Closest things to Charlotte Amalie

[tizbo1423]

Hi everyone -  I'm looking into booking an excursion through RCL on our trip in a couple of weeks but they all seem to be very short and get us back to the ship with hours left in port. Is there a beach (or anything) that we can visit that is close to the ship? I'm trying to squeeze in as much island time as I can, especially since we only have 8 hours!

 

Thanks!

[Stinger-pr]

You can actually tour St. Thomas in just a few hours. We actually rent a car when we stop on a cruise (we also do a few land-based days getaways every now and then) and have enough time to visit two beaches (Coki and Sapphire are our go-to choices), drive around for some scenic stops and do a quick stop in town for some hot sauce before returning the car and to the ship on an 8am-5pm schedule. So that's why tours that don't have extended beach or shopping stops in town run for a relatively short time.

Lindberg beach is very close to port. It's maybe a 5-6 minutes ride from Crown Bay where RCL usually docks, 15-20 minutes if you decide to walk. It's not as glamorous as Meagan's or has as good snorkeling as Coki but they have loungers and umbrella rentals and you can use the bathrooms on Emerald Beach resort (but no other facilities). If you're just going to chill for a while, it's your best bet, closest to Crown Bay.

[blue_water]

You will be docked in Crown Bay, and you have a couple of options that are close. I would recommend hopping a taxi to Lindbergh Bay (aka “Emerald Beach” named for the Emerald Beach Resort located there. You can rent lounges/umbrellas from the resort, and they have a restaurant, beach bar, and restrooms for your use. Lindbergh is actually quite a nivpce beach and bay, and is a favorite for many. We prefer Sapphire Beach on the East End of STT for the natural beauty and island views (and snorkeling), but for a close beach Crown is a great choice. 

 

Another option is Honeymoon Beach on Water Island. You take a short ferry to WI and typically get a free short ride (tips welcome) or rent a golf cart and go to Honeymoon Beach. It is a small bay with a nice beach in front of Dinghy s Beach Bar, free lounges and a food truck serving food and drinks. At the other end of the beach is Heidi’s Honeymoon Grill. Note that with a ship or ships in Crown Bay HB can get crowded, but it is a nice day with the ferry and beach time. Of the two options, we would choose Lindbergh...either way you can enjoy a cold beverage at Tickles Dockside Pub before returning to the ship -

http://www.ticklesdocksidepub.com/

 

if you want to enjoy an island tour and then get dropped at Lindbergh or another beach, there are a few popular independent operators that others can recommend here. We prefer to rent a car, but for most folks a guided tour with beach time is a good first time experience.

 

St Thomas has an excellent taxi system and these drivers transport thousands of visitors to different destinations every day. So if you decide to head to the East End (or even to St John) on your own just give yourself a little extra time to get back to the ship and you will be fine...