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Our ship will dock at Havensight, which would be the best way to take a ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay or from Charlotte to Cruz Bay? We would like to spend 1/2 day at a beach for swimming and snorkeling, we have children from 8-13, would you suggest Trunk Bay or Coki beach? Thank for the info.
We were in St John with our 12 and 14 year olds in early April. My kids loved Trunk Bay - we spent three days there over the week.
I would recommend Trunk Bay over Coki...the kids should like the ferry to St John, the open air taxi to Trunk Bay and back. Bring your snorkling stuff if you have it, otherwise you can rent it at Trunk Bay. Snorkle the National Park trail around the island then head west (left as you face the water) and snorkle the rocks off the end of the beach. My kids loved it. Lots of fish, unfortunately the coral is not what it used to be a few years ago. Also saw manta rays and sea turtles in the areas between the island and the rocky shore. Saw a barracuda one day as well.
I've been to Coki a couple of times...it's a lot more crowded and "touristy". There's no comparison in my book.
When you get to Trunk, bother to walk an extra 100 yards west on the beach to a more secluded location rather than plunking down right off the path with all the other cruisers. I don't know why prople do that, it drives me nuts. It'll be a lot more quiet. Trunk has a small snack stand for burgers and the like, also beverages (water, soda, beer - not cocktails). Also freshwater shower/changing facilities so you can make a quick change for the ride back to St Thomas.
The main page for this website has the ferry schedules. The ferry from Red Hook is a shorter ferry ride and runs on a more frequent schedule, but is about a 20 minute taxi from Havensight. The ferry from Charlotte Amalie is only a very short taxi away (you could walk it but it's a bit of a walk for the kids) but a longer ferry ride and the schedule maybe less convenient. We usually opt for Red Hook due to the more flexible schedule. Depending on your specific schedule you may want to head over to St John from Charlotte Amalie and come back via Red Hook (or vice versa).
When you get off the ferry in St John you'll have no problem with a taxi to Trunk, also no problem with a taxi back to town. No need to bother with a car for a daytrip to Trunk.
Have fun.
Bob
Bob
Thank for the information, it is greatly appreciated.
