Beach Time in Eastern Caribbean

We'll be on the 10 day Reflection cruise in November and will be going to 5 islands. We already have a snorkel trip for Barbados reserved and want to spend at least one day on one of the other islands on the beach. Which island and beach for anyone recommend as the best. Islands are St. Johns, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Maarten.

Try the Caribbean ports of call board?

Thanks. I'm new to this (and cruising)!

I would suggest Trunk Bay on St. Johns if the beach hasn't been damaged by hurricanes

St John the island or St John's, Antigua?

We'll be on the 10 day Reflection cruise in November and will be going to 5 islands. We already have a snorkel trip for Barbados reserved and want to spend at least one day on one of the other islands on the beach. Which island and beach for anyone recommend as the best. Islands are St. Johns, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Maarten.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587

Here's the Caribbean Ports of Call board, there is plenty of good info there about your stops.

The island you identified as "St Johns", is actually Antigua, St Johns it the town where you dock.

It is sometimes confused with St. John, the USVI island accessed by many from nearby St. Thomas.

Yes, it is St. Johns, Antigua. Thanks EatonDoolittle!

OP is talking about St. John’s Antigua. The Reflection doesn’t Dock in St. John’s USVI. Beach day I recommend is St. Maarten. Just take the water taxi to beach you can see from the pier. Easy, low cost, and great beach! As for what to do in St. John’s Antiqua, take the ship’s catamaran (double check that it uses a sailing catamaran) excursion that includes snorkel and lobster lunch. (I have already booked this for Christmas Day). Great fun. I would have previously recommended the catamaran tour that circled the island with stop for snorkeling, but no lunch. However, despite changing not a word of the excursion write-up, that tour now uses a large, non-sailing, ferry boat type of catamaran!

Cockleshell Beach on St. Kitts is nice. I took a Celebrity excursion there.

Love what you've planned for Barbados!

Wish you would also consider another catamaran with a beach stop on your other ports of call.

If not, a taxi in St. Maaren to Orient Beach (French side) is a great place to spend a beach day. :D

Antigua has 365 beaches! We like Runaway Bay Cove. Quiet, beautiful beach, lots of sea glass & shells

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We loved Jolly Harbor beach in Antigua. A short taxi ride from the ship. I think it was 20 bucks for an umbrella and 2 chairs. Cheap beer and pretty decent food all up and down the beach too.

I would check with current cruisers about beaches in St Maarten. Many had hurricane damage and the French side was really hurt.

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The Dutch side of St. Maartin has recovered much more than the French side. Additionally it's where you dock. Just walk off the ship and take the water taxi to the beach. It's about $7 per person for all day on the water taxi and you can rent chairs and umbrellas. There's also restaurants/bars there. Relaxing, easy to get to and nice beach. If you want a nice beach in St. Kitts, I'd recommend Carambola Beach Club. If you go there you can email them to reserve chairs/umbrellas and you pay when you get there. Short cab ride from the pier. Nice restaurant and bar there.

I second Carambola Beach Club in St. Kitts for a nice beach day. Plus you should get an interesting overview of the island on the ride there. But, if it is your 1st time in St. Kitts, you might want a more in-depth sightseeing tour as island has a lot of interesting sights.

Many good beaches on all the islands you’re visiting BUT you need to check most recent info as this is forecast as the worst year for SEAWEED on many Caribbean beaches.