The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

The resort was enjoyable, particularly for families with young children, but the $1,500 nightly price didn’t match the accommodations. The room was fairly standard, like a typical $200 Marriott, with the balcony view as its main standout. Dining was limited to four restaurants. Sails and Coconut Cove had very similar menus, Blue Water only served breakfast, and Alloro’s food was good but the service was exceptionally slow. We waited about 45-50 minutes, and our server forgot our drinks until near the end of the meal. Service overall lacked the professionalism I’d expect at a luxury resort. A front desk representative didn’t know a property policy and said I was wrong, then later corrected herself. I’m fine paying more for outstanding quality and service, but this felt overpriced and fell short of the luxury expectations.

The Lady Lynsey catamaran trip was a huge highlight: we booked the Soggy Dollar tour, snorkeled in St. John, and visited Jost. The crew handled passports and customs, the boat was spotless and well maintained, and getting on right in front of the resort made it even better. We loved the stay and are already talking about returning. Traveling as eight people, including a toddler and a three-month-old, was easy: check-in, checkout, and parking all went smoothly, and everything was accessible. Our condo was clean, and the crib, highchair, pack and play, and two twin beds pushed together were ready just as requested. Every staff member greeted us warmly, including the smiling gate security guard. Aaliyah in Customer Communications and our housemaid Sonia went above and beyond. Sonia cared for us all week, and the team surprised us with a cake for the two birthdays we were celebrating. On the Club side, our family had great accommodations, a well-stocked kitchen, and clean, comfortable space. We enjoyed the pools and hot tub at night. The pools were clean and a perfect temperature, but the Club hot tub felt close to 105 degrees, too hot to fully enjoy. There are lots of pools for kids, and my niece loved snow cone day. We wished the kids club took children under four, though it wasn’t a big deal. Pool staff were wonderful, towels stayed stocked, bathrooms were clean, and service was great overall. Food by the pool was slow: both quesadillas took around 45 minutes to an hour, but they were so good. We also wished there was music by the pools during the day, since it could feel quiet. Steel drums on Monday transformed the atmosphere and made it festive; we wish they had that more often. The coffee shop was expensive but very good. Breakfast at Bleuwater was excellent, especially my sister’s French toast and my breakfast burrito. Cookie hour and turndown service were lovely touches.

We celebrated Dad’s 80th birthday in a club-level room and had a wonderful experience. The club lounge worked perfectly for meals, and we enjoyed the poolside cabanas and grounds. The large adult pool was where we spent most of our time, since the beach wasn’t great for swimming due to sharp coral and rocks and sea grass. Service was top-notch, quiet, and discreet, with thoughtful extras. Our Lady Lynsey excursion to St. John was a highlight.

School vacation week was busy, with the hotel fully occupied by families from Boston and New York, but managers Joe and Marc made sure our family of five had a special stay. We were there to celebrate my son’s 13th birthday, and from our room to surprise gifts, dining, and service, everything was superb. There’s a lot to do on the property: two large pools, another pool in the residences with a volleyball net, a basketball hoop, tennis court, and 24-hour gym. The port is only a few minutes away by boat, with service every hour, so we went to St. John’s beautiful beaches for two days. Dining was good, though waits were a bit of an issue. I’d suggest making reservations, especially in a busy week like ours. Great family stay, and we’ll definitely be back.