St. Thomas/St. John excursion recommended or just walk around?

[SpaceSquirrel]

Are there things to do w/out booking an excursion? We're doing the baths at Tortola so I was hoping at this port we could just wander a little.
Suggestions?
Advice?
TIA!

 

[squirk]

Go to Trunk Bay in St. John. Do it yourself and leave the ship ASAP. You will get to the beach a solid hour before the group tours and have the beach almost entirely to yourself.

 

[Muppetfan3]

I agree, Trunk Bay is the best!!! You will be glad that you booked it!

 

[MUN]

Are there things to do w/out booking an excursion? We're doing the baths at Tortola so I was hoping at this port we could just wander a little.
Suggestions?
Advice?
TIA!

I would take a taxi to Magen's Bay. It's a beautiful beach and it's easy and inexpensive to get to via taxi.

 

[Sunshine2U]

Walking around just gets you the shopping district which is the same thing again and again and again. Take a taxi or ferry somewhere. We did the island tour through one of the locals because we wanted to keep it simple and didn't want beach time.

 

[Bettyscruise]

On our last visit to St. T we did the easy and quick drive, by taxi, to Magen's Bay and spent a few hours in the shopping area just off the dock area. Magen's has a great beach, rentals, food and is pretty close to the ship so you spend little time getting there. It was so easy, simple and relaxing that I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[bumbershoot]

St Thomas is a funny place.

There's the port area, which is all the same shops you've already seen. Leave that area and you're on a busy road. Across the road is a fabulous lunch spot called the Barefoot Buddha. Best wrap sandwich I have EVER had.

We then just walked into the "downtown" district, which was WAY longer, WAY hotter, and WAY busier than I thought it would be. When we got there I was a sweaty mess (never wear beige cotton shorts in the caribbean, that's all I'm sayin'...thank goodness a bathroom I found had an air hand-dryer and privacy to dry off the shorts). Hit Cariloha for more bamboo sheets (which you can totally get from the comfort of your own home, or just go to Macy's and buy for cheaper LOL), got some chocolate, got bored, and took a taxi back (that's actually when we stopped at Barefoot Buddha).

I later realized that we were the ONLY ship in town that day, and my worries of crowded beaches were therefore ridiculous. Should we go again I'll take a taxi (which don't look like taxis, by the way, they look like big open-air-ish van things) over to Magen's Bay.

 

[mmfox316]

My wife and I did the "Sea Trek Helmet Dive at Coral World Ocean Park". We thought it was really cool. I liked it because I don't snorkel but I wanted to swim with the fishes.The actual marine park there was ok but the dive was nice.

 

[Bettyscruise]

Should we go again I'll take a taxi (which don't look like taxis, by the way, they look like big open-air-ish van things) over to Magen's Bay.

Actually you can also get a regular automobile type taxi as well as the touristmobiles that run cruisers to the usual spots. Ask the guys just outside the gate that handle the dispatching and they'll hook you up with a vehicle with A.C. and windows. The "dispatcher" approached our group of four and volunteered to call for one. Outstanding service. The driver volunteered to return at a set time for the trip back and did so only a couple minutes late. Outstanding service. Made the day that much more relaxing.

 

[insureman]

We usually rent a jeep from Budget at the Havensight cruise pier. Less than $100 if you don't mind driving on the left.