Beaches - St. Thomas / St. Maarten

Hi, all-

We're sailing on the Allure July 6th with a group of 10. We were thinking about doing a beach day on either St. Thomas or St. Maarten on our own. What are your recommendations for beaches and transportation? We have kids aged 13, 9, 7 and 3. Thanks!

For a family-oriented beach with amenities I'd look at either Lindbergh Bay and the Best Western Emerald Beach Resort, or Coki Beach, a public beach. Coki is a gorgeous beach in a small intimate bay but it's a livelier beach because it can get crowded. Great snorkeling at Coki, and you also have Coral World which the younger kids would love (check their site).

At the BW resort in Lindbergh you can also rent chairs and have access to restrooms, and for even more comfort you can rent a room for the day (if available) to have access to a shower and their pool.

Coki is a much nicer beach but Lindbergh is also nice and will be a little quieter.

For SXM we'd head for a quieter beach along the west coast that has some amenities, but most folks head to Orient Bay where there are several beach bars with chair rentals and food.

I think a beach day on STT would be a good choice for your family.

Have a great cruise!

Hello, Orient on st Maartan is a nice beach, but part is clothing optional and people seemed to stray past the optional line. Of course, it might be fine, but it is up to you to decide if you would need to explain things to your kids. Coki on st Thomas was great, including terrific snorkeling from the shore. We bought/were given dog biscuits and the fish ate them from our hands.

Now that the dive center and public restrooms are again open at Sapphire Beach on St Thomas you have another gorgeous beach to choose from. Sapphire is home to 3 condo resorts and isn't as busy as Coki or Orient on St Martin. But chair and snorkel gear rentals as well as food and drink options are available. Chairs are more expensive at Sapphire at $9 each but a gorgeous beach with abundant natural shade.

Taxi fare to Coki or Sapphire is $20pp roundtrip, a little less to Lindbergh Bay and the Best Western.

We're not big fans of Orient Beach on St Martin after staying there. But if you like a crowded, busy vibe like on the ship you will be fine on the north end, perhaps the Alamanda area.

Please do NOT feed fish dog biscuits, even if offered by a local.

Hi, all-

We're sailing on the Allure July 6th with a group of 10. We were thinking about doing a beach day on either St. Thomas or St. Maarten on our own. What are your recommendations for beaches and transportation? We have kids aged 13, 9, 7 and 3. Thanks!

Since you are on the Allure, she will dock at Crown Bay in St. Thomas and you will be about a 5 min. or less taxi ride at $3 pp to Lindbergh Bay and the Best Western Emerald Beach Resort. Chairs I believe were $5 and there was plenty of trees for shade. We had lunch at the beach bar and thought food, service and drinks were very good. Looking forward to going back.

Coki and Sapphire are nicer but with a party of 10, it will be less $ going to Emerald.

For St. Maarten I think the kids would absolutely love Maho Beach to see planes land and take off. The beach at times is not great as the surf re configures the beach on a daily basis where it can be wide one day and other days the beach can be narrow. Sometimes the sea is a little rough, other times very calm.

Another nice beach with calm seas is Mullet Bay that has crystal clear turquoise water. You can go here for a few hours and then head over to Maho Beach for the kids. You'll be able to see the planes overhead at Mullet Bay but nothing like being at Maho Beach to actually see them land and take off.

There are plenty of taxis (minivans) behind the information booth in St. Maarten to take you to any of their beaches. We enjoy Orient Beach too. With a party of 10, you can even hire a taxi all day in St. Maarten for a nice tour of the island and some beach time.

Will be on St; Thomas 12/29 on Oasis of the Seas - wondering if anyone has recently booked the BW Emerald Beach OR been to the other beaches?

Will be on St; Thomas 12/29 on Oasis of the Seas - wondering if anyone has recently booked the BW Emerald Beach OR been to the other beaches?

You just grab a taxi to the Best Western on your own, if you want to rent lounges there you can. Nice beach for relaxing, anf the BW has a restaurant and beach bar, as well as nice restrooms.

The East End beaches are another 20 minutes and are gorgeous and offer snorkeling which Lindbergh does not.

You'll find tons of info on the STT forum!

Coki is awesome as well as Maho.