Yes you can hire a powerboat with captain for the day - maximum capacity 6 people , price between $500 and $700 plus fuel plus gratuity.

Pia

That's a bit expensive for a day at Water Lemon Cay and a fairly long bouncy boat ride if coming and going from town/ cruise ship location.

Alana33 wrote:
That's a bit expensive for a day at Water Lemon Cay and a fairly long bouncy boat ride if coming and going from town/ cruise ship location.

But that's about the only option (as I think Pia intended to convey) as no unlicensed boat owner is going to take on that sort of uninsured liability.

missesrush: there are many good off-the-beach snorkeling spots on St Thomas (Sapphire, Coki, Secret Harbour) and St John (see "activities/snorkeling" under St John top of this page) which would certainly satisfy!

A couple questions:

How much "shore time" will you have in port?
Why WaterLemon? I assume you are looking for an "off-the -beaten-path" snorkling spot.
(
WaterLemon"/MaryPoint is a loooong full day round trip from the cruise docks. WL may not be the best choice. Don't misunderstand, WL is a good choice--far better than typical tourristy STT spots like cokki and spaphire. But don't totally rule out STT. There are some other very nice spots reachable by power boat that are closer and won't cost as much. Also you may want to allow some flexibility to account for "conditions" (i.e. choppy water, wind direction, etc).

I think arranging for a "six pack" boat is good idea. I also think you can do better than $700 + tip/fuel, unless that price includes lunch, gear, instruction, private pick-up from the cruise ship, open bar etc.

There are some great off the beaten path spots on STT by boat.
Mermaids Chair/Botany Bay, for instance and not a long a ride as WLC in the Narrows off of STJ.
Still can be quite bumpy coming back up wind from this location so hope you have some sea legs (and tummy).
Good Luck and let us know what you decide to do.

Alana33 wrote:
There are some great off the beaten path spots on STT by boat.
Mermaids Chair/Botany Bay, for instance and not a long a ride as WLC in the Narrows off of STJ.
Still can be quite bumpy coming back up wind from this location so hope you have some sea legs (and tummy).
Good Luck and let us know what you decide to do.

Excellent suggestion!!

As I wrote blu4u, the cost is between $499 and $700 (not just $700) plus fuel plus gratuity. My company books excursions and I do not know any captain that is less than $499 (plus the extras) that is a licensed and insured captain - this is a full day rate which you would need (half day rates are usually only $100 less)

Pia

Edit to say, without going through all the charter companies I book I think (going off a late Friday evening memory) there is one company for $475.00

This is great idea for the cruiser who wants a "different expereince". $100 @ head (inclusive of fuel/tax/land transfer/snacks) seems like a fair price for a private boat to see some of the lesser known spots. Pia, can your capitans pick-up in crown bay or havensight? In my opinion, the "new generation" tourrist is looking for a more "authentic expereince". Shopping for duty-free and being bused to cokki doesn't cut it. I would like to see more downtown shops offering local art/craft and food and music to visitors. More beaches "developed" (i.e. preserved) as parks (aka Magens /Lindquist). More adventure type activities: SUP, Kayak, six packs to out of the way spots, hikes.

Crown Bay or Havensight to Waterlemon cay can be a very long rough and wet ride in a small power boat on many days - it will be long every day though.
Much easier to access STJ from Red Hook -avoiding the upwind slog on the south side of STT. The fuel cost alone on the longer trip is likely equal to or more than a taxi. In a vessel big enough to make it a comfortable ride the fuel cost will be exorbitant.

exit zero wrote:
Crown Bay or Havensight to Waterlemon cay can be a very long rough and wet ride in a small power boat on many days - it will be long every day though.
Much easier to access STJ from Red Hook -avoiding the upwind slog on the south side of STT. The fuel cost alone on the longer trip is likely equal to or more than a taxi. In a vessel big enough to make it a comfortable ride the fuel cost will be exorbitant.

Exactly, and precisely the reason (and almost without exception) the charters which work St John out of St Thomas are based on the East end. I took that route several times years ago and, apart from seeing the South shore of St Thomas from the sea for a different perspective, it was a long and choppy haul.

You can also taxi over to Red Hook passenger ferry - take the passenger ferry (last year it was $12 round trip on the passenger ferry to STJ) then take a taxi over to Leinster Bay Trail (about a 1/2 mile or so walk on a stone trail back to a smallish beach) and from there you can do some great snorkeling from the beach out to and around Waterlemon Cay. Arrange for your taxi driver to come pick you up at a specific time - taxi's are very willing to do this - I would negotiate this when you get the taxi in STJ. Not sure what the taxi to Red Hook cost is. From Crown Bay will be higher than from WICO. Taxi fares are listed on the web and will tell you "permitted" charges ahead of time. Ferry is about 20 minutes then another 20 minutes over to Leinster Bay. The ferry is a pretty easy ride except on days when the ocean's rolling.

You might also check prices on Water's Edge Sports located in Red Hook - we used them a few years ago and they were great. It was $395 for the boat and $125 for a captain - but you still have to take a taxi to Red Hook.

You might also consider some of the Day Sail companies - you can find them listed and just book directly with them. Most are $80 - $120 p/p for the day. Good luck!

Most Day Sails don't go as far up the Narrows as Leinster Bay and Water Lemon Cay due to time constarints and the long up wind sail.
Francis Bay is about as far up as most of them travel during a full day sail.

It would be less expensive to take the ferry from Red Hook and rent a car in STJ, if limited on time.
Good Luck, whatever you decide and let us know how it goes.

And just to add Waterlemon is not the hidden snorkeling spot it once was - noe day last week there were over 30 cars there

Pia

Pia wrote:
And just to add Waterlemon is not the hidden snorkeling spot it once was - noe day last week there were over 30 cars there

Pia

I wonder if there is anything "hidden" in STJ anymore??? Anyway, I've always enjoyed snorkeling around the tiny Cay. When the light is correct, the purple fans are simply majical. If you plan to arrive by car the trails behind the beach (rocky) are interesting too.