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Cell Service on St. John

Cell Service Map
We get a lot of emails and Facebook messages here at News of St. John, and many of the most commonly asked questions has to do with cell service on island. The two main ones are:

  1. Will my cell phone work on island?
  2. What kind of charges can I expect to get?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve accidently racked up some pretty hefty bills over the years by inadvertently using my cell while connected to a BVI tower. I also know how frustrating it can be when you need to make a call, send a text or use the internet and your cell simply will not work due to your location on island. So we decided to do some very unofficial research and this is what we found…

First off, the best cell carrier on island (in my opinion) is AT&T. If you have an AT&T phone up in the States, yes it will work on island. Verizon works on island too, at times. There are a few pretty big differences between the two though. (I’ve heard Sprint works ok, but I have zero experience with Sprint, nor do I know anyone who has it.)

First off, AT&T includes the Virgin Islands in its domestic rates. That means that you can call, text and use data like you would in the States as long as you aren’t picking up a tower from the British Virgin Islands. (More on that shortly.) Verizon, however, only includes text messages and data in its domestic rates. Voice calls are $1.99 a minute. Those calls can add up pretty quickly.

But just because Verizon says you can text and use data for free doesn’t mean you will be able to. Verizon uses CDMA technology whereas AT&T uses GSM. (Both are acronyms for the radio systems used by cell phone carriers.) The Virgin Islands is on GSM which is why AT&T works so much better.

But again, this doesn’t mean that your cell is going to work everywhere. There are several dead spots around the island. There are also spots where you will inevitably pick up towers from the BVIs. Here’s where our unofficial research comes in…

To make it a bit easier for you, we created the nifty little Google Map to show you where AT&T cell phones work and where they do not.

(Click here to view the map on Google and to add your own markers.)

Cell Service Map

The green markers indicate that service is great; yellow means it’s pretty good and red means service stinks. Black means that we couldn’t get service even after several attempts. The purple markers indicate where we’ve consistently picked up BVI towers.

Speaking of the BVIs…

If you see the words LIME or Digicell on your cell phone, it means you’re connected to a tower in the BVIs. It doesn’t matter which carrier you have, if you are connected to a BVI tower, you’re going to rack up charges.

There are two ways to prevent this. 1. You can turn off the data roaming on your phone. 2. You can add a global package to your service. Most carriers will allow you to add global for the time you are on island and then remove it as soon as you return home.

So what happens if you get charged international fees? If it’s your first time, your cell carrier will likely remove them although it isn’t guaranteed. Just call them up and explain that you picked up a BVI tower. Typically they understand and remove the charges. But they’ll only do this once or twice … and yes, I’m speaking from experience. 🙂

So what else can you do to get service on St. John? You can always buy an AT&T Go Phone. These are prepaid phones that work just like a regular AT&T phone would on St. John. You only have to pay for the time you want to use it (in monthly increments), so it’s a very good alternative for those of you who do not have AT&T. Click here for more information on GoPhones.

Or…

You can simply turn off that cell phone and relax because you’re on St. John, and therefore you shouldn’t have a care in the world.

Feel free to send us locations and cell performance and we’ll update the map as needed. You can email your info to [email protected]

On the Road: Maho Bay to Mongoose Junction

Today we’re taking a little cruise on St. John from the Maho Bay beach parking lot up North Shore Road and over to Mongoose Junction. Oh and we brought our friend Kenny Chesney along the way.

We promise this one will make you smile. Turn up your sound. 🙂

98 Days and … A Ferry Makes an Appearance!

It’s been 99 days since Public Works Commissioner Daryl Smalls said the new ferries would be operating within 30 days. Well clearly Mr. Smalls is operating on island time…

But we have good news! Look what just made an appearance over near Turner Bay:

Image courtesy of Coconut Coast Villas
Image courtesy of Coconut Coast Villas
Image courtesy of Coconut Coast Villas
Image courtesy of Coconut Coast Villas

You may recall that the last time one of the ferries made an appearance on St. John was on April 9, which happened to be a mere three days before Mr. Smalls got an award. I wonder what he has up his sleeve this time 😉

Q&A with Mimi Roller – Coral Bay’s Hometown Olympian

mimi waterEarlier today, we introduced you to Mimi Roller. Mimi is from Coral Bay and is currently preparing to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. We did a brief Q&A with Mimi about the Olympics and her ties to St. John. Here’s what she had to say:

What is it like to train for the Olympics?
Training for the Olympics is a full time job. It is a huge commitment that requires many sacrifices, but in the end, it is worth it, because we are lucky to be doing something that we are passionate about every single day, and it is always an honor to be representing the Virgin Islands internationally.

We have a strict training schedule that includes many hours in the gym, many hours doing boat work, and many more hours actually on the water honing our skills to perfection. Being in the best shape of our lives is imperative to the game. During competition we have to spend long hours on the water in oftentimes demanding and strenuous conditions, and our bodies have to be able to withstand hours of extreme cold or heat, and being able to push through whatever circumstances we are presented with.

We have currently been stationed out of St. Mary’s City – where we both attended college because I am also an Assistant Coach for the St. Mary’s Varsity Sailing Team. But soon we will be traveling throughout Europe preparing for our first Olympic Qualifier this coming September in Santander, Spain. All of this requires lots of logistics and planning – booking flights, finding accommodation, finding coaches and coach boats, arranging travel details of when we drive from one part of Europe to the next, planning which regattas to go to, finding training partners…. the list goes on. In all honesty, the planning part of the Campaign is pretty much a full time job as well, and sometimes it is hard to balance both training as hard as we can on the water with figuring out exactly how/where/when we can train.

How has the St. John community supported you?
I owe all of my sailing successes to my parents and to the whole St. John community. Throughout all of my sailing, the people of St. John have always been eager to help me achieve my goals. KATS has been one of my biggest supporters throughout my career – I started sailing there at age 10, and would definitely not be where I am today without the foundation that they provided for me.

When I made known that I was campaigning for the 2012 Olympics, so many people came together, writing articles in newspapers and online blogs, spreading awareness in every way they could about my cause, helping me to raise money so that I could fund a proper campaign.

Even if I didn’t get the result I wanted in a certain event, every time I come home, people in the community always tell me how proud they are of me and my successes, and that always keeps me motivated and keeps me working harder so that I can do better at the next regatta.

The St. John community is truly a family, and it’s great knowing that my family supports me.

What are you most looking forward to in the next Olympics?
It’s hard to say what I am looking forward to most. Our journey is just starting to begin, and we have so much traveling and experiences ahead of us, so much learning and growing to do. I’m excited for every step of our journey. This campaign is already so different from the last one. Having a sailing partner, a teammate gives the campaign a whole new dynamic – and I am learning so much already.

We are going to have lots of ups and downs throughout our campaign, but I’m looking forward to every improvement we will make and every top score we can finish at each event. I’m excited for all of the new friendships we will make along the way, and every new country that our travels will take us to. And I’m excited to be able to continue to represent St. John and the U.S.V.I. around the world.

Coral Bay’s Hometown Olympic Sailor Eyeing Rio in 2016

Mimi and Kayla
Kayla McComb (left) and St. John’s Mimi Roller (right)

It’s pretty amazing the talent that stems from this small island. Take Mimi Roller, for example. Mimi started sailing in 2001 at the age of 10, and has represented the Virgin Islands both nationally and internationally since 2002. After competing in the 2012 London Olympics, Coral Bay’s hometown sailor has now set her sights on the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. But before she can do so, she needs our help.

“A successful Olympic Campaign is not only acheived by the athletes, but also by the support of the community,” Mimi wrote on her website MKSailing.com. “The path of Olympic sailing in the Virgin Islands is quite different than in other countries. International competition and leading Olympic teams are fully funded through means such as the lottery or full time sponsorship. Unfortunately, we do not have access to such means and rely on our suppliers, corporate sponsors and the generosity of our family, friends and community supporters to help support our various expenses.”

Well the folks over at Skinny Legs are planning to do their part this Saturday when they hold a fundraising event for Mimi and her teammate Kayla McComb. The event will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature Caipirinhas and Brazilian food specials, as well as raffles and a chance to buy MK Sailing gear.

For those of you unable to make Saturday’s event, but still want to help, you can contribute online by clicking here. Financial contributions are not the only types of donations that can be made, however. Housing in training or competition venues can significantly help reduce costs. Local motorboats would also enable Mimi and Kayla to support a coach. Other donations could include frequent flyer miles, free meals, your company’s product, or any other creative ways you can think to help.

Mimi recently released a nice little video on her and Kayla, how they met and what they’re hoping to accomplish. Check it out below:

http://youtu.be/PeD7B0SqcPk

Fun fact: Mimi’s parents own Coral Bay Organic Gardens. Click here to read a story we wrote on the business also known as “Josephine’s Greens.” 

Daniel.

Daniel

It was sometime last fall when I first heard Daniel Pinto’s name. I was eating dinner at Coral Bay Caribbean Oasis, chatting it up with owner Karen Granitz, when she first mentioned a man who she considered to be one of the island’s most talented painters. Daniel, she said, lived on a boat in Coral Bay but often kept to himself. However, from time to time, he stopped into the Oasis for a bite to eat and, at times, to paint. Karen motioned up toward a surfboard with a stunning beach image emblazoned across it that hangs just outside of her kitchen.

“He did that while I watched,” she said, “in no time at all.”

From then on, I knew Daniel was something special.

Sometimes words just simply are not adequate when describing someone’s talent. Please check out some of Daniel’s work for yourself:

Daniel Painting Surfboard

Daniel Painting Conch

daniel painting

Daniel Ziggy
A digital work featuring Ziggy, the island’s most famous pig

I had the privilege of meeting Daniel myself just a few weeks back and found two things particularly interesting about him. First, he creates these remarkable pieces of art from a small, unassuming, one-room studio tucked deep in the woods, 44 steps down from Centerline Road if I recall correctly. For days on end, he holes up in that tiny little space and creates these incredible paintings alongside his fiercely loyal little dog, all while munching on Ramen noodles. And second, he doesn’t actively try to sell his art.

Well I’m happy to say that beginning today, Daniel’s art will be sold at Caribbean Oasis in Coral Bay along with a handful of other artists. (We’ll have more on the other artists later this week.) And the best part is that 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly the artists themselves.

Available now are 11 x 14 inch prints of Daniel’s conch shell painting (pictured above while in progress). The prints sell for $40 each and are available at the Oasis only. The original is also for sale.

And coming soon will be 20 x 30 inch prints of an amazing painting Daniel created of Trunk Bay. Those prints will sell for $60. We’ll alert you when they are available.

So if you happen to be in Coral Bay, stop by Oasis and check out some of the great artwork on display there. And while you’re there, be sure to grab a bite to eat. Karen has some of the best food on island and at only $9 an entree, it’s one of the best deals on St. John.

Meet Oriel Smith: One of Our Island Favorites

Oriel Smith
Oriel Smith

There are some people you meet on St. John that you simply want to hug. You want to invite them over for dinner and you want to become lifelong friends. Oriel Smith is one of those people.

If Oriel’s name sounds familiar to you, it’s because we mentioned him briefly last month in our story about Scotty the donkey. As you may recall, we received an email about an injured donkey over at Cinnamon. We reached out to a few folks who in turn reached out to Oriel. Once Oriel got involved, we knew Scotty would be well taken care of.

So who exactly is Oriel Smith? Well he is, in our opinion, Caneel Bay’s most valued employee. As the director of grounds and landscaping, Oriel’s job is to make Caneel’s grounds look beautiful. It’s also his responsibility to care for the animals who live on the property including the donkeys and deer. And to say he treats these animals with love and compassion is simply an understatement.

I had the privilege of spending some time with Oriel a few weeks back. Together we strolled the grounds of Caneel while he spoke about his 17 years working at the resort. (Oriel’s 17th anniversary was last Friday, so we like to extend a big congrats to him for that.) What struck me during that conversation was just how knowledgable Oriel was about the animals living on Caneel’s property and how much he truly cared for each and every one of them.

For example, Oriel told me a tale of a young donkey named April who was born back in 2008. When Little April, as Oriel called her, was about eight or nine months old, she disappeared from the property. Now it’s not uncommon for the donkeys to wander throughout the island but they always return to where they were born, according to Oriel. So after not seeing Little April for years, Oriel was convinced something had happened to her.

Several years has passed when a new donkey appeared on the property. Oriel knew she looked familiar and soon realized it was April. Oriel was overjoyed that came home. And for those of you who follow Caneel over on Facebook, you may recall see pictures of a little donkey born in early March. That donkey, named Precious, happens to be April’s offspring. (I love stories that have a happy ending.)

Precious - Image credit: Caneel Bay
Precious – Image credit: Caneel Bay

But it’s not just April and Precious that Oriel knows the backstories of. It’s all of the donkeys on property. As we strolled the grounds, he pointed out Buckelfoot who was in a car accident once, Darry, Daniel and more. In total, there are 14 donkeys who currently call Caneel Bay home.

What I found to be the most interesting is that the donkeys we see at Honeymoon Beach one day may be the same ones we see over near Coral Bay a few days later. They simple wander, Oriel said.

“They take North Shore Road just like we do,” Oriel added.

So as Oriel and I walked over to feed the donkeys some hay in their pen that’s tucked away behind the hut at Honeymoon Beach, I asked Oriel one last question: What’s the best part of your job?

“To me its not a job,” Oriel said. “It’s just – I love what I do. And I tell everybody and I might as well tell you all that I have the best job in the world, the most gratifying and the most satisfying.”

Well said Oriel and thank you for all you do.

Donkeys at Caneel

An Amazing Underwater Video

I don’t even know where to start with this one. First, this is by far my favorite underwater video I have seen yet taken on St. John. Second, I can’t think of a better way to start off your Sunday than by spending 10 minutes to watch this incredible video.

It was filmed and edited by Brian Naess. Brian teaches a coral reef ecology class at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Each Spring Break, they head to St. John to snorkel. You have to check this out…

(Definitely turn on your sound)

Castaway’s Debuts New Menu

It’s the weekend … woohoo! Happy Saturday everyone!

For those of you who’ve been lucky enough to spend some time in Cruz Bay over the past few weeks and have gone over to Castaway’s, you’ve probably noticed some changes. They’re really stepping things up over there in an effort to attract a more mature crowd, and I have to say, I really like what they’re doing. Well today we’re happy to announce that they just launched a new menu, and it looks delish!

Check it out and let us know what you think:

Castaways menu

Happening Tonight!

woodys shirt 2

Back in 1994, one of the island’s best bars poured its first drink … tonight, it’s time to celebrate!

The folks over at Woody’s are holding one heck of a party tonight and we hope you all can make it! Stop by between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. and help celebrate Woody’s 20th anniversary.

The party will feature live music and DJ Adonnis. There’ll also be a pretty cool raffle, and all proceeds will benefit the St. John Cancer Fund.

Coors Light will be simultaneously celebrating its 25th year on island, so there will be $2 Coors Lights all night. There will also be $3 Fireball shots,  and $3 Parrot Bay and Captain Morgan drinks.