Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort

St. John, USVI

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It's not for everyone. Visited: December 2008 Posted by dad419 Caneel Bay is as fine a resort as you will find in The Caribbean. It is elegant and tasteful beyond words. The beaches are the finest and quietest you'll find anywhere. However, it is not for everyone. There are no phones and no TV. We knew that going in, and neither was missed. We honeymooned here 40 years ago, and returned for our 40th anniversary. Our room was upgraded, with chilled champagne waiting for us. On the evening of our anniversary, the maitre d' came to our table to congratulate us and offered more champagne. The staff was most cordial and accommodating. The resort was always full of returning guests who know a good thing when they get it. Would they really return year after if it were bad? I think not. It's heaven, not a flashy brand new resort. I cannot say enough good things. 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was absolutely perfect! Visited: December 2008 Posted by dksgarden I attended my stepdaughter's destination wedding, and it will be a memory to last forever. The only con I might have is that there was no TV. It was my husband's only complaint. At the end of the night, I would walk 25 steps to the beach and listen to the sea. It was mesmerizing. Thank you Caneel Bay! 1 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It's overpriced. Visited: November 2008 Posted by illinois_travels This review is for the restaurant at Caneel Bay. My fiance and I had the lunch buffet in the cafe here after hanging out at the beach. The food was mediocre at best. The lunch buffet was also $35 per person. Plus, there were birds hanging out on the buffet picking at the food, which was really gross. My fiance didn't finish eating a piece of sausage because he said it tasted funny. When we got back to our hotel, he started throwing up- it was definitely food poisoning. He spent the next three hours in the bathroom. Assuming this was a fluke, the food was still way overpriced for what it was. It was convenient, though, because it was right on the beach. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Caneel is wonderful. Visited: October 2008 Posted by cabfeegig I have read many negative reviews of Caneel ranging from safety issues to service and accommodations. Everyone has their own opinion based on how well their expectations were met (assuming nothing terrible happened!). Caneel is not about being plush or pampering. Caneel is about an environment and group of people who do everything they can do to help a person enjoy the most lush property, and the most beautiful, fantastic beaches in the Caribbean. My wife and I have been twice in four years - with this visit the best. Transfers between St. Thomas and Caneel were perfect . Our room was upgraded (we stayed in #2). The champagne was chilled, and the beds and AC were fantastic. The staff was extremely accommodating, and the boat crew was wonderful (we went back and forth to St. Thomas four times). Also, the breakfast buffet was more than adequate and tasty. Is it the Waldorf? No. However, my wife and I, the staff, and the people who return year and after year don't want it to be. It is perfection in a way only Caneel can deliver. 0 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Ground transportation was the most pleasant part of our Caneel Bay experience. Visited: March 2008 Posted by daviahelmer We just returned from a four-day stay at Caneel Bay. Unfortunately, the most pleasant part of the whole experience was the ground transportation from the airport in St. Thomas to the private ferry which took us to St. John. We were greeted at the airport by a friendly and helpful representative of the Caneel Bay airport staff, and introduced to an extremely professional taxi driver who had a great personality. During our ride to the ferry, he actually conducted a mini-tour along our route to the ferry. Once we arrived at the hotel, the experience went down hill. The front desk staff was not what I would say was extremely cordial. We had been assured that our room would be located at a certain part of the property, and this request was not honored. also, our room had not been adequately cleaned, and the furnishings were dated. The meals at the restaurant facilities were certainly not commensurate with their costs. It appeared to me that upper management needs to get their act together. 17 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We were disappointed! Visited: March 2008 Posted by alyson We just returned from Caneel Bay, and could not wait to come home. The beachfront room was very dated and had bugs. The outside deck truly needed to be cleaned and redone. The charge for this room was way overpriced! The staff couldn't seem to care less, and trying to get a drink or anything was as if they were doing us a favor. The beaches were pretty, but if you had a chid who wanted to go into the pool - think again. The water was grey and gross. This resort needs to be redone. I'm sure in 1970 it was a five-star resort. I would give it two stars. If you like the movie "Dirty Dancing", this is the place for you! 11 users found this review helpful. 4 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a good family retreat. Visited: February 2006 Posted by rachelan We just returned from a five-day holiday at Caneel Bay. The beaches were nice, and the main Caneel Bay beach was perfect for families with young children. The water was calm, warm and shallow. Grab chairs early. Day trippers often tote in their own chairs and secure the much-coveted shade. One nice touch was that you did not have to sign out water sports equipment like you have to do at many other Caribbean resorts. The staff was generally friendly, but not so at the main beach restaurant, which had a Euro cafeteria feel to it. The rooms felt tired, particularly the outside decks and furniture. The rooms were large, though, and the beds were comfortable. Be warned that if you have very young children, there were no bathtubs, though they were thoughtful enough to supply a plastic baby tub, which was just big enough for our 1-1/2 year old daughter. The grounds were nice, but quite spread out. It was fine to walk from place to place but, with young children, we had to wait for the "shuttle buses" that often were broken and ran very infrequently. The food was decent, though nothing spectacular. They had expensive drinks and breakfast buffet. The all-day grill with TVs was okay and kid-friendly, though woefully understaffed at times. The main bar -- no matter who was tending -- seemed less than thrilled to provide us with drinks, even juice for the little ones. The Equator restaurant had nice views, but the place was so busy that the service was rushed and felt very un-vacation like. The more upscale Turtle Bay restaurant was more formal and quite nice but, again, nothing like a high-end NY restaurant. The clientle seemed to range from the old money, older crowd that have been vacationing here since Laurence Rockefeller bought the property, to young parents with babies. There were not too many teens or young, childless couples. Also, there were no TVs, phones, or radios in the rooms (a bit of a drag when you are trying to order laundry service or secure a dinner reservation). They had an acceptable workout room with out of date equipment, but moderately well maintained and air conditioned. The resort definitely did not draw the beautiful, young and hip crowd. But, for laid back families or eco-tourism interested couples, it would be a decent place to stay. 27 users found this review helpful. 7 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was a beautiful property on a beautiful island. Visited: February 2006 Posted by heeldawg Caneel Bay is possibly the most beautiful resort property in the US Virgin Islands, with seven beaches and 170 well-manicured acres. It is quiet, and unobtrusive - there are no phones and no TV. It is definitely "low-tech" (and proud of it). Caneel Bay is not a bustling center of hoppin' nightlife. It is definitely not underpriced (it ain't cheap, folks)! It is also not a great place for teens (they'd be bored). It is also not a shopping mecca, nor a playground for those who expect to have their noses (and other orifices) wiped by a subservient and over-indulgent staff. We've stayed here three times. The grounds are always amazing, as are the beaches. The Turtle Bay restaurant is excellent, but overpriced. The Beach Terrace buffets are good, but overpriced. The Sugar Mill/Equator Restaurant is pretty bad, and overpriced. The service can range from excellent to middling; the older staff members are much more accommodating and professional. They do respond well to compliments. We go here to relax and just "get away," and Caneel is perfect for that. St. John is a beautful island, and there is a lot to do to outdoors (sailing, snorkeling, scuba, tennis, hiking) if that's your gig (it's ours). But don't expect a 52-inch flat screen TV in your room. And don't expect Ritz-Carlton levels of luxury in the rooms. The Caneel Bay rooms are nice, but you are clearly at the beach. Still, we love it. That's why we keep going back. 24 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Here, you'll find the best beaches and very good food, but the service needs work. Visited: June 2005 Posted by revak172 I've been visiting Caneel Bay since I was 11 years old (now 42). Caneel Bay has some of the best beaches on the island, if not the world - white, powdery sand and turquoise waters so clear you can see 50 feet. Also, the snorkeling is awesome. Rafts are provided, as well as hammocks - so you can laze away an afternoon. Most of the rooms are nice, but some of the older ones need refreshing. They are simple and comfortable, so if you are looking for plush luxury and gilded furnishings, Caneel is not for you. My husband finds it to be very overpriced, and he is probably right - but I love it anyway. The beautiful seashell placed on my pillow each night, the mango bath products, and plush terry robes are all the luxury I desire. I find myself anxious each night to get back to the room just to see what kind of shell I'll find on my pillow that night. There are several places to eat within the extensive and beautifully maintained resort. The Equator, formerly known as The Sugar Mill, is a round restaurant set amidst old sugar ruins that has lovely views of St. Thomas. They serve great food. I highly recommend the cinnamon ice cream. The tea served on the terrace at the Turtle Bay Estate House is lovely, as are the views (especially at sunset). In the evening, the restaurant opens (which is also very good). The breakfast buffet at the main restaurant is extensive, and right at the water's edge. The wait staff at all three are excellent, and most will go out of their way to please you. The negatives: the maid service, the staff at the lounge, and the front desk definitely did not provide five-star service. The rooms are clean, but if you request shampoo to be replenished, it doesn't always arrive despite the tips. Also, the staff at the lounge is not very accommodating or friendly. The front desk staff, while very friendly, are not always efficient, and the check-in process can be quite tedious and aggravating. Despite those frustrations, I find myself always looking forward to a visit to Caneel. 14 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a beautiful resort for a tranquil getaway. Visited: February 2005 Posted by edward_d My wife, son (age 15) and I spent President's week at Caneel Bay. The transfer from the St. Thomas Airport to the resort was perfect. It was very convenient to check in here, get on the taxi for the short trip to their dock in Charlotte Amalie, then on their ferry to the dock in Caneel Bay (about 45 minutes). Also, it was nice that they handled the luggage from the airport to the room. After a cool towel and cold drink, we were taken to our room, and the luggage followed a few minutes later. We reserved a tennis garden room, which appeared to be one of the newer units. It was very spacious, with a cathedral ceiling and sliding glass doors out onto a large terrace. We had a king sized bed and a single bed, and there was plenty of room. A big postitve was the extra bed we had ordered was a"real" bed, not just a rollaway cot, and was quite comfortable. But the best feature of the room was the bathroom. It was huge with double sinks, closet, shelves, and a large circular shower made from coral and shells. The soap and shampoo smelled terrific. We also had ordered a refrigerator to keep drinks and snacks in the room, which was a good idea. As nice as the room was, the beaches and grounds made Caneel so special. Of the seven beaches, each had its own flavor. Caneel Beach was the busiest, with the dock and kayaks and sunfish. This was also were the families with younger children tended to stay. In addition, non-guests of the resort could use this beach. Our son had a great time with the kayaks and fishing off the dock. The other beaches were less busy and more relaxing. Everyone had their favorite (ours was Scott Beach), but spend some time at all of them. The snorkeling was great at all beaches. The coral and vegetation had really come back after the hurricane a few years ago. There were plenty of fish of a wide variety, in addition to turtles and sting rays. Things were spread out, but walking the grounds was beautiful, or take the shuttle. One day we took the trip to their sister resort, Little Dix Bay, on Virgin Gorda. Beware - the ferry ride can be rough. We went to The Baths, which were geologically interesting, but quite rugged and treacherous to walk around. We found the service to be quite good and friendly. If you want to be pampered all day this may not be for you; it is more restful, peaceful and tranquil. They don't interfere, they accommodate. The food and service at all three dining locations was terrific. Before arriving, I had sent a few emails with questions or asking to make reservations. It usually took over a week to respond, if at all, and often what they agreeded to do was not done, but they worked it out once we arrived. 20 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was a beautiful place, but badly managed. Visited: March 2004 Posted by harrycot99 It's too sad- this was one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean. The beaches were just fabulous, the setting was superb, but the whole thing was just too badly managed and not at all thought out. It is amazing that Rosewood let them get away with it. The natural beauty of the property was staggering, but on the downside- the staff was generally fine, but some were unacceptably rude (particularly in the main restaurant and bar). The lack of a phone in the room made organizing anything very difficult, and the transportation around the place was just absurd. The best thing they could do would be to give all rooms a bike. 6 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Equator Restaurant Visited: March 2004 Posted by lechavous I planned a surprise dinner birthday for my wife at the Equator restaurant only to have the evening totally ruined by the staff of this restaurant. First, they bungled the reservation that I called in 10 days prior. Second, they have a "special" room called the Ruins that I had to get approved by a manager. When we arrived for dinner the table was not ready and then we were made to wait for almost an hour without any kind words or apology from the manager on duty. On top of it all, this manager decided to charge me a "set-up" fee at the end of dinner, even though the table was not ready AND I was never told about this fee. She then proceeded to illegally charge my credit card for this fee after I told her it was unfair to bill me for this charge. Needless to say, I hope to never run across her path again and, frankly, I do not see how she became the manager with that type of customer service. I hope this incident does not reflect how service is a the resort since they have much higher rates that other stays on the island. 3 users found this review helpful. 5 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Beautiful grounds, but not beautiful service. Visited: July 2003 Posted by rayandanastasia My husband and I honeymooned here. This is how I would rate the property: Atmosphere- 5 stars, the beaches, and the restaurants were all pleasing to the eye and well maintained, the rooms were a bit tired, but they were very comfortable. Food- 3 Stars- the food was okay, but the prices were out of control. The banana mudslide was delicious (when they had bananas, which was 2 out of the 8 days we were here). Service 1 Star- This truly could be a 5-star resort if the staff just got their act together and smiled a bit. It was like pulling teeth for us to get anyone to smile. Staff in restaurants seemed "put out" to have us there. The housekeeping staff was terrible; they would insist on entering the room even if our “do not disturb” sign was up. All in all the beaches, and the atmosphere is wonderful here, but the service makes this resort sub par for the money you will spend. 4 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? An incredible property with less than stellar service. Visited: May 2003 Posted by mking We just returned from our honeymoon at Caneel Bay and overall, it was a wonderful trip. I would rate specific aspects of Caneel as follows: Property, beaches - 5 stars. The property itself was exceptional and the beaches were truly the most beautiful I have ever seen. The snorkeling at Scott Beach and Turtle Bay beach was wonderful. The grounds were immaculate and the views were truly spectacular. Room - 4 stars. The rooms were spacious and clean. The twice-daily housekeeping service was great and the the linens were very nice. It was referenced in some of the reviews that there were issues with bugs. However, we didn't see one bug in our room while we were here. The only negative was that the rooms were old and very much in need of updating/renovating. Service - 2 stars. This was really the only place where we could say that Caneel was truly lacking. It was not that service was slow, it was just generally bad. Staff at the restaurants seemed completely apathetic and, at times, ignored us. They wouldn't ask if we wanted a refill on our drinks or dessert before they brought us our bill. On one occasion, when my husband made a special request at one of the restaurants, the waiter very strongly alluded to the fact that he expected a larger tip for fulfilling the request (which we had planned to do anyway). Also, we requested items from the front desk and had to ask again eight hours later when they never arrived. When I said hello to the staff in passing, much of time they wouldn't even respond. There were a few exceptions but, given that we were spending close to $800 per day at the resort, we would have expected signficantly more with respect to service. It was the one thing that would keep us from going back. All in all, it was a truly beautiful place. We'd go back in a second if the service was better. 5 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Unacceptable for a 5 star resort Visited: April 2003 Posted by cinbeach We planned a 10 night vacation to St. Thomas and St. John. We spent 3 nights at the Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas which was absolutely wonderful. Gorgeous rooms and excellent service. We then left on the 4th day for what we thought would be an even better stay at Caneel Bay. When we arrived our room was not ready so we waited for 4 hours until it was. When we arrived at the room we were shocked. It was small and totally outdated as far as design. The furniture was old probably original to 1956 when the resort was built and had no character at all except that of a cheap motel room. When you are paying $700 plus a night I expect luxury which this was not. We immediatley went to the manager and told him we were leaving. We went back to the Ritz Carlton for the rest of our vacation. If you do not mind spending these prices for this type of lackluster room then this is the place for you. If you want luxury all the way then go to the Ritz Carlton. 6 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had the perfect vacation. Visited: February 2003 Posted by brennan812 We just came back from Caneel and we had such an amazing vacation. The view from our room was breathtaking. Every aspect of the trip was wonderful. The food was superb and the service was excellent. They had a nice wine selection. Everyone was so friendly. We rented a jeep and traveled all over the island. The one thing we will suggest is to use the bug spray in the room after dusk, so you don't miss the sunset over Caneel Bay - it was beautiful! 6 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A pretty good resort with the Best beaches on St. John Visited: November 2002 Posted by honorabley After deciding upon St. John as a destination, we were torn between the Westin and Caneel Bay. The Westin had a man made beach, which was just no comparison to the natural beauty of all of Caneel's beaches. We also were originally concerned that Caneel's small pool was located far from our room and hence would be not easily accessable. The reality was that the beaches and water at Hawksnest Beach on Caneel, made swimming for our two small children more pleasurable than the pool. Suggestions for improvement at Caneel Bay: 1) They need to provide each guest with a golf cart. Getting around the property meant waiting for the "Caneel Bus Service", often for 10 to 15 minutes. Even worse, at peak times the Caneel Bus (which was in reality a small van or extended golf cart) could be completely full, thus requiring you to wait for the next one. 2)The restaurants needed to focus on quality and quantity of food (as opposed to making a small portion on a big plate look like an art work). Also, the Caneel Bay restaurants were way overpriced. Coincidently, trying to make dinner reservations in Cruz Bay was even more challenging proposition. Not to mention renting a car and trying to find a parking spot in Cruz Bay took the "relax" out of the meaning of vacation. 3)The bugs in the rooms were terrible. Instead of providing Raid and Off (each room contained a complimentary container of each), they should install smaller screens on the windows. The small flying bugs were all over our room, as well as the two other rooms that were occupied by traveling companions of ours. Overall, by staying at Caneel Bay you are choosing the best beaches on St. John. As long as you plan on using the Caneel beaches every day, and all day, Caneel is the place to go. 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A beautiful, relaxing vacation spot! Visited: October 2002 Posted by monica1 My husband and I chose Caneel Bay for our first vacation alone together since the birth of our 4-year old daughter. Upon arrival at St. Thomas airport, we were escorted by taxi to Caneel's own ferry for the 30 minute ride to the resort. It was complete with rum punch.We were handed chilled lemon-scented towels at Caneel's dock, a nice refreshing touch. When we arrived at our room, our bags were there waiting for us. We were delighted to find we'd been upgraded from an oceanview to a beachfront room on Hawksnest Beach. The setting could not have been more beautiful! Although the room was simply decorated, it was more than made up for by the fact that we could step out the door and onto the beach. We enjoyed sleeping with the louvers open at night, being lulled to sleep by the sound of the surf and the frogs singing. The bed and pillows were comfy, and Caneel provided robes, plenty of towels and terrific island-scented bath products for our use. As others have noted, you will see tiny ants at times and when your room is on the beach, undoubtedly you will track in some sand, but if you choose Caneel, you're doing it for its natural beauty. This is not the Ritz. Hawksnest was an ideal beach. The whole time we were here, we never saw more than 6 people on the beach. It was wonderful to be able to skinny-dip under the stars at night and watch the sun come up over Peace Hill in the morning. The snorkeling was also excellent, but we saw more diverse sea life, including squid and several sting rays, at neighboring Scott Beach. The resort itself was beautifully maintained given its size. We enjoyed quiet walks along paths surrounded by flowers and lit by flaming torches and path lights at night. There was a shuttle that ran continously around the property for those who wished to use it, since things were pretty spread out. As for the food, as we expected, it was expensive. Complimentary continental breakfast was served from 6-8AM. The hot buffet breakfast was very good and the service was excellent - as it should be for $50/per couple. We enjoyed lunch at the bar where the food and drinks were excellent. We called ahead to request a refrigerator in the room, which was great because although there was a minibar, everything was ridiculously expensive. We ate dinner at the Equator, which had a great view of the twinkling lights of St.Thomas and was housed in the beautiful stone ruins of a sugar mill. The setting was wonderful;the food was ok. Several nights we went into Cruz Bay to eat. We enjoyed a wonderful meal and sunset at Stone Terrace and more casual fare at The Fish Trap. We also loved Duffy's Love Shack for the music and atmosphere. All in all, this was a beautiful vacation. 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was very, very nice! Visited: July 2002 Posted by 2palmers The Caneel Bay was beautiful and and provided a quiet setting. We spent 3 days at Caneel at the end of a Caribbean boat charter. It was an excellent way to end a fantastic vacation. We are looking forward to the next trip. 2 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Caneel Bay offered beautiful grounds and beaches. Visited: July 2002 Posted by reb1 We enjoyed our stay here. Check-in was done at the airport, and we were personally greeted and escorted to our room upon arrival to St. John via Caneel Bay's ferry. It was a quiet and relaxing place - there were phones in the reception area and by the gift shop to make calls, and two computers with e-mail access. My complaint would be on the room. For the kind of money you are shelling out, I think it could have been better. While towels and soaps were plentiful and first-class, the floor was always in need of sweeping. There were tiny bugs by the sink area which bothered me. We requested a roll-away bed for our child and the boxspring was all beat up. It looked like it was ready for curbside pickup! I don't mind simple and tasteful, but honestly, my room looked tired. We ate at all three restaurants, but wandered the island and found many good and less expensive places as well. Their beaches were spectacular and always seemed uncrowded. They gave us complimentary snorkeling gear to use for the week and guests may use rafts, kayaks, and sunfish as well. If they'd do something about the rooms, I'd give it 5 stars. 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?

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