Half Day vs Full Day Buck Island Tour: Which Should You Book?

The most common question we get after “is it worth it?” is “half day or full day?” Both go to the same reef and the same beach. The difference is time, the boat and how you get there. Here’s how they compare.

The quick answer

Pick the half day if it’s your first time snorkeling, you have young kids, you’re on a cruise ship day or you want the afternoon free. Pick a full day if you want long hours on Turtle Beach, the hike to the overlook, a second reef stop or a real sail.

Side by side

What you get on the half day

The Half Day Snorkel leaves Christiansted aboard Celebration, our 41 ft power catamaran with shade, a walk-up bar and a full bathroom. It’s about 30 minutes to Buck Island. You start with a snorkel lesson at Turtle Beach, then a guide takes you along the underwater trail, about an hour of snorkeling in all, and there’s a complimentary rum punch on the cruise back. Gear, lessons, water and park fees are included.

What you get on a full day

Our full days stay at Buck Island instead of leaving for a lunch stop, so more of your day is spent on the water and the beach. Leaving lunch out keeps the price lower and lets you bring the food and drinks you love.

• Full Day Sail: an hour-plus sail aboard Wave Dancer, a guided snorkel of the trail and the most time on Turtle Beach, with an optional short hike to the observation deck. Want to learn to sail? Just ask your captain. Wave Dancer is boarded by a ladder.
• Snorkelers in Paradise: two guided snorkel stops on the reef, then Turtle Beach. The pick for keen snorkelers.
• Beach & Hike: straight to Turtle Beach to swim, relax, snorkel off the beach or hike to the top. It doesn’t visit the underwater trail.

How to choose

• First time snorkeling: half day. The lesson-then-trail format is built for you.
• Young kids or limited mobility: half day aboard Celebration (no ladder boarding, and a bathroom on board).
• Cruise ship day: the morning half day, or the Full Day Sail, which is back at the dock at 3:30 pm (about 40 minutes by taxi from the pier; check your all-aboard time). See cruise ship excursions.
• Beach people: the Full Day Sail or Beach & Hike.
• Serious snorkelers: Snorkelers in Paradise, for two reef stops.
• Love sailing: the Full Day Sail, or a private sailing charter.

Or make it private

With a private charter you set the length and the plan. Smooth Recovery starts at $900 per boat for 3 hours (up to 6 guests) or $1,200 for 5 hours, and we have five more boats for up to 40 guests. Compare them on private charters, or see every snorkel option on St. Croix snorkeling tours.