How to Get to Trunk Bay in St. John From a Cruise Ship

If your cruise ship docks in St. Thomas and you want to experience something a little different that doesn’t require you to purchase a ship excursion, consider visiting Trunk Bay on the nearby island of St. John.

I first visited the beautiful beach in 2014 while sailing Carnival Liberty and was so blown away, so much so that I’ve returned numerous times since.

Often, cruisers get nervous about doing anything that takes them too far away from where their ship is docked. And, of course, it’s always important to figure out how much time you’ll have in port (and how long any potential excursion will take) so you don’t miss the ship.

But assuming time allows, getting to Trunk Bay in St. John is pretty easy and definitely worth the trip.

How Far Is St. John from St. Thomas? 

There are two different cruise piers in St. Thomas, and whether you wind up at Crown Bay or Havensight in Charlotte, Amalie will depend on the cruise line you sail. The good news is getting to Trunk Bay is easy from either dock.

St. John is right off the coast of St. Thomas, and I mean right off the coast. When you’re at the Red Hook Ferry Terminal on St. Thomas, you can look across the bay and see St. John — they’re that close.

85 percent of St. John is part of the Virgin Islands National Park, and because it’s a US Territory, it’s managed by the National Park Service.

How to Get to Trunk Bay

1. Grab a taxi at the cruise terminal.

After disembarking, walk just outside the cruise terminal, and you’ll see signage telling you exactly where to catch a taxi. If, by chance, you have difficulty finding a cab, just ask one of the locals to point you in the right direction.

It’s only a short walk from the ship. Tell the taxi driver you’d like to go to the Red Hook Ferry Terminal.

The ride to Red Hook Ferry Terminal is approximately $10-$15 per person each way and takes about 20 minutes. It’s important to note that the cabs in St. Thomas are cash-only, so make sure you have enough to get you not only to the Ferry Terminal but also back to the cruise ship.

2. Buy a ferry ticket.

Once you arrive at Red Hook, you’ll be able to purchase a ferry ticket for $8.15 each way (go ahead and buy a roundtrip ticket for $16.30 per person). The ferry leaves every hour, on the hour, from Red Hook, St. Thomas, to Cruz Bay, St. John.

The terminal takes credit cards, but cash always seems better, so you don’t have to rely on a spotty internet connection. The actual ferry ride takes about 20 minutes.

You can read the ferry timetable here.

3. Dock at Cruz Bay

Upon arrival at Cruz Bay in St. John, you’ll find open-air safari taxis that are lined up to the left side of the ferry terminal. The distance between the Cruz Bay Ferry Terminal and Trunk Bay is just over three miles.

Because of how hilly the islands are, it’ll be a 10-15 minute drive from the ferry terminal to Trunk Bay. The taxi will drop you off at the entrance to the park. This will also be the same place you catch the taxi back to the ferry terminal.

4. Pay The Beach Fee

Admission to Trunk Bay will cost you $5 per adult, with kids being free.

When you’re ready to return, you’ll follow the instructions in reverse order. You don’t need to worry about calling a taxi because both St. Thomas and St. John have plenty of them available at all times. One leaves Trunk Bay and both ferry terminals approximately every 15 minutes.

What Is There To Do At Trunk Bay?

The obvious answer to that question is… relax! Aside from the mile-long shoreline, there’s a snorkel trail just off the coast, which features different types of coral and a whole lot of tropical fish. (Note: If you plan on doing the snorkel trail, give yourself plenty of time and do it earlier in the day.)

The water is shallow enough off the beach that it is perfect for wading. There are no steep drop-offs as the water gradually gets deeper.

The earlier you can get to the beach, the better. Around 11 a.m., people who booked excursions through the ship — which tends to get a later start and move slower than you are able to on your own — will finally hit the beach, and it can get pretty crowded.

There are public restrooms, showers, and a rental hut where you can rent beach chairs and snorkel gear. I’d suggest not drinking the water from the water fountains or from the sinks.

Though purified, the potable water on the island is trucked in from other places and stored in big tanks. It’s best to bring your own bottled water for drinking.

Tips:

• If you’re looking to take some great photos of both St. Thomas and St. John, grab a seat on the ferry’s upper deck. It does get hot up there (especially on the return), so bring plenty of sunscreen.
• Carry cash on the island. The US Dollar is accepted everywhere. Even though many spots on the island take credit cards (with the exception of taxis), you never know when you may experience the dreaded “Cash Only” sign.
• Consider arriving at the ferry terminal 20-30 minutes prior to departure. This will ensure you a seat on the next ferry, not to mention a great seat if you want to sit up top. If you want to be first off the ferry, take a seat toward the back end.
• If there are a lot of ships in port, give yourself extra time for getting to Trunk Bay. Additional ships could mean you take longer to get where you’re going (not to mention bigger crowds once you arrive).
• There is a ferry from Charlotte Amalie (where the cruise ship docks) to Cruz Bay, but it takes 45 minutes and only runs three times per day. You have much more flexibility taking the ferry from Red Hook.
• Get to the beach early. When the cruise ship guests arrive at the beach, it gets very crowded. If you’re on the 9 a.m. ferry to St. John, you will have the beach for a good two hours before the passengers taking cruise ship excursions show up.
• When returning to the ship, give yourself two hours of wiggle room before the ship has to leave. If your ship leaves at 4:30 p.m., be on the 2 p.m. ferry back to St. Thomas. Don’t risk being left behind!

Cost Breakdown

• Do it Yourself Cost: $50-$55 per person
• Cruise Line Cost: $90 per person

If you are comfortable with going out on your own, I would highly suggest heading over to Trunk Bay. If you like to play it safe and are directionally challenged, you’re better off doing the cruise line shore excursion.

Getting to Trunk Bay from St. Thomas (2019)

This article was originally published in December 2018. It was updated and republished in January 2023.

READ MORE: Bimini Cruise Port: Everything You Need to Know

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