St thomas to st. Johns

[Kbrauchle]

Normally I've been booking tours with outside companies. For our day in St. Thomas though, I almost think it'd be best to go with a cruise ship excursion. They offer an excursion called, St Johns on your own. It's $31pp and it includes a ferry to St. Johns.  When all is said and done though, I think we'll only have 2 1/2 hours to spend in St. Johns. Recommendations for things near Cruz Bay? I'd love to check out Cinnamon Bay too.
Just looking for an easy beach day, maybe some snorkeling. Or if there's a good place to grab a bite too?
Thank you!

[Ms411]

That's not really much time on St John because if you go to a beach, round trip travel time will take approximately 30 minutes if the taxis leave immediately. If you have to wait for snorkel rental that takes up precious beach time, too.

 

Cinnamon is not in Cruz Bay, and the beach in Cruz Bay harbor too many boats for it to be considered clean all the time.

 

That's a very short beach "day".

 

[blue_water]

Why do you feel a cruise line excursion would be the best choice for St Thomas? Of all the islands with cruise ports, St Thomas has one of the the most reliable and extensive taxi and ferry systems, if not the most reliable. Is your ship excursion departing from near your ship? If so you will ferry 45 minutes each way through rougher water and be tied to a specific return time. Going on your own via taxi to Red Hook and the ferry to Cruz Bay and taxi to a beach is a much preferred option, giving you more time to enjoy St John (if your port times allow that).

 

An easier beach day - especially won a shorter day - would be a taxi to Sapphire or another STT beach that offers snorkeling. But it depends on what ship are you on, and what your port times are for a useful recommendation?

[gzjax]

On 6/18/2019 at 10:52 AM, blue_water said:

Why do you feel a cruise line excursion would be the best choice for St Thomas? Of all the islands with cruise ports, St Thomas has one of the the most reliable and extensive taxi and ferry systems, if not the most reliable. Is your ship excursion departing from near your ship? If so you will ferry 45 minutes each way through rougher water and be tied to a specific return time. Going on your own via taxi to Red Hook and the ferry to Cruz Bay and taxi to a beach is a much preferred option, giving you more time to enjoy St John (if your port times allow that).

 

An easier beach day - especially won a shorter day - would be a taxi to Sapphire or another STT beach that offers snorkeling. But it depends on what ship are you on, and what your port times are for a useful recommendation?

What is considered a short day?  We will be there 8-5 and would like to go to St Johns but also a little concerned with time!  Thanks.

[blue_water]

IMHO 8 hours or more gives you plenty of time to spend a few hours on one of the STJ beaches and also shop or lunch in Cruz Bay if you want. Depending on where you dock and when you are off the ship, you can usually make the next hourly ferry (9AM ferry in your case) from Red Hook to Cruz Bay. You’d be on the beach ~9:30, and unless you want to get back to STT early to shop or stop at Paradise Point, for example, you’d be super-safe taking the 2PM ferry back to Red Hook, and many would take the 3PM ferry. That would give you 4 - 5 hours to enjoy the island. Even with the 10AM ferry you’d have 3 - 4 hours on STJ. Taxis + ferry = ~$50pp...

 

For a first visit I’d consider taking an island tour before getting dropped at the beach. Taxis will be lined-up at Cruz Bay, and after you board the driver will offer a tour after dropping others at the beach. Very nice way to see some of the history as well as the spectacular views of the North Shore beaches and islands of the BVI. Adding the tour was $25pp and may be more now. But the drop at the beach is included so the total cost is only another ~$18pp or ~$68pp...+ tip of course!

[redwings1958]

DITTO GZJAX:  The cruise line tour is such a ripoff;  We did StJ on our own by taking a taxi to redhook, got the 9am ferry; was on Trunk Bay by 9:30 and practically had the entire beach to ourselves.  This is because the cruise line ferries from Charlotte A and doesn't leave until 10;  We stayed until 1p and took the ferry back  with plenty of time to shop in Havensight and still relax on the ship before departing

[Wishing on a star]

 

This will be all the info you need!

Unless it is a really good cruise excursion, you really might want to do this on your own.

 

https://cruiseradio.net/getting-trunk-bay-cruise-ship/