Tell me which one..Trunk Bay or Sapphire

[tbuot]

We have two DS's age 3 and 6. Which beach would be best for young families? I would love to hear descriptions about the two beaches.

 

[mmouse37]

We have never been to Trunk Bay...but have been to Sapphire Beach 3 times. Once with a DCL excursion and twice on our own via taxi outside the ship.

Sapphire Beach is beautiful and has bathroom facilities, inground pool, convenience store and food is available. Our DCL excursion there cost us about $50 pp and that times 5 people really adds up. When we went on our own we only paid for taxi and snacks once we got there.

I don't believe there was a charge for entry or for use of the lounge chairs. Just beware of the iguanaus.....they a few wandering around behind the beach and we were warned not to go near them. They provided some good photo ops though.

MJ

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Trunk Bay is one of the nicest beaches in the world, but it's not a secret, so it's usually crowded, especially when there are several ships in port. If you're going over to St. John, I'd suggest going to Cinnamon Bay. It's just as nice, and usually not as crowded. It's not much further than Trunk.

If you're staying on St. Thomas, Sapphire is a great beach. Another good choice, especially with kids, is Coki Beach. It's adjacent to Coral World, which kids usually love. Either one is a good choice.

I'd definitely recommend going on your own rather than with an excursion. It's cheaper, and you can choose when you want to arrive and leave.

 

[scottygirl]

I have been to Trunk Bay and it is absolutely beautiful. The snorkeling is awesome. There is an underwater National Park. There are signs underwater that explain to you what you are looking at. Great for kids.

 

[pats89]

I've been to both beaches and I really enjoyed Trunk Bay. The water was so smooth and clear. It takes a little longer to get to, but it's worth it if you plan on snorkeling. I was there about 5 years ago and did not have any children with me.

We were at Sapphire Beach just last week and it was nice. The waves were almost to big and it was very windy. We noticed a lot of garbage floating in the water (not so nice). Also, the bathroom facilities were not working that day. We had three little ones with us (6, 3 and 18 mos.) so we chose Sapphire because it was easier to get to with kids.

I hope this helps.

 

[tbuot]

pats89

Thanks for your reply. Do you think the garbage was in the water due to the wind? What did you like about it? Was food available? How was the transportation to the beach? Did you book with DCL or did you take a taxi?

Was there any bathrooms around to use if the facilities aren't working? Was it crowded, I guess this may depend on the day.

Thanks for your help

 

[pats89]

Tbuot -

We did book the excursion through DCL. We took an open air shuttle to the beach, which took approx. 25 minutes. Once we got there we made sure we had at least two lounge chairs. They are included in the price, but there is always a chance they all might be taken. The beach wasn't too crowded that day. But it was raining in the morning and cleared up by the time we got to the beach.

The water to the bathroom was shut down for some reason. I did not find another facility. I don't think this happens all the time.

I do think that the garbage in the ocean was from the strong winds and the water coming ashore. Therefore, anything on the ground was taken back into the water. My husband found a dirty diaper (yuk) and decided he was finished swimming for the day.
My boys (6 & 3) love playing in the sand, so this was a highlight of the day. It was sunny and warm - so I was happy!

The lunch they provided was ok. Cold cuts, fruit, chips and cookies. You had your choice of tea or fruit punch to drink. My parents, my brother and his wife, joined us for the day. They took a cab (about $8 per person) and ate at the restaurant there for lunch. If I were to do it over again, I would go out on my own. It's cheaper and you're on your own time. We started to pack up around 1:00, just so we could take the shuttle back.

Just so you know, traveling with an 18 mo. old is what kept me from going back to Trunk Bay. But, my brother was suppose to go to Trunk Bay that day, but it was canceled because of rough waters.

Any more questions, just let me know!