eastern caribbean beaches

[wifey1220]

We cruise in September and would like to just go to a beach and hang out for our port adventures. The beach trips seem so expensive and not much time on the beach. Any recommendations for a beach day in St Thomas or Tortola that we can do on our own?

 

[MUN]

We cruise in September and would like to just go to a beach and hang out for our port adventures. The beach trips seem so expensive and not much time on the beach. Any recommendations for a beach day in St Thomas or Tortola that we can do on our own?

Magens Bay in St. Thomas is easy to do on your own. It's a beautiful beach and it is inexpensive to get to via taxi (in the form of open air safari trucks). The beach is clean and well taken care of, with nice facilities.

MUN

 

[iZon]

We just did Magen's Bay on our own last month from Fantasy. The taxi is $8 each one way (you'll be sharing. It's $5 admission (kids were free), and you can rent lounge chairs for $8. So for an adult it was $29. Excursion was $55.

And we got there before excursion. Beach was empty. Dragged our chairs under tree. Disney's are all in a row in the sun. On your own you can put them where you want. Taxis everywhere for return trip (vans and open air). Beautiful beach. Gets crowded later on but still fun for people watching.

Change and restrooms, restaurant, shop.

 

[Bettyscruise]

Agree 100% with the above. The taxi stand is just outside the customs gate. Eager drivers at the ready. We were put into a nice ford SUV for the 15 minute or so drive and the same driver volunteered to return at a set time to pick us up. We were on the beach around 9AM. Crowing depends on how many ships are in port. We were the only ship on our trip and the beach never filled.

Beautiful setting. Great soft sand beach with calm clear water. Suitable for small kids or older people. Here's what it looked like when we arrived. That's me walking towards the rental shop.

 

[MUN]

We just did Magen's Bay on our own last month from Fantasy. The taxi is $8 each one way (you'll be sharing. It's $5 admission (kids were free), and you can rent lounge chairs for $8. So for an adult it was $29. Excursion was $55.

And we got there before excursion. Beach was empty. Dragged our chairs under tree. Disney's are all in a row in the sun. On your own you can put them where you want. Taxis everywhere for return trip (vans and open air). Beautiful beach. Gets crowded later on but still fun for people watching.

Change and restrooms, restaurant, shop.

Along the perimeter of the beach there are loads of palm trees (shade) and picnic tables. I don't think I saw rental umbrellas along the beach. The beach also has a restaurant/bar and gift shop. The bar had 2 waitresses that worked the beach. Those young ladies earned their tips; it's a big beach!

We also got there early before the excursions arrived. I don't think there were many ships in the port that day, so it never got very busy.

 

[wifey1220]

thanks so much
I feel better about not booking a port adventure now.
We will try magen's bay by taxi.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

St. Thomas, more so than Tortola, is easy to do on your own. There is also a butterfly garden that's walking distance from the pier, and the skyride. The night before is usually Pirate Night, so that can be a later evening for many, so even if you do a chill Tortola outing, being up bright and early for a St. Thomas outing may not be everyone's cuppa.

We're doing the Eastern next year, and our plan is big Tortola day, fireworks, zonk, Cabanas brekkie then do a cab to Magen's Bay on our own time and terms.

 

[wifey1220]

Is there any beaches to do on our own at tortola? Or should I book something

 

[Bettyscruise]

We did an excursion to Jost Van Dyke when we visited Tortola. It's a 40 minute or so boat trip each way. The beach is similar to Magen's Bay in that it is calm and clear. The boats for excursions are a few minutes walk from the ship. The wife asked we do no driving as the roads on Tortola are notoriously "hairy" so we just avoided them. It was OK, but not as nice as Magen's Bay

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Is there any beaches to do on our own at tortola? Or should I book something

We taxied to Cane Garden beach, easy, the cabs are right there where you get off the ship. Real nice beach.

 

[AndrewsMurphy]

St. Thomas, more so than Tortola, is easy to do on your own. There is also a butterfly garden that's walking distance from the pier, and the skyride. The night before is usually Pirate Night, so that can be a later evening for many, so even if you do a chill Tortola outing, being up bright and early for a St. Thomas outing may not be everyone's cuppa.

We're doing the Eastern next year, and our plan is big Tortola day, fireworks, zonk, Cabanas brekkie then do a cab to Magen's Bay on our own time and terms.

Hi, is this butterfly garden in Tortola? and if so, how far and easy is it to get there by walking? Thanks

 

[stacaka4321]

We took a taxi to Cane Garden beach as well....that is still my favorite day from the 2 cruises we took.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Hi, is this butterfly garden in Tortola? and if so, how far and easy is it to get there by walking? Thanks

No, the butterfly garden is in St. Thomas. It is easily walked from the pier.

 

[AndrewsMurphy]

No, the butterfly garden is in St. Thomas. It is easily walked from the pier.

Thank you.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We just did Magen's Bay on our own last month from Fantasy. The taxi is $8 each one way (you'll be sharing. It's $5 admission (kids were free), and you can rent lounge chairs for $8. So for an adult it was $29. Excursion was $55.

And we got there before excursion. Beach was empty. Dragged our chairs under tree. Disney's are all in a row in the sun. On your own you can put them where you want. Taxis everywhere for return trip (vans and open air). Beautiful beach. Gets crowded later on but still fun for people watching.

Change and restrooms, restaurant, shop.

How were the prices for food at Magan's Bay?