TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Chartering with Kids!

Looking for any and all advice on chartering with young kids in the BVI. There will be 4 adults and 3 kids (ages 6-8), chartering out of Road Town in early April for 7 days. I have been to the BVI several times as an adult (without kids) and as a kid myself, but we were all teenagers. Having younger kids there is completely new to me. Input on anchorages, activities, safety, etc. etc. etc. Looking for it all! Thank you in advance.

My big thing is a safety one - if the kids clear the saloon door (on our cat) they wear a life jacket. I don't care how well they swim, I don't care what their parents think - I am the captain of the boat, I am responsible to ensure that they make it home alive. Their opinions don't matter (if there is an opinion that matters on the boat with regards to operations or safety, its mine). If they can breathe fresh air, they need to be in a lifejacket - not a swim vest, an actual pfd.

Too many people overestimate their abilities and skills - and the ocean has a nasty way of letting you know that you're wrong. I would hate to see any 6-8 year old find out the hard way - especially one I am responsible for (I speak from experience with grandchildren that age).

After that, just have a blast!

Keep Smiling!!!

Absolutely agree on the PFD. Luckily all adults on the boat are aligned on this point! Thank you for the response.

Peter - I've never had kids under 12 on my boat, but I hope to in the next couple years. Just curious about your PDF rule: Does that apply equally regardless if the boat is underway or docked/anchored? I've seen boats with young kids that have safety netting run on the life lines.....I'm thinking netting is no substitute for a PDF, underway or not.

Kids will have a blast! A lot of time will be spent with them playing in the water, therefore set them up with comfortable PFDs, snorkeling equipment, water toys, especially rent one of the large 'lily pads' for them to play on behind the boat. Perhaps plan to have more meals on the boat, they will not appreciate the slow service at some restaurants. Take DVDs and something to play DVDs, or download movies on iPad. They will like the trail through the Baths. I like Kelly's Cove mooring balls, because of shallow water where they can see the bottom. Also, the Caves and the Indians are good day spots.

Absolutely NO substitute.

PFD (Purchase at home, one that fits and comfortable.)

Rash Shirts WITH a collar or a gaiter to prevent rash... If rash, then uncomfortable>>> then won't wear.

We did this with our kids starting ages 3 and 7.

Abslutely agree and had 5-7 under 13 multiple times...most times they wont even notice and it wont interefere especially if you get and bring comforablee ones from home. Rash guards were great...bring "belly jelly" to help with any chafing

I always thought this was pretty cool.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q6b5f0ks4...anual%20-%20Generic%20-%20Word.docx?dl=0

For me, if we are away from the dock - so basically the whole trip except for the very beginning and end - the rule is in force. I figure it avoids the whole "but we're only doing 1 knot" argument, and is simple, a very black and white rule with no room for interpretation (hopefully).

And like Wes said - nets are not the same as the pfds.

My other rule is no jumping into the water from the coachroof for the kids - just don't want them slipping and getting impaled on a stanchion. Yeah, I know - I can be a killjoy! lmao

The other thing is teach them how to sail and drive the boat. The kids will love sitting behind the wheel, pushing the autopilot buttons, driving the boat with the engines. My grandkids got a kick out of me explaining to them how to use the engines to maneuver - and it was months before any potential trip. The more they're involved, the better they enjoy the trip.

Keep Smiling!!!

The best advice.

Great point about rash guards. Didn't think of that but was planning to buy some for sun protection anyway, but this is an even better reason! Greatly appreciate all the feedback.

Are there any great pools at any anchorages? I remember back in the day when I was a kid spending many hours at both Bitter End and Leverick pools while the adults enjoyed their boat drinks.

rent a floating mat and tie it to the stern....kids love congregating on that and as a bonus it makes a nice adult bar later

Great comments and suggestions. Thank you TTOL'ers.

Scrub Island Resort has a great pool for the kids - and adults too! Multi-level with the upper pool an infinity pool overlooking the water and on to Tortola. Also, a small water slide that the kids tend to enjoy. Not everyone appreciates Scrub, but we typically make it a mid-trip stop where we can be a bit pampered at the dock for a night.

Not sure if non-resort guests are allowed to use the pool at Oil Nut Bay, but if so that looks like a nice option as well.

We used a slip at Scrub in June 2021 and had full access...kids wanted to stop there becasue they remember going when they are young. Good call...

We just returned yesterday from a trip with our three kids. 11yo boy, 9 & 5yo girls. We had a blast.

Definitely checked a few bags this time around (4 - 90 liter HH duffels). We brought our own life jackets and snorkel gear (full face) for the kids so we knew it would comfortably fit (This was 2 duffels alone). The kids wore them anytime we left the anchorage or got in the dingy. We clipped them to the handles on the dingy to keep them out of the well water while ashore. Rash guards were important to keep them comfortable when wet.

Here is the planning spreadsheet I used: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1u9bVF4CV5LTkSyGMpMDQT1wCiCA087qzst09YzyK2Dc/edit?usp=sharing

A few things we found helpful.

1. Slow down. We did a lot less sailing this time. Our itinerary was as follows: Trellis (NYE), Scrub (Pool), BEYC/SABA, Leverick (Pool, Beans & Taxi to Baths), Jost for 2 days and Cooper Island. The kids made friends just about every day with other cruising kids.

2. Food provisioning - We did our usual 2-3 day initial provision with plans to supplement along the way. We ate WAY more snacks than we expected. We involved the kids in the food plan and prep. Bought a kids cookbook months in advance to let them look for recipes, etc.... Our 9yo daughter loved being a part of this.

3. Pool - Made a point to hit some pools in the beginning, once the kids got comfortable we diddnt really need to seek them out anymore. Everyone loved Scrub, but their fav by far was White Bay. In fact we decided to spend a second day there because the kids loved it so much. I identified ALL the pools in the BVI in my spreadsheet. One thing I would do differently is try to use a charter company in Nanny Cay where they have a pool for your kids to use for sleep aboard, during provisioning, boat briefings, etc....

4. Avoid tight connections and ferry problems. We spent the night at the Emerald Beach In St Thomas on both ends to reduce the insanity.

5. You need a bag to carry [censored] in. We used a Yeti Camino Carry (50), a cooler backpack and a water proof backpack (Overboard 30) almost every day.

6. Brought camping towels for beach and swimming use as they dry so much faster.

7. We brought a few small toys for the 5yo, books for the 9 & 11yo, and a dinner kit (crayons, markers, notebooks, molding clay, etc...) as the dinners can get long.

8. We rented a kayak (used twice), noodles (never used), and a dingy ladder (never used). Id probably scrap it all next time in favor of one lilly pad.

If you ask the kids what their faves were. Baths, White Bay and Scrub are the top hits across all three. But they also say that the whole experience was incredible.

Feel free to email me anytime with questions. vytisracing at gmail dot com.

Keith

You can't use the beach club at Oil Nut but you can use the marina pool (and it's heated!) Cornhole on the beach for the kids, bar for the adults. Good coffee shop and lunch too.
Bitter End feels a bit more "grown up" now. Kids may not have much to do.
They would enjoy the Michael Beans and Jumbies shows.

And I don't care if they are chubby or stick thin, every kid who spends all day in a wet bathing suit will get the dreaded between-the-legs-vacation-ruining CHAFE. This stuff has literally saved our vacations:

https://www.bodyglide.com/product/body/

And I know this sounds silly but don't forget the SPF on their lips! My kids lips (and mine) have burned and I can tell you, it is miserable! Get each kid their own flavor of Sun Bum and make sure they use it.

We just went with our 6 and 8 year old.
Spring bay is awesome for kids.
Get full face snorkel masks, much easier for them. I got some on Amazon that have like a shark or anglerfish design on them… worked great.
they LOVED snorkeling the Indians and the caves. With vests and noodles.
Coco maya and sugarcane have great kids play areas while you relax and eat. Sandy cay a favorite too

https://www.amazon.com/Zipoute-Snorkel-Snorkeling-Panoramic-Anti-Leak/dp/B09PDDL97D/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=12WQDLXQ27ILE&keywords=kids+snorkel+mask&qid=1673286395&sprefix=kids+snorkel%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-3

Here’s the snorkel mask that was awesome for my 6 and 8 yo