The Best Beaches Near the St. Thomas Cruise Port (and Which Ones to Skip)

If you’re going on a Caribbean cruise in the near future, one of the many popular cruise ports that you may be stopping at is the one in St. Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands.

The destination is hugely popular with cruisers and, in 2024, the US Virgin Islands welcomed more than 1.7 million cruise passengers overall. With two docks, the St. Thomas cruise port welcomes ships from a large handful of major cruise lines, including Carnival, Celebrity, MSC Cruises, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean—the list goes on and on. Additionally, multiple ships can be docked at the port at the same time.

As such, if you’re deciding what exactly you want to do during your day in port in St. Thomas, you may be worried about one thing in particular: crowds. Particularly if you like to spend your port days on the beach, you could be facing some less-than-desirable situations. No one likes an overly crowded beach, after all, where you’re struggling just to find space for your beach towel on the sand, and losing your kids in the throngs of other cruisers all headed to and from the water.

Luckily, it is possible to enjoy less crowded and absolutely amazing beaches while visiting St. Thomas during a cruise. Here’s what you need to know.

First, it’s important to get a good idea of where exactly the cruise port is. It sits on the island’s south side, and is within easy reach of the capital city Charlotte Amalie’s wealth of historic attractions, shopping, dining, and more.

However, St. Thomas is pretty small—just 32 square miles—so you can easily travel to just about anywhere else on the island, during your day in port, with a convenient taxi ride or if you enlist a tour provider. If you’re willing to travel just a minimal amount of time, you could feasibly see any of St. Thomas’s great beaches.

If you’re willing to take a 30-minute taxi ride—which really isn’t all that bad—you can get to Secret Harbour, a beach in a more upscale part of the island. It’s a favorite for snorkeling, and you can actually rent your beach chairs and other gear from the dive center in advance of your arrival.

A restaurant is also on-site.

Often quiet, with natural shade and on-site facilities, Lindqvist Beach, also sometimes called Smith Bay Beach, is a favorite for snorkeling, though some do complain that there’s some seaweed during certain times of the year.

Restrooms are available, but otherwise, this beach is pretty simple—all the better for enjoying the amazing views of cays and the surrounding nature park.

The only time that you’re really going to encounter any prohibitive crowds here is during peak tourist season and on the weekends. Mornings are also quieter than afternoons.

Less crowded than some of your other options, Lindbergh Bay Beach still isn’t too far away from the cruise port, less than a 20-minute taxi ride. There are restrooms and you can rent a bevy of all sorts of gear, from pedal boats and jet skis to beach umbrellas and chairs.

One cool feature here? The beach is located very near the airport, so you can catch some great views of the incoming flights (if you’re into that). 

Another beach that’s just about a 20-minute drive from the port and also near the airport, Brewers Bay is really impressively quiet. There aren’t as many amenities here, but that doesn’t bother a lot of cruisers. You may not be able to rent beach gear, but you can sometimes catch a food truck and there is a lifeguard on duty. It’s also a good option for spotting sea turtles or looking for sea glass.

If you don’t really care about amenities all that much and you’d really just prefer a beach that feels like you’re on your own private island, try Dorothea Beach. It’s on the north side of the island, but because it’s just about directly north of the cruise port, getting there only takes about 15 minutes!

So which beaches should you probably avoid if you’re trying to steer clear of the crowds during your day in port? These are some of the most crowded beaches on the island.

However, it’s worth noting that these beaches are crowded for a reason—and those reasons may be enough to convince you to give them a shot. 

These beaches are not only ranked as some of the best on the island, but they also offer things to do/amenities you might not get on less-crowded beaches, as well as the convenience of being located as close to the ports as possible.

Your experience at Coki Beach will differ depending on the day. Sometimes it’s crowded, sometimes it’s not. If you can catch it on a good day, you’ll enjoy a low-key, laid-back vibe; beach and umbrella rentals; and easy access to food and drinks. However, it is reliably crowded.

That said, it has a lot on offer. The clear waters are gorgeously blue. The sand is white. The views of the lush shorelines are exactly what you imagine from a Caribbean island.

This beach is a favorite with cruisers and taxis will take you straight from the port to the beach. At first, the beach will probably seem crowded. Cruisers get out of the taxi, they walk out onto the sand and they set up camp immediately.

If, though, you’re willing to walk down the shore a bit, you can find a little more breathing room. You can also avoid crowds if you go to the beach as soon as possible, right when your ship lets you off, as other cruisers might not make it out until later in the morning.

The one-mile beach stretches around a horseshoe-shaped bay, and the calm waters make it possible for you to swim, paddle and snorkel without much of a problem, even if you’re traveling with kiddos.

Amenities include restrooms and beach bars and eateries are within easy reach, as are rentals.

A nude beach is within walking distance.

Sapphire Beach is very similar. If you get there mid-day, and if multiple cruise ships are in port, then you may find that it’s very crowded.

However, if you get there early in the morning, or if there aren’t a ton of ships in port, as well as if you’re willing to walk down the shoreline a bit, then you may just see why some really love Sapphire Beach and say it’s rather peaceful.

You’ll find amenities such as beach rentals and a beach bar. If the weather is cooperative, this beach is also a good pick if you want to snorkel and, if you’re lucky and keep your eyes peeled, you may just see some baby turtles and rays.

If you’re feeling a little adventurous, there is another option. You can take the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John and then enjoy the much-less-crowded beaches on this adjacent island. Large cruise ships do not visit St. John, the island does not have an airport and the island is overall well known for being less built up.

You can get to St. John from St. Thomas by taking a taxi to the Red Hook ferry terminal, then taking the passenger ferry to Cruz Bay. There, you’ll find more taxis waiting to take you around the island.

Ferries leave every hour, 5:30 a.m.–11:30 p.m., and the fare is $8.15 one-way for those ages 12 and up ($1 for those ages 2 to 11).

Some of the best beaches on St. John include Trunk Bay Beach, Maho Bay, and Cinnamon Bay.

Keep in mind, though, that this type of jaunt will take a few hours of travel time. If you go this route, you’re going to want to leave your cruise ship ASAP in the morning, and leave ample time to get back to the cruise ship.

One of the worst mistakes you can make as a cruiser is overestimating just how much time you have to get back to your ship after a day in port. If you miss the cruise line’s departure time, they may wait for you for a little bit…but eventually they may just leave you behind, unless you’re specifically on a cruise line-organized excursion.

On that note, no matter which beaches you plan on visiting, it’s a smart idea to arrange your taxi transportation ahead of arrival, just to guarantee you’ll have a lift when you need one. There is no rideshare service on St. Thomas and taxis will be the main way you’ll get around.