Hello Angela,

Coral World may be quite similar to the water park you have back home. Coral World specializes in marine life that is found in the area so there are shark tanks, seastars, a couple tanks with neat seahorses and smaller fish among other tanks (turtles, rays...).

Frenchtown is a residential area with nice restaurants. Not sure there is anything there to keep your kids attention - nice if you want to go to lunch...

Magens Bay would be my suggestion for a kid friendly beach, nice long beach, water gradually deepens...

Both beaches have a few water"toys" - Magens Bay you could get floats for the kids to play on, they have small sail boats if you or your husband wants to take the kids out in the bay for a little bit. Sapphire has kayaks and some other watersports. Both have beach bars and food. Music - there may be music at the bars but I am not positive, not something I ever really paid much attention to. You kids might enjoy just running around the Botanical Gardens while you guys looked around at the view and flora.

I would say skip Frenchtown unless its for lunch. Botanical Garden and Magens sounds good if you think that Coral World will repeat what you have already at home.

--Islander

I am a big fan of Coral World. I don't know, somehow "Underwater World" at a mall doesn't sound as enchanting to me ;-)... Coral World has a real underwater observatory, turtles outdoors, palm trees, etc. It also has many child friendly exhibits- they love the sea horses and the black light area. It is next door to Coki Beach if you want to get everything in at once. We have had good feedback from kids and the Atlantis Submarine, too!

Definitely take the kids to Coral World. We live here and my daughter who is 8 wants to go all the time. Since she was five years old we have gone about 30 times/year. Then you can to to Coki Point - beach is right next door to Coral World. The kids can see fish as soon as they step in the water and you can feed the fish. Very exciting. Just that can fill a day and you can do your shopping at Havensight when you return to the ship. We've been on the Disney Cruise and spent the day at Coral World and Coki and it was GREAT>

Can you snorkel at Coki Beach? I've read that you can, but if so how/where do you get set up ? A booth on the beach? We will be on AOS week of 2/15 and would like to get a little snorkeling in at St Thomas . We have 2 kids, 7 and 8, so my plan was to check out Coralworld and just do Coki Beach next door.

This is our first time in St Thomas. Are we making a mistake by not going to Magens Bay instead? (I've read its supposed to be one of the most beautiful) Problem is if we go to Magens it says there is no snorkeling - and for Coki Beach it says the snorkeling is excellent.

I think we're only in port from 830-5. I wanted to check out the town too since I heard its a great place to shop. Where would be the best place to do this? Or will it be very apparent when we get there - ie) one main shopping area?

Thanks for any help you can provide. PAtty

Patty: There is only one solution to your dilemma...make reservations to come back and stay for awhile! 😉 Coki has snorkeling because there are reef, rocks and people who feed the fish to bring them in! Yes, snorkel gear is available there. Magen's is a beautiful white sand beach, but for most people white sand snorkeling isn't as interesting. You might do Coral World and Coki in the morning (Coral World has showers to rinse off the salt) then ask the cab driver for a mini island tour past Drake's Seat so you can view Magen's, then back to town for shopping before you return to the ship. Have a great trip!

Thanks so much - that will be our plan. Cant wait to visit as we are up here in Michigan and the weather has been brutally cold - today is about 8 degrees! BRRRRRR

Patty,
East ender has a good plan. We did virtually that same trip when we were there in Sept. Drake's Seat has a fantastic view. You can't capture it on film!

Patty: I don't think my freezer is THAT cold! Even Jimmy's song goes "*20* degrees and the hockey game's on..." and it does continue with "I've got to fly to St Somewhere"... Hurry down, comfy 82 today...

Counting down! This winter didnt start out so bad but once we rang in the new year it has been cold cold and colder. No end in sight either. Trust me - it FEELS like your in a freezer when you go outside! Thanks for everyones help -

Dear Islander,

Thank you for your advice! You are so patient with upcoming visitor's questions, that I'm sure our very similar! A few other people responded back saying we should really check out Coral World, especially since we have kids. They also mentioned going to Coki Beach. I've heard pros (mostly about snorkeling) and cons from people who live on the island about Coki. That is why I didn't inquire about Coki - now people are saying go to Coki. So now I'm thinking go to Coral World (hopefully it has more than Underwater World ) then pop over to Coki Beach since we are right there for an hour so the kids can see the great fish and maybe try to snorkel. The 6 year old is a beginner swimmer and my just turned 5 year old enjoys the water but can't swim. Then travel to Magens (it looked beautiful from the helicopter) and enjoy that beach for a couple of hours. How long does it take to get from Coki to Magens? I'm sure my husband and I will be back by cruise ship or by trading our timeshare and can visit Frenchtown and St. Peter Greathouse.

East Ender,

Thank you for all of your advice. I think I'm going to take you up on going to a "real" underwater observatory. What is the black light area? How long do you think we will spend at Coral World? We will probably pop over to Coki to check it out (see the fish and let the kids try to snorkel) since we are right there. Then, go to Magens since it is suppose to be so beautiful and we thought it was lovely from the helicopter. I thought about Atlantis Sub. but didn't know if my little guy who just turned 5 would get a little restless on a 2 hour tour. Maybe try when we take them back in a couple of years.

Donna,

Thank you for your response. I think we will visit Coral World from 9:00- 11:00 and pop over to Coki for an hour since we are right there. Then check out Magens. For lunch we will just want a fun beach bar/restaurant with burgers or sandwiches. Do you suggest eatting at Coki or Magens? Would Coki be very crowded on a Wednsday? You are so lucky to live on a beautiful island with warm weather all year long! I'm originally from Kentucky where winter can be mild but have lived in Minnesota for 10 years. The summer is beautiful. We have a houseboat on the river, but the winters are very cold. Yesterday it was colder than normal with -4 degrees!

Angela: The black light area shows corals and fish in their night time environments. The corals are incredible and the kids love the black light experience! Coki is literally a few steps away from Coral World. There is a snack area at Coral World (pretty limited menu but a nice shady patio) or vendors on the beach. Uncle Buddy's has a local following...You can see most of Coral World in an hour or so, or you can break it up with rest and explore longer.They will give you a schedule of feedings, etc. I forgot about feeding the stingrays- the kids love that one, too! There is a nature walk through the trees with ducks and tortoises and all kinds of other things. That and Magen's would be plenty, maybe save the submarine for your next visit!!

Hi Angela,

Coral World, Coki Beach and Magens Bay is a wonderful day. You will have a great time. If your kids aren't big swimmers definately pick up some sand toys for them to build castles at Magens Bay!!

Your question about crowds at Coki - if there are a few to many ships in the day you are in port yes Coki will be busy - its a small beach and lots of tours go there. Magens Bay will also be busy but its a bigger beach.

--Islander