St. Thomas & St. John Guide
Updated: Apr 6
This is the perfect day trip from St. Thomas to St. John if you're traveling on a cruise, or if you are staying in St. Thomas. Super easy, affordable, and honestly one of the prettiest beaches we have visited!
Cruise port to red hook
If you're traveling on a cruise ship that goes to St. Thomas, you will most likely dock in Charlotte Amalie. (Havensight or Crown Bay) There are a couple of ferries that leave out of Charlotte Amalie, but they have limited departure times which makes it a little hard when you only have a couple of hours on the island. It is also a 40-45 minute ferry ride from CA to St. John. Our recommendation is to take a ferry from Red Hook since they have ferries that come and go almost every 20 minutes all day.
Time and cost of taxi ride to red hook
Time in taxi: 30 minutes
Cost: $10-$15 per person. We recommend to share a taxi with other passengers as this brings the cost down.
Tip: Leave early to maximize beach time and avoid missing ferries!
Red hook to st. john (cruz bay) ferry
This is the main ferry route to St. John and runs all day.
Time on ferry: 15-20 minutes
Cost: $8-$12 per person roundtrip.
Schedule: Every hour from morning to late night.
HOW TO GET TICKETS:
Buy in person at the dock (most common)
Or check ferry operators online and buy tickets online ahead of time. (Not necessary but can help if you're on a time crunch!) *Note that tickets are only valid for a 10 day window. Make sure you purchase them in the time window that you will be in the island! You can also check the ferry departure times on the website.
Ferry website: https://stjohnticketing.com/red-hook-cruz-bay/
Tip: Arrive 15-20 minutes early since the ferries fill up! (especially later in the day!)
Cruz bay to beaches in st. john
Once you arrive in Cruz Bay, taxis are lined up and waiting outside! Most of the taxis are typically open-air safari trucks. Here are our favorite beaches to visit in St. John, and we promise you will love them too!
Trunk bay (most iconic)
Cruz Bay to Trunk Bay:
Time from Cruz bay: 10-15 minutes
Taxi cost: $9-12
National park entrance fee: $5
Tip: Ask your taxi driver to stop in the overlook on the drive down to get this iconic picture!
Why its famous:
Ranked one of the most beautiful beaches IN THE WORLD!
Crystal- clear water and white sand
Underwater snorkeling trail
Photo spots:
The overlook (INSANE views!)
Shoreline with turquoise water
Floating in the water with the hills behind you.
Cinnamon bay
If you want a less crowded beach, we suggest going to cinnamon bay! The vibes here are super chill and relaxed. It is a longer beach, natural, and almost feels untouched.
Time from Cruz bay: 15-20 minutes
Taxi cost: $10-15
Tip: you can go to cinnamon bay and still get the iconic photo of Trunk Bay!
Photo spots:
Iconic red window! Either peeking our of the window, sitting on it, or simply a picture of it by itself.
Wide shoreline shots
Palm trees along the beach.
Maho bay (best for turtles)
This beach is known for calmer and shallow water and you can spot sea turtles and stingrays if you're lucky!!
Time from Cruz Bay: 20-25 minutes
Taxi cost: $12-15
Tip: Go earlier in the morning for the best chance to see turtles!
Photo spots:
Standing in the shallow crystal water
Sitting on the sand with snorkel gear in hand
Under water with sea turtles
Honeymoon beach
This is more of a hidden gem feel, more secluded, and romantic! It is also a part og the Virgin Islands National Park!
Time from Cruz bay: 10 minutes by taxi OR you can take a short hike that is about 20-30 minutes.
Cost of taxi: $7-10 or free if you hike :)
Heading back to charlotte amalie
We recommend that you make your way back to the cruise port with enough time to get on the ship!! It is important that you keep in mind travel times (by taxi and ferry) when planning out your day!
Taxis wait at major beaches OR can be flagged down. Prices vary from different locations, but they should be the same you paid for on the way there!
The ferry runs hourly! Aim to get on the ferry at least 1.5-2 hours before you ship departs! Your roundtrip ticket covers the trip back. If you purchased a one way ticket you must purchase another one to make it back to Red Hook!
Once you are back in Red hook take a taxi back to the cruise port. It is a 30 minute drive without traffic. We recommend asking your taxi driver who took you to Red Hook if they can pick you back up and take you to the cruise port. We like to do this to ensure we have a set taxi and time to keep us on track! Plus, its always nice to get to know the taxi driver and hear their stories of their life on the island.
Fun facts about st thomas and st john
ST THOMAS:
Known as a historic pirate and trading hub.
Charlotte Amalie was once one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean.
There are no Uber/ Lyfts on the island. Local taxis are the main transport.
ST JOHN:
About 60% of the island is protected as Virgin Islands National Park
No airport!! It is only accessible by boat (which keeps it more untouched!)
Known for some of the clearest waters in the Caribbean.
pro tips!!!
Bring cash for taxis and ferry fees!!!
Wear your swimsuit under your clothes
Pack a light bag since you will be carrying it everywhere!
Give yourself buffer time returning to your ship
Start early! Less crowds and better photos :)
Bring snacks and water!
st thomas & st john sample itinerary
Here is an itinerary we built out with taxi and ferry travel times and costs!
Charlotte Amalie cruise port (7:30am-5:30pm)
7:30AM gangway down
8:00 AM Take the taxi to Red Hook (25-30 minutes) $12 per person
9:00 AM ferry ride to CRUZ BAY (20 minutes) $12 roundtrip per person
9:30 AM taxi to TRUNK BAY (10 minutes) $9 per person
11:30 AM taxi to MAHO BAY BEACH or CINNAMON BAY BEACH (8 minutes from trunk bay) $8-10 per person
1:00 PM taxi to HONEYMOON BEACH (18 minutes) $12-15 per person
3:00 PM taxi to Red Hook ferry port (12 minutes) $8-10 per person
3:30- 4:00 PM ferry arrives in Red Hook, taxi back to Charlotte Amalie cruise port
Total cost of ferry and taxis: $68-70. (Still better than renting a car for 7 hours)
Now that you have these travel hacks, it’s time to start planning your next getaway. to St. John and St. Thomas. Happy travels!
*If you have any specific questions please email us at thecarryontwins@gmail.com
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