Magens Bay from St. Thomas: ship excursion or on your own?
Booking Magens Bay independently from St. Thomas saves about $52 per person compared with Carnival's excursion (Carnival $119, NCL $99 vs $67 independent, November 2026). Safety for going on your own: 5/5. Be back at the pier 60 minutes before departure.
What ships sell
- Carnival: 1 excursion that include Magens Bay, median $119 per adult, e.g. "Blackbeard Castle, Magen".
- NCL: 5 excursions that include Magens Bay, median $99 per adult, e.g. "Skyride To Paradise Poin".
Ship excursions that include Magens Bay often bundle other stops or lunch, so compare what each tour includes. NCL prices were read from NCL's European website in euros on 2026-11-02 and converted at the ECB reference rate of 1 EUR = 1.1172 USD (2026-10-30). NCL's US site may show slightly different dollar prices.
Independent Magens Bay tours we compared
- St. Thomas: Magens Bay Beach Budget Day Trip · $47 · 4.0★ (1 reviews)
- St. Thomas: Island Tour with Mountain Top and Magens Bay · $87 · 4.0★ (14 reviews)
Getting back to the ship
Ships here dock alongside. All-aboard is normally 30 minutes before departure on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL and MSC (check your daily planner). Plan to be back at the pier at least 60 minutes before the ship sails.
- Magens Bay is a short ride from the pier, so the return is easy to plan.
Questions
How much is the Magens Bay excursion from St. Thomas on Carnival?
Carnival's Magens Bay excursions start at a median of $119 per adult (1 option, $119 to $119).
How much is the Magens Bay excursion from St. Thomas on NCL?
NCL's Magens Bay excursions start at a median of $99 per adult (5 options, $79 to $168), converted from €88.
Can you visit Magens Bay on your own from the St. Thomas cruise port?
Yes. Independent tours cost a median of $67 per person (2 tours compared, from $47). It is close to the pier, so even a taxi works if you keep an eye on the time.
Is it cheaper to book Magens Bay independently?
Usually: the gap is about $52 per person, or $209 for a family of four, against Carnival's price.
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