Can't believe this is already our last port and unfortunately this is also the shortest stop. 

The ship docked at 7 and we had an excursion booked through the cruise line for this port because the ship is leaving at 1pm!! That's just not long enough to go exploring on our own and I particularly wanted to go to Virgin Gorda to The Baths. Of course I heard of this through reading extensive reviews on both Trip Advisor and Cruise Critic and also looking at Google Images to see what all the fuss was about! 

We had to meet at the end of the dock at 8 am so I was up and dressed with a pot of tea brewing quite early. Last night before retiring we had gone up to the Great Outdoors and grabbed some bread rolls, butter, pastries and other stuff so that we wouldn't have to face the dining rooms or buffet this morning..... we thought what with the early start and such a short time here it would be bedlam!! I reckon that was a pretty good move.

We walked down the gangplank and were almost at the meeting point at the end of the dock when my cheap souvenir thongs ( flip flops for all my American friends, I'm not talking about my underwear!! ) I had bought in St Thomas broke...... I did consider running back to the ship for another pair of shoes but there was a lady taking tickets and ushering everyone on to the ferry and she said I wouldn't need shoes anyway so I'm shoeless for the day.... I feel a bit povo walking around with bare feet but I must admit it's my favourite way to travel ( I hate shoes! ).

We made our way up to the top deck and found a seat for the 30-45 min ride over to Virgin Gorda. We had a little rain along the way but not enough to make us abandon the fresh air of the deck and it was nice warm rain anyway! Off the ferry and straight on to taxi buses for a 20 min ride to the Baths. 

I had read on Trip Advisor that everyone heads right down to the Baths but to get away from the crowds you can head left to Devils Bay and then make your way through the rock caves over to the Baths. We did try to do that but there was a guide there that told us we weren't allowed to go the opposite way to all the others, and being a good girl I obeyed!! Rodd on the other hand kept saying "just go, don't worry about him, he can't tell us where we can walk"... he's such a rebel!!

I was a bit annoyed as we started on the trail down because there was just a big crowd of people trekking down but we sort of hung back a little and the people behind us seemed to do the same so we did end up being able to wander down at our own pace not feeling like we were cows in a herd!!

When you get to the bottom it is just beautiful, there's a nice area of sand with shade trees and even some toilets. The swimming area isn't huge but half the crowd only stayed here a little while and then made their way into the "caves" over to Devils Bay. Rodd and I went straight in to do some snorkeling and wow, it was a fantastic spot for it. We saw fish of every size, shape and colour and they were right up to the waters edge so you don't really need to swim out far to find them. The water for the most part is very shallow for a good way out so once again is good for those that don't want to be in deep water but still want the total snorkeling experience. Unfortunately I was in complete holiday mode and just didn't bother getting the underwater camera out..... I really wish now I had! 

As we only had a really short time here we ( I ) decided we should make our way over to Devils Bay. Rodd was happy to stay where we were snorkeling but reluctantly packed up and followed me.... not for long though because as we got in amongst the rocks it became obvious that with his bad foot it would be way too hard going for him to scramble up and over so he headed back to the beach, partly I think because we had just run into a woman coming in the opposite direction who was going back for their things as they had come across a bloke that had broken his foot jumping down from a rock and her husband was carrying him out!! I forged forward and with bag, towels and my snorkel gear found it a tad challenging. There's very steep steps and cracks in rocks to crawl through but I did finally manage to follow all the yellow arrows and come out the other side. I was getting a bit worried about time as I still had to get all the way back so really only poked my head out in the open space and headed back through to meet up with Rodd. I should probably have gone a bit further to see what else was over there but ...... at least I had time for another snorkel when I got back to Rodd!  

All to soon it was time to pack up and head back up the pathway, when we got to the top I stopped in at the little shop and Rodd continued up to the bus area. As I walked up to the bus area I heard someone say there's free Rum punch "over there" so I headed there because I KNEW that's where I'd find Rodd..... actually as I spotted him I said in a loud voice "I heard Rum Punch and just knew that's where I'd find you!". 

Back on the buses and we were seated knee to knee with each other and squeezed up with other couples either side so of course there was frivolity and comments about playing kneezies and with all our bags, towels etc on our laps "keep those hands where we can see them"! When we got on the ferry we saw the bloke with his broken ankle and it turned out to be a couple we had been talking to at the cruise critic meet and greet... poor guy, but at least it happened on the last port day not the first! I'm pretty sure on the bus was also the first time we'd had a good chat with Maryanne and Jim who are cruise critic members.

We sat for ages and ages on the ferry waiting to leave and commented several times that we could have been snorkeling for at least another hour.... finally the ferry left. As it turned out we were waiting for one couple that hadn't been at the buses when they all left the Baths! All the way back we chatted to a lovely couple ( that we had been squished in the bus with ).... Rodd was talking to him and I was talking to her and it was quite weird how similar our lives are, funny how sometimes you meet people that you just click with and have absolutely no problem talking to for hours .... I never did get their contact details but I did give them our business card so will be interesting to see if they ever get in touch.

The port in Tortola is very new looking and the shopping area is not yet completed but I think once they get it finished it will be a very nice port. We had a quick look at the shops but the only thing I bought was a gorgeous gecko... cost me $16 which I was rather peeved about because it was just like all the gorgeous ones we'd seen in St Martin markets ... you know that we were going to go back to but never did.... and they were only $5 there!!

I'm sure you know how the rest of the day went..... back to the cabin to shower and change then off to hit the bars! Being that everyone was on board by 12.30 and sail away was 1pm the pool deck was hopping. We started there where of course we found the same people and Rodd had fun watching the badly behaved teenagers once again taking over all the hot tubs and pool. I know we went up to Spinnakers for the Perfect Couple game which was a lot of laughs. We did a bit of people watching and head shaking, one particular incident was a couple that sat down in front of us at the 2 middle of 4 chairs... so leaving one chair either side of them and then when other couples came up trying to find seats it was quite amusing watching everyone realise what they had done but the clueless couple never did think to move for other people! I guess you had to be there but I was so close to going up to them and pointing out their stupidity!!