Hi all, I've enjoyed this board for quite a while but now need to post for the first time for help! 16 of us are chartering out of Tortola in June and due to the costs of flights we will be landing on St. Thomas and ferrying over. Problem is that on our return we're told by Sunsail that we'll need to take the 10am ferry back to St. Thomas to make our 5pm flight. Is there no better/later option than that one ferry at 10am on Saturday to get back to St. Thomas? If thats what we have to do then, of course, we will, but I figured I'd ask the experts. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Yes, that's your safest bet.

For all 16 you might want to check out a water taxi service. Not only will it give you more flex in your time and better reliability, but it might be more economical.

Or...take that early ferry and check your bag's with the kind folk's at the ferry dock and take the short water front walk into town. Gift shops, restaurants, museum's (if you google so you know where to look) and just general walk around and look. Then amble back to the ferry dock, reclaim your bags (we tip the guy) and off you go to the airport with a new tee shirt, some USVI sticker's, and a couple of rum drink's under your belt. Because of flight weirdness, which I'm sure you have experienced, we are spending our last night in St. Thomas, so look out French Town, here we come...lol <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> And yes, they do have secure baggage storage at the ferry dock... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Great feedback. I'll check on the Water Taxi and, if not, take the safe bet of the Ferry and enjoy the short walk in to town! Thanks all!

I say..forget the walk into town..go the other way past the seaplane terminal into Frenchtown for some great food! IMHO " Hook Line and Sinker " is hard to beat for lunch!!

Hook Line & Sinker is truly fantastic but so is the Pie Hole just around the corner, great Pizza and Frenchtown Deli next door ain't to bad either.

Take it from an experinced cat herder, with a herd of 15 and the mad house factor at STT on Saturdays, for your own sanity take the 10AM. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

depending on what time the ferry gets to St Thomas, the gang can eek out a little more beach and sun time at the Emerald Beach hotel by the airport ...that is always a nice wind down.

Well you guys have taken me from dreading the 10am over to St Thomas to now looking forward to it! With your advice it won't be a completely wasted travel day. Thanks all!

In June the 10:00 AM ferry might not even run. You may be on the early boat check often. Get the phone number for the water taxi's just in case.

With a group that large the water taxi option makes sense. More convenient and adds certainty to your plans.

IMHO a water taxi will need to depart Tortola around noon to get you to STT for a 5pm flight.
That being said, we have had wonderful experiences with Capt Chistopher and Ocean Dreams and for a group that large that would be the only way I would go.