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Here are my thoughts — what worked well, what was a bit of a headache — plus a few tips.
There were about 3 rows of lounge chairs. It was already extremely busy once we arrived, but we rented a chair for $7. They had a huge food and drink menu. The food we had was very good, BUT, we didn't know until after we had ordered it that they took cash only We usually don't bring large amounts of cash onto the islands because we have credit cards, so we had to use Zelle to pay for the food. (Many people in the Caribbean don't use Paypal or Venmo.) There was an ATM on site, but, it was broken. The Coral World Ocean Park is visible from this beach. There are restrooms, showers, foot showers, ice cream and souvenirs for purchase.
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| There are 2 cruise docks in Charlotte Amalie |
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| Our tour truck |
Once we debarked the ship, we were led to a small vendor area full of taxis, jeeps, and safari trucks. It was jammed full of people, so thankfully we packed light. The truck travels up the twisting and turning sloped streets of St. Thomas. You really get to see the diversity of the island on this drive. The streets are very narrow, even hitting tree branches along the way (keep your hands and cameras in the vehicle!) and it was funny to drive on the "wrong" side of the street. The driver was narrating the tour, but it was hard to hear most of what he was saying over the wind. He did tell us about how the island was purchased by the United States from Denmark in 1917 for $25 million in gold as part of a strategic acquisition during World War I.
Our first stop was an overlook of Magens Bay, called Drakes Seat. Named after Sir Francis Drake, who was said to have used the spot to look for enemy ships. It offers one of the best views of Magens Bay Beach and the British Virgin Islands. We saw a few giant iguanas in the treetops.
Our next stop was the world-famous Mountain Top located on the island's highest point at approximately 1,500 feet. It is known for it's panoramic views of Magens Bay, St. John, and the British Virgin Islands, its duty-free shops, and for being the birthplace of the Banana Daiquiri. (This is probably the biggest tourist trap I've ever been to, and Ive been to many islands in the Caribbean!)
But, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. We were there for a strictly-enforced 20 minutes and we barely made it back to the bus after waiting in the checkout line. We scored some cheap souvenirs, got a regular banana daquiri, and the kids got virgin daquiris, which were actually pretty good. Is it something I care to have again? Not really. The views from the back deck of the building were beautiful though!
Our next stop was overlooking the cruise port, which was pretty awesome! I loved seeing the city and the ships below. The water is a color of turquoise that's unforgettable. My daughter sat on a donkey named Lady Gaga, and we offered a small donation.
Our final stop was Coki Beach. The reviews of the beach are very mixed, some saying it's great for kids because there are lots of fish to see while snorkelling, and it's a calm beach without waves. Both of these things are true. We rented snorkel gear for $20 on the beeach, which we used around the rocky coral areas at the far edge of the beach. The water was warm and crystal clear. You could stand in shoulder deep water, and look down and see your feet clearly. The beach is in a cove surrounded by hillsides, making it very picturesque.
*However*
Getting to the beach, you must pass through a community that is very impoverished, and looks unsafe. This made me a little worried. The beach itself is VERY small. It's owned by one family although this is a public beach. There were a few people openly smoking majiuana which is not uncommon for the Caribbean. Marijuana is technically legal for recreational and medical use in the U.S. Virgin Islands for adults over 21.
We got back to our ship with plenty of time to spare, and got to see the new Disney Treasure docked up close, which was neat. We didn't take the time to shop in the Havensight Mall for souvenirs as we were tired from our long day on the island and had shopped at Mountain Top.
When we were pulling away from the island, we got to see some gorgeous sunset views, resorts, and even a rainbow. I enjoyed the beauty and history of this island, but I don't think we will be visiting Coki Beach again. Next time I visit, I will check out Sapphire Beach, Brewers Beach, or Magens Bay Beach instead. I've heard great things about taking the ferry over to St. John, too.
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| Sailing away |
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| Goodbye St. Thomas! |
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| A rainbow to end a great day! |
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Bon Voyage!
Summer Squires is a cruise expert specializing in family and group cruises for all cruise lines. 📧 her at Summer@kingdomkonsultant.com