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Buddles Trip Report: Part 1 Getting There
Buddles Trip Report: Part 1 Getting There
We are avid snorkelers and try to take a snorkeling vacation every year. My husband is new to the sport. His first experience was in Maui four years ago. Since then we have snorkeled in Key West, Key Largo and Grand Cayman. We were interested in visiting St. John because the reefs are so accessible from the shore.
The journey:
I was third in line at the Starbuck's kiosk at Boston's Logan Airport when my husband told me they were boarding our flight to STT. As soon as we were all seated, the captain got on the speaker and announced that the ground crew had to replace a tire and we would be delayed about 15 minutes. My latte would have tasted really good about now. It was a very uneventful flight until we got within half an hour of STT. The pilot announced that the airport was closed. Some plane had some problem on the runway and it would take about half an hour to reopen the field. We flew in circles for a while. This led to a huge problem, not only were we flying big circles, so were six other planes. When we all landed, we just overwhelmed the STT infrastructure. The only ones who could keep up were the ones pouring the rum punch! Baggage pickup was atrocious. The taxi dispatchers did a great job since so many people were going to the ferries, the taxis left full of people with the same destinations.
We went to Red Hook - it was a major disaster!!!! We got there and did not know what to do. You need to buy a ticket and get luggage tags before you walk to the ferry. We didn't know this and carried all our luggage to the gate by the ferry. They only sell tickets 15 minutes prior to each scheduled departure. Apparently they were short-handed that day. This was also compounded by all the people from the airport descending upon the ferry at the same time. It was utter chaos. Although we got there in time to take the 5 p.m. ferry, the ferry was full and I was tenth in line. No one was getting out of line even though the security man told us they would not be selling tickets again until 5:45. I tried to call Coconut Coast to tell them we were at the ferry, but delayed and realized that although I had directions, I neglected to bring their phone number! My husband was not pleased. I went around to some native workers looking for a phonebook and finally a lady went in her booth and handed me her phonebook. Everyone was very helpful. At 5:45 someone decided that they were not going to sell tickets at the booth, but at the gate. There was a big free-for-all of people running, pushing and shoving trying to be first in line! No one was with their party or their luggage! Children were separated from their parents! Everyone wanted their group to move forward to where they were! It was a major disaster! There was one lady selling tickets. When she got tired of people hassling her, she would just stop selling tickets for several minutes. Somehow we got on the ferry. Not everyone did. There were still people there who had missed the 5 p.m. and now the 6 p.m. ferry. This would have been a good time to use a porter. Those who did had their luggage brought right to the front of the line and they followed right behind! You would need thick skin, however to walk by everyone glaring at you - the gate crashers!! We finally got to Coconut Coast and dropped off our luggage. We went out to do a quick grocery shopping. We ended up eating Stouffer's French Bread Pizza ($6.49 a box) for our supper!
On Sunday we were just wasted! I brought coffee from home and bought cream at the market, but had no sugar! Two days in a row with no coffee! We decided to take it easy and just poke around. We had a full week planned. We used this day to buy souveniers and walk around town. We walked into the park service office and found out what pier our two boat excursions were leaving from.
Stay tuned for Part Two: Snorkeling and Boat Excursions
The journey:
I was third in line at the Starbuck's kiosk at Boston's Logan Airport when my husband told me they were boarding our flight to STT. As soon as we were all seated, the captain got on the speaker and announced that the ground crew had to replace a tire and we would be delayed about 15 minutes. My latte would have tasted really good about now. It was a very uneventful flight until we got within half an hour of STT. The pilot announced that the airport was closed. Some plane had some problem on the runway and it would take about half an hour to reopen the field. We flew in circles for a while. This led to a huge problem, not only were we flying big circles, so were six other planes. When we all landed, we just overwhelmed the STT infrastructure. The only ones who could keep up were the ones pouring the rum punch! Baggage pickup was atrocious. The taxi dispatchers did a great job since so many people were going to the ferries, the taxis left full of people with the same destinations.
We went to Red Hook - it was a major disaster!!!! We got there and did not know what to do. You need to buy a ticket and get luggage tags before you walk to the ferry. We didn't know this and carried all our luggage to the gate by the ferry. They only sell tickets 15 minutes prior to each scheduled departure. Apparently they were short-handed that day. This was also compounded by all the people from the airport descending upon the ferry at the same time. It was utter chaos. Although we got there in time to take the 5 p.m. ferry, the ferry was full and I was tenth in line. No one was getting out of line even though the security man told us they would not be selling tickets again until 5:45. I tried to call Coconut Coast to tell them we were at the ferry, but delayed and realized that although I had directions, I neglected to bring their phone number! My husband was not pleased. I went around to some native workers looking for a phonebook and finally a lady went in her booth and handed me her phonebook. Everyone was very helpful. At 5:45 someone decided that they were not going to sell tickets at the booth, but at the gate. There was a big free-for-all of people running, pushing and shoving trying to be first in line! No one was with their party or their luggage! Children were separated from their parents! Everyone wanted their group to move forward to where they were! It was a major disaster! There was one lady selling tickets. When she got tired of people hassling her, she would just stop selling tickets for several minutes. Somehow we got on the ferry. Not everyone did. There were still people there who had missed the 5 p.m. and now the 6 p.m. ferry. This would have been a good time to use a porter. Those who did had their luggage brought right to the front of the line and they followed right behind! You would need thick skin, however to walk by everyone glaring at you - the gate crashers!! We finally got to Coconut Coast and dropped off our luggage. We went out to do a quick grocery shopping. We ended up eating Stouffer's French Bread Pizza ($6.49 a box) for our supper!
On Sunday we were just wasted! I brought coffee from home and bought cream at the market, but had no sugar! Two days in a row with no coffee! We decided to take it easy and just poke around. We had a full week planned. We used this day to buy souveniers and walk around town. We walked into the park service office and found out what pier our two boat excursions were leaving from.
Stay tuned for Part Two: Snorkeling and Boat Excursions
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martini girl
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:29 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania
Wow, what a travel day! I can't even imagine that ferry dock situation. When we got there, they were pretty much finished selling tickets but the woman took pity on us and said "meet you at the gate". So we took our luggage, paid and rec'd our tickets, also paid for our luggage, but rec'd no tickets for that and didnt even realize we were supposed to have them.
When we were on board and moving, she came around and asked for our luggage tickets, we said "you never gave us any!" Literally, this was about 2 minutes past the time she took our money, and she looked like she didn't remember us! Thankfully, she didn't hassle us for them. That whole set-up there is really different!! Looking forward to your next installment.
When we were on board and moving, she came around and asked for our luggage tickets, we said "you never gave us any!" Literally, this was about 2 minutes past the time she took our money, and she looked like she didn't remember us! Thankfully, she didn't hassle us for them. That whole set-up there is really different!! Looking forward to your next installment.
Our arrival at the ferry wasn't as bad as yours and half of our group was ready to leave (not hubby and I but some of our group with kids had it rougher than those of us without). By the next day they werer glad they ahd stayed but it makes it really hard to get on island time when everyone is so uptight! I hope the rest went better!
I admit there was a brief time at Red Hook when I was thinking to myself, "I want to go home!"cat wrote:Our arrival at the ferry wasn't as bad as yours and half of our group was ready to leave (not hubby and I but some of our group with kids had it rougher than those of us without). By the next day they werer glad they ahd stayed but it makes it really hard to get on island time when everyone is so uptight! I hope the rest went better!