Staying at The Westin St. John Resort Villas: Which Ferry Should You Take?

If you’re flying into St. Thomas for a stay at The Westin St. John Resort Villas, you have two ferry options. The Westin’s private transfer takes you to the resort dock on Great Cruz Bay. The public passenger ferry from Red Hook takes you to Cruz Bay, where you’ll need a ride to the resort. Those two bays are easy to mix up when you’re booking, and the difference matters most when you’re standing on the dock with your bags.

Westin ferry or public ferry?

Choose the Westin transfer if you want to arrive at the resort by water. After collecting your bags at the St. Thomas airport, head to the Westin airport lounge near baggage claim. Staff help with luggage and direct you to the ground transfer for the boat. Give the resort your flight details in advance and check which sailing works with your arrival.

Choose the Red Hook ferry if you’d like to arrive in Cruz Bay. You’ll arrange a ride from the airport to Red Hook on St. Thomas, take the passenger ferry to St. John, and continue from Cruz Bay to the Westin. When comparing costs for a family, count both ground transfers along with the ferry tickets. Check St. John ferry options and schedules.

Which St. John villa fits your group?

Start with the sleeping arrangements. If you’re traveling as a couple, ask what changes between the studio and one-bedroom options for your dates. If you’re bringing grandparents and children, count how many people need a bedroom of their own. A villa that sleeps six can work quite differently for three couples than it does for two adults and four kids.

Then think about your mornings. Would you rather have a shorter walk to resort activities or a particular view from the villa? Tell us which matters more. The Westin sits on Great Cruz Bay, but a resort’s waterfront location alone doesn’t tell you what you’ll see from an individual villa. Browse OM Villas rentals.

What’s a good first outing on St. John?

If Trunk Bay is the beach you came to see, give it a morning of its own. If your group wants some island history along with a swim, choose Cinnamon Bay. Across the road from the beach and campground, a self-guided boardwalk takes you through the ruins of the Cinnamon Bay sugar plantation. You can do the walk before lunch and spend the afternoon at the beach without organizing a second outing. Explore the National Park Service’s Cinnamon Bay trail guide.

Leave a little room in the itinerary for Great Cruz Bay itself. A kayak outing at the resort makes an easy plan for the day when half the family wants to get out on the water and the other half is happy to stay put. See water activities at The Westin St. John.

Planning for Christmas, New Year’s, or spring break?

Send OM Villas your preferred check-in and checkout dates, the number of guests, and the bedrooms you need. If school or work fixes your travel window, tell us which nights are essential. We can then check specific reservations and help you compare the villas that fit.

Call OM Villas at 866-752-8882 or ask about your St. John travel dates.