St. Thomas/Tortola - Excursion thoughts

[Sleepyluke]

We have a 4 year old, so excursions are the only way off the ship. Currently Coral World seems to be a leader for St. Thomas. It seems that the underwater observer is not running due to COVID, but is there really much difference in these 2 for anyone that has done either? Any other better options? Will be in May, but booking window is next week. 2A and kids 4/7.

Coral World Ocean Park by Land and Sea (ST34)
Coral World Comeback (ST70)


Ultimate Island Experience (ST71) - Tortola, seems to be a lot less choices available for smaller kids. I want to be able to buy local rum, somehow, even if I have to get back off the ship after an excursion.

 

[MomOTwins]

We have a 4 year old, so excursions are the only way off the ship. Currently Coral World seems to be a leader for St. Thomas. It seems that the underwater observer is not running due to COVID, but is there really much difference in these 2 for anyone that has done either? Any other better options? Will be in May, but booking window is next week.

Coral World Ocean Park by Land and Sea (ST34)
Coral World Comeback (ST70)

I haven’t done either but did research a lot as we were going to go on an eastern cruise. Seemed like it had mixed reviews especially after it reopened after a Hurricane a few years back as it apparently had fewer exhibits than before the Hurricane. We were going to do Magens Bay beach via Disney excursion.

 

[auntlynne]

I’d second Magen’s. Magens is a great wide bay with calm water. The western end has a good bath house and plenty of unused Sandy beach for kids to play. We have not done a cruise excursion there, but do go there when on land trips, most recently in December.

 

[Pixarfans]

We loved Secret Sands Beach Getaway (ST57) in ST. Thomas. Beautiful beach, great changing rooms and the drive back was very scenic.

 

[Kimpossible1]

We went to Coral World last May. We were not on a cruise, and we went to St. Thomas for a week. Coral World is built up as this great place, but we were disappointed. We do have a skewed perspective though because we live in Orlando and go to SeaWorld frequently and have visited many aquariums, like the ones in Baltimore, Georgia, and the Aquarium of the Pacific. We also went to SeaWorld San Diego. Sadly Coral World did not live up to the expectations. The exhibits were small and dirty and there were many empty ones, so in our opinion it's not worth the money or the time. Go to one of the beaches instead...Magens is gorgeous, and Sapphire Beach was nice too. Coki's is supposed to be a great beach too, but it was right by Coral World and we could hear the music from Coral World. I don't think it is relaxing to hear blasting music on a beach. If you can, visit Mountain Top, which it is a store and lookout point at the top of St. Thomas, it is pretty cool!! This picture is from the Mountain Top lookout, and the long stretch of beach is Magens Bay and it is beautiful!!

 

[lklgoodman]

We loved Secret Sands Beach Getaway (ST57) in ST. Thomas. Beautiful beach, great changing rooms and the drive back was very scenic.

We loved Secret Sands also. It is a nature preserve, so they only allow one cruise group there at a time. We had less than 50 people in our group, so very peaceful.

 

[auntlynne]

Secret Sands = Lindquist Beach in Smith Bay.

This is a beautiful beach. Probably my favorite beach on St Thomas. Nice bathhouse. Picnic tables. No concessions. Aquamarine water and views of St John. Like Magen’s, it has trees and shade available.

 

[Scalemaster34]

We went to Coral World last May. We were not on a cruise, and we went to St. Thomas for a week. Coral World is built up as this great place, but we were disappointed. We do have a skewed perspective though because we live in Orlando and go to SeaWorld frequently and have visited many aquariums, like the ones in Baltimore, Georgia, and the Aquarium of the Pacific. We also went to SeaWorld San Diego. Sadly Coral World did not live up to the expectations. The exhibits were small and dirty and there were many empty ones, so in our opinion it's not worth the money or the time. Go to one of the beaches instead...Magens is gorgeous, and Sapphire Beach was nice too. Coki's is supposed to be a great beach too, but it was right by Coral World and we could hear the music from Coral World. I don't think it is relaxing to hear blasting music on a beach. If you can, visit Mountain Top, which it is a store and lookout point at the top of St. Thomas, it is pretty cool!! This picture is from the Mountain Top lookout, and the long stretch of beach is Magens Bay and it is beautiful!!

Grand daughter was a big fan of Dolphin Tale, and knew all about Winter and Hope.... so a few years ago while doing Disney we took a day to visit the Clearwater Aquarium. Now I didn't expect a Georgia Aquarium or a Sea World, but I did expect something better than the local Gulf World we have in Panama City Beach.... And maybe it's a lot better now, as they had a LOT of construction underway. But they don't have Winter anymore...

So guess it's all a matter of perspective and expatiations.