St John for the day on our own

We will be cruising to St Thomas in January and would like to do a day trip to Trunk Bay in St John.

1) Do they rent snorkel equipment there?

2) How long a trip back to Cruz Bay

3) How long of a trip from Red Hook back

to Havensight Pier

Thanks for your help

See this link for transportation times and cost -

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2380511

Jacksoncruisers last January we ventured out on our own for a St John adventure. We tried to find the safari bus outside of the port but missed it, so we stopped a taxi and she took us to the red hook ferry(four people$20). You purchase your round trip tickets there. I think they are $14 round trip. Our adventure was to Honeymoon beach. It's beautiful. We departed the ferry and headed on foot to the walking trail to the beach. Viecotours offers a All-Day Watersports Package for $49. Snorkel gear,kayaks,SUP's,beach chairs, and lockers are all included. Our trip back to the ferry was by taxi. When walked to Caneel bay resort and they have taxi waiting to bring you back to the ferry. I think it was $4 each. We made sure we were on the 2:30 ferry back with plenty of time to make it back to the ship. Our adventure took us on the safari bus back $2 each(pay when you get off) it makes a few stops but will get you back to the port with plenty of time.

Jacksoncruisers last January we ventured out on our own for a St John adventure. We tried to find the safari bus outside of the port but missed it, so we stopped a taxi and she took us to the red hook ferry(four people$20). You purchase your round trip tickets there. I think they are $14 round trip. Our adventure was to Honeymoon beach. It's beautiful. We departed the ferry and headed on foot to the walking trail to the beach. Viecotours offers a All-Day Watersports Package for $49. Snorkel gear,kayaks,SUP's,beach chairs, and lockers are all included. Our trip back to the ferry was by taxi. When walked to Caneel bay resort and they have taxi waiting to bring you back to the ferry. I think it was $4 each. We made sure we were on the 2:30 ferry back with plenty of time to make it back to the ship. Our adventure took us on the safari bus back $2 each(pay when you get off) it makes a few stops but will get you back to the port with plenty of time.

Nice day that! Just to clarify on the $2 bus for new folks, that is primarily for locals and is an affordable option for getting to and from Red Hook and Sapphire Beach, for example. As with any self-excursion you must keep track of your time, so just be aware there are typically wait times and stops several times along the way and you need to allow for that.

Nice day that! Just to clarify on the $2 bus for new folks, that is primarily for locals and is an affordable option for getting to and from Red Hook and Sapphire Beach, for example. As with any self-excursion you must keep track of your time, so just be aware there are typically wait times and stops several times along the way and you need to allow for that.

Just to clarify a little more ... Blue is correct that this transportation is used primarily by locals. "Bus" is not really an accurate description. $2 buses are modified pick-up trucks. They look like the safari vans that provide transport to/from the cruise ports but they tend to be older and not in as good condition. Traveling on a $2 bus is like taking a "local" vs an "express".

A second consideration is that many school age youths travel to/from home and school via this method as do St. Thomas residents who work on St. John. Just at the time when most visitors are trying to return to the ship the $2 buses are packed with workers, middle-school and high school students. I have seen many occasions when multiple $2 buses have traveled past Red Hook with no room to pick up additional passengers. If you are traveling with a group the likelihood of everyone getting on the same $2 bus is slim.

Someone will probably refute this and give a glowing report of their experience with the $2 bus. I am not conveying this information to upset or discourage anyone as there are always exceptions. There is nothing that can ruin a great day any faster than having a frazzling experience returning to, and worrying about missing a ship. I want guests to the VI to have wonderful experiences on the islands we love. :)

Yes it's a good idea to plan on a taxi for your return trip from the Red Hook terminal or Sapphire Beach for those reasons.

Info that I've previously posted about spending a day on St. John:

There has been an old (and very long) thread on getting to St. John. It's has lots of good information but after four years, much has changed. I've updated my "spending a day on St. John" and am posting it below so folks don't have to dig through bunches of pages. Feel free to ask questions. I love St. John ... it's a special place. If you've never been, consider it.

Getting to St. John on your own is pretty easy.

When you disembark the ship, there will be plenty of open air taxis filling with passengers heading to St. John. You'll take the taxi from here to Red Hook where you'll catch the ferry to Cruz Bay. Ferry rates are currently $7 each way. The ferry runs every hour on the hour from Red Hook to Cruz Bay and then back from Cruz Bay to Red Hook.

There will be plenty of taxis waiting for you when you get to Cruz Bay. They'll take you to one of the many beaches -- Hawksnest, Trunk, Cinnamon and Maho have restroom facilities while Trunk and Cinnamon have snack bars, chair rentals and snorkel gear rentals. Trunk Bay has a $5 per person entry fee. There is an underwater snorkel trail here that is well marked.

There will also be plenty of taxis at Trunk and Cinnamon to take you back to Cruz Bay. If you head to one of the other beaches be sure to arrange a pick up time with the taxi driver who drops you off. They always come back if you pre-arrange a pick up time.

If you’ve never been to St. John, you might want to consider taking an island tour. They run about $25 per person and you can ask to be dropped off at one of the north shore beaches after the tour for an hour or so. We've done this frequently when we have guests with us who haven't been to St. John before. The history, views and people of St. John are wonderful. It’s definitely worth learning more about this very special place that is 2/3rds U.S. National Park.

Cruz Bay is filled with lots of great beach bars, restaurants and shops. It's a great little town. Two main shopping areas are within close walking distance to the ferry dock. Wharfside Village is to our right as you walk out of the ferry dock area. Beach bars line the area with a variety of nice shops behind them. About a five minute walk to your left when you disembark the ferry is Mongoose Junction. This is an upscale shopping area also with a wide variety of restaurants and shops.

For those going on their own, if you’ve never done this before, I’d recommend catching the ferry back to St. Thomas three hours before your ship sails. So if you ship leaves at 6:00, take the 3:00 PM ferry. If you have done this trip several times, you are most likely safe taking a ferry 2 hours prior to your ships’ departure. It all depends on your comfort level. Traffic from the Red Hook ferry back to the ship can be heavy. If your ship is docked at Crown Bay, always allow three hours for the return. Most of the time, a two hour window is fine getting back to the ship if you are docked at Havensight.

APPROXIMATE PER PERSON COSTS TO GO ON YOUR OWN

Roundtrip taxi from ship (Havensight) to Red Hook: $20

Roundtrip ferry cost: $14

Roundtrip taxi cost to Beaches: $14

TOTAL APPROXIMATE COST: $48

Fares could vary slightly depending upon your taxi. If you are docked at Crown Bay, add approximately $4 roundtrip for the taxi to Red Hook.

Note: Check out excursions with your cruise line as well. Some are essentially offering ferry service to St. John. Doesn’t give you as much time on the island typically, but it is a nice alternative if you don’t want to go on your own and the prices have been reasonable.

Let me know if you have any other questions! ENJOY!!!

__________________

Info that I've previously posted about spending a day on St. John:

 

 

There has been an old (and very long) thread on getting to St. John. It's has lots of good information but after four years, much has changed. I've updated my "spending a day on St. John" and am posting it below so folks don't have to dig through bunches of pages. Feel free to ask questions. I love St. John ... it's a special place. If you've never been, consider it.

 

Getting to St. John on your own is pretty easy.

 

When you disembark the ship, there will be plenty of open air taxis filling with passengers heading to St. John. You'll take the taxi from here to Red Hook where you'll catch the ferry to Cruz Bay. Ferry rates are currently $7 each way. The ferry runs every hour on the hour from Red Hook to Cruz Bay and then back from Cruz Bay to Red Hook.

 

There will be plenty of taxis waiting for you when you get to Cruz Bay. They'll take you to one of the many beaches -- Hawksnest, Trunk, Cinnamon and Maho have restroom facilities while Trunk and Cinnamon have snack bars, chair rentals and snorkel gear rentals. Trunk Bay has a $5 per person entry fee. There is an underwater snorkel trail here that is well marked.

 

There will also be plenty of taxis at Trunk and Cinnamon to take you back to Cruz Bay. If you head to one of the other beaches be sure to arrange a pick up time with the taxi driver who drops you off. They always come back if you pre-arrange a pick up time.

 

If you’ve never been to St. John, you might want to consider taking an island tour. They run about $25 per person and you can ask to be dropped off at one of the north shore beaches after the tour for an hour or so. We've done this frequently when we have guests with us who haven't been to St. John before. The history, views and people of St. John are wonderful. It’s definitely worth learning more about this very special place that is 2/3rds U.S. National Park.

 

Cruz Bay is filled with lots of great beach bars, restaurants and shops. It's a great little town. Two main shopping areas are within close walking distance to the ferry dock. Wharfside Village is to our right as you walk out of the ferry dock area. Beach bars line the area with a variety of nice shops behind them. About a five minute walk to your left when you disembark the ferry is Mongoose Junction. This is an upscale shopping area also with a wide variety of restaurants and shops.

 

For those going on their own, if you’ve never done this before, I’d recommend catching the ferry back to St. Thomas three hours before your ship sails. So if you ship leaves at 6:00, take the 3:00 PM ferry. If you have done this trip several times, you are most likely safe taking a ferry 2 hours prior to your ships’ departure. It all depends on your comfort level. Traffic from the Red Hook ferry back to the ship can be heavy. If your ship is docked at Crown Bay, always allow three hours for the return. Most of the time, a two hour window is fine getting back to the ship if you are docked at Havensight.

 

APPROXIMATE PER PERSON COSTS TO GO ON YOUR OWN

Roundtrip taxi from ship (Havensight) to Red Hook: $20

Roundtrip ferry cost: $14

Roundtrip taxi cost to Beaches: $14

TOTAL APPROXIMATE COST: $48

 

Fares could vary slightly depending upon your taxi. If you are docked at Crown Bay, add approximately $4 roundtrip for the taxi to Red Hook.

 

Note: Check out excursions with your cruise line as well. Some are essentially offering ferry service to St. John. Doesn’t give you as much time on the island typically, but it is a nice alternative if you don’t want to go on your own and the prices have been reasonable.

 

Let me know if you have any other questions! ENJOY!!!

__________________

Thank you for all the help.

anytime, Jackson! ENJOY!

How long does a tour of the island typically last?