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Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
#50868
04/18/2015 08:16 AM
04/18/2015 08:16 AM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282 Vero Beach, Fl and South Sound...
tpcook
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Vero Beach, Fl and South Sound...
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All of the ferry companies are now charging $3 per bag on the ferries. More and more expensive to get to the BVI <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />
tpcook
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Re: Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
[Re: tpcook]
#50871
04/18/2015 08:38 AM
04/18/2015 08:38 AM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282 Vero Beach, Fl and South Sound...
tpcook
OP
Traveler
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Vero Beach, Fl and South Sound...
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Here is my take on all of this. If you are going to charge for baggage, then there is no reason to tip the baggage handler like I used to. Unless I get some special service at the airports (LIke getting an overweight bag on board for free) then I see no reason to tip. Same goes for the ferry bag handlers. Same with the taxi drivers on STT. In general unless I get special services no more tips. Usually I (and wife) travel with 6 bags (carryon included) the cost for baggage fees on the ferry will be $18 each way. I don't believe speedy ferry is charging yet to Virgin Gorda. So in the last few years we are now being charged $10 to leave STT, $10 to enter BVI, $20 to leave BVI, and now $3 per bag. The fees never seem to end. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" />
tpcook
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Re: Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#50880
04/18/2015 11:26 AM
04/18/2015 11:26 AM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999 Macon, Georgia
GlennA
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
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How much of a problem is not having a straight in approach and no ILS for these larger aircraft?
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
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Re: Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#50883
04/18/2015 12:25 PM
04/18/2015 12:25 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,587
Eric_Hill
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,587
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I don't disagree with you... but I would be surprise about other airlines at this point in time. And yes, STT could be a problem, depends on pricing. But the Eagle flights I am not sure is a good indicator. Reason is that they did have multiple flights from SJU per day, smaller planes (puddle jumpers). When you get to one flight even every day then the options and load become complicated for the airline. You have to get the people to the connection, get them onboard and landed, turn the plane around with a full load to make the connection back to their home.
If bvi subsidizes then that is different, but for how long and how much. Have seen it before on many destinations. Daily then drops significantly later.
But it also has to do with accomadations, yes there is a lot of bed space on BVI, but not compared to many of the other islands, and specifically to USVI. You have major chains, etc., that offer vacation packages, etc. that really do not exist in BVI... but BVI has a major charter industry yes, but they are not going to be offering vacation charter packages would be my guess.
I can hear the hoots and howls now about cutting my charter short or having to spend $$$$ to extend because of the direct flights -- so then they take the STT flights and ferries and the demand is not there again, so the airlines say forget it. Being pessimistic/realistic, but the runway alone is not the answer to the airfare/flight issues with BVI. I think that there are many other issues that will also have to be addressed to answer that question.
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Re: Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
[Re: Eric_Hill]
#50884
04/18/2015 12:32 PM
04/18/2015 12:32 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884 St. Thomas, USVI
Nutmeg
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884
St. Thomas, USVI
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The easier it is to get there, the sooner it will get congested. See the difference in Antigua and Barbuda, St Martin and Saba, Tortola and Anegada. Sometimes it is good to have to take two pack mules and a an extra day to get somewhere. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
[color:"red"]NUTMEG[/color] Today is the tomorrow you talked about yesterday.
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Re: Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#50887
04/18/2015 04:46 PM
04/18/2015 04:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,277 Saint Thomas, USVI
CaptainJay
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,277
Saint Thomas, USVI
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We don't charge any baggage fees on our "Ferries". We load them up 10 minutes from an airport with direct flights from the mainland. We let you drive them yourself <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Friends don't let friends ride ferries. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
Last edited by GlennA; 04/19/2015 11:36 AM.
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Re: Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
[Re: sail2wind]
#50889
04/18/2015 06:04 PM
04/18/2015 06:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,618 Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,618
Woodstock, GA
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sail2wind said: TP, it's not the baggage handlers fault. It's like taking too long to get your food and you punish the waitress, while it's the kitchens fault So the kitchen prepares your meal faster and you give the "food carrier" a better tip.
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Re: Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
[Re: RickinAtlanta]
#50890
04/18/2015 07:54 PM
04/18/2015 07:54 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,450 Napa, California
Teammac
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,450
Napa, California
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So I take three bags with me, to and from, at 3 bucks each, three trips a year........Yep, that $ 54.00 a year is going to put those trips way over my budget.
It's not what you've got, it's what you give, it's not the life you choose, it's the life you live.
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Direct v non-stop
[Re: tradewinds]
#50892
04/18/2015 09:19 PM
04/18/2015 09:19 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,219 JAX
jphart
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Traveler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,219
JAX
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Folks, get your terminology correct...
Non-stop is just that.
Direct flights make a stop(s) without a change of planes.
Use 'em correctly please. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />
Either way, you'll never see a jet with > 100 seats into EIS on a daily basis. There are not enough hotel rooms, condos, resorts, or private homes needed for faces in the windows to fill the the heads in beds
JPH I spent my money on booze, broads, and boats...the rest I wasted.
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Re: Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
[Re: CaptainJay]
#50893
04/18/2015 09:20 PM
04/18/2015 09:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 92 Aledo,TX
tropicalfever
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 92
Aledo,TX
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CaptainJay said: We don't charge any baggage fees on our "Ferries". We load them up 10 minutes from an airport with direct flights from the mainland. We let you drive them yourself <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Friends don't let friends ride ferries. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Yep. I'll be there febuary on Justkat.
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Re: Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
[Re: RickinAtlanta]
#50894
04/19/2015 09:18 AM
04/19/2015 09:18 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213 GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
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RickinAtlanta said:sail2wind said: TP, it's not the baggage handlers fault. It's like taking too long to get your food and you punish the waitress, while it's the kitchens fault So the kitchen prepares your meal faster and you give the "food carrier" a better tip. What a ridiculous analogy, food carrier? you tip on services rendered
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Re: Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
[Re: sail2wind]
#50896
04/19/2015 10:00 AM
04/19/2015 10:00 AM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,618 Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,618
Woodstock, GA
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sail2wind said:RickinAtlanta said:sail2wind said: TP, it's not the baggage handlers fault. It's like taking too long to get your food and you punish the waitress, while it's the kitchens fault So the kitchen prepares your meal faster and you give the "food carrier" a better tip. What a ridiculous analogy, food carrier? you tip on services rendered Always the gentleman....
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Re: Baggage charges for luggage on ferry instituted
[Re: Nutmeg]
#50897
04/19/2015 06:06 PM
04/19/2015 06:06 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 464 Charlotte, NC
DEL
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 464
Charlotte, NC
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Having spent two weeks last month worrying every day about getting a ball in just about any overnight anchorage, I would welcome anything that reduced the crowds. I would like to relive the era where we could sail to a daytime anchorage, snorkel and eat lunch, then sail to another spot for snorkeling, happy hour,etc. Now I worry at breakfast about getting a ball that evening and I don't get to enjoy as many spots.
Douglas E. Linton
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Re: Direct v non-stop
[Re: jphart]
#50899
04/20/2015 08:05 AM
04/20/2015 08:05 AM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,155 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,155
GA/NC
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jphart said: Folks, get your terminology correct...
Non-stop is just that.
Direct flights make a stop(s) without a change of planes.
Use 'em correctly please. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />
Either way, you'll never see a jet with > 100 seats into EIS on a daily basis. There are not enough hotel rooms, condos, resorts, or private homes needed for faces in the windows to fill the the heads in beds I would somewhat disagree with that. There are over 1000 charter boats in the BVI with a average capacity of at least 6 people. I have been at the moorings when they alone sent out 60 boats in one day. Still I think the solution is a much better Ferry system. George
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Re: Direct v non-stop
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#50900
04/20/2015 09:17 AM
04/20/2015 09:17 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545 Here and There
rita_irvine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545
Here and There
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What happens when a flight is delayed overnight? How are you going to get 100 people a one night hotel? It is not going to happen. People will sleep at the airport, be pissed and tired and have a horrible experience. With multiple flights to the US from STT or SJU I would much prefer to take my chances getting to or from on a route that has more than one flight a day or less. Improving the ferry system and stable regional airlines is a much better solution than destroying the very thing that the tourist dollar comes to see.
Rita It is better to be happy than it is to be right
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Re: Direct v non-stop
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#50902
04/20/2015 09:42 AM
04/20/2015 09:42 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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How many flights filled with 100 people could they have?
While I wouldn't mind paying less, I've been very happy with our direct from Boston to San Juan and then taking Cape Air to Tortola.
For us, it seems a direct flight from the US would simply mean making a stop in a different place and then having 1 or 2 flights to get us there. Much more limiting than the number of options we now have to get to San Juan and then from there to Tortola.
Matt
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Re: Direct v non-stop
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#50903
04/20/2015 10:09 AM
04/20/2015 10:09 AM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999 Macon, Georgia
GlennA
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
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Who ever takes on mainland flights to EIS will have to be very flexable on scheduling.
There are about 2,500 guest beds in the BVI so with the charter yachts I would put the total guest capacity at around 12,000. Occupancy rate is right at 67%. Over the past 5 years the total arrivals have averaged about 380,000/year or about 1,100/day but it is highly variable from more than 2,300 per day in March to less than 200 in September. It also varies considerably by day of the week and with the average stay being 9.7 days the top departure days don't match the top arrival days. A well run ferry system can handle wide swings in demand much easier than an airline and combining BVI traffic with the USVI traffic will greatly smooth out the day to day variations.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
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Re: Direct v non-stop
[Re: GlennA]
#50905
04/20/2015 10:39 AM
04/20/2015 10:39 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601
Central Florida!
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I wonder if there were better air connections into EIS, if charter guests would then modify their schedule to sink up with the good air connections? If, say there was a nonstop from Miami on Saturday and Wednesday, a lot of people might go to that schedule, down on Saturday, home on Wednesday, etc. Probably a nonstop from somewhere like Miami would be the most useful to folks coming from the west coast, for example, that can't get to EIS with only one connection now.
Carol Hill
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Re: Direct v non-stop
[Re: onlymedication]
#50906
04/20/2015 10:45 AM
04/20/2015 10:45 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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onlymedication said: I'm with Matt and Rita. With Southwest now flying BWI-SJU non-stop and several options (AS, Cape, Seaborne) for flights SJU-EIS, it's as easy to get to Tortola as I'd like it to be. I'd also love to see the total flight cost to be a little lower, but given the total trip cost, it seems to be a reasonable %. Flight costs would have to go another $200-300 per person round trip higher for us to consider going back to the STT route. I look at the SJU to EIS leg as worth a bit extra as well - its like a scenic flight - I have some amazing pictures from those flights.. For us at least, end of day when I've compared going to STT vs SJU-EIS it isn't a huge price difference.
Matt
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Re: Direct v non-stop
[Re: maytrix]
#50907
04/20/2015 11:19 AM
04/20/2015 11:19 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969 NC, USA
capndar
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
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I'm with Capt Jay! Direct (and Non-stop)to STT
Capndar Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing 3rd generation sailor
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