Sail, Shop and Snorkel in St. John from Frenchman’s Reef

Two islands, one easy day.

This six-hour catamaran outing links St. Thomas and St. John without the fuss of arranging separate boats, taxis, and snorkeling gear. I like the mix of free time in Cruz Bay and a guided stop at Honeymoon Beach, and I like that snacks, snorkeling equipment, and a full bar after snorkeling are included. The main drawback is the schedule: your time on St. John is limited, and the marine life may not always cooperate.

The trip leaves at 9:30 a.m. from The Westin St. Thomas Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef. You sail aboard the Flying Frenchman, described as the newest catamaran in the fleet, with a maximum of 80 people. That is not a small private charter, but it gives you a social boat ride with plenty of room for a broad mix of families, couples, and friends.

Key points to know before you book

• Cruz Bay gives you independent time: Walk from the dock to local shops, bars, and restaurants, then choose your own lunch.
• Honeymoon Beach is the water stop: Use the supplied snorkeling equipment for reef time and a swim before the return sail.
• The open bar starts after snorkeling: Alcoholic drinks are included for people over 21 with valid government-issued identification.
• The $129 price covers the main boat extras: Snacks, snorkeling gear, the open bar, fees, and taxes are included, but lunch, shopping, gratuity, and parking are not.
• The outing lasts about six hours: It begins at 9:30 a.m. and finishes back at Frenchman’s Reef.
• Weather can change the plan: Poor conditions or too few bookings can lead to a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

Leaving Frenchman’s Reef aboard the Flying Frenchman

Your day starts at The Westin St. Thomas Beach Resort & Spa, at 5 Estate Bakkeroe. If you are not staying at the resort, parking is available for $10 per vehicle, payable at the hotel front desk. That extra cost is easy to miss when comparing prices, so include it in your budget.

The boat ride is part of the appeal. The Flying Frenchman is a catamaran, which generally makes a good platform for a group sailing day. You get the pleasure of being outdoors on the water rather than sitting in a vehicle, and the route gives you a clear change of scene from St. Thomas to St. John.

The crew receives the strongest praise in the available feedback. People describe the captains as attentive, friendly, and informative, with one family particularly happy with how the crew handled the full six-hour outing. That matters on a boat day. A good crew keeps boarding, sailing, snorkeling, and reboarding from feeling confusing.

The group limit is 80 people. If you want a quiet, private sailing experience, this is not the right format. If you enjoy a shared excursion and want the convenience of a set route, the size is more reasonable. Be ready for a lively boat, especially on a popular date.

Cruz Bay: your first look at St. John

The first stop is Cruz Bay, the main settlement on St. John. You dock close enough to walk directly into the town, which makes this portion simple and flexible. There is no arranged shopping circuit or fixed restaurant booking. Instead, you get time to wander and decide how you want to use it.

That freedom is useful because Cruz Bay works well for a short introduction to St. John. You can browse shops, stop at a bar, or look for a restaurant for lunch. The cost and choice of lunch are up to you, so bring a card or cash for food, drinks, and purchases.

I like this part of the itinerary because it breaks up the boat time. Six hours on the water can feel long if every minute follows a guide’s instructions. Here, you can get off the catamaran, walk at your own pace, and see a little of St. John without committing to a full land tour.

The tradeoff is limited time. The schedule also includes sailing and a stop at Honeymoon Beach, so Cruz Bay is best treated as a taste, not a full exploration of St. John. You will not have time to see the island’s many other areas. If shopping and lunch are your top priorities, keep an eye on the clock and avoid a far-flung restaurant.

Lunch in Cruz Bay is flexible, but not included

Lunch is deliberately left open. You pay for your own food and drink in Cruz Bay, which gives you control over price and style. You might choose a quick meal so you have more time for shops, or sit down for a slower break before returning to the dock.

This arrangement also means the advertised $129 is not the final price for the whole day. Add lunch, shopping, a possible $10 parking charge, and gratuity. If you plan to enjoy cocktails before boarding again, those purchases in Cruz Bay are separate from the included boat bar.

I see the separate lunch cost as a fair trade for choice. A fixed meal can be a weak point on a group excursion because not everyone wants the same thing. Here, you can spend as little or as much as you like, but you should arrive prepared to pay for it.

Bring payment for your Cruz Bay purchases. The practical advice is simple: do not assume every expense is covered just because the boat includes snacks and drinks later.

Honeymoon Beach brings the water portion

After Cruz Bay, the catamaran sails to Honeymoon Beach for snorkeling and beach time. This is the part of the day built around the water. Snorkeling equipment is provided, so you do not need to pack your own mask and fins unless you strongly prefer your personal gear.

The stop is designed to be approachable. Most people can participate, and the excursion includes equipment use rather than requiring you to rent it separately. If this is your first time snorkeling, the positive feedback suggests the crew can help make the activity feel manageable. One first-time participant described the experience as especially enjoyable and praised the staff for being kind and informative.

Still, keep your expectations sensible. Snorkeling depends on weather, water conditions, visibility, and the behavior of marine life. One person had little aquatic life to see despite enjoying the crew and the rest of the day. That is not necessarily a problem with the trip. Fish do not follow a timetable, and a beautiful stop can produce a quiet underwater view.

I would choose this experience for the chance to snorkel, not as a guarantee of seeing a particular animal or a dense reef scene. If the water is clear and the creatures are active, it can be the highlight. If not, you still have beach time and the boat ride, but the snorkeling portion may feel less rewarding.

Follow the crew’s instructions and remember that snorkeling is only one piece of the outing. You are not signing up for a specialist marine excursion with a long, dedicated session at several sites.

Snacks and the post-snorkel open bar

Lite bites are included during the trip. They are useful as a small boost between lunch and the return sail, but they are not a replacement for the meal you buy in Cruz Bay. Plan lunch as your main food stop.

The full open bar becomes available after snorkeling as the catamaran starts the return trip to St. Thomas. This timing is sensible. You can enjoy a cocktail on the way back without combining alcohol with the active snorkeling portion of the day.

For people over 21, alcoholic drinks are included, but you must bring a valid government-issued ID. Do not leave identification at your hotel if you want to use the open bar. The exact drink selection is not specified, so think of it as a convenient boat bar rather than a promise of a particular premium brand.

The return sail is where this outing shifts into a relaxed finish. You have already walked around Cruz Bay and spent time in the water, so the boat ride back gives you a chance to settle in, enjoy the views, and have a drink. Several positive comments single out the drinks and the crew’s attentiveness as reasons the day felt special.

Drink responsibly. The boat still has to return safely, and the afternoon sun can make alcohol hit harder than expected.

Is $129 a good value?

At $129 per person, the price is reasonable for a six-hour island-and-water outing if you plan to use the included features. The package covers the catamaran transportation between St. Thomas and St. John, snorkeling equipment, lite bites, the post-snorkel open bar for people over 21, taxes, and fees.

That is a useful bundle. Booking a boat to St. John, arranging snorkeling equipment, and paying for drinks separately could quickly approach the same cost. You also avoid the planning work of coordinating several independent services.

The value is weaker if you do not drink alcohol, have no interest in snorkeling, or want a long, independent day on St. John. A large part of the appeal is the open bar and the combined itinerary. If your main goal is shopping in Cruz Bay, a separate ferry or land-based visit may give you more time and control, though that option would not include this boat experience and snorkeling stop.

Remember the extras. Lunch is not included. Shopping is not included. Gratuity is not included. Parking for people from outside the resort costs $10 per vehicle. Families should also calculate the total cost for each person rather than judging the ticket price alone.

The high rating of 4.7 from 18 ratings, along with a 94 percent recommendation figure, points to a generally strong experience. The small number of ratings means I would not treat those numbers as a guarantee, but they match the repeated praise for the crew, the drinks, and the easy combination of land and sea.

Who will enjoy this six-hour island outing?

I would recommend it most to people who want a broad sample of St. John rather than a deep visit. It suits couples, families, and first-time snorkelers who like having a planned boat route but also want some freedom in town.

It is especially handy if you are staying at or near Frenchman’s Reef. The trip starts and ends at the same place, so you do not need to arrange a separate return from St. John. That removes one common source of stress on an island day.

Families should like the variety. Children and adults can split their attention between sailing, walking around Cruz Bay, beach time, and snorkeling. The feedback includes a family that found the six-hour timing worked well, which supports the idea that the schedule is long enough to feel worthwhile without taking up an entire day.

First-time snorkelers may also find the format reassuring. Equipment is included, and the crew has been praised for being helpful and clear. You should still be comfortable in or around the water, and you can ask the operator specific accessibility questions before booking.

I would be more cautious if you want a private, quiet sail or a serious snorkeling expedition. A maximum of 80 people means this is a shared excursion. The schedule also leaves only a limited window for Cruz Bay, so independent island explorers may find it too structured.

Timing, weather, and small practical matters

The advertised start is 9:30 a.m., and the experience lasts about six hours. Arrive ready for an outdoor day, with sun protection and clothing suitable for both town and water. The supplied information does not specify a precise packing list, so focus on the basics that match the itinerary: payment for Cruz Bay, government-issued identification if you are over 21 and want the open bar, and anything you personally need for comfort near the water.

The trip requires good weather. If conditions cause a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached. One negative experience involved a cancellation less than 24 hours before departure and schedule changes during the preceding week, so I would avoid placing an important, nonrefundable plan immediately after this excursion.

For a full refund under normal cancellation terms, cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses local time, so check the clock carefully if you are arranging this from another time zone.

Food restrictions can be addressed if you give 72 hours’ advance notice. Alternative food items may cost extra. That is worth arranging early rather than hoping a suitable snack will be available on the boat.

Should you book the Flying Frenchman?

Book this tour if you want an easy, social day that combines St. John town time, snorkeling, and a boat bar without arranging each part yourself. The crew praise is consistent, the itinerary offers a pleasant mix of activity and free time, and the included equipment and drinks make the $129 price easier to justify.

Skip it if you want a full day exploring St. John, a private charter, or a snorkeling trip focused mainly on marine life. The Cruz Bay visit is brief, the group may be large, and snorkeling conditions can produce fewer sights than you hope.

My practical call: choose it for variety and convenience. Treat Cruz Bay as a short introduction, treat snorkeling as weather-dependent, and budget for lunch, parking, and gratuity. With those expectations, this is a well-rounded way to connect St. Thomas and St. John in one sunny outing.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts and ends at The Westin St. Thomas Beach Resort & Spa, 5 Estate Bakkeroe, St. Thomas, USVI.

What time does the experience begin?

The scheduled start time is 9:30 a.m.

How long does the excursion last?

The experience lasts approximately six hours.

Is lunch included?

No. You have free time to choose and purchase lunch in Cruz Bay. Food and drinks bought there are not included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Use of snorkeling equipment is included.

Is the open bar available to everyone?

The full open bar is included after snorkeling for people over 21. You must show a valid government-issued ID to drink alcohol.