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7 Night Cruise to the Eastern Caribbean

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• You are on a budget and don't want to pay the Disney premium
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5 Night Cruise to the Eastern Caribbean

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• You don't want to have your picture taken with Captain Mickey
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Visiting St. Thomas on Disney Cruise Line

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St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands is one of the most popular destinations for Eastern Caribbean cruise itineraries. It is easy to see why this is the case, since the island is so friendly and beautiful. Disney Cruise Line has included St. Thomas on its Eastern Caribbean itineraries since they began in the cruise industry and is continuing to do so on upcoming 2015 and 2016 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral on both the Disney Magic and the Disney Fantasy.

St. Thomas’ cruise pier is well situated to its capital city, Charlotte Amalie, which is about a 20-minute walk or a short taxi ride from your ship. From personal experience, I recommend springing for a taxi ride on days when the sun is out in full force.   From Charlotte Amalie, it is easy to take excursions all over the island by taxi or rental car, or to get ferry service to visit the nearby islands of St. John or Water Island.

Even if you decide just to stroll around near the cruise terminal, the Havensight Pier is a nice, safe, place to walk around with many shopping opportunities, an ATM/bank, post office and internet cafes.

Be prepared- if you plan on renting a car in St. Thomas, you’ll be driving on the left side of the road.

A view of the pier from a scenic overlook- Disney Magic in the middle

St. Thomas is a wonderful place to visit the beach, and Magen’s Bay is well known for being a perfect spot with calm waters and nice facilities. There are also many less populated beaches around St. Thomas, though the facility options vary depending on where you choose to go.

One of our favorite beach moments included an excursion we took through Disney Cruise Line which took us on a short ferry ride to St. John, where we visited Trunk Bay Beach. Trunk Bay is part of a U.S. National Park and offered comfortable calm waters which were great for families as well as snorkeling.

the ferry boat to Trunk Bay on St. John

Beautiful Trunk Bay Beach

If visiting the beach is not for you, St. Thomas is filled with a variety of activities for the adventurous or the non-adventurous traveler. These include speedboat, catamaran and sailboat adventures (either through Disney Cruise Line’s shore excursion department or set up on your own), zip-lining, golf, and various water based activities.

For less mobile travelers, there are several different options of island tours, many of which will offer stops at scenic overlooks and at the popular Coral World Marine Park.

However, by far, the most popular activity on St. Thomas is shopping. The currency on St. Thomas is the U.S. Dollar, and it is a duty-free port. Some of the best prices can be found on liquor (most shops will deliver your purchases right to the pier so that you don’t need to cart it around with you), perfumes, textiles, and jewelry. Personally, I have a favorite jeweler on St. Thomas where we have found amazing deals on gemstones and watches.

You will want to stick to the main roadways in Charlotte Amalie for shopping- too far off of the beaten path, the neighborhood is not as good. I also recommend purchasing rum cakes on St. Thomas- they are delicious!

No matter what you choose to do on St. Thomas, it is a great destination to visit. My husband and I have been to this port more than any other one at this point, and we have not run out of new things to do or see.

Hoping to go back to St. Thomas again soon!

Have you ever stopped in St. Thomas?  What’s your favorite thing to do here?

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1 thought on “ Visiting St. Thomas on Disney Cruise Line ”

Thanks for the info! Do you have experience renting a car? If so, where is the closest or best place to rent from and how much time will it take to do the paperwork and return the vehicle? Thanks, Nathan

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Tag Archives: British Virgin Islands

Personal Navigators: 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral with Pixar Day at Sea – January 6, 2024

Personal Navigators, and other details from the  7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral. The Disney Fantasy set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on January 6, 2024. There are additional Personal Navigators from other sailings of this Continue Reading →

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Personal Navigators: Disney Fantasy 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral – September 2, 2023

Personal Navigators, and other details from the Silver Anniversary at Sea 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral. The Disney Fantasy set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on September 2, 2023. There are additional Personal Navigators from Continue Reading →

Personal Navigators: 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral – March 4, 2023

Personal Navigators, and other details from the  7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral. The Disney Fantasy set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on March 4, 2023. There are additional Personal Navigators from other sailings of this Continue Reading →

Personal Navigators: 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral – November 26, 2022

Personal Navigators, and other details from the Very MerryTime 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral. The Disney Fantasy set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on November 26, 2022. There are additional Personal Navigators from other sailings Continue Reading →

Personal Navigators: 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral – August 6, 2022

Personal Navigators, and other details from the  7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral. The Disney Fantasy set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida on August 6, 2022. There are additional Personal Navigators from other sailings of this Continue Reading →

Travelling With Nikki

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Disney Fantasy Eastern Caribbean Cruise: Day Four – Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Despite having a late night the evening before, I actually woke up before 6:00am without the need for an alarm clock. As I was awake so early and could not get back to sleep, I sat on our verandah and watched a beautiful sunrise as we sailed slowly through the British Virgin Islands on our way to Tortola. As I had been offline since we left Port Canaveral, I also switched on my iPhone as I was able to use my data plan free of charge whilst in both the British and US Virgin Islands and spent a few minutes online chatting to friends and family back home. I was really looking forward to our day exploring Tortola as even though it was not my first time in the British Virgin Islands, I had only quickly passed through Tortola back in 2002 before taking a boat to a nearby island for a couple of days.

As our all ashore time was not until 7:30am, we got a cup of tea from Deck 11 and spent the next hour chilling on the verandah (which was covered in soot once again) before getting dressed and getting our bags ready for our first port day. We had a rental car booked from 8:30am so we were in no hurry to be first off the ship. We arrived in Cabanas at 8:00am for breakfast and at this time, it was not too busy as people were already disembarking the ship. It was great to sit and eat breakfast with a beautiful view looking out over Road Town harbour. After breakfast, we collected our bags and double checked we had both our wallets, driving licences and passports before we went back up to Deck 11 to fill up our water bottles from the drinks machines. We also made a quick stop on Deck 13 forward to take some photos of Tortola from the front of the ship.

We disembarked the Disney Fantasy at 8:30am from Deck 1 forward and made our way along the pier to Tortola Pier Park. We were the only ship docked in Tortola that day which was great as everywhere was very peaceful. As is usual on every trip we do, neither of us have any interest in booking or taking part in any organised excursions or Port Adventures as I think they are overpriced, a waste of money and you can see far more of anywhere you visit if you make your own plans and see everything for yourself. Before our cruise when I was doing some research on Google, I had discovered that there was an Avis Rental Car office located right at Tortola Pier Park itself which was a perfect way for us to be able to explore the island in our own time. We could also both drive in the British Virgin Islands on our UK drivers licences and did not need to obtain an International Driving Permit. As we had read differing opinions online on the state of the roads after Hurricane Irma had devastated the island in 2017, we made sure we booked an SUV for our day in Tortola. We found the Avis office easily in no time and as there no was no one else waiting when we arrived, we were quickly given our car for the day. There were maps of Tortola available but we did not need to take one as we were able to use Google Maps on our iPhones as we both had data whilst in the Virgin Islands. The strangest thing about driving in the British Virgin Islands is that even though you drive on the left hand side of the road (which we do in the UK), all the cars are left hand drive (as they are in the USA and Europe) which took a few minutes to get used to as the combination of those two things does not usually happen anywhere you go. There was also a notice in the car on the corner of the windscreen to remind everyone to drive on the left.

Driving in Tortola is incredibly easy as the island is not too big so it does not take long to get anywhere. There is one main road which goes around the whole island which makes it very easy to navigate and very difficult to get lost. There are also roads which leave Road Town and head straight uphill and across to the other side of Tortola where the majority of the beaches are located such as Great Mountain Road. Our first stop was just outside of Road Town as before our trip, I’d seen a photo of the Disney Fantasy which I wanted to try to get. From looking at the picture as well as a map, I could work out which road we needed to take (Belle Vue Road) and a few minutes afterwards, I got the photo.

We rejoined the main road just outside of Road Town and started our drive around the island in an anti-clockwise direction towards Beef Island where Tortola Airport is located. However we did not drive onto Beef Island and continued around Tortola stopping at various viewpoints including ones looking towards Guana and Great Camanoe Islands as well as another looking down towards beautiful Josiah’s Bay.

Along the next part of the main road (this section is called Ridge Road), there were many spots overlooking Road Town and the Disney Fantasy docked at Tortola Pier Park. As we were standing outside of our car and taking photos, a tour bus approached and slowed down slightly for people to take their photos of the ship through the windows for maybe ten seconds (if that) before speeding up again – the people sitting on the other side of the bus would have been very unlucky. I’m amazed the bus did not stop and let people off to take photos for a few minutes especially given the price they charge. It’s just another reason why I dislike organised tours and will always tell people to avoid them at all costs.

As I was looking at Google Maps on my iPhone deciding where to stop next, I noticed that we were close to a road that would take us down to a beach. As we couldn’t come to the Caribbean and not step foot on a beach, we made our way down some steep and narrow roads to Brewers Bay and I’m so glad that we did. Despite not being a beach person, Brewers Bay is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen or been to in my life. It truly was idyllic. There was only about five other people along the whole length of the beach (most of the organised excursions go to other beaches on the island) so it was incredibly peaceful and calm. The water was crystal clear and warm even though I only went for a paddle in it. It was truly the definition of paradise.

Whilst we were at Brewers Bay, we spent ages sitting and watching two pelicans who were continuously flying through the air and then diving into the sea looking for food.

Just under fifteen minutes after leaving Brewers Bay, we reached Cane Garden Bay. This is the beach where most of the organised tours will bring you as it is easily accessible from Road Town especially by taxi. It looked really busy and as we were the only ship in Tortola that day, I wouldn’t like to think how crowded it gets on busier days. There are also many beach bars and restaurants so getting something to eat or drink here would not be a problem.

On the next part of our drive to Smuggler’s Cove, we drove alongside the sea and the views were beautiful. One of my favourite sights though was a group of pelicans sitting on a giant inflatable in the sea – it looked like they were having fun!

Smuggler’s Cove was another absolutely beautiful beach that we stopped at and whilst there was a few cars parked there, the beach was still nearly empty. My favourite thing here was all the signs showing the distances to different places around the world including Pyongyang in North Korea!

It was in this area of Tortola that we saw the most damage from Hurricane Irma. Whilst we had seen signs of hurricane damage during the day including cut down trees, it was here that we also saw damaged yachts abandoned at the sides of the roads. It was also on the Western part of the island where we were glad we had a four wheel drive car as some of the roads were unpaved and very bumpy so having an SUV made the driving a lot easier.

The drive for the last part of our journey from West End back to Road Town was very easy as the road was flat the whole way. As we arrived back into Road Town we stopped to get another photo of the Disney Fantasy at Queen Elizabeth II Park where we had uninterrupted views across Road Town Harbour.

We stopped to fill our car up with fuel in Road Town before making our way back to Tortola Pier Park to return it to Avis. Our car for the day had cost $74 plus $12 fuel which was definitely money well spent and so cheap and affordable for the amount of Tortola that we actually saw during our drive around the island. Renting a car really is the best way to see some places around the world. Even if you just wanted to go to the beach for the day (which we saw several families renting cars at Avis doing), a car works out so much cheaper if there is a group of you plus you get so much longer at the beach than the one or two hours that the excursions give you. It really is a no-brainer. We arrived back at Tortola Pier Park at 1:15pm – just over four hours after we left as we had seen everything we wanted to on this day. We both absolutely loved our time exploring Tortola and I would love to go back again as I enjoyed it so much. The British Virgin Islands were just as beautiful as I remembered them from my last trip back in 2002 – it really was a perfect day with plenty of perfect memories. We did not have to show our passports or any photo ID to the port officials in Tortola but before boarding the Disney Fantasy, we made sure to take even more photos of the ship from the pier. Despite it being 1:30pm at this time, there were still huge groups of people leaving on Port Adventures from the ship – probably heading to the beach for only an hour with a thirty five minute stop at a souvenir shop for $47 each and no I’m not joking as that is actually what one of the afternoon Port Adventures is!

After leaving our bags back in our stateroom, we had lunch in Cabanas which was open until 2:15pm that afternoon. Naturally after lunch our next stop was the Aquaduck which only had a short line as most people were not back onboard the ship yet.

As the all aboard time in Tortola was not until 5:45pm, we sat for the rest of the afternoon at Satellite Falls and enjoyed the peace and quiet as well as an ice cream. This cruise was definitely turning out to be as relaxing as we wanted it to be! We watched sailaway from Tortola from our verandah and there was a beautiful sunset – a perfect way to end our day in the beautiful British Virgin Islands.

Mickey’s Pirates in the Caribbean deck party was due to start at 7:30pm and I could not wait to watch it again as I had loved it so much on our cruise on the Disney Dream. However I also remembered how busy it had been on deck for this party so once I had showered and got dressed, I headed up to Deck 12 with a cup of tea to grab a good spot to watch it. Even though I was there forty five minutes early, there was not a soul waiting on Deck 12 and only five other people already sat close to the stage on Deck 11. I know it was between the two dinner seatings but I really could not believe how quiet it was compared to our previous two cruises – I really was expecting a lot more people to be there already. Even just before the show started, it was still quiet compared to what we have seen before as half of the Deck 11 area was still empty and there were plenty of spaces left on Deck 12. This was just one of the many examples throughout the week of why I preferred my cruise on the Disney Fantasy to the Disney Dream – it was just simply calmer and more relaxed the whole time we were onboard. Another thing I noticed on this night was that there was not as many people dressed up in pirate costumes at all compared to our last few cruises – most people were just wearing shorts and t-shirts and the bandanas that are left in your stateroom during the day. There was also a distinct lack of any light-up merchandise or those awful bubble wands being sold on deck.

The show starts with Donald saying that no one in the audience has what it takes to be a pirate so he, as well as Mickey, Minnie, Daisy and Goofy teach everyone how to become a member of Mickey’s pirate crew.

Then a little while later when Captain Hook and Smee take over the ship, Mickey challenges Hook to a “Captain’s Challenge” to win the ship back.

Once Mickey’s Pirates IN the Caribbean had finished, a dance party started on Deck 11 and it was busier on deck then than what it had been during the entire show. As it was time for dinner for everyone on second seating, we walked down to Enchanted Garden on Deck 2 and it was noticeable how many people skipped dinner that night as there were a lot of empty tables in the restaurant. The Pirate menu had some subtle changes since our last cruise but I was not that hungry so instead of a main course, I ordered three appetisers instead – Sri Sumbhajee’s Vegetable Samosa, the Deep Fried Calypso Crab Cake and Angelica’s Lime Marinated Shrimp. All three were delicious and even though they were small, they were just the right amount of food for me. I did not want to order dessert as I wanted to have room for the Cabanas Pirate Buffet later on that evening. On each of the cruises we’ve sailed on so far, we usually rush through dinner on Pirate Night before running back up on deck to grab a good spot to watch the fireworks. However we had already decided that on this cruise that we were not bothered about watching the short Captain Jack Sparrow show on the Deck 11 stage and were just happy to stand anywhere on deck instead to watch the fireworks and simply continue to have a relaxing night. The Buccaneer Blast show and fireworks were due to start at 10:15pm but we first wanted to meet two characters who we had never met before when they were dressed up as pirates. There was a short line for Pirate Donald Duck who was meeting on the Deck 4 balcony at 9:45pm followed by an even shorter line to meet Pirate Daisy Duck at Preludes at 10:00pm.

After we met Donald and Daisy we took the elevator up to Deck 12 and found that was where everyone on the ship already was! We had already thought of somewhere on the starboard side of the ship to stand which was on the “bump out” on Deck 13 forward. There were only two other people there – both of who were laying down on the sun loungers at Satellite Falls. It was surprising it was so quiet as Currents bar located nearby on Deck 13 was very busy yet here there was hardly anyone else in sight – helped massively by this being an adult only area. The view of the fireworks was great and once they finished, we too sat down on one of the sun loungers for about fifteen minutes to let the crowds on Decks 11 and 12 disappear elsewhere on the ship.

As we walked towards Cabanas, we saw that Club Pirate was in full swing on deck and as usual the Cha Cha Slide was being played – I think the only time I ever hear that song is on Pirate Night on Disney cruises! Thankfully it was calm when we reached Cabanas and I was happy that my favourite Strawberry Panna Cotta desserts were still on the menu – so much so that I got three as I like them that much. I also got a cup of tea to take back to our stateroom to sit and drink in bed with my desserts.

Once I sat in bed, I only managed two of my desserts as I started to feel incredibly tired so I put the last one in the fridge to eat the following day. It was nearly midnight and as I’d been awake for about eighteen hours, it did not take long to fall into a deep sleep! Coming up next on our Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Disney Fantasy – our day in St Thomas with Mickey and Minnie’s Surprise Party at Sea! Pin this Blog Post on Pinterest Follow Me on Instagram Follow Me on Bloglovin’

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Set sail to St. Croix, the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Whether you want a day of relaxation or a day filled with exciting discoveries, it awaits you at this island paradise.

St. Croix has a rich history with many diverse cultures playing a role in its development. Discovered by Columbus on November 14, 1493, it has seen Spanish, Dutch, English, French settlers. St. Croix ultimately came under American rule when it was purchased from the Danish government in 1917. Initially sought for military reasons, it is now known for tourism.

Buck Island National Park, considered one of the main attractions of the U.S. Virgin Islands and a prime diving spot, is found at St. Croix, along with the first and only casino built in this island chain.

Christiansted, the one time capital of the Danish West Indies, is a National Historic Site where unique architecture and quaint shops are yours to explore. The "Twin City" of Frederiksted is home to the Rainforest and Whim Greathouse, a restored plantation.

At Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Reserve you'll literally walk in historic footsteps. This site is where Columbus landed in his exploration of the New World.

Snorkelers and divers will have an incomparable experience at Buck Island Reef National Monument. Declared a National Park during the Kennedy era, this uninhabited gem is a mile off the coast of St. Croix. There are 176 acres of land and 704 underwater acres teeming with 90 species of tropical fish. Two thirds of the island is surrounded by coral gardens and Elkhorn coral reefs.

For swimming in the crystal clear waters, there are miles of shoreline with secluded bays perfect for spending a day in the tropical sun.

St. Croix is a destination that's unlike its sister islands. Here you'll find mountains, dry grassy plains, lush forests and expanses of farm land. The wildlife reserves give you a rare opportunity to see endangered birds, turtles and an amazingly diverse marine ecology up close.

A visit to St. Croix will leave you with memories that you'll long cherish.

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Best Cruise Excursions in Tortola on a Day in Port

Included on many eastern Caribbean cruises, Tortola offers plenty of cruise port excursions to choose. From beautiful beaches and mountain drives to shopping or sipping rum, there’s something for everyone. 

Here are our recommendations for cruise excursions on your day in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.

Take a Shore Excursion to Tortola Beaches

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If you’re looking for the perfect tropical beach, many cruise ship excursions head to the north side of Tortola for some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Laid-back and picturesque, these soft sand beaches offer swimming, snorkeling and in winter, surfing.

Apple Bay is located on the north-western end of Tortola. It’s a great beach for surfing or boogie boarding especially in the winter months. 

Cane Garden Bay isn’t a secluded hideaway but it’s not to be missed, either. Nestled against a lush green hillside, the sand is like sugar and the water, calm. It’s also close to the port so you could find other cruise passengers enjoying the beach and the few restaurants and bars.

READ MORE:  Traveling solo? Here’s What You Need to Know

Brewers Bay beckons you to its hidden shores on the north side of the island. Accessible by taxi or car, it’s a haven for locals and those looking for something off the beaten path. Not filled with tourist-y restaurants, you may want to bring water and a snack.

Taste the Local Food in Tortola

Cultures come together in the BVI to create a flavorful mélange of Caribbean cuisine . Tortola food tours are fun shore excursions. Locals love their roti, a flatbread stuffed with barbecued meat and folded like a burrito.

Fragrant spices include curry, allspice and hot peppers and they are used in abundance. Feel daring? Try curried goat meat soup (tastes like chicken of course).

Fresh seafood and just-caught fish plus colorful tropical fruits round out the culinary experience. Close to the port, the main thoroughfare in Road Town, Main Street, is dotted with lively restaurants, cafés and open-air bars.

Stop in for lunch and try a fresh fruit rum punch, one of the most popular (and potent!) drinks on the island.

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Go Shopping in Tortola

St. Thomas this isn’t. And for sure not St. John’s, USVI . And you’re in the British Virgin Islands not the US Virgin Islands. Prices will be a bit higher here. 

Tortola is smaller and less touristy but there’s wonderful shopping that’s walking distance to the port. You’ll find most of the shops along and just off of Main Street, which parallels the waterfront. Wander the little side streets and you’ll find art galleries, spice stores and of course tropical clothing boutiques.

If you like to cook, be sure to take home some local spices and a Caribbean cookbook. Several stores sell only spices, hot pepper sauces and condiments. Where are these shops? Your nose will lead you there, once you’re in the vicinity. (Hint: Sunny Caribee is one of the popular spice stores.)

Wickhams Cay: Near to the marina and not far from where the tender will dock, this new waterfront development has yet more stores to burn up your cash or credit card.

Crafts Alive Village: This “village” recently opened at the lower end of Road Town to replace the tent vendors. Rows of brightly-colored tiny “houses” with gingerbread trim (sort of like enclosed kiosks), comprise this new shopping area. Here you’ll find unique and beautiful arts and crafts, handmade in the British Virgin Islands.

Chances are your ship will offer shore tours for those who just want to shop for souvenirs, too. 

RELATED:  16 Best Things to Do in St. Thomas

Historic Sights in Tortola

Sage Mountain National Park: This first National Park in the British Virgin Islands was established in 1964 to preserve and regrow what was lost through decades of deforestation. Sage Mountain, at a stunning 1,716 feet, is the highest point in all of the Virgin Islands.

On a clear day, there’s a breathtaking view of neighboring islands including St. Croix. A dozen trails begin at the parking lot for the hike to the summit and through the park. The easiest way for this excursion is to hire a taxi from Road Town or rent a car to reach the park, located in the center of the island.

Old Government House Museum: Located in Road Town, this historic building is just a short walk from where your ship’s tender will dock. Originally the Governor’s residence from1880 until 1996, you’ll find an interesting display of British memorabilia, maritime antiques and original furniture. A nice detour when strolling along Waterfront Drive.

Virgin Islands Folk Museum: From the dock, head towards downtown Road Town along Main Street. Moved to its historic second location in 1993, the museum is located in the Penn House built in 1911. The West Indies-style house is a showcase for artifacts dating from over two thousand years ago, belonging to the Amerindians, the first known inhabitants. Old photographs, pottery and carvings highlight life on this island and surrounding area.

More Cruise Excursions in Tortola on Your Own

On an eastern Caribbean cruise, there’s always a nearby island to visit. From Tortola, take a ferry boat across the bay to Virgin Gorda, also in the British Virgin Islands.

Visit the mysterious Baths formed by giant boulders that seem to have dropped from the sky. Explore winding caves, snake your way through narrow passageways and take a dip in one of the hidden, crystal-clear pools.

After wandering through the caves, head up the stone stairs to the souvenir store before returning to your ship. Available by cruise excursion or on your own.

If you’ve always wanted to play with Flipper, Tortola has a cruise excursion over to Dolphin Discovery and just jump into the water. Watch as the trainer and dolphin go through their paces.

Then, you’ll get onto a platform in the water and have 30 minutes to interact, play and even get your photo taken while getting a kiss from a dolphin. Life aquatic isn’t cheap; tickets for adults and children are over $100 each. But it’s an amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity.

Tiptoe through the tulips at J.R. O’Neal Botanic Garden, just a short walk from the harbor, across Waterfront Drive. Just kidding about the tulips, this is the tropics, after all.

A walk through this 4-acre garden leads you through a wide range of indigenous vegetation, from cacti to herbs and orchids. Learn about the plants and trees native to this area or sit in the shade under a massive banyan tree.

Meander along the paths past fountains and exotics ferns and take a break from the blazing Caribbean sun. A small admission fee is charged.

Your day in Tortola will go by quicker than you’d like. Choose the best Tortola shore excursion for your time in port before you leave home so you don’t miss a thing. 

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Hi Lindsay, Thank you for reading my Tortola article. You are right and thank you for bringing this to my attention. According to their website, Bomba’s is permanently closed and I have updated this article. Much appreciated!

Bomba’s Surfside Shack seems to be closed after the hurricane in 2017

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Disney Didn't Buy Jeffrey Epstein's Island, Despite Viral Claims Online

A blue-striped structure sits on a lookout point on Little St. James Island, in the U. S. Virgin Islands, a property owned by Jeffrey Epstein, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019.

Social media accounts claimed in recent weeks that Disney purchased Jeffrey Epstein’s island. But it’s simply not true, even though the claims have gotten quite a bit of attention on sites like TikTok and X .

“The Walt Disney Company Officially Buys Epstein Island!” stated the original TikTok video from last month that appears to have started this claim

The video, produced by an account called Mouse Trap News, goes on to quote fake statements from the Disney company and insisting the entertainment company will make Epstein’s island, “a stop on their cruise ships.” The video falsely claims Disney bought the island for $3 billion and even says it will build a theme park there.

Mouse Trap News has numerous other videos about Disney on its website and social media page. And while some have called it “satire,” it’s easy to see why so many of the account’s videos are taken seriously by some people online. There’s no real punchline to many of them, instead just spreading fake information in what appears to be bait to see outlandish claims go viral.

The fake news of Disney buying Epstein’s island appears to have gotten the most attention from the most credulous people on the internet: X users who pay $8 for a checkmark. Even when people point out it’s fake news, these X accounts still insist there must be some truth to it.

But this isn’t the first time a Disney-Epstein fake news story has gained traction on social media. As Snopes points out , there was a claim back in the summer of 2023 that Disney cruise lines would be making a stop on Epstein’s island in the Virgin Islands, known as Little St. James.

Epstein, a convicted sex offender, was found dead in a New York jail cell in the summer of 2019 after being arrested on new charges of sex trafficking. Epstein’s death was reported as a suicide but many people refused to believe the official story, given the fact that Epstein was connected to a number of powerful people who probably wanted to see him dead.

Epstein’s death, whatever you think actually happened, sparked a rash of new conspiracy theories and fake images in recent years that simply don’t hold up to scrutiny. Yes, Epstein met with some big names in the world of tech and politics before he died. But it’s easy to attach the dead pedophile’s name to virtually any claim online and see it go viral.

For the latest news, Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

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U.S. Virgin Islands Reports Increase in Cruise Arrivals

• April 12, 2024

The U.S. Virgin Islands reported a significant growth in cruise passenger arrivals in 2023 compared to 2019.

In 2023, St. Thomas and St. Croix welcomed more than 1,600,000 passengers on 495 cruise calls, representing a 13 percent increase compared to 2019. Additionally, The USVI saw a 58 percent increase in passengers from 2022 to 2023 and is expected to have another 5 percent rise in cruise arrivals in 2024.

“Cruise has been and continues to be a leading entryway for visitors into the territory,” said Commissioner Joseph Boschulte.

“I am proud to see the Caribbean’s appeal continue to captivate travelers. Our collaborative efforts with partners like FCCA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization underscore the unity of our region, ensuring unforgettable experiences for visitors while highlighting the unique strengths of the U.S. Virgin Islands. With a safe, welcoming destination and a shared commitment to tourism, we embrace our role as an integral part of the Caribbean community.”

Photo: Governor Albert Bryan Jr., Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, and Deputy Commissioner RoseAnne Farrington with Disney Cruise Line Executives

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I only book a Disney cruise if it's going to the company's private island, Castaway Cay

• I've taken eight Disney cruises, and I always book a sailing that stops at  Castaway Cay .
• Castaway Cay is the company's private island and I love its adults-only beach area.
• You can buy exclusive merch on the island and see Disney characters in special themed costumes.

Cruise bookings are predicted to reach record highs this year, but not all itineraries are created equally — especially if you're looking to sail with Disney Cruise Line.

Over the past decade, I've taken eight Disney cruises with my family and friends. When I book, I always make sure Disney's private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, is on the port of call.

Here's why you might want to do the same.

I love that the ship docks right at the island, so there are no tender ships involved

One of the biggest perks of Castaway Cay is that the ship docks right at the island.

Some other cruise line's private islands, like Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay, don't have a dock, so cruisers must take tender ships (small boats) from the cruise ship to the island.

I hate taking tender ships, which can feel like a bit of a time sink, so this is a big bonus to me.

Getting around the island is easy with the complimentary tram

Castaway Cay is about 1,000 acres — though not all of it's developed — so it can take a while to talk to and from the ship to different spots on the island.

Fortunately, the island has a complimentary tram that I always use to get around the island.

The tram takes cruisers from a station near the ship to two other tram stops for the family beaches, and one tram stop at the adults-only beach .

This makes getting around the island with all of my beach gear easy.

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Speaking of gear, at Castaway Cay, cruisegoers can borrow free towels as soon as they get off of the ship. There are plenty of towel-return stations around the island, so I also never have to carry wet, sandy towels back on the ship.

I always stop to see the Disney characters in their cute beachwear

I enjoy seeing the Disney characters on the ship, but love seeing Mickey and his pals even more at Castaway Cay.

Characters usually meet in the morning from around 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., but exact times can always be found on the Disney Cruise Line app.

The best part about seeing the characters is that the lines to take pictures with them are never long. On a recent sailing, I saw Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Pluto all in 30 minutes. That would never happen in a Disney park.

And if you're a fellow character hunter like me, Mickey and the gang all have Castaway Cay exclusive outfits, which are adorable and make for great family photos.

I always take advantage of every chance to hang out at the adults-only beach

One thing I love about Disney Cruise Line and Castaway Cay is that there are plenty of adults-only spaces where kids are strictly not allowed. On the island, that spot is Serenity Bay Beach.

This peaceful chair-lined beach is a quiet spot away from the family beach, where I can sit back and enjoy the view or take a chair down to the water and let the waves crash over me.

Plus, just off Serenity Bay Beach is a fun beachside bar serving up drinks and snacks.

There's also the adults-only lunch spot where I always enjoy a beachside barbecue. My favorite things on the lunch menu are the ribs and macaroni salad .

Before returning to the ship, I send a postcard from the island and check out the special merchandise

I always make a point to stop in at the various shops near the family beach to see the Castaway Cay merchandise. On a recent trip, the shops had everything from spirit jerseys and T-shirts to Christmas ornaments and swimsuits.

And, before I head back to the ship, I stop at the Castaway Cay post office to send postcards back home.

The postcards I use can be found in the desk drawer of Disney Cruise Line staterooms, and are free to take. If you don't want to send the cute postcards off, you can also keep them as souvenirs.

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