TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Change coming to White Bay, JVD

The countdown has began, with 14 days left to go!
Save the date for the official Grand Opening of Salt Life Adventure Sports, on December 2-3, 2023. Experience two full days of adventure and excitement at White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, featuring jet ski rides, ATV expeditions, banana boat excursions, live music, games, and much more. Stay tuned for additional details.

I am going to love the Jet Ski’s and Banana boat towing. Maybe a Ferris Wheel can also be added!

Just saw the SM posts. Oh my God. This will be the end of White Bay. Catering to cruise ship mobs - I can’t even imagine the chaos. JVD May become a once upon a time place for us and a stop no longer with this nonsense.

I actually thought this was a joke when I saw it. OMG is right! Why? Just Whyyyyyy????
And I thought the only ones able to do jet skis in the BVI were Blue Rush on VG because somehow they were grandfathered in? Or are they getting past it by offerering rides, not rentals?
White Bay is way too crowded with boat traffic (and inexperienced ones at that) for this to not end in an accident.

....Paradise lost............. will have to change my tagline

They do state on Facebook that the jet ski’s will currently only be available for the 2 day grand opening. I am not sure how to interpret the term currently. ATV’s will not be allowed on the sand.

Yeah “currently” is an eyebrow raiser. Can you even imagine banana boat rides in the bay with all the boats? Way to destroy a treasure in my opinion. But I guess if that is what they want to do with their island it is their business. If this thing takes off it is going to be a zoo in there.

Give me a break..

I am not exactly clear from what I read on Facebook where it will be located...on the Soggy side....if so it will truly be a nightmare as that side of the beach is already busy. If on the opposite side of the rocks then bad but not as clogged. Either way it will diminish the whole vibe. I was there a few weeks ago and did not see anything but perhaps I was not looking.

My wife and I have enjoyed and befriended the BVI and the people there for 25+ years. Started with a 7 day charter, been as long as 6 weeks on a boat. Let me say we always go the last week of May thru mid June or more. Last year we noticed a ton more people. Everywhere becoming more popular, which is great for the folks working there trying to make a living, not so good for visitors as service demands make for shoddy services. We always wore our patience hats and were never put out... we are in the islands... whatever! I think we are going to maybe look elsewhere for our island vibe time. We will never forget the friends made along the way, experiences had.. some quite scary.
Much love to the people. Much love to our friends.
Peace, out.

TIMRIM..this is what I fear and what I hate to hear...I hope the Tourist Board reads this as they need a serious wake up call .How can they call the BVI "Natures Little Secrets" any more??

Malcom...I hear Disneyland and run away!

Regrettably, the government/Tourist Board will not wake up. The former is flat broke, as in they owe $10 million to the BVIEC, the want $$$$ to re-do the water distribution system, the roads are a mess, the schools are a mess, etc. The government gets $7/head for each cruise ship passenger, so they are totally in the pockets of the cruise companies - low-end ones at that. Those companies want "exciting" things to do in port, so although jet-skis are illegal in the BVI, a blind eye is turned.

The government is looking for as many places to ruin as possible, although they wouldn't phrase it like that. Look at Long Bay east, look at Spring Bay. They keep courting the huge - and getting bigger - cruise ships, although they're well aware they don't have the land side facilities to support that number of visitors.

So spot on a reply, Mrs. Ratman. Another "today's gold star" for you.

https://bvinews.com/premier-announces-382m-budget-for-2024/

Budgeted expenses for next year are less than this year. That's not because the infrastructure is in tip-top shape! Expect more of the JvD type of nonsense.

If I didn’t have a boat in the BVI I would probably be right there with TIMRIM. Maybe it is time to rethink that as well. We are already reducing our number of annual trips way down this coming year - from 5-6 to two (at best) and heading in other directions. Cruise ships are the worst thing to happen to islands and waters - and many cities as well. Look at Barcelona’s actions to mitigate the chaos . And the powers that be in the BVI just want to attract more of these hornet’s nests.

One more reason to not go to White Bay.

But the food, drinks and hospitality at Hendo's is hard to miss! We do enjoy going later in the day.

Is this at the west end of the beach? If so, I smell the Romney girls. They own everything past Seddy's pace and have wanted to develop it for years for their ship's agent business. Remember the attempt to build a dock at the west end?

I just saw a Facebook post that the opening party is happening at Gertrude's. If that's the permanent location it would likely be extremely annoying. I can't see how banana boat rides can operate anywhere near White Bay. A tragedy waiting to happen, I fear. I guess we'll know more after the weekend.

Here's what I copied and pasted from the site:

5 Day Countdown! Come One Come All!!
Salt Life Adventure Sports Presents: 🎉The Official Grand Opening🎉
Where: 📍Gertrude’s Beach Bar- White Bay Jost Van Dyke 🏝️
When: December 2 & 3 -2023🗓️ ⏰
Time: 10am-Sunset ⏰ ‼️
What: ATV Tours- Banana Boat Rides- Food- Drinks- Games ‼️
Who: Entertainment🔊🔊: Dj Dre, Top Man, Dj Millennium King, The Association, TeeJay, Tafari & Jougo 💃🏽🕺🏽💃🏽🕺🏽💃🏽
Reach out: 1-284-343-8182 RSVP - WhatsApp Email: Saltlifeadventure@gmail.com

(The poster which I couldn't post mentions jet ski rides. Banana boat rides are $25 per adult and $15 per child. Oh and an ATV "Teaser" ride is $125 with drinks included! Good grief, I hope those drinks are for after the ride!)

This is extremely disappointing.

I can’t believe this, no parasailing?

Seriously! And no petting zoo?? carnival rides??

Donkey races on the beach would be fun and certainly scatter the crowds and spill their Painkillers...

This makes my heart heavy.

Whelp. They paved paradise and put up an ATV lot. The White Bay we all know and loved so much is going to quickly become a distant memory. As much as I love Olga I won’t be heading down to that end of the bay again. Or maybe anywhere in that bay again if the jet skis and banana boats hold. Can you imagine this??!

Edited to add that word on the street is that Gertrude is leasing the place to someone on Tortola. Not good.

This is very concerning for those of us who appreciate White Bay as it was in the past. I acknowledge that White Bay can be a gong show in the best of times and not a destination to visit for seclusion. But it isn't a place where sailors, swimmers and day trippers have had to endure the racket, chaos and danger of banana boats and the like.

We're booked to stay at the revamped Sandcastle Hotel at Soggy this March in a room near the parking lot, which is right next to Gertrude's. Oy! I'm trying to stay positive and am doubtful that if there are ATVs next door, they won't get going while we're sleeping. At the end of the day, I just want people to be safe. I hope no one gets hurt.

The above said, I'm SO happy that the owners of The Soggy Dollar Bar rebuilt the Sandcastle Hotel and will hope for the best. Our stays at the Sandcastle in 2015 and 2017 were magical. Early mornings and evenings on White Bay are pure bliss!

I'll be sure to report here when we're there in March. I'm really hoping that the sky isn't falling on White Bay! XO

I was just there yesterday, and while there were no jet skis or banana boats, there were a tonnnnn of cruise ship guests. They set up shop right in front of Hendo's and unloaded dinghy, after dingy, after dinghy of guests. Literally saw a couple guests get off the dinghy and then SPRINT to claim their lounge chair.

Made me quite sad and I did not even go into Hendo's yesterday because of it.

That's the stuff of nightmares!
We were planning on heading over in January for a short stop but this has me re-thinking that. We may just stay on VG.

I understand Long Bay, Beef has catering to cruisers via cruise line excursions for some time now. That was one spot we enjoyed alone years ago when ships were in…Next stop - Smuggler’s Cove…

Remembering a brief discussion years ago about an “aerial tram” or something being built and new restroom facilities added to make SC more accessible and comfortable to day visitors (cruisers). Not sure if the tram was a joke but I sure hope so!

I am still waiting anxiously for the stock car race track on Beef Island as proposed by the former premier.

Seriously disappointed at this news.
Jet Skis... Why don't we just invite a motorcycle gang to take up residence on White Bay too.

It's on Instagram connected with Gertrude's:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz-tyrxuiKe/

Vinny does have a Harley in Great Harbor!

that is a great spot...we plan to be there for a week on land and then take the boat everywhere else

Wish our plans aligned but we will be on Grand Cayman in June - will miss being on the water with you!

For sure...and glad to see you enjoying your life. Always wanted to go to Grand Cayman and started with VI/BVI and never left. Have a great holiday

So, any word on how it's going?

I tuned into the Soggy Dollar webcam several times yesterday and that section of the beach looked like a typical Saturday on White Bay. But who knows what was going on next door? I didn't see any jet skis or banana boats but they could have been running farther down on the West side of the beach.

Looks like the party is underway this morning.

Matt-- Anyone have any actual sightings?

That is exactly what I imagined!😂

LOL!

Spring Bay has been targeted for excursions by cruise lines? Are they providing amenities like at Long Bay, East?
Next it will be Savannah Bay…

The Carib is shrinking faster and faster as the cruise industry caters to today’s “travelers”…

Spring Bay? Did something new happen there? I have only ever seen the crowds descend on The Baths. Even when they are crawling like ants over there we are usually left alone at SB.

I have seen Spring Bay on some private excursion lists, but nothing like The Baths or Long Bay East. Concerns have been expressed about the over-use of The Baths, hence the one-way path. The issue is with more and larger cruise ships, there is a constant hunt for new and different shore options.

The ridiculous thing is the $$$$$ spent on bringing millions of tons of sand to Brandywine Bay for the cruise ship excursions.All I have ever seen there are goats and a few kids with radio controlled boats.Bring them to Brandywine Bay and stop wrecking the islands..PLEASE. Natures Little Secrets???Seriously?????

Well, looks like it’s official…

https://www.ncl.com/shore-excursion...hWeight&sortOrder=asc&perPage=12

No reviews yet so probably a relatively new excursion. Also no mention of amenities..

A Trellis Bay/Guana option I didn’t know existed..
https://www.ncl.com/shore-excursion...hWeight&sortOrder=asc&perPage=12

Sigh. Pretty soon those cruise ship crowds will be everywhere. I do not like anything about cruise ships. I have seen the negative consequences in far too many places.

The irony of the NCL description is stunning, "Although the setting is practically identical to the more famous beach at The Baths, (there) won’t be nearly as many people. "
Pogo, "We have seen the enemy and it is us"
Good grief.

Mike

So they are doing excursions onto Guana? I thought Guana was totally private? That's the whole selling point I thought-that they allow only like 35 guests at a time (or rent the whole island yourself)? I can't imagine exclusive guests to Guana wanting to share it with day trippers from cruise lines. Or am I misreading or getting this all wrong?

The cruise ship industry is mean, ugly and ruthless. They generally find a way to get what they want.

All beaches are public so technically they can land guests wherever they like and occupy up to the high water mark. Surprised that Guana will tolerate it however. Seems you just can’t escape them nowadays no matter how hard you try. At least Anegada is spared this menace - for now.

The fact that Guana is tolerating it is what made me give pause. There's no way their guests would be happy about this. And there is also no way tour operators are keeping day trippers to the high water mark. Keeping cruisers in line is like herding cats.
This is all just so unfortunate and sad.
Follow the money.....

Exactly. Follow the money.

Please don't tell them about Anegada.

The cruise ship industry has a very ambitious ship building schedule. The biggest problem they have is where to take the people. They will do whatever it takes for access.

This web page is ridiculous! The photo that they provide is not Spring Bay National park, but is actually Valley Trunk beach.
This beach also lost all its palm trees during Hurricane Irma in 2017, so the photo is over 6 years old. They have been doing
a Spring Bay excursion from Tortola for many years. Also, there are no amenities at Spring Bay.

for the White Bay potential nightmare, is that location at Gertrude's only for the Grand Opening or does anyone know if that is going to be the permanent location of Salt Water silliness

Well, not an aerial tram, yet, but the cruise lines are now offering Jeep excursions that include Smuggler’s Cove…can’t even hide there anymore…
🙉😟

Darn it

So now that some time has passed, is there still jet skis and banana boat rides in White's Bay? I maybe rethinking of our stops or location all together now. JVD is one of my favorite places in the world to unwind and relax.