Sapphire Beach

[Greg21087]

Going to St Thomas in January during our cruise. We have been there twice before and always did private tours. This time we wanted to do a beach trip on our own and wanted to know the taxi fare to Sapphire Beach and if lounge rentals, food rest rooms were available once we got there.

Thanks in advance.

[zqvol]

Going to St Thomas in January during our cruise. We have been there twice before and always did private tours. This time we wanted to do a beach trip on our own and wanted to know the taxi fare to Sapphire Beach and if lounge rentals, food rest rooms were available once we got there.

Thanks in advance.

 

 

Food, lounge rentals and restrooms are available. Can't tell you the cab fare as we are currently staying on the property and id not use a cab to get here. It will probably run about $11 - $12 per person each way.

[blue_water]

Taxi fare to Sapphire and other East End beaches is $10 – 11pp each way depending on where you are docked. Dive In rents lounges ($9/ea), floats, kayaks, snorkel gear, and other items. There are public restrooms, and a couple of food and drink options, along with abundant natural shade and nice island views.

You can find a ton of info on Sapphire just by running a search on this forum.

[Jezo]

A section on this website says the following:

 

Sapphire Beach's popularity has deteriorated as rental facilities have closed. While the public can still enter and spread a towel, the chairs on the beach belong to the condo association and are not rentable.

 

Facilities: Restrooms and changing rooms are boarded up, along with the watersports rental station.

 

Restaurant: None

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1636

 

Has something changed?

[beautifulbill]

Yes, and it changed a long time ago. Chair rentals, snorkel rentals, water toys etc are all available. There are restrooms and food and drink options.

[bowulf]

Good to know... we loved this beach in 2014 and were looking forward to the idyllic views.

[zqvol]

A section on this website says the following:

 

 

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1636

 

Has something changed?

 

 

My wife and I are staying at Sapphire Beach Resort this week. There are rental chairs available ($9 per day), there is food available (Nice outdoor grill between buildings B &C). There are drinks available with beach side service (also at the grill and the rental building). Drink prices are more than reasonable. The rental building is open for typical snorkel gear, kayaks, paddle boards, etc. The restrooms are clean and functional, there are changing rooms.

 

Having said that there are some boarded up locations that at one time contained shops, that are supposedly under renovation. This should not impact your enjoyment of the beach.

 

The bar at the pool (which is not open to cruise passengers, only condo guests) is still closed.

 

BTW taxis are allowed to park at the resort, in spite of what that article says. The other thing that the article says it that it is not crowded which is incorrect, we have seen ship tours here every day this week, and the public portion of the beach is as crowded as Coki.

Edited December 31, 2015 by zqvol

[blue_water]

The Banana Cabana beach grill located between condo bldgs B & C does serve an excellent Mahi Mahi sandwich, $14 but oh so good and big enough to share. Drinks are a little pricey too but you are on the beach. Dive In sells beer and rum punch for $1 less.

Both BS and the Sapphire Village Restaurant have a runner taking orders on the beach. You can also walk over to BC and place an order, they'll tell you to return in 15 minutes to pick it up. So don't be in a hurry!

Some day visitors to Sapphire seem to focus too much on the boarded up restaurant and the closed pool bar rather than on the beauty of the beach, water, and island views. It is too bad these are currently closed, and that impacts condo owners and guests more than day visitors. But the condo bldg exteriors have been renovated and many of the condos are gorgeous.

Sapphire is still one of the most amazing spots we've stayed at. The Sapphire Beach Resort & Marina condo property is one of the very few spots on STT or STJ where you can stay on a gorgeous beach close to the water and enjoy the waves at night, snorkeling, and the beautiful views from your patio (or your spot on the beach). You can also stay in the Sapphire Village property which is not on the beach but on the hill overlooking the Marina, or Crystal Cove which is on the other side of SBRM.

Regarding the beach being crowded, we've enjoyed Sapphire on huge ship days while Coki, Magens, Lindbergh, and SH were much more crowded those days. But there will be people around the swimming section when ships are in, and there's room to spread out in the shaded area of the beach. Any popular beach will see day visitors, for a beach with fewer day visitors consider Hull Bay on the north side which has one beach bar.

 

Glad you're enjoying your visit zqvol. Are you staying at the SBRM or at the other condo properties?

Edited December 31, 2015 by blue_water