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Does anyone know of any snorkeling trips by boat that last 3 to 5 hours, go to good sights & do not depart before 9:30 a.m. or so? We'd especially be interested in those that might be able to go to areas &/or beaches near St. John. We'll be arriving by cruise ship and it takes a while to get off of the ship. I tried to find some tours like this on my own last year but everything I could find left too early - or at least before we would be able to make it to their departure location. (Don't want to go on the ones sponsored byt the cruise ship!) Thanks for any ideas.
Hello Maria,
Many do leave before 9.30am. Are you interested in perhaps chartering a sail boat, if you are traveling with a group this might be a good choice. The sail boats usually have snorkeling at two or three spots, lunch, drinks and a max capacity of 6. Comes usually with a captain and an assistant - they tell you about the islands and chat with you. This option would probally work better then the larger boats that have a set time of departure. This way you could let them know what time you can get there by.
Has anyone taking charters that they would suggest for this type of day trip?
--Islander
Yes, we might consider that. My husband & I sure would!( But definitely couldn't afford it by ourselves, I'm sure.) We could easily have done this a time or 2 in the past when our group consisted of 2 families. But this time we are traveling in a loose group of about 27, which includes l2 "parents" and the rest young people from l6 to 21. When I say "loose", I mean the kids will in some cases want to branch off and go to the beach or on the Kon Tiki or something. SOME of the parents have been on only one cruise and don't really know WHAT they want to do. There will no doubt be a lot of "what are you going to do?" stuff and no one wanting to make a decision that might it seem like they are trying to "boss" everyone else. Right now I am the ONLY person researching anything. The rest pretty much don't have a clue. We have one person deathly afraid of the water ( I found out while in a panic choke hold at Stingray City off Grand Cayman 2 yrs. ago!) It's tricky business (esp. when you live next to or down the st. from some of them) and -on a cruise w/a much smaller smattering of acquaintances last yr.- some pre-set (we thought) plans got messed up at the last minute when someone wanted to change our plan based on the fact that some of the others didn't want to go to a beach where there might be some toplessness. But having said that, there might be at least one or two other couples who would for sure be interested in the charter thing and would maybe be willing to stick to the plan. Otherwise, forget it! My husband and I will just go our way and hopefully enjoy Honeymoon, Trunk and Cinnamon or something/place else. (Islander, see reply to previous suggestion several posts down!)
