Eco hike is no big deal unless you absolutely love walking.It is tropical
woods and downhill - not like Costa Rica or Peru.Fairly routine.

Beach thing is OK - sometimes large crowd but you can swmi out by yourselves
and get away from the mob. You will likely go to Trunk Bay which is pretty
but not a snorkel haven - ok for snorkel but not huge variety of fish, etc.
If you want isolation, grab a cab in St. John dock (Cruz Bay) and go to any
of the north beaches - you can get cab back any time you want. Meet up with
your group when they return and you'll do fine. St. John is small - no
reason to get lost or get far behind.

Former TA in MN and St. John visitor

--
John D. Bradford
wrote in message
...
I have heard that the St. John Beach tour typically is a little
overcrowded. The benefit of the St. John beaches is that they are
pristine with that deserted isle feel...until 8 tour busses of
flip-flopped tourists arrive. Given the choie having seen the beach
while on a tour...Eco Hike.

I've tried to work out the details for just going over there on my own
to go to one of the more secluded beaches, but I always get a little
concerned abouyt making it back to the ship. If you must do beach and
want lots of nice surf but amenities to go along with it, catch a cab
to the Sapphire Beach resort on St. Thomas. Very few tourists there
and the beach has everything you need to a relaxing day in the sun.

On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 14:24:15 -0400, Haran Rashes
wrote:

We will be sailing on the Adventure of the Seas in a few weeks and are
trying to decided between the St. John Eco Hike and St. John Beach
Tour shore excursions out of St. Thomas. Would anyone who has taken
either of these shore excursions please let me know what you thought
of them and if you would take them again. Thank you.

Haran Rashes
Ann Arbor, MI