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Hey there, I am taking a cruise to the Caribbean next month and will be stopping over in St.Thomas for the day. I have heard so many fantastic things about St John and would like to check out Trunk Bay. Anyone have recommendations on how to get there by myself. I am more of an adventurer and would like to see more than a daysail or excursion would allow. Thanks for any recommendations!
Jane:
It can be done. I've done it myself.
1. Take a taxi to Red Hook from the cruise ship dock (about $10 each person each way (Havensight), or $15 each person each way from the Crown Bay Dock) ).
2. Take the ferry over to St. John ($14 each R/T).
3. Take a taxi to Trunk Bay ($7 each person each way).
4. Admission to Trunk Bay, $4.
Total cost: $52 - $62
But be careful not to miss your cruise ship's departure. The Ferry runs every hour on the hour.
Allow at least 1 hour from Red Hook to the Cruise Ship dock on your return (traffic). So if your ship leaves at 6:00 PM taking the 4:00 PM Ferry back to St. Thomas is calling it "close". I'd take the 3:00 PM Ferry back.
Have a great trip!
Future Islander
I recommend booking a kayaking or hike on your cruise line with VI Eco Tours. That's really the way to see St John!
If not that, I recommend the hike from the St John ferry dock that starts at the National Park Visitor's Center and ends at Honeymoon Beach and Caneel Bay (Mmmm! Refreshing drinks and delicious fare!)
If you only see Honeymoon or Hawksnest, that's all you NEED to see!
Check your ship arrival and departure times carefully and understand that you won't disembark your ship as soon as it parks up but some time within the next hour after all passengers have been cleared. Likewise you're usually required to be back on board an hour before sailing time. Your time on STJ is going to be limited and, although Trunk is a beautiful place to be, avoiding your fellow cruisers isn't going to be an option as Trunk and Cinnamon are are the only two STJ beaches with facilities so the only two which the majority of cruise ship visitors descend upon!
I highly recommend Island Wilson Excursions. Capt Wilson will take you anywhere you want to go and he's lots of fun. In February he took us all around St John while we were visiting on a cruise. It was our fourth trip with him and we are looking forward to seeing him again next year. It is completely worth the splurge because it is tailored to your desires and makes a nice break from all those people on the ship!
Can you kayak to St. John from St. Thomas? How far is it and is there a strong current? Is it better to take the ferry and rent a kayak on St. John?
Better to take the ferry and rent a kayak on STJ. Pillsbury Sound can often be quite choppy, windy, have lots of current and boat/ferry traffic. Quite a paddle back and forth.
Many beaches on STT also offer kayak rentals and there are kayak tour operations on both STT & STJ
