Turtle Cove Catamaran Snorkel and Sail at Little Buck Island STT
Overview
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3 hours
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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.
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! 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.
What‘s Included
Use of snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, snorkel vest, fins)
Local guide
Unlimited Drinks (alcoholic beverages after in-water activities)
Snacks
Gratuities (suggested)
Souvenir T-Shirts and Dri-Fit Shirts (available for purchase)
Guest provides own transportation to and from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove
Options
Turtle Cove Catamaran Snorkel and Sail at Little Buck Island STT
Reviews
2,218 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
So so fun!!
Anne M,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Crew was fun and professional. They looked out for all of their snorkelers and informed us about the wildlife we were watching. Every age from kids to grandparents were on our trip and every experience level including me — a total snorkeling newbie — was represented and respected.
Snorkeling tour
sherryp880,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our family had a great time snorkeling. This snorkeling tour is very kid friendly. My grandchildren ages 9 and 6 did great. Also, great for first time snorkeling. A lot of drinks after water activities but, few snacks. Sometimes seems real crowded
Turtles!
Charles C,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing! Saw several sea turtles! Had a great experience with the entire family! Only thing would be more turtles!
Crew was great,...
Daniel H,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Crew was great, personable and funny. They were very knowledgeable about all the different species in the water. Great day. Highly recommend!
This is absolutely for beginners. They do not allow you to snorkel on your own.
David S,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00This is beginner snorkeling. You are NOT allowed to snorkel on your own on this tour. I have snorkeled around the world and never had to 1) wear a worthless vest, 2) taken 15-20 minutes to get into the water because of how inefficient the process was, 3) been screamed at constantly when I want to snorkel because I have moved 20 yards from the guide, and 4) be constrained to a single guide who is responsible for 30-35 snorkelers and she wants to be in complete control and never stopped talking, 5) we were only in the water for 50 minutes, that’s right 50 minutes, and 6) there were 70 people on the catamaran, so it was way too congested, and 7) there was way too much focus on the bar and alcohol and not enough on the prime focus of snorkeling.
Kid’s First Time Snorkeling in the Ocean
jaronw2026,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an absolutely incredible experience on our turtle snorkeling tour in St. Thomas—it was truly one of the highlights of our trip! From the moment we stepped on the boat, the crew made safety a top priority. They gave a clear, thorough briefing, made sure everyone had properly fitting gear, and kept a close, attentive eye on all guests in the water. As someone who really values feeling secure in the ocean, this made a huge difference and allowed us to fully relax and enjoy the experience. What really set this tour apart, though, was the crew’s deep knowledge of the island and its marine life. They didn’t just take us out to snorkel—they educated us along the way, pointing out different fish species, coral formations, and of course, the sea turtles. Their passion was contagious, and you could tell they genuinely care about preserving the environment and sharing it with others. Swimming alongside sea turtles in such beautiful, clear water was unforgettable, and the crew knew exactly where to go to give us the best possible experience without disturbing the wildlife. If you’re visiting St. Thomas and considering a snorkeling excursion, I can’t recommend this tour enough. It’s the perfect mix of adventure, education, and top-notch professionalism. Truly a 5-star experience!
They deliver what they...
Rick M,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00They deliver what they promise. Loved seeing sea turtles and tropical fish. Friendly and helpful crew. The tour guides got in the water with us and led is to the turtles. Also provided interesting and educational info on the sea life.
Avoid this excursion if you like to have fun!
Elizabeth C,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Avoid this excursion. This is where fun goes to die! Way too many people on the boat. Onboarding and off boarding was like a military drill. Too much talking and rules from the crew. Can’t snorkel on your own. Were required to go with a guide. Snacks were terrible and not refilled often. We’ve been on a lot of cat tours and this one was one of the worst! I would look elsewhere.
Don’t jump on exiting swimmer
Clint J,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00My husband came off the catamaran and young kid dived in and right on top of him as he was exiting to snorkel. It bruised his ribs and we had to cancel our next excursion because of it.
Sea Turtles, Snorkeling & Seriously Good Vibes
cdcass1977,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Awesome vessel and crew, great hospitality and vibes. The Buck Island excursion was outstanding- we saw many sea turtles and colorful fish plus an octopus, a giant barracuda, and sea urchins. Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks were flowing and snacks were served after the snorkeling. As Jimmy Buffet sang, “it was a lovely cruise.”
From US$119.00
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Operated by The VI Cat