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water taxi ? #66898
09/03/2015 11:23 AM
09/03/2015 11:23 AM
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 4
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katen Offline OP
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katen  Offline OP
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Posts: 4
Does anyone have any experience with the water taxis? We will miss the ferry coming into St. Thomas.... inter island flights are too early to catch as well.....
Has anyone tried the water taxis and how did it work out?

thanks!!

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Re: water taxi ? [Re: katen] #66899
09/03/2015 12:26 PM
09/03/2015 12:26 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
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GeorgeC1  Offline
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Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
Water taxi's work great. They are however very expensive. Make sure when you get a quote it includes all surcharges like fuel and customs.
G

Re: water taxi ? [Re: GeorgeC1] #66900
09/03/2015 12:33 PM
09/03/2015 12:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 312
Canton, GA
Felix Offline
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Felix  Offline
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Posts: 312
Canton, GA
Last time I used a water taxi, stthomaswatertaxi.com out of Red Hook had the best deal to JVD from STT, not sure if that's still true. We were happy with the boat and the service.

Felix


* What we do in life echoes in eternity *
Re: water taxi ? [Re: Felix] #66901
09/03/2015 12:40 PM
09/03/2015 12:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
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NCSailor Offline
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NCSailor  Offline
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Charlotte, NC
Have used Dohms several times and will again December. Good experience always.

Re: water taxi ? [Re: NCSailor] #66902
09/03/2015 02:28 PM
09/03/2015 02:28 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Online content
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RickG  Online Content
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Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
We prefer coming in a day early and staying on St. Thomas and having a fun night in Frenchtown and an early departure for the BVI. Second choice is a charter flight or water taxi depending on timing.

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: water taxi ? [Re: RickG] #66903
09/03/2015 02:52 PM
09/03/2015 02:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
A hotel would be a lot cheaper than a water taxi

Re: water taxi ? [Re: katen] #66904
09/03/2015 03:22 PM
09/03/2015 03:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 189
Eastern MA
T
tothedogs Offline
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Eastern MA
Depending on your flight arrival time, you/the taxi company should check to make sure that BVI customs will be open late enough for you to check in.

Re: water taxi ? [Re: tothedogs] #66905
09/03/2015 03:51 PM
09/03/2015 03:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
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NCSailor Offline
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Quote
tothedogs said:
Depending on your flight arrival time, you/the taxi company should check to make sure that BVI customs will be open late enough for you to check in.


The water taxis will arrange for after hours C&I if needed. Its part of the service.

Re: water taxi ? [Re: NCSailor] #66906
09/03/2015 04:47 PM
09/03/2015 04:47 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 189
Eastern MA
T
tothedogs Offline
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Eastern MA
Up tp a certain point yes they will. Two years ago we booked a water taxi for 4 people. The other couple had a flight delay such that they did not arrive until 7:30 PM. The water taxi company told us that we had to be in West End by a certain time (7 or so?) and would not wait until the other couple arrived citing customs being closed and not available for overtime. So two of us had a pretty expensive ride to Tortola and the other two spent the night in a hotel for a lot less than the cost of the water taxi.

Maybe if they/we paid extra to go to the airport or Roadtown (if it was open) they could have cleared there.

Re: water taxi ? [Re: tothedogs] #66907
09/03/2015 05:38 PM
09/03/2015 05:38 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 397
jbuch02 Offline
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jbuch02  Offline
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Posts: 397
Used a Water Taxi in June/July 2014 between St. Thomas and Nanny Cay, non-stop, direct organized by my son for 5. Don't know the name, it was a sweet way to travel but it was over $600. We needed to use one to get everyone together in St. Thomas and make the trip, which, due to one of my daughter's late arrival, was well after 5p.

There are plenty or reliable water taxis. Whether this is a good idea or not depends on a lot of factors. If your transporting a large group (6 or more) it works a lot better than say just two couples. It's a nice way to start as the Captain does all the work (Customs et. al.), you sit back and chill with a cold beer. My kids loved it. Captain pulled right up to the stern of our charter on the dock and unloaded everyone's bags into the cockpit. He got a nice tip.

Re: water taxi ? [Re: jbuch02] #66908
09/03/2015 07:12 PM
09/03/2015 07:12 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
K
Kimber Offline
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Kimber  Offline
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Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
Where and how did you clear customs?

Re: water taxi ? [Re: katen] #66909
09/03/2015 08:25 PM
09/03/2015 08:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 21
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Boatloaner Offline
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Boatloaner  Offline
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This past month ( July 2015), my family of six used Ocean Dreams Water Taxi - Captain Christopher. He responded to my initial email promptly, and was very responsive to all my questions. He met us in Red Hook, cleared us through West End, and took us to our charter in Nanny Cay. Nice large boat, and great service. We paid $100 per person plus $35 per person for customs fees. He can arrange taxi service from STT to Red Hook as well. Highly recommend him!

Re: water taxi ? [Re: Kimber] #66910
09/03/2015 08:28 PM
09/03/2015 08:28 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 245
Charlotte
K
Knotthead Offline
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Knotthead  Offline
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Charlotte
Rules changed some this year. Now you actually have to get out of water taxi and go through customs and immigration. Then the water taxi can take you to your boat or dock if they are properly licensed with BVI. We use Capt. Chris at Oceandreams water taxi. Great service and a great guy. It makes dollar sense with a big group versus a hotel.

Re: water taxi ? [Re: Knotthead] #66911
09/03/2015 08:33 PM
09/03/2015 08:33 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Massachusetts
At $135 one way, I'd suggest looking at flying in to Tortola.


Matt
Re: water taxi ? [Re: Knotthead] #66912
09/03/2015 09:08 PM
09/03/2015 09:08 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
K
Kimber Offline
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Kimber  Offline
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St Thomas, USVI
I've just never heard of a direct no-stop trip from USVI to BVI without that first stop being customs regardless of whether the passengers debark or not is irrelevant. My original question stands.

Re: water taxi ? [Re: Kimber] #66913
09/03/2015 09:39 PM
09/03/2015 09:39 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
LocalSailor Offline
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LocalSailor  Offline
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USVI
Quote
Kimber said:
I've just never heard of a direct no-stop trip from USVI to BVI without that first stop being customs regardless of whether the passengers debark or not is irrelevant. My original question stands.


It seems they 'don't remember' the name of the boat service that gave them non stop direct to the stern delivery from the USVI -- can't say you or I haven't seen it happen though right? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thinks.gif" alt="" />

Last edited by LocalSailor; 09/03/2015 09:40 PM.
Re: water taxi ? [Re: LocalSailor] #66914
09/04/2015 06:35 AM
09/04/2015 06:35 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 402
St Thomas, USVI
K
Kimber Offline
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Kimber  Offline
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St Thomas, USVI
Agreed Localsailor.

Re: water taxi ? [Re: Kimber] #66915
09/04/2015 07:37 AM
09/04/2015 07:37 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 365
NC
leeguice Offline
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leeguice  Offline
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Posts: 365
NC
Have used both Dohms and Ocean Dreams on several trips. Expensive and, IMHO, well worth it for our group and schedules.
Oceans Dreams has all the permits to take you to any point in BVI after stopping at West End C&I.
Dohms used to, now they must leave you at C&I at West End. Per my last conversation in June they are "working on this."
For our group we would need 2 or 3 rooms on STT! Therefore the cost works out.
Last trip and service with Ocean Dreams was wonderful, great people, great boat.

Re: water taxi ? [Re: leeguice] #66916
09/04/2015 08:18 AM
09/04/2015 08:18 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
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warren460  Offline
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Ontario, Canada
Are water taxis generally available to help address unplanned last minute changes such as unscheduled late arrivals into stt?

Last edited by warren460; 09/04/2015 08:19 AM.

Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

https://www.cyabrochure.com/ebn/2307/pdyrX/6642/4///
Re: water taxi ? [Re: warren460] #66917
09/04/2015 03:30 PM
09/04/2015 03:30 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
BTW, there is no $35 pp customs fee. That money is pocketed by your water taxi, nice gig

Re: water taxi ? [Re: warren460] #66918
09/04/2015 04:48 PM
09/04/2015 04:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
N
NCSailor Offline
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NCSailor  Offline
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Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
Quote
warren460 said:
Are water taxis generally available to help address unplanned last minute changes such as unscheduled late arrivals into stt?


They advertise that they are on call 24/7 as needed. The reality is that they may be booked full during the high season.

Re: water taxi ? [Re: NCSailor] #66919
09/04/2015 06:17 PM
09/04/2015 06:17 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 68
Charlotte, NC
W
whaler18 Offline
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Charlotte, NC
I too have used Captain Chris owner of Ocean Dreams and can say that he does what he says he will do and does it first class. Is he cheap, no he isn't but in the case when I need somebody to help me out in a difficult situation I normally don't look for someone who is cheap. Several times Captain Chris has saved the day for myself and my guest. His name is one that I keep on my important BVI numbers. In his case you truly get what you pay for.

Ken in Charlotte

Re: water taxi ? [Re: whaler18] #66920
09/04/2015 11:24 PM
09/04/2015 11:24 PM
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 4
K
katen Offline OP
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katen  Offline OP
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Posts: 4
Thank you everyone for the thoughts..... ! I will take a look at the suggestions!!!

Re: water taxi ? [Re: katen] #66921
09/05/2015 10:10 AM
09/05/2015 10:10 AM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 483
Austin, TX
TackingAg Offline
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TackingAg  Offline
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Posts: 483
Austin, TX
On a related note, how much time will it take for the land taxi ride (Kevin) from STT airport to Red Hook once we're loaded up? Thanks.


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Re: water taxi ? [Re: TackingAg] #66922
09/05/2015 03:36 PM
09/05/2015 03:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
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NCSailor Offline
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Charlotte, NC
30 minutes or so.


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