Torn first timer help

[Lee2385]

So I’m super excited to go to St Thomas for the first time and so much i want to do but torn. For those of you that have seen these which would you recommend?? 

Trunk bay

sapphire beach

magens bay

coki 

We are going on Carnival and only there 7-3

Also would you recommend best way to get there? Any help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

[beautifulbill]

Trunk is on St. John not St. Thomas, since you have a short stay you really don't have time to go there.

Magens is a much calmer beach and has a gradual slope.

Sapphire  tends to be ruffer and more breezy. Sapphire has good snorkeling, Magens does not.

Getting to either beach is easy just grab a taxi coming and going there will be plenty of them.

[Lee2385]

Thanks so much!!

[Eldaph]

I've only been to Megan's & Coki but we chose to return to Coki.  The fish literally ate out of your hand, it was amazing.  We loved it.  

[Lee2385]

Awesome! Thanks!

[blue_water]

Sapphire would be our choice, gorgeous beach and island views. We also love Coki, but it is a very small beach with several vendors that gets very crowded. 

 

Really depends on the beach experience you are looking for. All the amenities or just restrooms? Snorkeling? Busier vibe or more laid back? 

 

You will dock at Havensight so the East End beaches (Coki, Smith Bay, Sapphire, Secret Harbor, and Cowpet) are good options and ~$10pp taxi each way...

[detroitgirl76]

I would highly reccomend Trunk Bay.  It is worth the trip.  It has been by far my favorite beach in the Caribbean.

[OCruisers]

Because of your rather short port time there, we would stay on St. Thomas ... probably go to Megan's which is a beautiful beach and worth seeing at least once.  

[blue_water]

2 hours ago, OCruisers said:

Because of your rather short port time there, we would stay on St. Thomas ... probably go to Megan's which is a beautiful beach and worth seeing at least once.  

Agree, you’d spend 2 +hrs getting to Trunk or Cinnamon, enjoy your first visit to St Thomas on a beautiful beach there.

[Lee2385]

Ya i wish we had more time. Definitely have to go back! I appreciate all of the advice! 

[blue_water]

Charlotte Amalie is a neat town if you want to spend part of your day seeing the historic section and shopping and enjoying lunch. But if you don’t want to take the time away from the beach you will dock at Havensight where several of the same shops are conveniently located...Our favorite way to end the day is a trip (taxi or tram) up to Paradise Point, you can walk back to the ship from the lower tram station...tram tickets are usually available at the ship excursions desk.

[Lee2385]

Thank you

[mabones]

If you plan on stopping at Paradise Point, make sure you purchase your tickets from the Ships Excursion Desk.  They are much cheaper.  Also allow yourself at least 1 1/2 hrs to sit down at the restaurant for a cool drink and snack.  There are also shops up there.

[blue_water]

56 minutes ago, Lee2385 said:

Thank you

Sure! With a short port day, enjoying a beach like Sapphire and  then relaxing for an hour or two at PP is a great day. You see some of the island while enroute to one of her most beautiful beaches, followed by a nice view of the harbor and your ship from PP. 

 

As Bill said taxis are readily available at the dock and they also stop in at Sapphire and other beaches to pick folks up, your driver may also offer to return for you. Fare is ~$10pp each way to most beaches. If PP interests you just give yourself some time to spend an hour there and to walk back to the ship from the tram station. More time at PP would be nice but on a short port day even an hour is worth it to us. If you aren’t sure about PP check at your excursions desk as I believe the tram passes are refundable. If they are not, we’ve been dropped at the top of PP by our driver and purchased a one-way tram pass back down or you can buy a roundtrip pass for $1 or $2 more at the tram station. But if you are enjoying the beach too much to worry about PP that’s understandable - enjoy your day!

Edited May 2, 2019 by blue_water

[cruiseapril]

We took a ship's excursion to Magen's Bay.  Glad we did.

[blue_water]

Yes many do book excursions through the ship, we did on our very first cruise. And some daysails, for example, are only available to cruisers through the ship. But St Thomas is one of those ports that offers excellent taxi and ferry services, and that makes it very easy to go out on your own and have more flexibility in your day. Usually much less expensive as well.

Either way you have some nice beach options!

[Tak8]

I've been to Coki several times and really enjoyed it.  Maybe it was just the day I was there, but I wasn't as impressed with Magen's.

[Lee2385]

Thank you all so much!!!!