j1b7733 Posted December 8, 2014 #1 Share Posted December 8, 2014 We are in St. Thomas on a day where there are 5 large ships (19,000+ passengers) docking. Any recommendations for a beach on St. Thomas or St. John that won't be wall-to-wall people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms411 Posted December 8, 2014 #2 Share Posted December 8, 2014 The beaches that won't be crowded are beaches that don't have chair rentals, snorkel rentals, restaurants, and ready taxi service. Do you want a beach with limited amenities? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted December 8, 2014 #3 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Do you want snorkeling? If so Coki, Secret Harbor, and possibly Sapphire will be crowded on STT, and Trunk will be swamped on STJ. That leaves Cowpet Bay (Elysian Beach) which has amenities and will be very quiet, I'm just not sure about snorkel gear rentals. Anyone help there? If snorkeling isn't a requirement Magens will be swamped, Lindbergh (aka Emerald) and Morningstar are decent bets, and Brewer's and Hull Bay will be the least busy normally. We've stayed at Sapphire Beach with 20k cruisers in port and it never felt crowded there so we'd be confident in going there as there's a lot of room and it's beautiful. But that's us, everyday is differend and no guarantees. For more certainty we'd head for Cowpet for snorkeling or even no snorkeling... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2travel06 Posted December 8, 2014 #4 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Morningstar Beach. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1b7733 Posted December 9, 2014 Author #5 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Thanks everyone. Snorkeling would be good but we have our own gear. Limited facilities are OK too. Is there snorkeling at Lindbergh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms411 Posted December 9, 2014 #6 Share Posted December 9, 2014 No snorkeling at Lindberg/Emerald. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted December 11, 2014 #7 Share Posted December 11, 2014 (edited) Thanks everyone. Snorkeling would be good but we have our own gear. Limited facilities are OK too. Is there snorkeling at Lindbergh? Elysian would be perfect. See it next to the Ritz on the East End in this map. You can also see where Secret Harbor, Sapphire, and Coki are in relation. All good snorkeling options, just different vibes. http://www.virginislandsthisweek.com/assets_c/2014/02/st-thomas-island-road-map-9.html Edited December 11, 2014 by blue_water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runner15km Posted December 12, 2014 #8 Share Posted December 12, 2014 In the harbor you can go to Honeymoon beach on Water Island. Small ferry's leave from downtown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livethelife Posted December 12, 2014 #9 Share Posted December 12, 2014 In the harbor you can go to Honeymoon beach on Water Island. Small ferry's leave from downtown. On a five ship day this very small beach will be super crowded. Better to go to one of the larger beaches where people can at least spread out a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O2B@Cagain Posted December 13, 2014 #10 Share Posted December 13, 2014 (edited) The ferries to Water Island leave from Crown Bay Marina, next door to the Crown Bay port. If there are ships in Crown Bay, Water Island will be busy. Ah, and if you don't mind limited amenities, John Brewer Bay on the UVI campus has some good snorkeling. Edited December 13, 2014 by O2B@Cagain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2PinaColadas Posted December 14, 2014 #11 Share Posted December 14, 2014 If you are okay with limited amenities, Lindqvist is beautiful. It's between Sapphire and Coki-- not too well known, yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted December 14, 2014 #12 Share Posted December 14, 2014 If you are okay with limited amenities, Lindqvist is beautiful. It's between Sapphire and Coki-- not too well known, yet. That was true for decades but no longer unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms411 Posted December 14, 2014 #13 Share Posted December 14, 2014 The taxi drivers may not take you to the less popular beaches. You have more options if you rent a vehicle. Do you plan on doing that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1b7733 Posted December 18, 2014 Author #14 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I ended up renting a car for about the same price that it would cost 4 of us to go to Red Hook on a taxi (1 way). Thanks for all of the recommendations. We may just have to try more than 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted December 19, 2014 #15 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I ended up renting a car for about the same price that it would cost 4 of us to go to Red Hook on a taxi (1 way). Thanks for all of the recommendations. We may just have to try more than 1. So what beach did you visit??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1b7733 Posted December 19, 2014 Author #16 Share Posted December 19, 2014 So what beach did you visit??? I'll let you know after we get there next month. :D I'm planning on taking a copy of the map you posted and see if we can get lost for the day. Thanks again for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted December 19, 2014 #17 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I'll let you know after we get there next month. :D LOL - ok, great way to see the island - enjoy, and keep your shoulder to the shoulder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1b7733 Posted January 26, 2015 Author #18 Share Posted January 26, 2015 We just got back from the cruise and had a wonderful day at Sapphire Beach. Thanks to all those that recommended it. While it was far from deserted, even with 5 large ships in port, it never felt crowded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted January 27, 2015 #19 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Thanks j. Today with 2 ships it was busy but not crowded. Expect more tomorrow with 4 ships and Wed with 7 :eek: Think we'll head off island on Wed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charisse4 Posted February 1, 2015 #20 Share Posted February 1, 2015 We just got back from the cruise and had a wonderful day at Sapphire Beach. Thanks to all those that recommended it. While it was far from deserted, even with 5 large ships in port, it never felt crowded. SAPPHIRE BEACH: Are there chair rentals any more? We have our own snorkel equipment so that isn't necessary and I'm sure we can do without snacks till we get back into town. So, just curious what IS still there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_water Posted February 1, 2015 #21 Share Posted February 1, 2015 (edited) Chairs are $9pp, food and drink are available. We love the mahi mahi sandwich ($14) at Banana Cabana beach grill which is between condo bldgs B & C, and you will find cheaper prices for beer and rum punches at the dive center. We haven't snorkeled Libdqvist but for limited amenities with some chairs it is gorgeous as 2PinaColodas said. Edited February 1, 2015 by blue_water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSky_ShinySea Posted February 1, 2015 #22 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Justing adding another recommendation for Secret Harbor - it is quiet and gets less crowds (and is very pretty!) so it could be an option for a pretty beach day. The day we went it rained (too bad!) but we still did get some stand-up paddle boarding in. I wrote about the facilities and how to rent loungers (in advance) at the dive shop there, in my review at the link below. Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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