OP
scubnski
Registered
Thanks "Sling" You only have 12 years + a few months before you'll be "family diving." In the meantime, that's why they invented grandparents..
New Member-Cuan Law
- Thread starter scubnski
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
I did the trip about the same time last year. Take a look at the trip report here http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=177494.
It was a good trip and very relaxing. The crew is great and will take good care of you.
You can see some of the pictures I took at http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=all&ppuser=31590
It was a good trip and very relaxing. The crew is great and will take good care of you.
You can see some of the pictures I took at http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=all&ppuser=31590
OP
scubnski
Registered
Hi All
Thanks again for all your great feedback to our questions about the Cuan Law and our subsequent booking of the trip for December (if they get at least 8 people to sign up).
Our plan is to arrive in Tortola on Saturday, the day before our sailing date and to depart on the following Saturday, the day the boat gets back to Tortola. I have been advised that there is no trouble getting back to the airport on the Saturday the cruise ends, but would rather not gamble on delays getting from the States to Tortola for the beginning of the trip.
Now for my question, from Newark, NJ we have the choice of flying directly to San Juan and then taking a puddle jumper to Beef Island (EIS). American Airlines connects with a turbo prop and Continental connects with a 5 passenger Cessna 402. I have some concerns about the 402 due to possible luggage restrictions (dive gear)...it's a real small plane. Naturally, I don't want to get hit with a huge luggage surcharge, or even worse, have the luggage left behind due to weight restrictions.
The other option is flying directly to St. Thomas and then taking the ferry.
Suggestions and insights please...
The folks at the Cuan Law have recommended a couple of Inns in Tortola for Saturday night. It would be fun to stay somewhere we could walk into town and have a nice dinner.
Thanks in advance for your good advice
Regards
Mark
Thanks again for all your great feedback to our questions about the Cuan Law and our subsequent booking of the trip for December (if they get at least 8 people to sign up).
Our plan is to arrive in Tortola on Saturday, the day before our sailing date and to depart on the following Saturday, the day the boat gets back to Tortola. I have been advised that there is no trouble getting back to the airport on the Saturday the cruise ends, but would rather not gamble on delays getting from the States to Tortola for the beginning of the trip.
Now for my question, from Newark, NJ we have the choice of flying directly to San Juan and then taking a puddle jumper to Beef Island (EIS). American Airlines connects with a turbo prop and Continental connects with a 5 passenger Cessna 402. I have some concerns about the 402 due to possible luggage restrictions (dive gear)...it's a real small plane. Naturally, I don't want to get hit with a huge luggage surcharge, or even worse, have the luggage left behind due to weight restrictions.
The other option is flying directly to St. Thomas and then taking the ferry.
Suggestions and insights please...
The folks at the Cuan Law have recommended a couple of Inns in Tortola for Saturday night. It would be fun to stay somewhere we could walk into town and have a nice dinner.
Thanks in advance for your good advice
Regards
Mark
We fly in to St. Thomas on Saturday, took the ferry directly to RoadTown and stayed at a hotel at the marina. Saturday we took the ferry back to St Thomas and stayed overnight in St Thomas.
Do not stay at the Serendipity House. We talked to some fellow passengers who did, and while it is a nice location it is up on the hill away from everything.
Do not stay at the Serendipity House. We talked to some fellow passengers who did, and while it is a nice location it is up on the hill away from everything.
slingshot
Contributor
I also took the ferry from St. Thomas the day before the trip. Can't remember the name of the hotel we stayed at the night before we boarded, it wasn't that memorable though it was in town. A tip if you use the ferry, and for liveaboards in general, bring earplugs. It will help with the diesel noise on the ferry. I don't recall a weight limit on the ferry luggage, but I'd guess on a Cessna you'd be limited to 30-40 lbs, if that.
OP
scubnski
Registered
Hi Sling.
Thanks for the feedback. Knowing what you know now, would you take the ferry again or two flights? I'm thinking about the hassle of ground transport, from St Thomas to the ferry, schlepping bags and having to go through customs (I assume) an additional time when arriving in Tortola...and then, of course repeating for the trip home.
On the other hand if you say the ferry route is a great adventure, and shouldn't be missed, then I'm there.
I think if I fly thru San Juan, it'll be with AA, not Continental. At least they connect with AA Express and use turbo-props which shouldn't be quite so restrictive with baggage.
Thanks and regards
Mark
Thanks for the feedback. Knowing what you know now, would you take the ferry again or two flights? I'm thinking about the hassle of ground transport, from St Thomas to the ferry, schlepping bags and having to go through customs (I assume) an additional time when arriving in Tortola...and then, of course repeating for the trip home.
On the other hand if you say the ferry route is a great adventure, and shouldn't be missed, then I'm there.
I think if I fly thru San Juan, it'll be with AA, not Continental. At least they connect with AA Express and use turbo-props which shouldn't be quite so restrictive with baggage.
Thanks and regards
Mark
I would go to St Thomas. Taxi will be lined up at the airport grab your bags and drop you at the Ferry Terminal 20 feet from the check in desk. As soon as you pick a ferry service a porter takes your bag. At Road Town the drop you on the dock and from there it is a 40 foot walk to customs, 20 feet past customs you will again find taxi's. Coming in you only clear customs in Road Town. On the return you clear customs in St. Thomas at the ferry terminal and at the airport, but it is not a big deal and more perfunctory.
Tip on the ferry:
We flew into St Thomas on Saturday. From there we took Smith Ferry to Road Town, Tortola. It was earlier than the Road Town Fast Ferry, and after our experience with the return trip we should have waited. The Smith Ferry boat was fast and quiet. On the return, Smith Ferry was out of service, so they bused us to West End and put us on Native Son which was extremely loud. My recommendation is not to buy a round trip ticket but buy one way to maximize flexibility and reduce the hassle factor if one of the ferries is not running on your travel days.
If you read some of the other trip reports on here, luggage is known to get delayed, lost or stolen in San Juan. That was one reason I took the direct flight to St. Thomas.
Tip on the ferry:
We flew into St Thomas on Saturday. From there we took Smith Ferry to Road Town, Tortola. It was earlier than the Road Town Fast Ferry, and after our experience with the return trip we should have waited. The Smith Ferry boat was fast and quiet. On the return, Smith Ferry was out of service, so they bused us to West End and put us on Native Son which was extremely loud. My recommendation is not to buy a round trip ticket but buy one way to maximize flexibility and reduce the hassle factor if one of the ferries is not running on your travel days.
If you read some of the other trip reports on here, luggage is known to get delayed, lost or stolen in San Juan. That was one reason I took the direct flight to St. Thomas.
Similar threads
