Help with cruise ship numbers please...On 3/11 there are 20,000 coming into St. Thomas and 3300 into Tortola. 3/10 has about 16K into ST. Thomas. Would you just plan to stay at the villa that day? Head to Jost? Go on sail charter? Avoid the Baths? Do the STT cruise shippers come to Tortola? I know they go to JVD and VG. Do you tend to only notice when a ship is actually in port on Tortola?

What is your plan of attack based on the cruise ship crowds? I know to avoid CGB and probably town but what about JVD, VG, Sail Charters, restaurant reservations etc.

Thanks!

Ouch. That's the same day we'll be arriving in STT. Hopefully it won't affect our ferry trip to Soper's Hole the following morning.
I'd avoid the Baths that day and certainly grab a reservation or two.

Very few STT passengers come over to the BVI other than for the swim with dolphins. 3300 into Road Harbor is about average. Just stay clear of Cane Garden Bay, Brewer's Bay and the Baths and watch out for bus loads of sight seers on Ridge Road. At 6,000 and up it gets a bit more complicated.

an open question to anyone that may have a good clue:
Typically, what percentage of those on a cruise ship, would come ashore on Tortola ?

My guess is less than 10%

I don't have any concrete numbers, but I would bet way more than 10%.

A 2012 survey by the FCCA (which is probably positively biased) estimated that an average of 74% went ashore with somewhat less when they had to be tendered ashore. With the Road Town pier under construction it is probably closer to 50-60%. I would estimate way more than 10% just at Cane Garden Bay.

Other factoids: Average spending in the BVI was $65.50 per visitor including excursion fees. 77% of excursions were booked and paid for onboard so the cruise line kept about 30% of that and the shore agent (Romney Associates) got another cut.

Once the cruise pier is finished it will be able to handle ships with a total capacity of up to 15,000.

Well, the cruise pier will be able to handle 15k, too bad the rest of the island can't.

Ship in today and high surf Lined up a**hole to elbow all the way to De Wedding. At least 8 rows of chairs in the empty lot next to the taxi drop off/ restrooms. Paradise at its finest.

Yeah.. well... as said in a previous post.... we gotta share

The good side... the vendors will finally be making a buck
They've had more than a few lean years

Hey... CGB is an icon... we gotta share
It's ours at night....no cruise ship stays that late do they ?