Please don't stay on the ship. There is so much to see and do on STT. We've been going there for years and we drive all over the Island.

I just did a quick search and can find nothing on a travel warning.

Enjoy STT, it is a beautiful island with much to see. You would be missing out on so much if you were to stay on the ship

In light of the recent and tragic shooting in the area of Coki beach on St Thomas, some of the cruise lines are temporarily curtailing their shore excursions to Coki but there is absolutely no all-encompassing travel warning in effect. Enjoy your day here!

I would reply with, "that is a question only you can answer." Hope you enjoy yourself with whatever you choose!

as pointed out over the years - with ever increasing gun violence in the USVI - you would be better off looking elsewhere than VINOW to ask this question - sorry - but sadly true - this is a vacation board and not a board to find out about the dark side of the islands. there are plenty of on-line newspapers to find this info.

also - hope that you never need police help while visiting the islands - many (not all) are either corrupt or could care less about actually doing real police work that involves effort.

btw - we go to STJ yearly - and love it - but (like anyplace) you need to excercise good judgement and not put yourself in a bad situation

I've gone to Coki every trip to the VI for years and years. While Magens will give you a calmer beach and less noise, Coki can be fun. There are plenty of hustlers and hucksters on the beach, hawking beads, drinks, whatever, and it is a bit of a noisy zoo atmosphere. But never have I not felt physically safe there. It is a place where I like to keep my eyes on my belongings which is not so much the case at Magens and not at all at Sapphire or Secret Harbor. Like all places, bad stuff can happen and this terrible gang shooting could have been anywhere.......I hope by now the police on this small island have identified and arrested the shooters. Stay out of dark alleys! But do enjoy the island.

In answer to the last poster's hope, the alleged shooter turned himself into the VIPD yesterday and is being held without bail..

I wouldn't stay on the ship. St Thomas has few incidents that involve tourists...unfortunately there are rare ones...and I'm sorry to hear of those.

Enjoy your trip.

Just to make a point here...silentfaith made a hit-and-run post about a "travel warning." S/he has not been back to back up this statement. No one else has heard of any "travel warning." People can say just about anything they want on the internet and someone, somewhere will believe it. Get your B.S. detectors out folks!

I agree with your point East Ender ... I figured right from the moment that I read the comment, that it was just to cause a "stir"!

I agree with everyone else that you should definitely get out and see all the beauty that the island has to offer.

That being said, we as St Thomas residence cannot ignore the escalating violence that is taking place. I am a business owner that has a mix of local and tourist clientele. We are a small business but employ mostly local youth. I cannot describe the type and amount of frustration and sorrow from both the customers and employees. Something needs to be done to end the violence that goes back and forth between these warring young "gangs". Unfortunately, I think we must be honest with ourselves about this, so that some kind of action can take place to stop it. I do not want to hurt tourism, but there will be no tourism if this persists.
I didn't want to post this. This is my first post, but long time reader. I feel passionately that something has to change. I hope all that want a safe and prosperous St Thomas for all, do as well.

have you ever visited Detroit? If so you will know that this one incident is so very random that it should not keep anyone away. I think often times folks post here just to get the response.

go and enjoy

My wife and I just got back from 10 days on St. Thomas (July 1 to 10). We stayed at a cottage near Hull Bay. We drove all over the island and visited a different beach every day. Went to Charlotte Amalie during the daytime and at night, ditto Frenchtown. At no time did we feel like we were in any danger, quite the opposite - we found everyone to be very hospitable. We took the usual precautions and didn't go wandering down dark alleys at midnight (gee, same precaution I would take at home).

Stay on the boat!!! Just got back from St. Thomas (fortunately). I was a victim of crime at Coki Beach just days before the deaths of the 14 y/o and local man. I have the police report to prove my incident. As a matter of fact, I was actually planning to either move or buy a vacation home there, but no longer!!! My family and I will never visit US VI again. Sure you are at risk on the Ship or sitting in your living room. But going to St. Thomas, specifically Coki Beach is the equivalent as jumping out of an in flight airplane without a parachute. You might live, but the likehood is you are gonna die. Word to the wise, after I was a victim, I stayed my blank at the resort, practically in my room. What a way to spend thousands on a family vacation only to be confined to your room? But I am alive and warning others. Your life is at risk in St. Thomas as a tourist or otherwise!!!

Welcome to the forum, stm11! We look forward to more of your illuminating posts. Ya did good for a newbie!;)

STM11

I THINK YOU NEED TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP, SERIOUSLY! You were robbed, not raped!

My wife and I just returned from our 8th trip to STT. We have rented a car every year and have traveled through out the Island. We have never had a problem. That being said we don't go into Town at night and are usually around the Red Hook Area most of the Days. We love our trips and visiting the Islands.

I wonder a loud if "stm" stands for "Small town Mind", just wondering.

RM wrote:
I wonder a loud if "stm" stands for "Small town Mind", just wondering.

And your problem with small towns is???