St. Thomas Cycleboats Water Island Trip

The unusual part comes first: you sit around a floating bar and pedal a boat toward Water Island. The motor does the real work, so you can pedal for fun, stop when your legs need a break, and keep the party moving with music and rum punch.

I like the small maximum of 16 people, which keeps this from feeling like a big excursion boat. I also like the freedom to bring your own beer, cocktails, rosé, and snacks instead of paying a high bar bill. The main consideration is that the trip is built around a social mood, so quiet sightseeing is not its strong point.

Key Points

• Motor-assisted pedalboat: Pedal as much or as little as you want while the motor handles the boat’s movement.
• Water Island stop: Spend about two hours at Honeymoon Beach, with time for swimming, beach chairs, drinks, and snacks.
• BYOB-friendly: Coolers and ice are provided, and you can bring your own alcohol and food.
• Music and rum punch: Bluetooth stereo, bottled water, and rum punch are included.
• Small-group setting: The boat takes no more than 16 people, making it easier to meet the crew and other passengers.
• Easy Crown Bay location: Meet at Tickles Dockside Pub at Crown Bay Marina, then return to the same place.

A Floating Bar With Pedals at Crown Bay Marina

St. Thomas Cycleboats begins at Tickles Dockside Pub, at 8168 Crown Bay Marina #308. This is a useful meeting point if you are spending the day near the cruise docks. One outing described the marina as a five to ten-minute walk from the cruise ship pier, though you should allow extra time to find the exact dock and check in.

The boat is arranged around a bar with cycle stations. You can pedal while seated, chat with the people around you, listen to Caribbean music, and look out over the water. It is less like a workout class and more like a floating social hour with a little leg movement mixed in.

That distinction matters. You are not signing up for a hard physical challenge. The boat has a motor, and the crew can keep it moving when you want to rest. The physical fitness requirement is listed as moderate, but the pedal stations are meant to add fun rather than demand athletic effort.

The boat carries a maximum of 16 people. That is large enough to create energy, but small enough for the captain and crew to remain part of the group. Crew names mentioned on different trips include Justin, Jess, David, Ann Marie, Valochi, Ben, Josh, and Amari. The crew can vary by departure, but the experience clearly depends a great deal on their ability to keep the mood friendly and active.

Pedaling Toward Water Island

The ride to Water Island is relatively short, which is helpful if you want more beach time than boat time. During the crossing, you can take a turn at the pedals, settle in with a drink, connect your phone to the Bluetooth stereo, or simply enjoy the views from the water.

The music is part of the experience, not background decoration. Guests have been able to add music through Bluetooth, and Caribbean tunes have helped set the tone on some trips. If you want a calm, silent cruise with a guide speaking constantly about local sights, this may not be the right boat for you.

The captain and first mate add local information and stories along the way. Ann Marie and first mate Valochi were specifically praised for making one trip both entertaining and informative. You should expect an easygoing ride rather than a formal sightseeing lecture.

The rum punch is included, along with bottled water, coolers, and ice. Alcoholic drinks beyond the included punch are BYOB. That setup is one of the tour’s best financial features. You can bring exactly what you like and avoid paying for every beer or cocktail on board.

Bring your own snacks as well. The boat does not include food, and a three-hour outing can feel long if you have nothing to eat. Small, easy-to-manage food is the practical choice, especially around drinks and a wet beach stop.

Two Hours at Honeymoon Beach

The main stop is Honeymoon Beach on Water Island. You have roughly two hours here, which gives you enough time to do more than take a quick photograph before returning to the boat.

The beach is known for white sand and clear water. Sea turtles have been spotted in the area, although sightings are never guaranteed. You can swim, rest on the sand, use available beach chairs, or simply take a break from the music and pedal stations.

The boat may allow you to swim to shore, and one family reported that the boat was beached close enough that nobody needed to swim a long distance. Conditions and the boat’s position can vary, so do not assume you will always step directly onto the sand. If you are not a confident swimmer, ask the crew about the shore approach before leaving the boat.

Honeymoon Beach also has places to buy food and drinks. One account described two venues near the beach, with cocktails and snacks available. That gives you a second option if your cooler food is gone or you want to purchase something locally, but prices and opening conditions can change.

The stop is where the trip shifts gears. On the boat, the emphasis is music, conversation, and group energy. At the beach, you can slow down, swim, and enjoy the setting. I like that combination because it keeps the outing from becoming three straight hours of pedaling and drinking.

Still, the beach stop is not a private island experience. The appeal is the simple setting and the chance to relax, not a packed schedule of organized activities. If your ideal excursion includes snorkeling equipment, a guided reef tour, or several separate swim spots, this trip may feel limited.

What the Included Drinks and BYOB Rules Mean

At $95 per person, the value depends on how you use the boat. The price covers about three hours, the ride to Water Island, the Honeymoon Beach stop, rum punch, bottled water, coolers, ice, music, and the crew. You are also paying for the novelty of a cycleboat, which is the central attraction.

The BYOB policy improves the deal for people who already know what they want to drink. Pack your favorite beer, cocktails, or rosé and use the provided coolers and ice. A group can save a fair amount compared with buying individual drinks on a standard boat tour.

The included rum punch receives especially strong praise, and the crew keeps it available during the ride. Drink responsibly, since the outing includes pedaling, boarding, swimming, and movement around a boat. The tropical setting can make it easy to lose track of how much you have had.

You should bring snacks, sunscreen, swimwear, and a way to protect your phone. Those items are not listed as included, and the beach stop is long enough that comfort matters. Since this is a mobile ticket experience, keep the confirmation easy to access on your phone.

How the Three Hours Usually Feel

The timing is straightforward:

• Meet at Tickles Dockside Pub in Crown Bay Marina.
• Board the cycleboat and settle into a cycle station or a nearby seat.
• Pedal, listen to music, enjoy rum punch, and cross to Water Island.
• Spend about two hours at Honeymoon Beach.
• Return by boat to the same Crown Bay meeting point.

The first part is the most social. People get acquainted, choose music, and decide how much they want to pedal. Some groups turn the ride into a birthday party or a day of dancing, while others use the motor and treat the boat as a moving lounge.

The beach stop takes up most of the scheduled time. That is good news if you want a real swim and a chance to relax, but it also means the ride itself is not a long coastal tour. The trip is best understood as a beach afternoon with a distinctive way of getting there.

The return ride brings the group back to Crown Bay. Tickles Dockside Pub is right at the departure point, and an ice cream and coffee hut nearby also serves alcohol. A mango smoothie with banana rum was singled out as a pleasant post-trip option. These nearby places make it easy to grab a bite or another drink after the boat returns.

Birthdays, Families, and Cruise-Day Plans

This trip suits people who want an activity that can work for several kinds of groups. Couples have used it for birthdays, families have enjoyed it together, and groups of friends have treated it as a day party on the water.

For a birthday, the combination of music, drinks, and a beautiful beach gives you a ready-made celebration without arranging separate transportation and reservations. The crew has also adjusted timing after a boat issue on one outing, extending beach time to make up for a late start. That shows a useful willingness to help, though you should not plan your day around receiving extra time.

Families can enjoy the trip if everyone is comfortable with the social atmosphere and moderate physical activity. Older children and adults may like the novelty of the pedals, while the motor means nobody has to keep working for the entire crossing. Parents should still keep an eye on children around the water, especially during the swim to shore.

Cruise ship passengers should pay close attention to timing. The tour lasts about three hours and returns to the departure point, but you need to include the walk from the pier, check-in time, and a buffer before your ship’s required return time. The nearby marina location is convenient, but convenience is not a reason to cut the schedule close.

Solo visitors can also fit in well because the boat’s layout encourages conversation. You may arrive knowing nobody and leave with a few new friends, especially if you are comfortable with music and group banter.

Who May Want a Different Boat Tour

I would not choose this excursion if your priority is a quiet, private charter. The Bluetooth music, rum punch, dancing, and group setup are the point. You may find the volume and social pace too much if you want to read, photograph birds, or hear continuous commentary.

It is also not the best match for someone seeking a full water-sports package. Honeymoon Beach offers swimming, food, drinks, and possible sea turtle sightings, but the cycleboat outing does not list snorkeling gear, paddleboards, or guided wildlife viewing as included features.

The three-hour schedule is another practical limit. You get a substantial beach break, but there is only one main stop. If you want to visit several bays or spend most of the day on the water, choose a longer boat excursion.

Weather can also affect the departure. The operator requires good weather and may offer another date or a full refund if poor conditions cancel the trip. A minimum number of participants is required as well. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Is $95 a Fair Price?

I see the $95 price as reasonable for the right kind of afternoon. You receive transportation by boat, two hours at Water Island, a motor-assisted cycleboat experience, rum punch, water, ice, coolers, and music. The small-group limit adds value, especially compared with a large party boat where you may have less room and less contact with the crew.

The deal becomes stronger if you bring your own drinks and snacks. The operator does not force you into an expensive onboard tab, and the beach has additional places to buy food or cocktails if you want them.

The price may feel high if you care mainly about reaching Honeymoon Beach. In that case, the cycleboat entertainment is an extra cost you may not value. But if you want the journey itself to be part of the day, $95 covers a full experience rather than a simple transfer.

Should You Book the St. Thomas Cycleboats Water Island Trip?

Book it if you want a social, playful outing with a beautiful beach in the middle. The strongest reasons are the motor-assisted pedals, the generous two-hour stop at Honeymoon Beach, the included rum punch, and the ability to bring your own drinks.

I would especially recommend it for birthdays, friend groups, cruise passengers with a free half-day, and families who enjoy music and light activity. It also works for couples who want something more memorable than a standard beach transfer.

Skip it if you want peace and quiet, a private boat, serious snorkeling, or a long list of island stops. For everyone else, this is a clever way to reach Water Island, with enough beach time to make the outing feel worthwhile and enough silliness on the boat to give the day a story.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 78 reviews and a 97 percent recommendation rate. Those numbers fit the experience described here: the crew, music, rum punch, and relaxed group mood are its biggest strengths. Just bring snacks, plan your cruise-day timing carefully, and understand that this is a floating party with a beach stop, not a formal sightseeing cruise.

FAQ

Where does the St. Thomas Cycleboats trip begin?

The tour begins at Tickles Dockside Pub, 8168 Crown Bay Marina #308, St. Thomas, VI 00802, USVI.

Where does the tour end?

The activity returns to the same meeting point at Crown Bay Marina.

How long does the cycleboat trip last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

How much time is spent at Honeymoon Beach?

The Water Island stop lasts about two hours.

Is pedaling required for the whole trip?

No. The boat has a motor, so you can take breaks from pedaling.

Can I bring my own alcohol?

Yes. Alcoholic beverages are BYOB, so you can bring beer, cocktails, rosé, or other drinks you prefer.

What drinks are included?

Rum punch and bottled water are included. Coolers and ice are also provided.

Can I bring food?

Yes. Snacks are not included, but you are welcome to bring food to eat on the boat or at the beach.

How many people can join the boat?

The maximum group size is 16 people.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If poor weather cancels the experience, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. A full refund is also available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.