Last month, I visited several islands in the Caribbean on Voyager of the Seas (see my cruise review here). Our first stop was the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. My family has visited St. Thomas a few times before. It’s a beautiful, hilly island with gorgeous views and beaches. But for this visit, I decided to hop to another nearby island to visit the famous Trunk Bay Beach on St. John. Everyone on cruise forums always raves about this beach, and I had to see if it lived up to the hype.
Trunk Bay Beach
I booked an excursion through Royal Caribbean to get to Trunk Bay Beach. A boat was waiting for our group near our cruise ship:
Once we arrived at nearby St. John (45-minute boat ride), we loaded up in open-air buses for the short drive to Trunk Bay.
Tip: Hold onto the bars! The roads are quite steep and windy. But, we also had great views:
Shortly before we arrived at the beach, we stopped to view the beach from the top of the hill:
Wow, just wow!
Trunk Bay Beach is inside Virgin Islands National Park, and there is a $5/person entry fee. My excursion covered this cost.
The beach is a tiny bit on the rustic side. There are chair rentals, but they are not lie-down loungers with umbrellas. Just simple folding chairs. I opted to just use my cruise ship towel to lay on the sand.
Despite a few cruise ships in port at St. Thomas that day, the beach wasn’t crowded!
The water is crystal clear with gentle waves.
I didn’t snorkel, but others report great snorkeling conditions near the rocks.
I stayed in the water the majority of my time. We only had about 2 hours at the beach, but it was just the right amount of time for me.
The water looks unreal!
Facilities at Trunk Bay Beach
Trunk Bay Beach doesn’t have beach-front restaurants with loud music or other upscale amenities. It does have an area with picnic tables and a few small beverage and food vendors.
The beach also has restrooms and showers.
The lack of bars and restaurants is actually one of the reasons I loved this beach. The surrounding area truly felt like a jungle paradise.
Getting there without an excursion
Getting to Trunk Bay Beach on your own from the St. Thomas cruise port is more difficult, but it’s doable. You must first take a taxi to Red Hook Ferry dock. Ferries run on the hour to Cruz Bay, St. John. You can buy tickets online in advance, which may be necessary during peak times. Tickets are just $6 one-way for adults and $1 one-way for children.
Once you reach Cruz Bay, you must hire a taxi to take you to the beach. And when you’re done, repeat the taxi to ferry, ferry to St. Thomas, taxi to cruise port.
Final Thoughts
Did Trunk Bay Beach live up to the hype? Yes, definitely! In fact, I’d argue that it’s the most beautiful beach in the United States. I would definitely visit Trunk Bay Beach again on a future cruise.
Have you been to St. John or Trunk Bay Beach?
Trunk Bay Beach is a true paradise. Its pristine white sand, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and lush green surroundings create a breathtaking tropical haven. The beach’s coral reef, known as one of the most beautiful in the world, offers an incredible snorkeling experience with vibrant marine life. Whether you’re relaxing on the shore or exploring the underwater wonders, Trunk Bay Beach is an absolute must-visit destination for nature lovers and beach enthusiasts alike.
THANK YOU for covering this! i was very curious about it having read so many comments to go there too! your info is very helpful for future planning!
@Sara Glad it helped. 🙂