What's the best way to get to Jost van Dyke from St. John?

[Dan]

Last time I tried to go to Jost the ferry was on a limited schedule due to mechanical problems. Any thoughts on the best way to make the trip?

dan
http://sunshinelobster.blogspot.com/

[Xislandgirl]

I highly recommend Capt John with Palm Tree Charters.
If you take the ferry you are bound by their schedule. When you go with Capt John, you get to snorkle on the way there and then you can hop from Foxy's to Ivan's to Soggy Dollar or not or more. It is a great way to spend the day.

[Dan]

How many people does he take at a time? There are two of us going...

dan
http://sunshinelobster.blogspot.com/

[lazylane]

We also go with Capt John of Palm Tree Charters. He takes 6 at a time! Great day!! see his videos at www.palmtreecharters.com . You can go wherever, whenever! As he says - it's your cruise!

[Gromit]

The ferry, however, will be much less expensive if it's just the two of you.

PTC charges $525 for up to 6 people plus $25 each for customs fees.

The ferry is $60 pp and that includes the customs fees.

Just depends on what you want to do and how you want to spend your $$.

[Lulu76]

I like the ferry. You don't get much time on Jost, but you wouldn't get much time if you stopped and did lots of snorkeling on the way either.

For me, $60 to spend around 5 hours on Jost is worth it. Much longer than that, and I start to lapse into a coma. And my liver appreciates it, as well!

[Gromit]

Just to add: Please don't get me wrong about the charter thing. We have done charters, rented bareboats and taken ferries.

A charter can be nice as long as you have enough people to split the cost but you're still going to spend about $50 more per person than you would on the ferry.

Yes the ferry times are somewhat restrictive but based on my experience with the charters you end up leaving about the same time as the ferry would and returning about the same time -- as you generally need to get back through customs on STJ before 5pm.

The only advantage of the charter in this situation is your ability to stop at places along the way and you can leave when you want to leave.

But if your goal is to go to Jost for the day and just hang out at Ivans or Foxy's, then quite honestly an extra $100 betweent he two of you buys a lot of food and drink for the day IMHO.

As I said, it just depends on what your goals for the day are.

Just sayin'.