheaper to take a water taxi, as we have the boat already booked. Adding 4 rooms would be more expensive then the water taxi. Marjorie at Smith's ferry said she wll have a taxi waiting for us at the airport and will hold the ferry as long as Spirit flight is on time, or close. Maybe even time for a cold Carib at the Petite Pump Room, we do have an hour and a half

Good deal to have a taxi waiting..now, next step is to check and double check several times (without being a pain in the ....) I don't know about the reliability of the ferry lady telling you the taxi will be there or the ferry will wait. She may be the best!!!, Gawd, I am sorry to be sounding like a naysayer, but it's up to you to make sure it all comes together. Good luck and fair winds.

Been down this road before, understand "ilon time",actually appreciate it, working as hard as we do. We used to fly directly into BVI, but sick of SJU and the commuter airlines. Flying directly into STT and taking the ferry, starts the trip out chillin on the ferry. Thank for the help. we will go with the flow and have a great time, HEY, we're on vacation!!!!

Sail 2,

I wouldn't worry too much. If Marjorie said she will hold the ferry you should be able to trust that. We had the same issue, same airline, same flight, same itinerary, on a previous trip over. We emailed and called as well, spoke to Marjorie (owner of Smith's I believe) and she assured us that if we used Smith's round trip (pre- booked and paid online I believe) that she would hold the ferry for us and she did. And I'm pretty sure that customs stays open until the last ferry arrives. We have always found in our travels that folks on Tortola are good to their word. We've never had contracts faxed or emailed for any services on the Island. For car rental there is always someone at the ferry dock waiting to pick us up, and if they have to run back to the shop they will have a taxi or other rental company watch for us and shuttle us to pick up our car (at no charge) even when the ferry is late. Same with villa rentals, no paperwork , just "ya ya, we'll have your room" and they always do.
Can't swear to it but I think you'll be ok.

Think your chances would be even greater w/ carry on only as others have suggested. I know you've said that is not an option and I realize you are going on a boat so if that is due to dive gear then it's obviously not an option but if it due to other gear, clothes or food then maybe carry on is an option. We typically visit for 10 days and the last few times it has been with a family of 5 and we do it carry on only including all baby and snorkel gear. We just spend a day at the beach and hit the laundromat at Cane Garden Bay half way through our trip.

Hope this is helpful

Yes, 4 of us are divers, so carry on is not an option, BC's and Regs take up a lot of space. As long as Spirit is on time we will be OK.

OMG! BYO BCD- LOL! 😉