Help with small group day trip idea, suggestions please

[PA Girl]

We will be on St. John in February. We are considering a day trip over to the BVIs and would appreciate advice and suggestions for planning.

We did a private day sail to Jost two years ago and were not thrilled. It was ok but not great for the price we paid. Maybe the boat wasn't a fit for us.

New Horizons II keeps coming up in my research but I am worried with the amount of people on the boat, it will feel too much like a bus trip.

We went to Virgin Gorda once and would go again. I am also interested in seeing some of the smaller islands.

We would like a snorkel/lunch-stop type of trip. Would prefer a smaller versus a larger charter.

I am open to suggestions. Any thoughts?

Can anyone offer a recommendation for a boat and a captain? I remember reading that one of the boat rental places would provide a captain for a fee. (Doing it ourselves is not an option - too much work and worry. I want to relax)

[California Girl]

How many are there in your group? In the research I did, I found you either get a "cattle boat" with about 20 people on it, or a sailboat that only takes a max of 6. On the other hand if your group is not more than 12, check out Breath. Oh Be Joyful takes groups of 6 - 14, Happy Hour takes 2 - 18. Hope this helps!

http://sailbreath.com/

http://www.sailhappyhour.com/index.htm

http://www.ohbejoyfulsailing.com/objhome.html

[tjwgrr]

We did Pirates Penny last year and thought it was fantastic. Boats are limited to six couples. When we went, I recall only being six total- very laid back. Sister ship is the Stormy Petrel

http://www.connectionsstjohn.com/piratesstormy.html

http://www.charterboat.vi/stormypetrel.html

Went to The Baths on Virgin Gorda, lunch on Cooper Island, snorkeling at Peter Island - would have snokeled the Indians, but was too rough that day. Great trip!

[pswlrw]

Check out Born to Rhumb (borntorhumb.com). Our group of 7 spent an amazing day on this boat last April. Captain Kevin and first mate Andy were great, and every one of us loved it (so much we are going to do it again when we return in April). We hit Tortola, Foxys, Soggy Dollar, Willie Tee, the Caves and the Indians and we never felt rushed!! Tell Captain Kevin that Bernie's sister Paula sent you!

[Mark]

Last March we booked Born to Rhumb.You need a min of six people to charter the boat.We went to the places previously mentioned.Kevin and Andy were great and we had a wonderful time.I cant remember the exact cost to charter but it was around $835.00 for the boat.You plan the day he will go where you tell him to go.Or he will suggest the popular spots.

This year we went on the Stormy Petrel.The difference was that there were 12 people on the boat.I believe there were 4 parties.The cost was $125.00 per person plus $20.00 Customs Fee P.P. plus whatever your lunch came to at Cooper Island.We had a wonderful time on both trips.Galen was the Captain on the Stormy Pertel and he provided a more indepth dialog on the local folklore on the Islands as we past.At the Baths Kevin (Born to Rhumb) stayed with the boat and we did a self guided tour.Galen and his mate swam in with us and gave us a guided tour which took us to areas in the Baths that you wouldn't go to unless you knew the area well.And at the end of the tour we had an option of following Galen to a location where you jumped into the ocean from a 10' rock.Both trips went to the Indians which is the best snorkling I have ever done.Born to Rhumb went to some of the party spots where as Stormy Petrel did not.All in all we had a wondereful time on both trips and would go on either again.

[PA Girl]

It will be either just hubby and me or 5 if son and grandparents join us.

Thanks so much all for the ideas - REALLY great info. I can't wait to check them out.