blue_water

Robin, A quieter beach with amenities (restaurant, restrooms, lounges, etc) is an elusive animal for sure…Many of your fellow passengers are also looking for that ideal 🏖 so your options are limited of course. Your date and the number of ships matters too… But with the amenities you are looking for I’d always choose Sapphire. Just an easy beach to get a quieter spot on while enjoying those amenities. And of course the island views are stunning…

You came to the right island! 😉 Google Brewers Bay, Long Bay (West End, not Beef Island), and Smuggler’s Cove. There is a new property at LB so not sure how busy that is today, in the past we’ve been the only souls on the entire beach but there were no amenities then, we brought a cooler. There is a restaurant now… And Smuggler’s is a favorite of locals and land visitors when ships are in. There should be a vendor or two with food/drink and older-but-free lounges…SC is much more remote and the road from LB to SC is very rough… But Brewers is a favorite of day visitors wanting exactly what you described! ~$9/pp taxi each way to BB, a little more to LB and SC… Google/YouTube each for more info!

Are you looking for a nice beach with food & drink + restrooms and lounges, and the busiest vibe that goes along with that? A secluded beach with perhaps food/drinks but no other amenities? Or the “just right” beach with one beach bar and a restroom? The first would be Cane Garden Bay. The second would be Smuggler’s Cove, or Long Bay, Tortola. The third would be Brewers Bay. Our favorite is SC, we head there while staying in CGB when cruise ships are in. Brewers Bay is also gorgeous, both have that “old Caribbean” feel. And LB (Tortola) is that picture postcard beach for the BVI. I will add that Savannah and Spring Bay on VG are also gorgeous, as is White Bay on Jost. But even with your 9 hours or so of free time, I would stick with a Tortola beach. Tortola is also the most beautiful of the islands!

Are you looking for a nice beach with food & drink + restrooms and lounges, and the busiest vibe that goes along with that? A secluded beach with perhaps food/drinks but no other amenities? Or the “just right” beach with one beach bar and a restroom? The first would be Cane Garden Bay. The second would be Smuggler’s Cove, or Long Bay, Tortola. The third would be Brewers Bay. Our favorite is SC, we head there while staying in CGB when cruise ships are in. Brewers Bay is also gorgeous, both have that “old Caribbean” feel. And LB (Tortola) is that picture postcard beach for the BVI.

The ferry drops you at the marina near Spanishtown, and folks going to the Baths by safari taxi are dropped at the Top of the Baths where there is a restaurant. You must walk down a natural path to reach the beach and the boulders. When you arrive at the marina on VG, I would suggest explaining this to a taxi driver and asking if he/she will drop you at Spring Bay. spring Bay is very close to the Baths, yet the beach -which is flanked by similar boulders on each side and has a similar topography as the Baths - is much easier to walk to from the parking lot. There are no facilities at the beach other than a vacation rental. But you can see how close the Top of the Baths Restaurant with restrooms is when you arrive and decide if SB works for you. Perhaps the more adventurous can descend to the Baths while your 80-year old relaxes at the restaurant? We’ve worked with a driver and had him drop us at different spots and return for us at a specific time, and taxi fares are not terrible…And that is a very nice way to avoid the mob that is your fellow passengers at the Baths..

Actually in this port (like a few others) the transportation system is so reliable there is zero stress. And more importantly, you enjoy the freedom and flexibility that the ship excursion does not offer. The ship-sponsored excursion limits your time on STJ. The self-excursion to STJ is really a no-brainer… thousands do this and I have never seen one report of a day visitor missing the boat! Of course you must be able to tell time (☺️) and take the appropriate return ferry. But you shouldn’t need a guide for that… There are times I too would recommend a cruise line excursion over a self-excursion, but this is definitely not one of those. Many will do it and there is nothing wrong with that. We did that on our first cruise here, we just didn’t have the helpful guidance from cc members then to guide us! 😉

Yes you will see the open-sided safari-type taxis lined-up waiting to whisk day visitors to beaches and other sights. As your taxi departs for a trunk and Cinnamon Bays, the driver will let you know that if you are interested in the tour you can just stay on the taxi as others get out at the beach. When the tour is over you will be dropped at the beach, if you want, or back in Cruz Bay. Cruz is an excellent spot for shopping if time permits. St John Bracelet Company is a great place to buy a Hook bracelet. Just allow a 1.5 - 2 hours from the Red Hook ferry terminal to your ship to be safe…

I remembered this thread on HB, Ralph’s post may help you. HB is typically quite busy, but it probably depends on the day too… Lindbergh Bay (aka Emerald Beach) is another option a short taxi from Crown Bay. The Emerald Resort has a restaurant, beach bar, and lounge and umbrella rentals.

If you are docked at Crown Bay you just walk to the Water Island ferry dock which is located by Tickles Pub. I’ve read the ferry now accepts cash which is convenient. Dinghy’s is a food truck-type spot. HB gets very crowded with cruisers and excursions stopping in for lunch so not a great choice for a quiet, relaxing day, but easy to get to. The ferry is small so some folks have to wait for it to return to get a ride back…

Sorry, I had changed the map location above to Village Marina…🤷🏼 😄 This map shows the Sunshine Powerboat location … https://goo.gl/maps/pfmuaR3c9wyKRVo56

Yes, Sunshine is also in Wickams Cay with the cruise pier, near the Village Cay Marina of which Jimmy Buffet shared his Cheeseburger in Paradise” with us. 8-minute walk according to Sunshine’s site. https://goo.gl/maps/ssAA5r9FuTy6Z1SU7 Yes on a powerboat excursion you would moor just off the Baths and your mom would enjoy the beautiful Baths setting from the boat. On Jost, a powerboat may need to drop you in knee-high to chest-high water, depending on how congested White Bay was. I would ask, as the operator may have a dinghy, or may suggest dropping your mom and you at the ferry dock in Great Harbor, and taxiing over the hill to White Bay. A bonus with that would be able to meet Foxy and maybe hear some of his songs. Your mom may like that more than the bars in White Bay! One part of your group may want to do Foxy’s before White Bay, and the boat captain can tell you when he entertains…

Yes with ~8 - 9 hrs of free time you could hit both spots with a powerboat . You can contact Kuralu, Aristocat, and especially Joe at Patouche for private charter options. I’d suggest first contacting Capt Malcolm at https://sunshinepowerboats.com/

Depends on how many cats arrive before you or moor overnight. Some can go right to the beach and you don’t even get your toes wet, others are as bkrickles mentioned. Worst-case is 4 - 6’, anything deeper and they will dinghy you in if you prefer that over swimming. “Soggy $” is accurate! ☺️

There are powerboat operators out of Red Hook/East End that provide private excursions for up to 6 ppl. If no specific recs here, or for more options, check daysail and charters on the VINow website…

You will be fine! Just look for a taxi heading to the Red Hook ferry. The ferry departs every hour on the hour each way. Many day visitors take advantage of the excellent and reliable taxi/ferry service here and do self-excursions. You add an extra 2+ hours with the transportation to a STJ beach, but if you are excited to see Trunk or Cinnamon Bay just do it… If you can find a shared safari taxi that is going to Red Hook and not dropping folks at Coki first, should be able to easily make the 12PM ferry over. If you want to be ultra-safe I’d suggest the 3PM return, although we’d take the 4PM return with no worries… Enjoy! Taxi from Havensight —> Red Hook ferry = $10/pp (~$11/pp from Crown Bay); Red Hook ferry <—> Cruz Bay = $8.15/pp each way, taxi to Trunk =$6/pp, Cinnamon = $7/pp. You can also take a nice island tour and then get dropped at a beach for ~$25/pp. That also eliminates the taxi cost to a beach, you just pay the return taxi to Cruz. So the total cost from Havensight to a beach on STJ is ~$50/pp, ~$68 w/ the island tour…From Crown Bay add ~$2…

Sounds like Vicki is thinking about posts she has read about Belize City…

Nothing wrong with being curious about the US stores here, especially with free time following an excursion…We were too when we first visited - Home Depot! 😄

We winter in Playa and use the SC there. Your membership is valid internationally, including Mexico. However we’ve had instances where the cashier cannot verify our membership (sard will not scan properly). In those cases the cashier will use a generic card, or else you can just go to the customer service desk and they will give you a 24-hr pass.

We’d just relax at PP, neat spot for cocktails and music, especially if you are docked at Havendight (WICO). Unless you want something more exciting?

Yes just consider Red Hook. That is THE reliable ferry service…

I agree with #2, if you love Mexico enough to return for a longer visit, save Chichen Itza and other amazing sights for that. We loved it here so much after 20+ years of visiting we built a retirement home in the Riviera Maya. Highly recommend a longer visit here!

Taxi will drop you at the ferry terminal in Red Hook. Try to find a shared safari taxi that is not dropping folks at Coki and Smith Bay first…

Taxi from Havensight —> Red Hook ferry = $10/pp (~$11/pp from Crown Bay); Red Hook ferry <—> Cruz Bay = $8.15/pp each way, taxi to Trunk =$6/pp, Cinnamon = $7/pp. You can also take a nice island tour and then get dropped at a beach for ~$25/pp. That also eliminates the taxi cost to a beach, you just pay the return taxi to Cruz. So the total cost from Havensight to a beach on STJ is ~$50/pp, ~$68 w/ the island tour…From Crown Bay add ~$2…

No beach, just the marina. But when the bars open it is a very lively spot! The best live Muzak op is in the evening of course. We’ve not been to Sapphire recently, but many day visitors report enjoying live music there disputing the day… We once enjoyed musicians at other beach locations but they are no more…

I meant to ask Ms411 or any others there - is there ever live music at Coki today? The only beach we’ve heard of bands at recently has been Sapphire…