Turtle Cove Catamaran Snorkel and Sail at Little Buck Island STT
Description
Come swim with the resident green sea turtles and tropical fish on this 3 hour snorkel & sail adventure in St. Thomas aboard The VI Cat. From your departure, set sail on our 54-foot US Coast Guard inspected catamaran to the idyllic Caribbean waters of Turtle Cove at Little Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge. Seeing the green sea turtles in their natural habitat truly is a life-long memory. Note this is Little Buck Island located off of St. Thomas. Enquire about a morning tour during the busier holiday weeks. *Turtle sightings are often reported and not guaranteed as the green sea turtles are in their natural habitat.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Arrive at 12:30pm to check-in with The VI Cat crew on the wooden dock of the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove. Tour departs promptly at 1pm (AST - Atlantic Standard Time). Guest is to provide their own transportation to the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove. After checking in with security, follow signs that say "public access to the beach". Free parking can be found in a large gravel parking lot on the right hand side AFTER the security booth.
Board 'The Cat', a spacious 54-foot sailing catamaran for an exhilarating sail to the uninhabited Little Buck Island, located off of St Thomas. You'll snorkel at Turtle Cove, Little Buck Island, the National Wildlife Refuge, where you'll experience an unforgettable, fun-filled, marine life adventure. Your friendly crew will provide snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins, snorkel vest), brief instruction and safety tips and if needed, a beginner's snorkeling lesson when you reach Little Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge. You may choose to swim and snorkel in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, tan on the special deck of the catamaran, or relax in the shaded cabin area. However you choose to spend your day on the boat, you will no doubt have fun! Water, light snacks and a variety of beverages. NOTE: Alcoholic, non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks are served AFTER the snorkeling/in-water portion of snorkel & sail trips.
Enjoy the relaxing sail back to the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove, where your fun-filled tour will conclude.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Must arrive 30 minutes prior to departure. Check-in with Cat Crew on Dock of Marriott's Frenchman's Cove. We cannot accommodate late-comers.
- Use Google Maps. Type "The VI Cat" or "Marriott's Frenchman's Cove". 1. Pull into the Marriott Frenchman's Cove (the property with all of the colorful buildings). The Marriott Cove has a large stone/brick entrance. 2. Check in with the security guard at the security booth. They will ask that you park in the large, flat gravel parking lot on the right AFTER the security booth. 3. After parking, walk down the hill, on the road, towards the pool and follow signs that say public beach access. 4. Look for the wooden dock located off of the beach. 5. You will check in with The VI Cat crew on the wooden dock approximately 30 minutes prior to departure.
- The VI Cat's Standard Cancellation Policy: To receive a full refund, customers may cancel up to 72 hours before the excursion start date in the local timezone. No refunds will be given after that time period. "No-Shows" will be charged the full price of the excursion. In the event The VI Cat cancels the excursion due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, customers may receive a full refund or rebooking.
- Note that the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove is the time-share portion of the Marriott. This location is different than The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman's Reef
- All tours are listed in local time - Atlantic Standard Time Zone (PLEASE NOTE THIS MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN YOUR SHIP TIME)
- Be sure to mention any allergies or medical conditions to the Captain
- The Marriott's Frenchman's Cove is 7-10 minute taxi ride from the WICO cruise ship dock and 20-30 minute taxi ride from the Crown Bay cruise ship dock
- At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Children MUST be accompanied by an adult • Minimum drinking age is 21 years
- Alcoholic beverages will be offered after the in-water activities.
- If guest or vessel's Master determines safety issue, a full refund will be given.
- To find dock, please reference map in photos.
- MUST arrive 30 minutes prior to trip departure time. We cannot accommodate late arrivals.
- Any guests with medical concerns (including pregnant travelers) are encouraged to address them with their own medical professional prior to attending excursion.
- Facial coverings are optional while onboard.
Reviews(2,292)
The captain was crabby. The surface of the boat was scorching hot (when required to take shoes off to get on which makes sense but when the surface is miserable to walk on that is awful)! Only time captain was pleasant was when he was talking his tips. We used different company last year and it was much more enjoyable.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, Katie. We're sorry to hear the captain's demeanor and the heat of the deck surface took away from your time with us on the Turtle Cove Snorkel and Sail. Guest comfort and a warm, welcoming crew are things we take seriously, and it's clear this experience didn't reflect that standard. We've shared your comments with our team, including the note about the deck surface, as we're always looking for ways to make boarding more comfortable for every guest. We're also sorry your experience didn't compare to trips you've enjoyed with other companies in the past. That's honestly not what we want for anyone sailing with us. We'd welcome the chance to hear more directly if you're open to it, and we hope you might give The VI Cat another chance in the future. Thank you again for your honesty.
We saw 3 sea turtles almost immediately after getting in the water. Staff was great and really nice. Unlimited pain kill cocktails was icing on the cake.
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so happy you spotted three sea turtles almost right away. That's always such a magical moment out on the water. Glad the unlimited painkillers added the perfect finishing touch to the day too! We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to the crew. We can't wait to welcome you back aboard The VI Cat for another unforgettable snorkeling adventure!
The crew was great, so friendly and helpful. The boat is beautiful and well kept. We saw some turtles and cool fish (look near the rocks for eels!) … Just be aware that the itinerary you get sent is not what you do. We were given info that said it would be a 20-25 min boat ride to the island, we would snorkel for over 2 hours, and have a 20 minute boat ride back. We snorkeled for maybe an hour and then sailed back, which was an hour long. I wish that would have been more clear. While the title of the activity is “snorkel and sail” the details should be more accurate. I still recommend this though!
Thank you for the thoughtful review! We're so glad you found the crew friendly and helpful, and that you got to spot turtles and cool fish along the way (great tip about the eels near the rocks!). We appreciate you flagging the mismatch between the itinerary details and the actual timing. That's valuable feedback, and we'll take a look at how that information is communicated so future guests know exactly what to expect. Thank you for recommending us despite that, it means a lot. We hope to welcome you back aboard The VI Cat for another adventure on the water!
The excursion was okay overall. The crew was very nice and friendly, and the water was beautiful. We were able to get in the water and see three sea turtles and some colorful fish, which was nice. However, there wasn’t much entertainment during the excursion, and there wasn’t a lot to see besides the turtles and a few fish. I was expecting a little more activity or entertainment throughout the trip. Overall, the crew was great and the water was beautiful, but the excursion itself was just okay and didn’t quite meet my expectations.
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback, Denise. We're glad the crew's friendliness and the chance to swim with sea turtles and colorful fish were highlights of your excursion. We hear you on wanting a bit more activity and entertainment throughout the trip, and we appreciate you letting us know. It's exactly the kind of feedback that helps us keep shaping the experience for future guests. The beauty of St. Thomas's waters is always the star of the show for us, but we want every part of the trip to feel engaging too. We'd love the chance to show you an even better time on a future visit. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience!
I had to put on the waiting list, luckily I received an email a few days later some spots opened. The tour was amazing we saw so much sea life. I did get nauseous at some point & the staff was very kind & friendly to me. Gave me a barf bag, water, ice, they made sure I was good. It was a little tricky to find the meet up point but over all an amazing time. Awesome crew! Would recommend
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're so glad a spot opened up for you, and even happier that the crew could take such good care of you when you weren't feeling well. That kind of attentiveness is exactly what we strive for. We're thrilled the sea life and overall experience made it such an amazing time despite a tricky start finding the meet-up point. We'll look at ways to make that easier to find for future guests. Thank you for the recommendation, and we can't wait to welcome you back aboard The VI Cat!
Had an amazing snorkeling trip with the crew. The guide was awesome. Saw many sea turtles, sting ray, octopus and many fish in the reef. The wife and I had a great time.
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so glad you and your wife had such an amazing time snorkeling and spotted so much incredible sea life: turtles, a sting ray, and even an octopus is quite a lineup! Our guides love sharing the beauty of St. Thomas's reefs with every guest. We can't wait to welcome you both back aboard The VI Cat for another unforgettable adventure!
Excellent experience, friendly guides and service.
Thank you so much for the kind review! We're delighted you had such a wonderful excursion with us, and that our guides and service left a great impression. We hope to welcome you back aboard The VI Cat soon for another Caribbean adventure!
There’s nothing quite like a catamaran and snorkeling! We had an amazing time swimming with the turtles. The captain and guides were fantastic at organizing everything and keeping us safe. Highly recommended. .
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're thrilled you had such an amazing time swimming with the turtles, and that our captain and guides kept everything running smoothly and safely along the way. There really is nothing quite like exploring St. Thomas's waters by catamaran! We truly appreciate the high recommendation and can't wait to welcome you back aboard The VI Cat for another adventure!
Such a wonderful experience! Unlike other trips, this is a 3 hour affair which makes it manageable yet long enough to enjoy witnessing the amazing sea life! The crew was professional and fun! Highly recommended!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We're so glad the 3 hour trip felt just right and that our crew's professionalism and fun energy made the day even better. We can't wait to welcome you back aboard The VI Cat for another great adventure!
Our favorite part of the trip was probably the boat ride itself! They used the motors to get over to the island and the sail to get back so that was a fun unique experience for us. The snorkeling was also great and we saw one of the 2 turtles on this trip the second we jumped off of the boat. There are quite a few other boats that come at the same time so there can be quite a few snorkelers out there at the same time, but overall we had a great time and would do it again!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We love that the mix of motoring out and sailing back made for such a fun, unique part of the trip, and that you spotted one of our resident turtles right off the boat. We appreciate you mentioning the crowds out on the water too. We're always mindful of that and glad your group still had a great time. We can't wait to welcome you back aboard The VI Cat for another adventure!
