Other St. John beaches beside Trunk

[esless]

I am going on a cruise in January and just started looking into trips. I will be docking at 7:30 in SA and will do my best to be on the first ferry to St. Johns. Although Trunk Bay looks beautiful, it looks like it gets crowded rather early. I was looking for something a little less commercial, but still having some ammentities (chairs, bathroom, place to get drinks) and hopefully within a short commute of the ferry. Does this place exist?

[The Islander]

If you want a nice beach with food/drinks, bathrooms then your choices are Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Caneel Bay and Great Cruz Bay (Westin Resort). Chairs are available to rent at Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay. Not sure if Caneel or Westin rents chairs to non-guests.

 

--Islander

[Fergus]

We did the same thing you are planning and found gorgeous deserted beaches on St. John (the ones listed above plus other smaller oens!) - just get a map and drive to the beaches all along that stretch of the coast and you will find paradise! The only beach where there were lots of people was Trunk Bay, and we arrived there quite awhile before the masses by taking the ferry and renting a jeep. We had plenty of time to explore the sugar mill (Anneburg?) and Cruz Bay, go to the visitor's center (for the park), shop a little, have a drink waiting for the ferry back. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL and you will have a wonderful day there!!

[bobnatt]

If you want a nice beach with food/drinks, bathrooms then your choices are Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Caneel Bay and Great Cruz Bay (Westin Resort). Chairs are available to rent at Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay. Not sure if Caneel or Westin rents chairs to non-guests.

 

--Islander

 

While you can use the beach at Caneel, chairs are only for guests. There is a beach bar that anyone can use and they have a great buffet lunch. The beach at Caneel is far superior to the Westin.

[MMDown Under]

We did the same thing you are planning and found gorgeous deserted beaches on St. John (the ones listed above plus other smaller oens!) - just get a map and drive to the beaches all along that stretch of the coast and you will find paradise! The only beach where there were lots of people was Trunk Bay, and we arrived there quite awhile before the masses by taking the ferry and renting a jeep. We had plenty of time to explore the sugar mill (Anneburg?) and Cruz Bay, go to the visitor's center (for the park), shop a little, have a drink waiting for the ferry back. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL and you will have a wonderful day there!!

 

As a leisurely tour of the island, like you did, is appealing, could you please answer a few questions -

 

where did you catch the ferry?

name of jeep rental company

cost

was the company at the ferry terminal?

is there a best way to go around the island?

 

Although we are due to arrive at Charlotte Amelie at 7 am for immigration, our time in port is scheduled to be from 10 am to 7 pm. There will be 3 ships in port with 9155 passengers.