Taking ferry from St. Thomas to St. John

[jcarwash]

I've read several threads here on the DIS about taking a ferry from St. Thomas to St. John, and it seems fairly easy to do on your own?

Looking for experience/tips/advice with:
1. Taking a taxi from the dock to the Red Hook ferry?
2. Taking the ferry from Red Hook over to Cruz Bay on St. John's?

(Asking because my next DCL excursion to St. John's was canceled. We've been on the DCL-arranged St. John's Eco Hike before, so I have a decent idea what Cruz Bay is like.)

 

[Seasands]

Same here. St. John tour was canceled. Would love to know how easy it is to get a taxi in St. John as well since I’d like to now try and do the exploring/tour on our own

 

[OKW Lover]

I've read several threads here on the DIS about taking a ferry from St. Thomas to St. John, and it seems fairly easy to do on your own?

Looking for experience/tips/advice with:
1. Taking a taxi from the dock to the Red Hook ferry?
2. Taking the ferry from Red Hook over to Cruz Bay on St. John's?

(Asking because my next DCL excursion to St. John's was canceled. We've been on the DCL-arranged St. John's Eco Hike before, so I have a decent idea what Cruz Bay is like.)

Our experience is several years old (perhaps older) but it probably still is applicable.
1 Taxi from dock to Red Hook Is somewhat quicker. However, be prepared for a pretty harrowing taxi ride over the top of the island to get to red hook. From there, the ferry is a very short ride.
2 Isn't this the same question? Do you mean the ferry from the cruise dock? If that's the case, the ride takes quite a while and overall the trip will take longer. Some folks may be affected by motion sickness on the trip.

 

[HiStitch626]

It's very easy.

When you debark there will be taxis available, (about $15 per person) and they will wait to fill up.
Drive to Red Hook and buy a ferry pass (about $6 per person). They depart every hour on the hour.

Enjoy St. John

Return to Cruz Bay and buy a ferry pass. They depart every hour on the hour
Grab a cab back to Havensight cruise dock

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think the main concern right now is COVID-era taxis on St. John. It wasn't difficult pre-pandemic, but I have not heard facts from the ground now.

One of the reasons excursions get cancelled are a lack of personnel to run them, which doesn't bode well for taxis being available, KWIM?

 

[OKW Lover]

I think the main concern right now is COVID-era taxis on St. John. It wasn't difficult pre-pandemic, but I have not heard facts from the ground now.

Most of these things are actually open air vehicles. Yes, there are closed in taxi's as well. We were in St. Thomas in November but didn't go to St John.

 

[insureman]

I think the main concern right now is COVID-era taxis on St. John. It wasn't difficult pre-pandemic, but I have not heard facts from the ground now.

One of the reasons excursions get cancelled are a lack of personnel to run them, which doesn't bode well for taxis being available, KWIM?

Help an old guy out here. Who or what is KWIM?

 

[squirk]

I've read several threads here on the DIS about taking a ferry from St. Thomas to St. John, and it seems fairly easy to do on your own?

Looking for experience/tips/advice with:
1. Taking a taxi from the dock to the Red Hook ferry?
2. Taking the ferry from Red Hook over to Cruz Bay on St. John's?

(Asking because my next DCL excursion to St. John's was canceled. We've been on the DCL-arranged St. John's Eco Hike before, so I have a decent idea what Cruz Bay is like.)

It sounds daunting, but it's really not that bad.

Get off the ship, and make your way toward the taxi area. It is normally past all the shops (like Diamonds Int'l and Iguana Jack's), and to your left just before you hit Frenchman Bay Road. There will be someone there (likely wearing a badge on a lanyard, and a polo shirt for the Virgin Islands Taxi Association) directing people. Tell them you are going to Red Hook, and they will direct you to the vehicle you should board, which will likely be an air-conditioned van (though I have seen the occasional open-air jitney). Make sure you verify the cost before boarding. As @HiStitch626 said, you may have to wait for the vehicle to fill up before they leave.

The ride should be about 20-25 minutes once you depart. Drops you off right at the RH ferry station. Try as we might, we have never been able to make the 8:30 ferry and always have to wait for the 9:00 one. Ferry to St. John is about 20 minutes, and drops you off right in Cruz Bay, where there is another taxi area if you are heading further afield, like Trunk or Cinnamon.

Reverse all the steps to get back.

You probably already know this, but St. Thomas traffic can get congested in the afternoon. Factor that into which ferry you take back. We usually grab the 1:00 ferry at Cruz to head back. That's probably overkill, and you'd be fine with the 2:00. But there was one year where the traffic was so bad, we were not sure the 2:00 people were going to make it back in time. At the very least, we suspected that those people were white-knuckling the entire ride back.

Help an old guy out here. Who or what is KWIM?

Know What I Mean?

 

[insureman]

Know What I Mean?

Duh. I can't keep up with these acronyms. Thanks

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Most of these things are actually open air vehicles. Yes, there are closed in taxi's as well. We were in St. Thomas in November but didn't go to St John.

I'm more talking drivers than enclosure.

A lot of excursions are not happening because they lack drivers and other personnel to run them. So I am expressing doubt that taxis are in as abundant supply as they were pre-pandemic, similar personnel reasons.

 

[lolomarie]

Why is it more common to take the ferry from red hook than from the cruise dock? We like boat rides on small boats. Would the longer ferry ride be enjoyable for a family that enjoys boats?

 

[Minnie1222]

Why is it more common to take the ferry from red hook than from the cruise dock? We like boat rides on small boats. Would the longer ferry ride be enjoyable for a family that enjoys boats?

There's a ferry that goes to St. John from Charlotte Amalie, but they only make one trip in the mid-morning (probably 10-ish) and maybe one or two more in the afternoon. I'm assuming the cruise boats have limited docking hours, and this schedule may not work for their passengers.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Why is it more common to take the ferry from red hook than from the cruise dock? We like boat rides on small boats. Would the longer ferry ride be enjoyable for a family that enjoys boats?

Schedule. The public schedule from near the cruise docks is terrible.

 

[OKW Lover]

Why is it more common to take the ferry from red hook than from the cruise dock? We like boat rides on small boats. Would the longer ferry ride be enjoyable for a family that enjoys boats?

In addition to the schedule issue you may find the seas to be a bit rough on this significantly longer ride.

 

[lolomarie]

Thanks so much. I checked the schedule, I see how this is challenging. Thank you.

Follow up question, what would everyone’s must do’s on St. John be?

 

[insureman]

Thanks so much. I checked the schedule, I see how this is challenging. Thank you.

Follow up question, what would everyone’s must do’s on St. John be?

You should be able to get one of the safari taxis for a tour that usually includes the Annaburg sugar plantations ruins. Great views. Put a link below for more things to do.
https://www.nps.gov/viis/index.htm

 

[_auroraborealis_]

In addition to the schedule issue you may find the seas to be a bit rough on this significantly longer ride.

I have seen many a chunder on this ferry, indeed.

 

[auntlynne]

Thanks so much. I checked the schedule, I see how this is challenging. Thank you.

Follow up question, what would everyone’s must do’s on St. John be?

The beaches. Trunk Bay (National Park), Cinnamon Bay (May still be in recovery from Hurricane Irma), Honeymoon Bay).

 

[insureman]

I have seen many a chunder on this ferry, indeed.

I had to google chunder. That was a mistake.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I had to google chunder. That was a mistake.

It is the polite form of the verb.