In case your cruise ship docks in St. Thomas and also you need to expertise one thing a little bit completely different that doesn’t require you to buy a ship tour, think about visiting Trunk Bay on the close by island of St. John.
I first visited the gorgeous seaside in 2014, whereas crusing Carnival Liberty, and was so blown away, a lot that I’ve returned quite a few occasions since.
Typically, cruisers get nervous about doing something that takes them too far-off from the place their ship is docked. And naturally, it’s at all times vital to determine how a lot time you’ll have in port (and the way lengthy any potential tour will take) so that you don’t miss the ship. However assuming time permits, attending to Trunk Bay in St. John is fairly straightforward and positively well worth the journey.
How Far Is St. John from St. Thomas?
There are two completely different cruise piers in St. Thomas, and whether or not you wind up at Crown Bay or Havensight in Charlotte Amalie will rely on the cruise line you sail. The excellent news is, attending to Trunk Bay is simple from both dock.
St. John is correct off the coast of St. Thomas, and I imply proper off the coast. Once you’re on the Pink Hook Ferry Terminal on St. Thomas, you’ll be able to look throughout the bay and see St. John — they’re that shut.
85 p.c of St. John is a part of the Virgin Islands Nationwide Park and, as a result of it’s a U.S. Territory, it’s managed by the Nationwide Park Service.
Methods to Get to Trunk Bay
1. Seize a taxi on the cruise terminal.
After disembarking, stroll simply exterior the cruise terminal and also you’ll see signage telling you precisely the place to catch a taxi. If, by likelihood, you may have issue discovering a cab, simply ask one of many locals to level you in the best course. It’s solely a brief stroll from the ship. Inform the taxi driver you’d wish to go to the Pink Hook Ferry Terminal.
The journey to Pink Hook Ferry Terminal is roughly $10-$15 per particular person every method and takes about 20 minutes. It’s vital to notice that the cabs in St. Thomas are money solely, so be sure to have sufficient to not solely get you to the Ferry Terminal but additionally again to the cruise ship.
2. Purchase a ferry ticket.
When you arrive at Pink Hook, you’ll be capable to buy a ferry ticket for $8.15 every method (go forward and purchase a roundtrip ticket for $16.30 per particular person). The ferry leaves each hour, on the hour from Pink Hook, St. Thomas to Cruz Bay, St. John.
The terminal takes bank cards, however money at all times appears higher so that you don’t should depend on the spotty web connection. The precise ferry journey takes about 20 minutes.
You’ll be able to learn the ferry timetable right here.
3. Dock at Cruz Bay
Upon arrival to Cruz Bay in St. John, you’ll discover open-air safari taxis which might be lined as much as the left aspect of the ferry terminal. The space between the Cruz Bay Ferry Terminal and Trunk Bay is simply over three miles.
Due to how hilly the islands are, it’ll be a 10-15 minute drive from the ferry terminal attending to Trunk Bay. The taxi will drop you off on the entrance to the park. This may also be the identical place you catch the taxi again to the ferry terminal.
4. Pay The Seaside Charge
Admission to Trunk Bay will price you $5 per grownup, with children being free.
Once you’re able to return, you’ll observe the directions in reverse order. You don’t want to fret about calling a taxi as a result of each St. Thomas and St. John have loads of them out there always. One leaves Trunk Bay, and each ferry terminals, roughly each quarter-hour.
What Is There To Do At Trunk Bay?
The apparent reply to that query is… calm down! Other than the mile-long shoreline, there’s a snorkel path simply off the coast which options various kinds of coral and a complete lot of tropical fish. (Notice: If you happen to plan on doing the snorkel path, give your self loads of time and do it earlier within the day.)
The water is shallow sufficient off the seaside that it’s excellent for wading. There are not any steep drop-offs because the water regularly will get deeper.
The sooner you may get to the seaside, the higher. Round 11 a.m., individuals who booked excursions by way of the ship — which are likely to get a later begin and transfer slower than you’ll be able to by yourself — will lastly hit the seaside, and it could get fairly crowded.
There are public restrooms and showers, together with a rental hut the place you’ll be able to lease seaside chairs and snorkel gear. I’d recommend not consuming the water from the water fountains or from the sinks. The potable water on the island, although purified, is trucked in from different locations and saved in large tanks. It’s greatest to convey your individual bottled water for consuming.
Ideas:
- If you happen to’re trying to take some nice images of each St. Thomas and St. John, seize a seat on the higher deck of the ferry. It does get scorching up there (particularly on the return) so be sure to convey loads of sunscreen.
- Carry money on the island. The US Greenback is accepted in all places. Although many spots on the island take bank cards (excluding taxis), you by no means know when chances are you’ll expertise the dreaded “Money Solely” signal.
- Take into account arriving on the ferry terminal 20-Half-hour previous to departure. It will make sure you a seat on the subsequent ferry, to not point out a nice seat if you wish to sit up prime. If you wish to be first off the ferry, sit towards the again finish.
- If there are a number of ships in port, give your self further time for attending to Trunk Bay. Further ships might imply it takes longer so that you can get the place you’re going (to not point out greater crowds when you arrive).
- There’s a ferry from Charlotte Amalie (the place the cruise ship docks) to Cruz Bay, nevertheless it takes 45 minutes and solely runs 3 times per day. You might have way more flexibility taking the ferry from Pink Hook.
- Get to the seaside early. When the cruise ship friends arrive on the seaside it will get very crowded. If you happen to’re on the 9 a.m. ferry to St. John, you’ll have the seaside for a very good two hours earlier than the passengers taking cruise ship excursions present up.
- When returning to the ship, give your self two hours of wiggle room earlier than the ship has to go away. In case your ship leaves at 4:30 p.m., be on the two p.m. ferry again to St. Thomas. Don’t danger being left behind!
Price Breakdown
- Do it Your self Price: $50-$55 per particular person
- Cruise Line Price: $90 per particular person
If you’re comfy with going out by yourself, I might extremely recommend heading over to Trunk Bay. If you happen to wish to play it secure and are directionally challenged, you’re higher off doing the cruise line shore tour.
Attending to Trunk Bay from St. Thomas (2019)
This text was initially revealed in December 2018. It was up to date and republished in January 2023.
READ MORE: Bimini Cruise Port: Every thing You Must Know
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