Port Day- water tour or land tour?

[Bucket29]

Cruising in early August, would love insight.

Port days in St. Thomas and St. Marteen/Martin. Trying to decide on which port to do water tour and which port to do "taxi/beach" tour.

Options include day of sailing and snorkeling in St. Thomas or day of speed boat and snorkeling in St. Marteen/Martin. Whichever port we chose to do water tour, the other port we would have a more modest cost day and either hire a taxi and see the local sights or just walk around. Cost is similar for both water days, equally rated for fun and reliability and both include food and drinks.

We are a group of 12. Six adults and six kids ranging 11-19. Some of group are slightly prone to motion sickness but plan to take Bovine.

General thoughts and anyone who has experienced either greatly appreciated!

Will also post under general Caribbean and St. Marteen/Martin threads

thanks

[BeachyGirl64]

My friend and I visited those islands last December - we went to Mountain Top and Coki Beach via taxi on St Thomas (don't be fooled into thinking you will get a tour from the taxi driver waiting to pounce on you once you leave the port - unless it's a private tour you won't get much). The taxi drivers were in the shopping area when we were walking towards the Paradise Skyride (and I never made it to that).

 

We did a speedboat tour (Robinson's Tours) in St Maarten and it was fabulous! The weather made the water a little choppy but we were still able to get into the water at different spots. Bring lots of sunscreen, sunburn spray and something I wished I had brought, some vinegar in case someone brushes up against fire coral when they are snorkeling (I didn't need it but someone else on the boat did and had to deal with it until we reached the location for lunch where the restaurant fortunately had some).

[Bucket29]

Thank you-

would you say there is more to see and do just walking around in one of the ports over the other?