USVI-On-Line

Here's a newbie question for you. I've read that we should avoid certain areas on a cruise ship day. When I look at the schedule, it appears that's almost every day. Should I only consider the ships that are scheduled for SJ? I assumed not since so many people have told me they visited St. John while on at cruise stopped at St. Thomas.
Leaving tomorrow morning. Can't wait for our first visit!!!

Don't think ships stop at STJ, only STT & STX. The people take tours from those islands to STJ. There is usually one day or two that there is either none or only 1-2 ships in port.
From what have read here,to really avoid the crowds, go to the beaches,stores etc early in the morning before the tours come or mid-afternoon after they leave. Or go to the beaches on the east end or south shores, where the tours don't go.

Enjoy your vacation,safe trip and don't forget a TR when come back.

Most will advise to avoid Trunk Bay on a heavy cruise ship day (both SJ and STT). However, if you arrive early in the morning or later in the day, most of the cruise traffic will be gone.

I usually forget to check the schedule and take my chances. We went to Trunk last week on Sunday (1 ship in; not crowded), Tuesday (3 ships in - not overly crowded) and early Wednesday morning before the cruisers and the beach was empty.

That said, the most crowded beach we encountered was Francis Bay the prior Friday; which I doubt had anything to do with cruise traffic.

You may also run into the Taxi tours at the various overlooks.

Have a great trip!

1-2 cruise ships in port is not usually a major problem unless one of them is the QM2 or another of the larger ships. It's when there's 3+ that you should consider avoiding Trunk Bay and Cruz Bay (we opt to head to Salt Pond on Days like this and avoid all the taxi/tour traffic).

On these days I generally get up early to find one of the four parking spots at Jumbie and watch all the activity at Trunk from afar. It can occasionally be hilarious to watch the throngs of people being dumped off and observe Trunk Bay looking as crowded as the Jersey Shore, while you are sitting on a virtually private beach.

Another beach to avoid might be Honeymoon at Caneel. It seems that this has gotten pretty popular with the day trip crowd as well, with operations dropping folks off from the water.

Pegoode, have fun!!! You're about to find paradise!
Gromit, you're right about Honeymoon. I hope the beautiful coral doesn't get beat up from all the traffic.

Sometimes, it's fun to go early, set up, enjoy a early snorkel, then sit back and wait for them to arrive. It really can be quite entertaining . . .

Last year a big clan set up in front of us, they were so funny, "the water is so salty!" "Look how clear, I can see all the way to the bottom!" "Somebody must have already collected all the seashells" The matriarch of the clan was wearing a 2-piece suit and her gut hung down so low - you could not even SEE THE BOTTOM PIECE! (let me add here - that I am a big girl and would NEVER comment on how anyone looks in a suit - but COME ON!!) They only stayed for a couple of hours. Then it was peaceful once again.

The lifeguards performed three rescues that same day. Only one seemed serious enough to require ambulance transportation.

Thanks everybody. Man, I love seeing my ticker after all these months!

Have a GREAT time & enjoy every second!!

Can't wait!