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*Are there beach/snorkeling locations on St Thomas that cruise ship passengers are allowed to tour on their own?
Are there kayaks for rent to the general public?
In other words, is it permissable to find our own entertainment and recreation on the island?
Hello Greg,
You can go to any of the beaches. If you want to go on your own you can rent a car and explore or take a taxi. Snorkeling you can try Coki Beach or Sapphire or Secret Harbor.
You can rent kayaks at Sapphire Beach and I believe Magens Bay also has them.
Yes you can do your own thing rather then taking a cruise excursion... also if you wanted to do a sailing trip or diving you can find an operator and book directly with them.
--Islander
We were on a cruise in June (our first) that stopped in St. Thomas. All of the shore excursions we were interested in were sold out. But that turned out to be a lucky break for us. I was amazed at how much the ship charged for excursions that could be done on your own, or were being offered by vendors in town for HALF of what the ship was charging (sometimes it was the same vendor that the ship was using).
We took a taxi to Coki Beach. We intended to see Coral World, but our kids were more interested in playing on the beach and snorkeling, so we skipped it. The snorkeling was OK from my point of view (I've been snorkeling maybe 5 or 6 times in my life) but my kids were absolutely thrilled. They loved it. And it was a sheltered, calm area with sandy bottom that was great for children to learn to snorkel.
The taxi to Coki beach and snorkel rental at the beach was far, far, cheaper than the ships excursion. And you control your own schedule, which I like. Skip the ship's excursion and strike out on your own. You'll save a lot of money and have as much or more fun.
