"St.John Trunk Bay Beach & Snorkel" REPORT - Page 2 - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

laser110 · 07-09-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelmom

Thanks for the post, LuLu. We are debating this one... we really want to tour the island and even possibly hike a bit though and can't decide between a booked ship excursion and heading out on our own. Ship docks in St. Thomas (Royal Car.) at 8 am and we would like to be off and running by 8:05 am to beat the crowds and the mid-day sun/heat.
Pros/cons to booking with cruise line vs. doing it yourself as you have been there several times?

Travelmom,

No need to be off that early. Nothing opens up until 9AM in Downtown Charlotte Amalie or Havensite, unless you want to grab breakfast at the Delly Deck Resturant at Havensite or maybe Bumpa's downtown - I suggest either one

Realistically if the ship docks at 8, you won't be cleared to get off till about 8:30. The ride from the WICO to Downtown is 5-10 minutes with traffic and traffic lights, so again no rush.

When I am on The Rock for just a day when visiting by ship, my wife and I usually head to town in the morning, try to arrive by 9 and do a little shopping. By noon we head back to the ship, change as quickly as we can and then head off to Magen's Bay. They have a nice resturant there and the pizza is the best

so we grab lunch there. Spend a few hours at the beach, and then head back to the ship.

Not my ideal way to spend time on St. Thomas, but when you only have a few hours ( which is always like a tease to me) thats the best you can do.

Scott