If there aren't a lot of ships in port when you arrive in STT I'd suggest Magens Bay.

If you want to spend maximum time on the beach, I would suggest you stay on STT (Coki or Magens) and avoid the ferry time. What water sports are you looking for?

I have always liked sapphire beach. I was there last year and I happen to think it's a nice beach. Nice sand beautiful water. Seemed very family friendly to me. May be a little bit more crowded than coki but less crowded than megans. If you go to megans it is very beautiful, but can get crowded especially with a cruise ship in town. I liked little megans beach better. LIttle bit of a hike but well worth it. Less crowded and equally as beautiful as megans.

Smugglers Cove in Tortola is beautiful. Several ladies sell smoothies, drinks and lunch from their grills and rustic bars on the beach. You would have to arrange a taxi driver to drop you off and pick you up. It is a pretty rugged drive to the beach on an unpaved road. There are no restroom facilities.

Lovethecape.... Were you at Smugglers recently? I understood from another board that there are no services at all at Smugglers now, but perhaps the other posters' information was not accurate. I am hoping to be able to get at least a drink, and the quiet of Smugglers is what we are looking for. thanks

If you have the entire day then I think you are missing an incredible opportunity if you don't go to St John for the day. If you haver your own snorkel equipment then your water activities are set for the afternoon as your children will enjoy the underwater snorkel trail. It's a beautiful beach with incredible sand and the incredible jungle like surroundings rival any world class beach in the world. Also, just the experience of taking the ferry over, riding a open air taxi out to Trunk Bay overlook and seeing the view from there (the taxis will stop for a brief photo op) and then the day on the beach will seriously be worth the extra time it takes to get there. You can catch a ferry right there in Charlotte Amalie and it will take you to the St John ferry dock where you can walk to the taxis right at the end of the dock. St. John is so much more uninhabited than St Thomas that it gives you a really different feel than the way St Thomas feels more inhabited and crowded. Be aware that Trunk Bay will be more crowded than the other beaches since the cruise ships plan excursions there so you may consider choosing Cinnamon Bay or even Hawksnest which is the closest beach to Cruz Bay where the ferry dock is... do a little research on the National Park Beaches on St John and choose for yourself, but to miss this opportunity to see St John, if only briefly would be a shame. Just my opinion.... can you tell that I love St John?

abenaki,
We were on Tortola over Martin Luther King Day weekend and stayed at Long Bay. We went to Smugglers 2 days (it was a short trip). One day there was one very nice lady (great smoothies and chicken lunch) and the next day she returned and another lady also set up a stand. It's a beautiful beach!

Family Friendly:

Magens Bay would be very family friendly. You can check the ship schedule to determine how crowded it might be on your visiting day. Food, drink and watersports are on the beach....but the beach is also large enough that you can select a spot down at the opposite end (the quiet end). Can rent kayaks, mats, chairs, etc. The food is good from the grill...and the bar serves great drinks at reasonable prices. Magens also has those large rocks on the right side, which make for an interesting walk in the knee-deep water to see what kind of sea life lives around those rocks. We usually find a starfish. Kids like a little variety (so do some of us parents). I like beaches that offer something more than quiet solitude. Diversions are good.

Coki always has a good amount of children in the water - due to the fact that the fish swim in and can be experienced without a mask and snorkel. Young children seem to especially love that. There's also very little, if any, current. Water is especially clear here.....more than than any other beach in the VI, from my experience. Not sure why it is so clear. On the other hand, I've smelled pot in Coki...in a certain area. I think you have to know where to sit and where not to sit. Right side - ok. Left side - might catch a whiff. Of course, plenty of food and drinks - float rental, chairs, umbrellans, etc. .

Sapphire had always been a top family destination. Disney Cruise used to bring kids by the "boatload" (pun intended). I used to LOVE staying at Sapphire because my daughter always made plenty of friends - both from ships and also guests at the resort. Sapphire had long been the "married with children" resort destination. I did find that the water had a bit of an undertow and was a bit rougher than Megans and Coki. Of course, now, the restaurants and bars are closed. I am not sure about the watersports. I love Sapphire for childen because the seagrape trees are so close to the water - so parents can sit in the shade and still be close to the water's edge where children love to play.Voleyball nets are up between the seagrape trees and the resort buildings. Older kids love this area. My little one always made friends here - and so did my teen. Everybody loved Sapphire!!

Secret Harbour is a wonderful children's beach - esp for young children. The entry is gentle and the water is so, so calm! The beach is always quiet (maybe I shouldn't post this). It is a really easy going, beautiful beach. There are lots of palm trees, so plenty of shade for a nap. And, there are watersports and food and drink available.
On STJ, my kids always loved Trunk Bay. Yes, another favorite that gets crowded. But, they have food, drinks and my kids always loved walking around and looking at the fruit on the trees, etc. Another one with a nice amount of shade.

Don't know much about Tortola beaches, other than Cane Garden Bay -and Rhymers has good service and a place to get a bite and cold ones. It has been a while since I have visited (almost 10 yrs), so I'll pass on recommendations .

I totally agree with CruzBayB, if you have the time St John should not be missed. Trunk Bay has an excellent beach with a sandy bottom, a marked underwater snorkeling trial, restrooms and showers, as well as concessions. You can also rent snorkel equipment there. From what I understood from people from cruise ships when I was there in Oct is that you only save a couple of dollars per person by arranging a trip to Trunk Bay on your own as opposed to booking with the cruise ship. Not an expert on the subject, but it seemed that the cruise ships provided transport directly to Trunk Bay as well as return so there is no fear about missing your boat. Trunk Bay is a beautiful beach that I think whole families would enjoy.

Coki for sure! Loved Coki! It was just beautiful, and everyone was very friendly! We had a funny waiter, and loved watching the locals play with their kids in the water. It was the best time. 🙂