Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset Sail from St. Thomas: Full-Day Review
If two hours at sunset isn't enough, this is the all-day version. The Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset Sail turns a St. Thomas sunset cruise into a full six-hour day on the water — snorkeling with sea turtles, lunch at the famous floating Pizza Pi boat, and then a relaxed sunset sail home. Rated highly across more than 400 reviews, it's the pick for travelers who want to make a whole day of it. Here's how it works.
The Day at a Glance
Why Make a Full Day of It
This tour bundles three of the best things to do on the water in the USVI into one trip. You start with a snorkel stop where sea turtles graze the seagrass in clear, shallow water, then pull up to Pizza Pi — the wood-fired pizza boat anchored in Christmas Cove that's become a Virgin Islands institution — for lunch. As the afternoon winds down, the boat turns toward home for a sunset sail, so you finish the day with the same golden-hour views the evening cruises are built around.
It's the most active option on our list and the only one that combines snorkeling, a signature lunch and a sunset in a single booking. Gear, lunch and drinks are handled on the water, so you just show up ready to swim.
What the Day Includes
The six hours are split across snorkeling, lunch and the sail home:
- A guided snorkel stop with reliable sea turtle sightings
- All snorkel gear provided on board
- Lunch at the floating Pizza Pi boat in Christmas Cove
- Drinks included on the water
- A relaxed sunset sail back to St. Thomas to finish the day
What's Included — and What's Not
At around $149 for a full day, this is strong value for how much it packs in.
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| 6-hour boat day | Gratuities (bring cash for the crew) |
| Snorkel gear | Transport to the marina |
| Pizza Pi lunch | Reef-safe sunscreen (bring your own) |
| Drinks on the water | Towel |
How the Day Runs
The exact schedule shifts with conditions, but the day follows this shape.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Morning/midday | Board at the marina and cruise to the snorkel site |
| Snorkel stop | Swim with sea turtles in clear, shallow water |
| Lunch | Pull up to the floating Pizza Pi boat for fresh pizza |
| Afternoon | Relax on the water with drinks |
| Golden hour | Sunset sail back toward St. Thomas |
| Return | Arrive back at the marina after ~6 hours |
Good to Know Before You Book
A few practical notes for a full day on the water:
- Bring reef-safe mineral sunscreen — chemical sunscreen is banned in USVI park waters
- Bring a towel and a change of clothes; you'll be in and out of the water
- Sea turtle sightings are common but never guaranteed
- It's a longer day than the evening sails — pace your sun and drinks
- Bring cash for crew gratuities, which are not included
What to bring
Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a towel, a dry bag for your phone, a change of clothes and cash for tips.
- Swimwear worn under your clothes
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen (required)
- Towel and dry bag for your phone
- Cash for crew gratuity
Pizza Pi — Christmas Cove, St. Thomas
Who This Full-Day Trip Is For
This is the right pick for a particular traveler:
- Families and active travelers who want a full day, not just an evening
- Anyone who wants to combine snorkeling and a sunset in one booking
- Foodies who want to tick off the famous floating Pizza Pi
- Swimmers who are comfortable snorkeling in open water
- Visitors with a whole day free rather than just the evening
Consider another cruise if
You only have the evening free or you don't want to snorkel — in that case a two-hour evening sail like the best-value open-bar cruise or the Harbor Lights dinner sail is the better fit.
Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset Sail — FAQ
What is Pizza Pi?
Pizza Pi is a wood-fired pizza boat permanently anchored in Christmas Cove off St. Thomas. You order from the water and eat fresh pizza on board or on your boat. It's become one of the most popular experiences in the USVI, and this tour includes a lunch stop there.
Will I definitely see sea turtles?
Sea turtle sightings are common on this tour — the crew knows the seagrass areas where green turtles graze in clear, shallow water. That said, wildlife is never guaranteed. The captain picks the snorkel site with the best odds based on conditions that day.
How is this different from the evening sunset cruises?
It's a full six-hour day rather than a two-hour evening sail. You get snorkeling with turtles and a Pizza Pi lunch first, and the sunset sail comes at the end. If you only want the sunset and an open bar, one of the two-hour evening cruises is a better fit.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
You should be comfortable snorkeling in open water, though the snorkel site is chosen for calm, shallow conditions and gear is provided. If you're not a confident swimmer or you'd rather skip snorkeling, choose one of the evening sunset sails instead.
What should I bring for the full day?
Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring reef-safe mineral sunscreen (chemical sunscreen is banned in USVI park waters), a towel, a dry bag for your phone, a change of clothes, and cash for crew gratuities.
What Travelers Say
Such a great day. We snorkeled with turtles in the clearest water, then had fresh pizza right off the Pizza Pi boat, and finished with a beautiful sunset on the way back. You can't beat this combination.
The crew were fantastic and knew exactly where the turtles were. Pizza Pi lived up to the hype, and the sunset sail home was the perfect way to end the day. Highly recommend for a full day out.
A brilliant full-day trip. Great snorkeling, delicious pizza and a gorgeous sunset. The kids loved the turtles and we loved the whole day. Worth every dollar.