Water Island is part of the USVI and a 5-10 minute ferry ride from the St Thomas waterfront. Tortola is in the BVI (British Virgin Islands), a minimum 45 minute ferry ride from St Thomas and requires a passport and check-in at Customs and Immigration both coming and going. Yours is a very odd request and very difficult to answer without more information.

STTres: Bad information, Water Island ferry does not leave from the waterfront.

OP: Check the ferry schedule at the top of the page for correct departure information and schedule.

Rocky Dock
Water Island

My apologies. Crown Bay. A very bad mistake indeed.

The logistics is not a concern, Figured if I decide to go to Water Island I would drive to dock and take ferry. ( Staying at sapphire). If I decide Tortola just take ferry from Red Hook. What I am trying to get feedback on is which trip would be more worth wild for me to do, its only a day trip so not sure of going through the expense and time to go to Tortola would be worth it. Thanks.

I'd take a ferry trip to either Jost or Virgin Gorda over Tortola. Even better I'd join a charter to get in some of the incredible snorkeling along the way to either. I don't see why you have to pick Tortola over the WI because WI is just a hop, skip and a jump away.

I agree with STT Resident.

Why not do both WI and a BVI trip? Make your Tortola (or, I agree....my opinion....JVD or Virgin Gorda offer much more for new experience/day trip) the "day trip" experience. Water island is so close that it's like going to another "neighborhood" of STT. Which, it kinda is. True, you have to take a ferry ride to get there but it's a quick ferry ride, short walk to the beach and/or hiking and places to explore. Lunch at Heidi Honeymoon Grill; a cool frostry drink at Joe's Beach Bar. Makes for a beautiful day.....and so many people make Water Island their "base" and find it to be a great place to spend the whole week! What are we sayin'.......I guess the message is that a day trip to the BVI is much more a "commitment" (time and money) than choosing a "day trip" to Water Island.

Whatever you choose, you'll have a great time. And, I hope will be back to find other new places to explore on/around lovely Virgin Islands.

Thanks for the input everyone. I guess the reason I threw Tortola and Water Island out there is because it was the two places we HAVEN'T been. I've taken several BVI day trips to VG the Baths and JVD. So that was my main reason for suggesting Water Island and Tortola. Thanks for the help and looking forward to getting back.