Turtle Cove Catamaran Snorkel & Sail Adventure at Little Buck Island St. Thomas
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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.
Local guide
Snacks
Unlimited Drinks (open bar after in-water activities)
Use of Snorkelling equipment
Gratuities (suggested)
Guest provides own transportation to and from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove
Souvenir T-Shirts and Dri-Fit Shirts (available for purchase)
- INFANT: : 0 - 2
- CHILD: : 3 - 12
- ADULT: : 13 - 99
- Any guests with medical concerns is encouraged to address them with their own medical professional prior to attending excursion.
- Be sure to mention any allergies or medical conditions to the Captain
- Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
- Facial coverings are optional while onboard.
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- 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.
- Open bar will begin after all in-water activities have commenced
- Please arrive to the dock 30 minutes prior to excursion start time. To ensure an on-time departure, we cannot accommodate late-comers. Masks & facial covering available and encouraged.
- Service animals allowed
- The VI Cat's Standard Cancellation Policy: To receive a full refund, customers may cancel up to 24 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 t
- 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 t
- Wheelchair accessible
- All tours are listed in local time - Atlantic Standard Time Zone (PLEASE NOTE THIS MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN YOUR SHIP TIME)
- 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
- Face masks provided for travellers
- Gear/equipment sanitised between use
- Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
- Marriott's Frenchman's COVE is different than the REEF (which is still closed).
- MUST arrive 30 minutes prior to trip departure time. We cannot accommodate late arrivals.
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
- 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
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Wheelchair accessibility is best fitted for travel/non-motorized wheelchairs. If guest or vessel's Master determines safety issue, a full refund will be given.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Experience may be cancelled due to Insufficient travelers
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
What To Expect
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.
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Little Buck Island
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!
AFTER snorkeling, hop back on the catamaran for light snacks and open bar that offers alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
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!
AFTER snorkeling, hop back on the catamaran for light snacks and open bar that offers alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Reviews
Good time had by all!
Jamesad0130, 29-09-2022
10/10 experience! Loved the peaceful sail and the music selection. We didn't partake in snorkeling, but we weren't made to feel weird about it and the experience was still amazing! The drinks were on point, John was great, you can tell he loves what he does by his interactions with the guests. Lindsey was also excellent as was Captain Taylor. Amazing how well they work together to make sure the experience for all is memorable. Would definitely recommend this sail to everyone when here in St. Thomas. Great job to this fantastic crew!!
Fabulous experience
joshuajH1783VD, 28-09-2022
Loved the crew Lindsay, Taylor , and John. Had an excellent experience. They really made the experience special.
Turtle and stingray...
Linda_H, 29-09-2022
Turtle and stingray spotting. Good painkillers on the way back. Wished music was a little lower to hear the sails flapping.
Friends trip!
Simeon_M, 14-09-2022
Very fun! The staff was great, the water was beautiful! It was very hot but we enjoyed every minute of it. The drinks were great as well.
Boating excursions with a great vibe
Julzmslady, 13-09-2022
We loved the boat and crew so much, we went onboard for the sunset cruise and the snorkeling tour the next day. Both trips were a great experience. Every member of the crew were energetic, and committed to ensuring the guests had a wonderful time. Thank you to all of the crew- John, Joe, Mike, Jackson, Lindsey and Captain David! We could not have had more fun!
We went swimming with sea turtles
Liz O, 26-12-2022
It was fun, crew was great but was hoping to see more fish and turtles. I would still recommend. The crew were all fun and helpful.
Awesome
marybethg333, 25-12-2022
Afternoon on the Cat was fabulous! We enjoyed every minute. Capt Joe and his crew were professional, fun, and so hospitable! Every need is catered to. Recommend highly! We saw a 2 turtles and lots of amazing fish and beautiful coral! Loved it!
Don’t miss out on this!
Stacy_W, 24-12-2022
Incredible experience- hands down one of the best activities to do in St. Thomas. The crew was phenomenal (captain cat, Devon, and Jackson), water was warm, crystal clear, and we saw tons of underwater sea life (turtles, rays, sea urchin, octopus, coral reef, etc.).
Absolutely gorgeous ride there & back - on our return we sailed home, we’re provided snacks, and delicious drinks from the bartender.
Definitely worth the trip over to the Marriott - followed by dinner over there! Thanks for such an awesome adventure!
Absolutely gorgeous ride there & back - on our return we sailed home, we’re provided snacks, and delicious drinks from the bartender.
Definitely worth the trip over to the Marriott - followed by dinner over there! Thanks for such an awesome adventure!
AMAZING
Saniah_H, 24-12-2022
It’s was wonderful the whole thing was incredible!…the crew were very nice and kept us laughing!….10/10 would recommend doing!…ive never been snorkeling but after this I’m doing it again!
Snorkeling with Turtles
780cindim, 24-12-2022
Toni, Ashley and Captain Ryan were awesome!! Great time had by all! Loved it!
I saw a stingray, turtle and baby turtle!
I saw a stingray, turtle and baby turtle!
Fabulous trip
Escape725054, 31-12-2022
The ride to and from the snorkel was wonderful despite the choppy water due to Captain Taylor’s skillful piloting.. Jackson and Devin never stopped running around making sure that everyone had a drink on the return trip..The snorkeling itself was just as u would expect……..fantastic. Looking forward to the Sunset Cruise tomorrow.
Amazing time in the sun! Amazing crew!
kkanaan, 29-12-2022
Amazing crew! Jackson, Mike, and Taylor did a great job keeping the group safe and entertained throughout the trip! Fun way to do some snorkeling and sail off St Thomas along the Caribbean waters! Highly recommend for groups of family and or friends!
Great snorkeling excursion!
Daniel M, 28-12-2022
The sail was a lot of fun. We had 5 kids ranging from 5 to 11 and everyone had a blast! Captain Taylor, Lindsay and Jackson were amazing. I’d highly recommend the turtle snorkeling excursion!
Beautifully affordable and amazing ❤️
Daniella_Y, 08-02-2023
My husband and I were on our honeymoon and this was such an amazing experience. My first time snorkeling. It was awesome! We beautiful turtles, tropical fish, a stingray and a barracuda! Thanks to Captain Dave and his amazing crew Oliver and Devin! We had snacks and painkillers(an island rum punch)provided after our snorkeling adventure. This trip was so affordable and we recommend it to anyone who wants to experience this island paradise adventure ❤️
Fun day exploring turtle cove
V9353JKginac, 07-02-2023
Great crew and first time seeing a stingray and barracuda - pretty cool experience. Highly recommend this tour even for beginner snorkelers
Great time
brittanylB2187KP, 06-02-2023
This was a great quick snorkel experience. Having done another I would have liked to do a longer excursion with a few more stops. However this is a great excursion that won't break the bank. The crew was so so attentive and great. Made sure we were never low on Painkillers and brought us around a light snack. We saw two turtles, some fish, and a barracuda! Lots of fun for a short afternoon!
Perfect snorkeling cruise
Laura_D, 06-02-2023
Smooth boat ride and awesome staff on a clean and beautiful catamaran. We got in great snorkeling and we’re treated to unlimited tasty painkillers afterward. Loved it!
Snorkel Away
elisa_m, 05-02-2023
Great day with Captain Taylor and mates Jackson and Devon. They all did a great job making the trip fun. Devon led the group in the water and did a fantastic job in pointing out various fish/ turtles and educating us about the sea life.
The team did a wonderful job in interacting and engaging with the guests - making it a more personal experience.
Most importantly, the reef was wonderful - many fish / turtles to see and in a nice environment with plenty of time to explore the area.
Thanks for a fantastic trip!
The team did a wonderful job in interacting and engaging with the guests - making it a more personal experience.
Most importantly, the reef was wonderful - many fish / turtles to see and in a nice environment with plenty of time to explore the area.
Thanks for a fantastic trip!
Great experience
drMaryMac, 30-12-2022
The tour operators were wonderful and very helpful. Slightly disappointed in not seeing as many fish and turtles during this adventure. Did not see any coral reefs at all. Very sad.
Good experience for my...
Sharde_B, 29-12-2022
Good experience for my husband and I. The crew was very nice and welcoming! Went snorkeling, saw turtles, and fishes!
