Most seemed thrilled with the view of airplanes, and sailboats moored in the waters protected by lovely verdant hills. Even on the busiest days, the beach remains delightfully deserted when five ships were in port, we only saw a handful of people on blankets. Thomas, a stop at Brewers Bay Beach will prove you wrong. Why go: If you think it's impossible to have a beach to yourself on St. Best to Avoid the Crowds: Brewers Bay Beach Expect to pay about $15 for lunch.Įffect of 2017 hurricanes: The availability of water sports concessions has slightly narrowed. Restaurant: The menu at the resort's Caribbean Fusion restaurant is fairly complete, with salads, pizzas, burgers and tacos. Chairs rent for $7 without an umbrella, $10 with. JetSkiVI rents Jet Skis, kayaks, standup paddle-boards, pedal boats and snorkeling equipment. Arrange a pickup time with your taxi or see whether someone at the hotel will call one for you. A fair number of locals go there too.įacilities: Restrooms, although you'll have to rent a room at the resort if you need a changing room and shower. For this reason, it's more popular with cruisers coming from ships docked in Crown Bay, which is about 15 minutes away.Ĭrowds: Much fewer than at beaches on the eastern side of the island. The airport isn't far, so the beach provides the extra attraction of watching planes take off.ĭistance from pier: Lindbergh Beach is on the southwest side of the island, not far from the airport. Why go: Home to the Emerald Beach Resort, Lindbergh Bay has all the things you want in a beach, while being located close to civilization. Best for Crown Bay Cruisers: Emerald Beach (Lindbergh Bay Beach) Food and water sports concession facilities are all new. stepped in with funds and trees to repair this popular beach. Breakfast, salads, pizza and sandwiches average about $10.Įffect of 2017 hurricanes: Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. Restaurant: Beach bar onsite has spacious deck and drink delivery service to the beach when crowds warrant it. Deposits are required on all equipment, which must be returned by 4:30 p.m. Lounge chairs are available to rent for $8, beach chairs are $6, a snorkel mask is $10. If there's more than three ships docked, things start to get hectic.įacilities: Restrooms, changing rooms, lifeguard, picnic tables/shelter, nature trail and taxis.

Thomas, about a 30-minute taxi ride from Havensight Pier (depending on traffic).Ĭrowds: They're not bad if only a handful of ships are in town, because the beach is big. However, on Little Magens Bay to the north you will find nude sunbathers.įee: $5 for adults and children 12 and up children younger than 12 are free.ĭistance from pier: Magens Bay is on the north side of St. The water is calm, making it a safe stop for children and toddlers. For one, it's an expansive, 1-mile stretch of sand located in a horseshoe-shaped bay. Why go: It's one of the Caribbean's most famous, award-winning beaches and, indeed, Magens Bay has a lot going for it. Information on what's changed since the storms is included here. Thomas were impacted by Irma and Maria, the back-to-back hurricanes of 2017, and some - such as Morningstar and Bolongo - closed. ThomasĪll beaches in the USVI are open to the public, including those at resorts, which are generally the best ones.

Here's our rundown of the best beaches available during your typical port stop in St. John, where the beaches are protected by Virgin Islands National Park? 'Which beach' is a question that's frequently asked and oft-debated among Cruise Critic readers. Virgin Islands contains plenty of beaches - and enough room to handle the inevitable crowds that arrive on cruise ship days all beaches are public, so nothing is technically off-limits (although some of the most popular charge a fee for maintenance).īut, which beach to choose? Do you join the masses in Magens Bay, seek out your own space at Secret Harbour or throw a blanket down at Brewers Bay Beach? Or, should you take the ferry to St. Thomas (and it's not just because its two ports, Havensight and Crown Bay, are big enough to handle up to six vessels at a time). There's a reason so many cruise ships stop in St.

St thomas cruise port map schedule