$$$
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
A Great Bay luxury resort offering private balconies with views across to St. John and spacious marble bathrooms.
Exceptional · Deep coverage · read from 0 sources · 0 traveler insights
84
RoomExpert Score
Exceptional
The verdict
Who's travelling?
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
Read it your way
Set on the East End of St. Thomas along Great Bay, this luxury resort features spacious guestrooms with private balconies and upscale marble bathrooms. Guests highlight the unobstructed water vistas toward Cruz Bay and St. John alongside comfortable beds fitted with down pillows and crisp linens. However, visitors frequently cite high food and beverage tabs, mixed dining quality, and occasional service lapses as primary downsides. The secluded location also means there is nothing within walking distance, requiring rental cars or cab fares to explore off-property. 91324
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- Accommodations receive high marks for comfort, featuring signature mattresses, crisp linens, and large closets. 4
- Bathrooms are a standout highlight, equipped with double sinks, light grain wood vanities, and spacious rain showers. 138
- Private balconies provide expansive ocean vistas of Great Bay and across to St. John. 1321
- The sheltered bay setting offers calm, crystal-clear waters well suited for paddleboarding. 16137
The catch
- Dining earns mixed reactions: some praise island specialties like fish tacos and Sicilian dinners at Alloro, while others describe the food as ordinary, overpriced, and poorly executed. 9
- Service is similarly polarizing, with several guests commending friendly restaurant and bar staff while others report rude front desk interactions and rooms not being ready at check-in. 134
Who it's for
- — Travelers wanting a secluded Great Bay resort
- — Guests prioritizing spacious marble bathrooms and ocean views
- — Paddleboarders looking for calm water
Skip it if
- — Budget-conscious travelers avoiding high on-site food costs
- — Those wanting walkable dining and nightlife outside the resort
- — Light sleepers sensitive to hallway noise
How to book
With points
88,000 points a night
Marriott Bonvoy · priced October 21, moves with demand
One night, standard room. Award prices move with demand and availability is not checked here.
Search Marriott on points →Book with us
Score breakdown
How the 84/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
91read from 1 source · Deep coverage
Location
90read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas is perfectly located on idyllic Great Bay, with calm, crystal-clear waters that make it one of my all-time favorite spots to paddleboard in the entire Caribbean.” 16
- “Despite the lavish accommodations (and top-notch service), recent guests claim this Ritz-Carlton outpost's best feature is its enviable location.” 14
Room
88read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “-Rooms are spacious, clean, and have a gorgeous view (get a balcony room)!” 18
- “Of course at the Ritz you expect the most discerning taste in suite decor and our room did not disappoint. The design in bright and freshly modern with some classical touches. We found the rooms were quite spacious and the balcony as well.” 20
Service
86read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “Dinner at Essenza was incredible and the service was phenomenal.” 20
- “I will have a full trip report when I return but in short the staff is exceptional (can't say enough nice things about these wonderful people), the grounds are superb, and the rooms (at least the club room suites which is is one of the new buildings--there are "older" buidlings on one side of the property and newer buildings on the other side) are beautiful!” 21
Bed & Sleep
90read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “Each room features the signature Ritz-Carlton bed (we've had clients so impressed that they've ordered the mattress for their own homes!) and elegant marble bathrooms, providing the perfect spot to refresh and seamlessly transition from a day of adventure to an evening of relaxation.” 16
- “The bed was large and luxurious with plenty of pillows to go around and crisp, clean linens.” 4
Value
72read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands has one of the Caribbean's best luxury resort settings, and an Aug. 29 rate check found late-summer prices around $644 per night.” 1
- “When making your reservation, consider purchasing the Club Level. For a relatively fair price, this private space provides delicious food and premium beverages, including breakfast, light lunch, and heavy hors d'oeuvres at night.” 2
Where it is, how to reach it
6900 Great Bay
U.S. Virgin Islands
00802 Caribbean
Details checked 2026-09-04
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Trails its peers
Falls short of what $$$ usually buys
Scores 8 points below the upscale median of 92, across 282 hotels in the same bracket.
Price bracket
$$$
Upscale
- This hotel
- 84
- Bracket median
- 92
- Index median
- 88
Based on 282 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
Ask for
- 4 mentions
- 1 mention
Avoid
No location within the hotel draws repeated complaints yet.
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
Service
75
Food
74
Bed & Sleep
61
Value
60
Location
42
Bathroom
18
Room
13
View the 110 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
Value16 mentions
- “-Resort fee is $50 and good value IMO. It includes cost of getting life-jackets, sail boats, snorkel gear etc.” 18
- “The one restaurant that we saw open for dinner each time had a very limited menu & was very expensive.” 21
- “Yes, dining and drinks can be expensive, which is common feedback for this resort and many higher-end Caribbean properties.” 7
- “Underbudgeting food and drinks, then feeling surprised by the total cost once on property.” 7
- “And, yeah, the RC drinks & food are expensive just like any other RC I've visited. Maybe a bit more in STT because it's a Caribbean island.” 18
- “Stayed there twice and at other ritz Carlton's. Don't think it's worth the price.” 10
- “At both the Ritz and the Marriott, the food is fairly ordinary, overpriced, and underserviced. For better food, I suggest venturing five minutes away to Red Hook (check out the Poet's bistro, among others).” 9
- “The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands has one of the Caribbean's best luxury resort settings, and an Aug. 29 rate check found late-summer prices around $644 per night.” 1
- “For dinner, the Great Bay Lounge serves subpar (for the price) sushi and other Asian fare.” 9
- “When making your reservation, consider purchasing the Club Level. For a relatively fair price, this private space provides delicious food and premium beverages, including breakfast, light lunch, and heavy hors d'oeuvres at night.” 2
- “The tradeoff is cost. Food and beverage pricing is a common pain point in guest feedback, and that is not unusual for higher-end Caribbean resorts.” 7
- “-Food/drinks on the property are expensive but Red Hook isn't much cheaper either. They are all priced to make a buck off the tourists.” 18
- “Choose a regular ocean-view room if the goal is to spend most of your time outside: Great Bay, the pools, St. John and the boat. The value proposition becomes especially persuasive when rates are sitting near the current $644-per-night level.” 1
- “Sounds good, but I wonder how much the Luxury Picnic Experience will set one back. Considering the Resort Fee is now $75 per night at this property, it should be free!” 18
- “If your dream trip depends on a soft, wide, perfectly sandy swimming beach, or if you are very sensitive to expensive food and beverage pricing, you need to understand the tradeoffs before booking.” 7
- “The restaurants are not expensive in my opinion - it is a high-end resort and the prices are in line.” 21
Room15 mentions
- “-Rooms are spacious, clean, and have a gorgeous view (get a balcony room)!” 18
- “The indoor-outdoor lobby immediately puts Great Bay into the frame, and the guestrooms have the kinds of small functional details that actually improve a stay: easily reached outlets, USB connections, a hidden Nespresso station and motion-activated bathroom lighting.” 1
- “Of course at the Ritz you expect the most discerning taste in suite decor and our room did not disappoint. The design in bright and freshly modern with some classical touches. We found the rooms were quite spacious and the balcony as well.” 20
- “The balcony was spacious albeit no frills, with two basic loungers and chairs at the ready.” 4
- “All the furnishings looked brand-new, modern in design, and the room was spotless.” 4
- “Room was a king suite and view was nice.” 10
- “The closet was big enough to fit an entire resort wear collection and housed the room's safe, which was easy to use and large enough to accommodate a bevy of electronics and travel documents.” 4
- “There was also a sleek set of drawers under the flat-screen TV that housed a mini-fridge and DIY Nespresso coffee station with all the fixins'. There was also a chaise lounge in the room that, while large for the room, was quite comfortable.” 4
- “The room was top-notch and the staff wonderful.” 4
- “From stylish standard rooms to spacious three-bedroom suites, there's something for everyone here. But don't be fooled-there's nothing "standard" about these rooms. Every space is plush and luxurious, even at entry level.” 16
- “The room - especially the bathroom - at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, was the highlight of the stay.” 4
- “Rooms at the resort were clean, and ours were spacious at 450 square feet, and luxurious, but it was the full bathrooms that were most impressive.” 13
- “Both rooms had a private balcony that faced west with great sunset views (though in the future, I would request an east-facing building with ocean-view balconies of Cruz Bay and St. John.)” 13
- “New contemporary island décor complements resort-wide ocean views, and a spacious layout provides places to gather as well as quiet corners to get away.” 8
- “After a $100 million renovation in 2019, the refreshed guest rooms offer island-inspired elegance in decor and design.” 14
Food25 mentions
- “Alloro, an Italian-inspired restaurant, was a highlight of the culinary offerings at the resort.” 13
- “Sails, the casual beachfront restaurant, serves fish tacos, poke bowls, chicken sandwiches, and burgers. We had lunch at Sails restaurant on our day of arrival and, though our burgers and sandwiches were fairly standard, they did the trick after a long morning of travel.” 13
- “The food is mediocre at best and also dealt with cold water for entire stay.” 10
- “But the food and service don't compare to swankier Ritzs elsewhere.” 9
- “Food and beverage excels island fares in renovated luxury accommodations, with five-star service.” 2
- “For breakfast, the Ritz has a top-notch buffet at the Bleuwater restaurant -- most guests love the crepes.” 9
- “All three restaurants at the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas are exceptional!” 16
- “Room service is 24 hours, like any Ritz-Carlton, but most guests complain about the quality.” 9
- “The food could still be a gamble, but if you opt for the Club Level option and/or dine in Red Hook as a Plan B, you should be good to go.” 4
- “Slow restaurant service -- expect to wait upawards of 30 minutes for a drink order, a dessert menu, or the check.” 9
- “The chips and guac (called Hallamole on the menu, $14), on the other hand, was frankly terrible. Stale cuts of various root vegetables were piled into a basket with a side of guacamole that was oxidized and tasted store-bought.” 4
- “Views from almost anywhere at the resort are spectacular and the vistas, especially from Alloro restaurant, took my breath away at times.” 13
- “t nights and the food here, too, isn't very impressive.” 9
- “Dining on site isn't great but there's a good restaurant a 10 min walk away (Caribbean fish market) and better options via taxi.” 10
- “The food is mediocre at best and also dealt with cold water for entire stay. Also had an incident when leaving where they overbooked taxi leaving and never really took fault for it. Luckily didn't miss my flight but they made me feel like it was my fault and didn't take responsibility.” 10
- “Dinner at Essenza was incredible and the service was phenomenal.” 20
- “The one restaurant that we saw open for dinner each time had a very limited menu & was very expensive.” 21
- “On our last morning, we opted for room service: bagels and cream cheese, fruit smoothies and coffee ($79 total). We were told it would take 35 minutes but the food did not show up until almost an hour after we ordered.” 4
- “We were able to sample a few of the restaurants over our short stay and each one one was fantastic. We had lunch at Sails and loved the fresh seafood offerings and fun atmosphere.” 20
- “When making your reservation, consider purchasing the Club Level. For a relatively fair price, this private space provides delicious food and premium beverages, including breakfast, light lunch, and heavy hors d'oeuvres at night.” 2
- “The menu focused on the Island, and we were served wonderful Fish Tacos and Lobster Tacos, accompanied by pineapple salsa, chipotle mayo, and pickled onions.” 2
- “Dinner at Essenza was incredible and the service was phenomenal. We had brunch at Bleuwater the morning we checked out and we fully enjoyed the buffet as well as a la carte options.” 20
- “The menu leans Caribbean with a focus on seafood and grilled dishes, and everything we had was really good.” 12
- “The restaurant was, however, open for breakfast (if you can find it - the space is unmarked except for faded lettering over a nonworking entrance). It was the best meal we had during our stay.” 4
- “Dining at Alloro for dinner, where "fine dining transports you to Sicily by way of St. Thomas," was not as disappointing, but still not great.” 4
Service34 mentions
- “Dinner at Essenza was incredible and the service was phenomenal.” 20
- “The restaurant and grounds staff at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, were excellent from start to finish: friendly, speedy and knowledgeable.” 4
- “The beach loungers were super comfy as well; there were ever present beach staff who were on hand to set up your loungers, attend to your questions and your needs and take orders for beverages or snacks.” 20
- “Thomas, so if you're planning a trip to the USVI, this is the best option. That being said, don't set your standards toooo high. It's great. But service is a little on island time (but the people are SO nice!).” 12
- “Expecting mainland-style speed from every service interaction instead of allowing for a more relaxed island pace.” 7
- “The warm and sunny demeanor of the staff adds to the charm, creating a welcoming and friendly atmosphere that makes you feel right at ease.” 16
- “I will have a full trip report when I return but in short the staff is exceptional (can't say enough nice things about these wonderful people), the grounds are superb, and the rooms (at least the club room suites which is is one of the new buildings--there are "older" buidlings on one side of the property and newer buildings on the other side) are beautiful!” 21
- “The resort is lucky to have such incredible staff working, who at least made the experience pleasant overall - and also knew how to make a great Negroni.” 4
- “Slow response to service requests -- you might have to wait 20 to 40 minutes for help fixing a broken toilet or getting a bucket of ice to the room.” 9
- “The hotel itself was lovely but the service is absolutely terrible and not Ritz standards.” 10
- “We were met with cold towels and rum punch for the parents, and lemongrass iced tea for the kids, before being promptly whisked to a small side room for check-in. There is no traditional lobby and check-in was seamless.” 13
- “Unlike the Ritz-Carlton in Rose Hall, Jamaica or in Key Biscayne, Miami, the St. Thomas Ritz was far less warm, friendly, attentive, or even polite.” 9
- “Despite official check in being a mere 10 minutes away (4 p.m.), the room was not ready. This was especially hard to comprehend after a staffer mentioned the hotel was only 40% full at the time of our visit.” 4
- “The open air lobby is beautifully designed and of course the staff and service were near perfect.” 20
- “The Ritz brand's renowned service was, as usual, friendly and impeccably timed.” 13
- “There is no traditional lobby and check-in was seamless. That said, as there is no traditional 'front desk', we often found it hard to locate staff when we had questions and the phone to the front desk sometimes went unanswered.” 13
- “island service will frustrate you. Those are not small details. They are the details that shape how the vacation feels once you are there.” 7
- “Area is very quiet so if you're looking for nightlife nearby, you won't find any. We thought it was decent for a quick trip from the US with good scenery and found the service around the pool to be fine.” 10
- “The service, as we would experience throughout our stay, was top-notch. The local staff were friendly, attentive and the best part of every meal.” 4
- “The hotel airport transfer service is seamless and speedy. With an arrivals lobby right outside the baggage claim, there is no need to maneuver your way through the masses to find your driver.” 15
- “Nearby are the spa and restaurants, where you'll be tended to by friendly staff.” 8
- “The water is calm and resort staff pay close attention to any guests using the Hobie cats and kayaks. More than once I saw them race off in a motorized dinghy to help guests struggling with the winds of Cruz Bay, and it was nice to know they were paying such close attention.” 13
- “Staff is great, view from room is gorgeous and 24hr hot tub/pools are awesome.” 18
- “Worst experience of my life. Staff was rude. Got hung up on, argued with, locked out of my room.” 10
- “Despite the lavish accommodations (and top-notch service), recent guests claim this Ritz-Carlton outpost's best feature is its enviable location.” 14
- “As for the property, it is very nice but personally I think its overpriced for the service and quality.” 18
- “The open-air reception features neutral colors, hanging woven light fixtures and a contemporary island style that I loved.” 13
- “Staff was rude. Got hung up on, argued with, locked out of my room.” 10
- “Food and beverage excels island fares in renovated luxury accommodations, with five-star service.” 2
- “My husband and I arrived at the resort around 3:50 p.m. We were met by friendly hotel staff who directed us to the check-in desk where a cold towel and delicious iced beverage (with optional Cruzan rum topper!) appeared within minutes.” 4
- “An hour later, we finally received a call that the room was ready. We waited 15 minutes for the bellman to meet us at Sails as directed by the receptionist but eventually gave up when no one showed, and walked back up to the entrance to retrieve our luggage and room keys.” 4
- “But the food and service don't compare to swankier Ritzs elsewhere.” 9
- “Reception was hit or miss, at times unable to answer basic questions about operations.” 4
- “However, the chairs and chaise lounges deffffinitely leave a lot to be desired, however (plastic and tired), I wish they were nice cushioned five star beach chairs, since theirs definitely give more 4-star vibes.” 12
Location9 mentions
- “Most people either don't know, or don't have the time to go to the East End...which is where the Ritz is excellently located.” 18
- “The Ritz is located on a protected marine-life sanctuary, but there's nothing to do or see within walking distance -- plan to rent a car or pay a small fortune in cab fares.” 9
- “Despite the lavish accommodations (and top-notch service), recent guests claim this Ritz-Carlton outpost's best feature is its enviable location.” 14
- “The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas sits on Great Bay in St. Thomas, is easy to get to from the airport (and lots of direct flights into STT), and immediately feels colonial-chic, breezy, and cute!” 12
- “The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas is perfectly located on idyllic Great Bay, with calm, crystal-clear waters that make it one of my all-time favorite spots to paddleboard in the entire Caribbean.” 16
- “The resort is located on the eastern side of St. Thomas, in the Great Bay area. That location gives it a more tucked-away resort feel while still keeping you within reach of island activities, boating, and day-trip opportunities.” 7
- “I stayed at RC last year and it's a great location.” 18
- “While our dining experience had some hits and misses, we loved the resort's proximity to nearby Red Hook when we wanted to leave the property.” 13
- “The resort is a manageable drive from Cyril E. King Airport, though transfer time can vary based on traffic, time of day, and arrival conditions.” 7
Bathroom6 mentions
- “With a double sink, light grain wood vanity and massive rain shower, the bathroom was one of the nicest we have seen in a Ritz anywhere.” 13
- “This Ritz is immaculate, at least to the minimum extent that guests expect from the Ritz-Carlton brand. But the St. Thomas Ritz is a little less polished than others I've been to. Bathroom faucets show obvious wear. Some fountains dribble from the molded lion's head. There were a few neglected ashtrays outside the rooms. But on the whole, the hotel is remarkably clean.” 9
- “The room - especially the bathroom - at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, was the highlight of the stay.” 4
- “The lower shelf of the vanity was lined with automatic track lighting that turned on as soon as you walked in - a smart and useful feature.” 4
- “The shower was spacious and included a Raindance showerhead.” 4
- “The bathroom was beyond spacious with a shower stall, private toilet, large vanity area and the kind of deep soaking tub that vacation dreams are made of.” 4
Bed & Sleep3 mentions
- “Each room features the signature Ritz-Carlton bed (we've had clients so impressed that they've ordered the mattress for their own homes!) and elegant marble bathrooms, providing the perfect spot to refresh and seamlessly transition from a day of adventure to an evening of relaxation.” 16
- “Oddly, no protective or decorative covering was fitted onto the lower mattress, which made for a strange-looking setup.” 4
- “The bed was large and luxurious with plenty of pillows to go around and crisp, clean linens.” 4
Noise1 mention
- “Noise travels from room to room -- I could certainly hear housekeeping shouting from outside my door, the neighbor's door, and all the way down the hall.” 9
View1 mention
- “This outdoor space would have been the ideal spot for relaxing except for the fact that the view from our building was of the ongoing grounds construction as well as the back of Sails, with limited views of the water.” 4
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about floor level.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about position on the floor.
- 12 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 18/100We read 0 sources for this property, covering 0 traveler mentions, boiled down to 0 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-09-04.
0
Editorial
0
Blogs & sites
0
Video reviews
0
Podcast segments
Breadth
0
Depth
0
Freshness
92
Watch this hotel
We keep reading The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas. Tell us when you're staying and we'll follow it until then — you'll hear from us only when the verdict is rewritten, the score moves, or new reviews land. No daily mail, and the watch closes itself after your stay.
Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
6 of 6 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 22 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 1St. Thomas Has the Caribbean Ritz-Carlton You May Have ...caribjournal.comReview site2026-08-30Current5 quotes used
“The indoor-outdoor lobby immediately puts Great Bay into the frame, and the guestrooms have the kinds of small functional details that actually improve a stay: easily reached outlets, USB connections, a hidden Nespresso…”
Read originalcaribjournal.com - 7Ritz Carlton St Thomas Review: Is This USVI Resort Worth It?travelingears.comReview site2026-06-24Current11 quotes used
“Yes, dining and drinks can be expensive, which is common feedback for this resort and many higher-end Caribbean properties.”
Read originaltravelingears.com - 12Staying at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas in the USVIjetsetchristina.comReview site2026-03-27Current6 quotes used
“Thomas, so if you're planning a trip to the USVI, this is the best option. That being said, don't set your standards toooo high. It's great. But service is a little on island time (but the people are SO nice!).”
Read originaljetsetchristina.com - 2Hotel Review: The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomasbusinesstraveller.comReview site2025-11-03Recent9 quotes used
“Food and beverage excels island fares in renovated luxury accommodations, with five-star service.”
Read originalbusinesstraveller.com - 10Has anyone stayed at the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas?reddit.comForum thread2024-11-11Ageing15 quotes used
“I would say it's fine but not one of the best for the Ritz. Rooms were fine and recently updated.”
Read originalreddit.com - 16Ritz Carlton St. Thomas Hotel Reviewcaribbeanjourney.comReview site2024-08-18Ageing7 quotes used
“The warm and sunny demeanor of the staff adds to the charm, creating a welcoming and friendly atmosphere that makes you feel right at ease.”
Read originalcaribbeanjourney.com
Showing 6 of 22 cited · 0 read
1/4
More in St. Thomas
All St. Thomas hotels →This is the only property we’ve covered here so far. Head back to the city page to see what else is being read.
Browse hotels like this