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St. John

bettycrowley

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hdawson

hdawson

Posted
Posted

I always spend the day on St John when St Thomas is a port call. Never ever use a ships excursion. They are more expensive, travel as part of a herd and not long enough at Trunk Bay.

 

Get off the ship, catch a cab to Red Hook. Ferry ($3 & 20 min) over to St John. Stop at Mongoose Junction (upscale shopping center) and then taxi to Trunk Bay. Paradise.

 

St John is two thirds national park so commercial developement is limited which is different from St Thomas. Ferrys operated hourly.

 

http://www.usvi.net/usvi/ferry.htm

http://www.usvi.net/usvi/stj.html

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Sheffie

Sheffie

Posted
Posted

Hdawson is sooooooo correct - it is paradise! Such a beautiful little island. I have a picture from the ferry ride over on my wall. You will feel like you have moved into a different realm!

 

It is the first excursion we did on our own. The rest is history! Get out early and enjoy! You will not be disappointed.

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bettycrowley

bettycrowley

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Thanks hdawson!

I've been to St. John during a land trip to St. Thomas years ago and it was absolutely beautiful. I remembered the ferry, but didn't know the best way to get to the ferry.

Thanks so much for your response.

Betty

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hdawson

hdawson

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When traveling to Trunk Bay on the taxi, don't hesitate to ask the driver to stop at the top of the hill just before Trunk Bay to take pics. They seem very proud of their islands and it makes a great picture.

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lephysteria

lephysteria

Posted
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We also went to trunk Bay! I have pics on the picture site. To go on your own is cheaper than the ship excursion, and so much better! Also you can read the AOS review. It details the cost and how we went to St. John. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

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PelicanBill

PelicanBill

Posted
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Agree with all the others posters except.... we're not fans of Trunk Bay. It sometimes gets crowded and the coral has been killed by the tourism.

 

We also like Cinnamon (and there are facilities there because of the campground, including showers), and also Hawksnest is a long pretty

stretch of beach.

 

You can rent a car for perhaps $80 and see the island yourself and

stop at several of the beaches along the North shore.

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Son of a Cruiser

Son of a Cruiser

Posted
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I agree with the others that getting to St John on your own is a little cheaper and definitely easy. We recently returned from the Mariner Eastern and decided to do the excursion and it worked well for us. If you are trying to split time between St John and St Thomas, the excursion will get you there and back quicker than doing it on your own. No time wasted waiting for ferries or cabs - the excursion picks you up by boat right a the cruise pier and brings you back to the pier. Also, we were escorted to the front of the line for immigration since we were on an early excursion. I posted a review if you are interested http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=190741

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OCruisers

OCruisers

Posted
Posted

Betty ... We love St. John and hope you'll go! First, you do need to decide how long you want to be there!

 

If you want to stay ALL DAY, going OnYourOwn is certainly the way to do it via Red Hook ferry.

 

If you just want to go for a HALF Day, a tour offered by the ship is the best way. It's sooooooooo much easier to take a ship's excursion and you don't have any wasted time waiting .............

 

Totally agree with "Son of a Cruiser":

 

I agree with the others that getting to St John on your own is a little cheaper and definitely easy. We recently returned from the Mariner Eastern and decided to do the excursion and it worked well for us. If you are trying to split time between St John and St Thomas, the excursion will get you there and back quicker than doing it on your own. No time wasted waiting for ferries or cabs - the excursion picks you up by boat right a the cruise pier and brings you back to the pier. Also, we were escorted to the front of the line for immigration since we were on an early excursion. I posted a review if you are interested http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=190741

 

Have FUN Planning! Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

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70sGringo

70sGringo

Posted
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We visited St. John on the back end of the AOS sailing that week.

 

Here is a rundown:

8:15AM--- Off the ship and caught a taxi right next to the ship to Red Hook ($9pp---taxi rates just went up $1pp the week before we arrived)

9:00AM Red hook ferry to Cruz bay, St. John ($7pp).

9:30AM---Cruz bay to Cinammon bay ($4.50pp- wild ride, probably just the individual driver. Tell the driver to take it easy---may work, may not, but being in the rear of these taxis is harrowing) Most taxis are open air pickups with lengthwise bench seats in bed.

10AM--- On the beach at Cinammon bay. No charge to visit Cinammon bay. 1:20PM--- Caught taxi back to Cruz Bay ($5pp/indifferent taxi driver

couldn't explain why it was more, but they have the advantage... you need to get back to Cruz bay. No big deal anyway... 50 cents more pp).

2:15PM---Caught ferry back to Charlotte Amalie ($7pp). This boat does not put you within walking distance to the ship.

3:15PM---Short taxi ride through CA to ship ($3pp). Taxi driver said he should have charged $4pp, but said he forgot. I'm sure $4pp is the norm by now.

 

A note about snorkeling:

St. John was the best snorkeling of the AOS itinerary. All three of my snorkeling experiences (Arashi beach, Aruba; Jan Thiel, Curacao; Cinammon Bay, St. John) taught me that if you don't see good healthy coral, swim out deeper. I would rate myself as an experienced snorkeler and strong swimmer. Please do not swim yourself out too far beyond your abilities and into trouble. These beaches do not have lifequards. Realistically assess your swimming ability, comfort with your equipment and preparation for the

unexpected (such as coming face to face with a manatee or a large ~4ft. long tarpon fish or seeing inquisitive barracuda fish in your peripheral vision). I had the latter two instances happen at St. John on this trip. I have also been with someone in Puerto Rico who had the manatee thing happen. It really startled him and he gulped alot of salt water before he made it out of the water. It didn't occur to him that manatees are harmless herb-eating gentle giants. Always snorkel with a partner. I insist that my less-experienced teenage boys and wife either swim with me or swim together.

 

 

I was at Cinammon bay 29 years ago, as a teenager. When I was there last week, I was disappointed to see almost ALL of the inner reef is mostly coral rubble, with some small areas trying to grow back. Not sure if this is due to Hurricane Georges 1998 or human pressure or a combination?. PLEASE be kind to these fragile reefs. Don't touch it and don't stand on the coral.

Please, please, please be kind to the reef(s)... your grandkids will appreciate this. I pray that the reefs will return to their former glory. There is much more awareness today than 29 years ago. There are many signs posted reminding people of reef fragility and Cinammon Bay looks to have

buoyed off the reef area to boats and careless anchoring. The reef and rock structure surrounding the little island in the bay is still a magical place

with incredible sealife. Enjoy it responsibly.

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SunSkater

SunSkater

Posted
Posted

I personally like the idea of independent touring and would try to do it wherever I'm comfortable, but I have to agree with Son of a Sailor on this one.

 

Mariner will have changed itinerary by the time the OP sails, putting her into harbor much later than is currently the case. With mooring time, immigration procedures, finding a quick way to Red Hook, and so forth, it just is not reasonable to expect to arrive in Cruz Bay before 11:30ish in the morning, and if one of those many necessary occurrences is delayed, she won't arrive before afternoon. Not much time there before climbing aboard a returning ferry.

 

I believe that the ship's excursion is probably the way to go, if sailing a ship arriving at 9AM or later (like Mariner).

 

best,

 

John

 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Mariner of the Seas, 11/05

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new2cruizin

new2cruizin

Posted
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We are sailing the Mariner in Oct we are in St Thomas from 7am to 6pm.....we are also planning to head to St john and would like to know....the ferry schedule shows the ferry from Red Hook and from Charlotte Amalie

From Red hook to St John and from Charlotte Amalie to St John which states that it goes between the waterfront and Cruz Bay......there is a price difference as well as a time difference one takes 15-20 min and the other is 45 min.....so which ferry do we take????

 

And then I noticed that someone mentioned there is a charge to get into trunk bay......does anyone have a link to the beaches of ST John with ammenitites and cost???

 

Thanks

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hdawson

hdawson

Posted
Posted

Last time we took the Red Hook ferry over and the other one returning.

Like most National Parks, there is a modest charge of $4.00. I think snorkle equip rental is also $4.00 plus deposit. There are showers and lockers and a snack bar. Watch in the woods for the mongoose (s) playing. Cute.

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sgttami

sgttami

Posted
Posted

Trunk Bay is the only beach on St. John that charges a fee....started 7 years ago. All other beaches are free.

 

Red Hook Ferry leaves every hour from the dock and also from the Cruz Bay Dock on the way back. 15 minute ride...$3.00, taxi from the pier to Red Hook is about $8.00.

 

Charlotte Amalie ferry runs less frequently and is a 45 minute ride...$7.00 per person, taxi ride from the ship is very short, probably $4.00 per person. If you are adventurous, you can walk to the Charlotte Amalie ferry from the ship (LONG WALK)...However, once was enough for me!! Since it doesn't run every hour, you'll have to pace yourself a little bit. Personally, I'd recommend going through Red Hook as the taxi drivers are right there in Havensight when you get off the ship and know the ferry schedule so they will get you there on time.

 

Would also recommend Hawk's Nest Beach as it the closest to town and not crowded.

http://www.stthomasthisweek.com can provide you with ferry schedules and other info.

 

No matter how you get there, don't miss it....enjoy

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new2cruizin

new2cruizin

Posted
Posted

Thanks for both the replys and the info.....sounds much easier getting to and from......one question??? How long is the taxi ride from Havensight to the Red Hook Ferry terminal??? Just trying to plan the timing right.....

 

Thanks again!:)

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