Trunk Bay

mustang sally · #1 (**permalink**) May 30th, 2010, 09:19 AM

Can someone tell me if there are restaurants, bars, restrooms etc at Trunk Bay? What should we expect? Do not wish to snorkel.

sptrout · #2 (**permalink**) May 30th, 2010, 09:40 AM

Trunk Bay is part of a National Park so facilities are very limited (mainly changing/restrooms & picnic areas). The intent is to keep Trunk Bay National Park as natural as possible, therefore, development is very limited. From the ocean, looking back towards the beach, it is hard to tell that there is anything at all developed.

If you do not snorkel, or like to swim, or just lay on the beach, I would not recommend Trunk Bay. However, I cannot tell you how many times I have seen commercial pictures published in magazines, and many other places, of this beach since it is so beautiful and natural.

Paul Motter · #3 (**permalink**) May 30th, 2010, 11:13 AM

From my recollection all of St John has very little in the way of shopping and other markets. It is a parkland. There is just one small area around Cruz Bay that has a shopping district. Trunk Bay has no merchants at all.

johnthed0g · #4 (**permalink**) May 30th, 2010, 11:22 AM

I understand what people want ..I really do...but people look for unspoilt places that are not "touristy" then ask for restaurants & bars, I don't refer to the OP on this, just a general comment.

mustang sally · #5 (**permalink**) May 30th, 2010, 11:36 AM

I understand what you are saying. It is just having neven been, it is nice to know what to expect. Should we bring our own refreshments or can they be purchased there? If someone gets hungry - can we get something, or not? It makes our decision making a lot easier.

sptrout · #6 (**permalink**) May 30th, 2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustang sally

I understand what you are saying. It is just having neven been, it is nice to know what to expect. Should we bring our own refreshments or can they be purchased there? If someone gets hungry - can we get something, or not? It makes our decision making a lot easier.

I do not recall there being anything available to eat or drink (other than maybe water). We were on ship tours each time that we visited TB, so either the food and drinks were provided, or the tours were planned around meal times (I really do not remember for sure). If you are planning this trip on your own, if I was you I would assume that there will be very, very limited food availability.

mustang sally · #7 (**permalink**) May 30th, 2010, 09:25 PM

Thanks so much for the info. I appreciate it.

Donna · #8 (**permalink**) May 30th, 2010, 10:26 PM

I don't recall much there either to eat/drink....good idea to bring something along. Absolutely beautiful beach there, even if you don't snorkel, at least take a nice walk along the beach.

Phil&Liz · #9 (**permalink**) May 31st, 2010, 09:17 AM

You have a PM Mustang Sally.

Phil & Liz

mustang sally · #10 (**permalink**) May 31st, 2010, 05:01 PM

Thanks Phil/Liz. Appreciate that.

viv26 · #11 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2010, 12:29 AM

trunk bay is one of the beautiful places i have ever been, will be going back in Nov. 2010 can't wait!!!!

mustang sally · #12 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2010, 06:15 AM

Thanks Viv! That is what we keep hearing. We have been all over St. Thomas, but this is a place we have not seen yet. Even though I am not one for swimming, I do love to see beautiful beaches. Glad you are getting a chance to go back! Have a great cruise!

LisaK · #13 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2010, 08:34 AM

mustang sally, if you are looking for a beautiful unspoiled beach then consider going next door to Trunk Bay to Cinnamon Bay, its not nearly as touristy, it is a campground actually, they have a little store, an outdoor grill to grab a bite to eat, clean restrooms, you can rent float mats, sunfish sailboats, and snorkel gear

mustang sally · #14 (**permalink**) June 2nd, 2010, 06:35 PM

Lisa, you are the second person to tell me that in a week. Might have to check it out!

LisaK · #15 (**permalink**) June 10th, 2010, 09:34 AM

mustang sally, here's a link that might help www.vinow.com, its the official board of tourisms site, we have found it to be very helpful

mustang sally · #16 (**permalink**) June 10th, 2010, 03:39 PM

Lisa, I had a chance to check out that site and you are right. There is tons of info there. It almost made my head spin! (lol) I have a question. If we were to hire a cab and ask them to just take us all around St. John showing us all the highlights, do you have any idea how long approx it would take to do that? Is it do-able? Also, am I understanding that Cruz Bay is right at the pier? Have you been? Is it nice to go have lunch at an outside restaurant there, if they have one? I just want to make sure we have enough time to do some shopping when we get back to St. Thomas. We dock at 10 am and leave at 8 pm. More questions please - if the ferry only leaves on the hour - if we get off the ship asap - will the likliness of getting on the first ferry be slim to none? Thanks for your patience. I will owe you a dod if I ever meet up with you on a cruise!!

Donna · #17 (**permalink**) June 10th, 2010, 06:24 PM

Hi Sally,
They will have cabs waiting at the pier to take cruisers places, so that wouldn't be a problem and most likely you will be able to get off earlier than they say that they get there. The taxi ride is a good 20 minutes and also a good chance that they will want to fill up the cab with others going to the ferry...I'd plan on getting the 10:00 ferry to be on the safe side, but you never know, you could get lucky and get off the ship much earlier and get that first one.

mustang sally · #18 (**permalink**) June 10th, 2010, 06:34 PM

Donna,
We don't dock until 10 :00 so I am thinking we would get the 11:00 ferry.

Donna · #19 (**permalink**) June 11th, 2010, 10:04 AM

Hi Sally,
Chances are you will dock even before that, hopefully, so it is very possible to make that ferry, just be all ready to get off the ship and start your day..

LisaK · #20 (**permalink**) June 11th, 2010, 11:00 AM

Sally, we always allow an hour to get from Havensight Pier to Red Hook Harbor to catch the ferry over to St. John, just for wiggle room you know. As for Cruz Bay,we really haven't paid that much attention to it, its pretty, all coral and yellow, but we just walk the pier to catch the waiting jitney taxis to take us to the beach, and the cabbies stop all along the way to beach for photo opps, Cinnamon Bay has an outdoor grille to have lunch

LisaK · #21 (**permalink**) June 11th, 2010, 11:02 AM

Sally if memory serves me, its either Hawksnest or Honeymoon beach that is a bit rocky with a pretty swift current

mustang sally · #22 (**permalink**) June 12th, 2010, 07:20 AM

Lisa, are Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay close enough that we could walk from one to the other?

LisaK · #23 (**permalink**) June 14th, 2010, 09:13 AM

Sally, i would have to say no, i am guessing that they are at least a couple of miles apart

mustang sally · #24 (**permalink**) June 14th, 2010, 08:00 PM

Oh, ok, thanks Lisa.

lavivi · #25 (**permalink**) October 15th, 2010, 10:02 AM

I understand what people want ..I really do...but people look for unspoilt places that are not "touristy" then ask for restaurants & bars, I don't refer to the OP on this, just a general comment.
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***Edited to remove commercial reference***

Phil&Liz · #26 (**permalink**) October 15th, 2010, 09:46 PM

If you want a place to eat on the way back from TB there is a place near Red Hook called Duffy's Love Shack. Neat little place with good food. It is a locals hangout.

Phil & Liz