beautifulbill

SapphireBeach no. 

Most of the SapphireBeach owners list on Vrbo so check that site. 
The BVI is closed until Sept. 1 so you can’t do those excursions now but there are plenty of nice spots to visit by boat. 
if you have never done a night scuba dive I’d highly recommend it. They are my favorites   
Restaurants and bars are probably operating in the same way as near your home. There are seating and capacity limitations and take out is offered most everywhere. 
You will adapt quickly to driving on the left. The signage isn’t great but it’s a small island so you can’t get to lost. GPS works......somewhat. It’s not always perfect but is helpful. 
Grocery stores are open and fully stocked. 
pools and beaches fully open. 

The sun sets early, usually around 6 so you won’t have much daylight time to see things. There will be safari busses where you disembark that can take you on a brief tour. The shops in town usually close around 6 but some will stay open later if there are ships in port. 

First, the reef is at the side of the beach and most people are in the middle of the sandy beach near the bar and grill. Anyone there would not here any whistles. 
But most importantly is the need to protect the coral reef. If you walk, stand or even touch coral you kill it. Many people are not aware of that or don’t recognize the difference between a rock and coral. 
if anyone sees someone standing, waking or touching coral they need to get the person off the reef  If one of the security guards sees it happening he will yell or if they have a whistle ( only one does) use it. If I or an other owner sees it we yell and wave people off the reef. 
I don’t think people deliberately mean to destroy what brought them here in the first place, they just don’t know any better.

if preserving the reef results in some minor noise that would spoil your day then I suggest you go to someplace with a pool. 

The shady spots are first come but the units are on the beach so owners and guests can have their coffee on the beach and choose their location so the shade goes fast. You may or may not find a shady spot on the beach in front but if you search to the left there are shady spots. 
Chairs are provided for the condo occupant and visitors can rent chairs from the dive shop for $9. Snorkels, sups, and other beach toys can be rented as well. 
Taxi fares  are in the $10 or $12 per person depending on where you dock. 

Many of the Sapphire owners ang guests claim their spots about 7 AM. I doubt you can get there before 7. But get dropped off at the main entrance and go left on the beach toward Crystal Cove. There is shade there but you may be sitting on a towel until the chair rental shop opens. 

There is time and there is St. Thomas time. 
The bar opens around 11 so if a 11 AM drink is necessary you may have to be patient. 
Mater of fact patients is needed in all 

 matters in St. Thomas. 

The bag fee is per bag not per person.  If it’s a bag that fits on your lab there won’t be a charge but understand that the taxis are multi passenger taxis so they will fill it with other passengers and many transports are on flat bed trucks with benches so there is no place for big bags. 

Sapphire usually is windy so often umbrellas don’t work. There is some natural shade but it fills up early so may not be available. 

Many ships dock at Havensight so you are there when you walk off the ship. 
if you dock at Crown Bay you would have to take a taxi. 

You can rent umbrellas at some of the beaches but if it’s windy they won’t work. Most of the beaches have natural shade but those places fill up quickly. 

There are two ports if you dock at Havensight you can walk to the tram. If at Crown Bay probably around $10/per person if you want to taxi to the top. 

It is definitely Coki. 

On the heavy cruise ship days, usually Tuesday and Wednesday, thousands of cruisers arrive and go to the best beaches and attractions. 
It baffles me that these thousands of visitors complain that things are crowded.  

You bring the crowd. You are the crowd. 
 

if you want to avoid crowds then don’t come on a ship, fly here and stay for a week or two. 

Taxi to Red Hook. Ferry to STJ. Taxi to beach.

The traveling takes time so it depends on how much time you have in port to determine if it’s worth the time and expensive. 

The natural shade areas are usually full from people staying at the resort as they can get out early. The area to the left of the buildings near the bar is where most visitors go. Sapphire. can be windy and umbrellas may not be viable. 

About 10 to 15 minutes. 

If you’re willing to do some walking you could walk to the dollar bus route and take that to Sapphire. 
 

Your plan makes sense so go to Mages early. A taxi will be $8/person each way and there is an entrance fee $5 per. 
Get your fill of beach time and head back depending on the time to either town or Havensight. The shops and prices are pretty much the same but if time permits it’s good to see town. 

My recommendations for beaches would be Magens, Sapphire, or Secret Harbor. Magens is the most famous beach and has most everything you want but not much snorkeling. 
Sapphire is a beautiful beach , has good snorkeling, but gets crowded on days the ships are in. Secret Harbor is a smaller beach and less crowded with pretty good snorkeling. 
Most beaches have natural shade so umbrella rentals may not be an option. 
mid you go to VINOW,com you can find taxi rates. Private taxis are an option but will likely be expensive. 

Golf course is closed. Unknown if or when it will reopen. 

Arrival and departure time determine if it’s possible. Going from port and back takes a good amount of time and you need to consider traffic and / or accident delays. 

The Christmas week is the busiest week of the year. Business depend on tourist dollars so

they need and will be open. 

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE FISH DOG BISCUTS OR ANYTHING ELSE. 

 Feeding the fish is detrimental and possibly deadly for the fish. There are all kinds of studies to prove this.  

Feeding the iguanas makes them aggressive if any food is around. 

Let nature do what nature does. 

Also please do not stand, walk on, or touch coral ( rock is part of a coral reef so the rule is “stand on sand”). 

Do less..........see more