Location
• St. John, United States Virgin Islands
• Guests visiting Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort fly into Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas (STT) accessed by American Airlines, US Airways, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, United Airlines and select regional carriers.
• 4 miles (35 minute ferry ride) from Charlotte Amalie or 1 mile (15 minute ferry ride) from Red Hook
• Resort provides St. Thomas airport reception and check-in followed by a short land transfer to Caneel Bay’s private boat service to St. John.
• Caneel Bay also offers regular boat service to its sister resort, Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. The scenic, 90-minute trip eastward through the Sir Francis Drake Channel features breathtaking views of emerald islands and turquoise waters. Among the highlights are vistas of Tortola, Norman and Peter Islands, Cooper and Ginger Islands, Beef Island and Scrub Island.
• Proof of citizenship is required to travel from the United States to the British Virgin Islands.
Resort Concept/Philosophy
Set on its own peninsula and surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Caneel Bay offers seven separate beaches on a 170-acre peninsula and is located in the heart of the 5,000-acre Virgin Islands National Park.
Managed by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Caneel Bay ensures the Rosewood signature commitment to excellence which entails unparalleled attention to detail, devotion to style and understated elegance and exceptional personalized service.
Resort History
Laurance S. Rockefeller "discovered" Caneel Bay in 1952 while sailing in the Caribbean. The total population of the island was only 400, and 85 percent of the island's topography was jungle. He foresaw the perfect vacation spot amid this unspoiled land and purchased the Caneel Bay Plantation.
In 1955, he began developing an infrastructure on the island to provide the resort with power, fresh water and roads. He oversaw every detail of the development. He donated the property to Jackson Hole Preserve, a non-profit, conservation-minded foundation supported by the Rockefeller family. The preserve later purchased 5,000 more acres surrounding Caneel Bay and donated the land to the federal government, thus paving the way for the creation of the U.S.V.I. National Park.
In 1993, Caneel Bay became a Rosewood Resort.
Beaches
Circling the peninsula, Caneel Bay features seven secluded beaches: Honeymoon Beach, Caneel Beach, Little Caneel Beach, Paradise Beach, Scott Beach, Turtle Bay Beach and Hawksnest Beach.
Each of the beaches is defined by its own unique personality. Honeymoon is the only “uninhabited” beach, free of accommodation. Caneel and Little Caneel are popular with families due to their gentle waters and abundant water sports activities. Paradise and Scott are known as the “peace and quiet” beaches and are famed for their glorious sunsets. Turtle Bay is an intimate cove with gentle breezes and picturesque island vistas. Finally, Hawksnest is known as the “wild beach” and is preferred by those seeking a golden sunrise and the lull of gentle surf.
Guest Rooms
• 166 airy, spacious guest rooms feature air-conditioning with digital in-room climate control, louvered walls, open-picture windows and ceiling fans to allow guests to take in St. John's plentiful trade winds.
• Casually elegant interiors are decorated with hand-crafted furniture, richly woven fabrics, plush reading chairs, commissioned artwork and tiled bathrooms.
• All rooms feature either a patio or balcony and offer breathtaking views of the pristine white beaches or lush tropical gardens.
• All guest rooms include sitting area, fully stocked refrigerator/mini-bar, safe, bathrobes and slippers, iron and ironing board, hairdryer and umbrella. There are no telephones or televisions in the individual guest rooms.
• Once the island home of the Rockefeller family, the famous ‘Cottage 7’ has housed celebrities and political figures, who enjoy its secluded location and its five individually designed rooms, some featuring Dutch-style, four-poster beds.
Resort Dining
CANEEL BEACH TERRACE Caneel Beach Terrace is located directly adjacent to the reception/lobby area. The dining room, which features an open-line kitchen with wood-burning oven and rotisserie, overlooks Caneel Beach. Popular for its sumptuous breakfast and lunch buffet, Caneel Beach Terrace is home to the resort’s renowned Monday night grand buffet. All meals feature the finest cuisine prepared with health and fitness in mind.
CANEEL BEACH GRILL The Caneel Beach Grill serves all-day favorites ranging from salads to burgers to meatloaf sandwiches, with a nod to relaxing flavors of 1950s home-cooking.
BREEZEWAY BAR With a view of Caneel Bay Beach, the Breezeway Bar serves refeshing cocktails throughout the day and provides a lovely vantage point for watching the arrival of boats to Caneel's dock or for enjoying views of the sun setting behind St. Thomas as evening approaches.
EQUATOR Set high atop the resort’s 18th-century sugar mill ruins, overlooking Caneel Bay with St. Thomas on the horizon, Equator features fresh seafood and grilled meats prepared with Caribbean-Asian flair. The open-air, lofty restaurant is prized for its evening breezes and spectacular sunsets. More intimate dining can be experienced in the adjacent sugar mill ruins. “Dinner in the Ruins” features romantic tiki-torch and candlelight dining amid the historic stone walls and the expansive starlit skies.
SUNSET TERRACE The open-air Sunset Terrace is perched above the Caneel Bay Bar and overlooks the water sport activity on Caneel Bay Beach. This exceptional vista serves as the perfect spot to enjoy a refreshing cocktail or a light snack.
TURTLE BAY ESTATE HOUSE Perched high on a panoramic peninsula, the Turtle Bay Estate House offers an inspired menu of contemporary American cuisine served within the walls of an 18th-century plantation house. Breakfast and lunch buffets are also served in high season at Turtle Bay. The restaurant’s verandah, surrounded by shade trees and Caribbean hardwood furniture, is the perfect setting for afternoon tea or evening cocktails.
THE WINE ROOM The Wine Room, located within the Turtle Bay Estate House seats up to 10 for private dinners. A prix-fixe, seven-course menu, carefully selected to highlight selections from Caneel's wine collection, is offered. The wine list is comprised of 265 selections to complement wine tastings and pairing dinners. The Caribbean's only fully operational, temperature-controlled wine room boasts over 1,000 bottles of wine. Weekly wine tasting is offered on a complimentary basis to preview the resort’s latest selections.
Exclusive Services
THE SELF CENTRE Located atop a quiet bluff offering breathtaking views of the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the Self Centre offers an array of mind and body approaches for stress relief, relaxation, rejuvenation and a renewed sense of self. The Self Centre, which includes something for every guest including yoga, meditation and Ayurveda, is run by creator and director Jan Kinder, a registered nurse and educator for Deepak Chopra.
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM Caneel Bay offers an extensive children's program for young guests, with the focus on making learning fun. The resort's "Turtle Town" is the hub of children's activities, including: nature walks, arts and crafts, magic shows, pirate treasure hunts, a playground fish hunt and much more. All activities take place under the guidance of caring, knowledgeable and fully trained supervisors. Parents may join their children for some or all of the activities at Turtle Town if they desire.
BABYSITTING SERVICES The resort offers a nanny service available during the day and evening hours with 24-hour notice requested. Nannies are carefully screened by qualified childcare professionals.
Leisure Activities
NATURE WALKS Choose from Caneel Bay's own nature trails or moderate to advanced trails in the national park system. Hiking affords close-up views of more than 500 species of plant life. The resort's 170 acres are criss-crossed with well maintained paths for hikers, joggers and strollers. Caneel Bay resident horticulturist, Oriel Smith, conducts nature tours of the gardens.
SIGHTSEEING The 5,000-acre Virgin Islands National Park surrounds the resort with spectacular views across the sea to other islands. Quaint shops and restaurants can be found in the nearby town of Cruz Bay. Excursions to St. Thomas, or to Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda, and other destinations can be easily arranged. The resort's kitchens can prepare picnic lunches. Historic Annaberg Plantation's restored sugar mill ruins offer a fascinating insight into the history of the region.
Sports & Recreational Facilities
WATER SPORTS
Swim or snorkel from a choice of seven pristine, powder-white beaches
Complimentary Sunfish sailing, sea kayaks, windsurfing and snorkeling equipment
Private snorkeling outings led by Caneel Bay's resident "Snorkologist"
One and two tank Scuba day and night dives, with complimentary introduction class
Beautifully landscaped, freshwater swimming pool features floral "fencing"
Private boat charters and deep sea-fishing trips
Full and half day sailing excursions
Sunset cocktail and beach BBQ cruises
Nearby underwater snorkeling trail at renowned Trunk Bay, a short drive from the resort
GOLF
Opened in 1980 and designed by George & Tom Fazio, Golf Digest proclaimed Mahogany Run, "an engineering marvel being carved and blasted into an area of land just less than 110 acres." With 77,000 square feet of greens and tight, winding fairways, this is target golf with beautiful views culminating in the signature holes 13, 14 and 1, known as the Devil's Triangle. Mahogany Run is located in St. Thomas, a short water and land transfer from the resort.
FITNESS CENTER
Open 24 hours, the cardiovascular training equipment includes:
3 Precor C956 Treadmills
2 Lifestep Stairclimbers
2 Tectrix Stationary Bicycles
2 Precor Recumbent Bicycles
1 Precor EFX Elliptical Trainer
1 Cybex Modular Strength Station: press/lat pull-down
1 Cybex Modular Strength Station: leg extension/leg curl/cable column
Free Weights: 1-50 pounds
Exercise Mats, Fitness Balls, and Flat Bench/Incline Bench
TENNIS
Elegant, terraced Tennis Park with 11 all-weather, outdoor tennis courts
Courts under the direction of Peter Burwash International
Complimentary clinics and weekly round-robin tournaments
Private, semi-private and group lessons available
Outstanding Pro Shop offering the latest apparel and accessories
Additional Amenities
Half-hour, one-hour and couple's massage
Watercolor painting classes with Caneel Bay's resident artist, Kat Sowa
Hot Type program
Caneel "sugarworks" stroll
Jeep rentals for island sight-seeing
Nightly movie presentations at the Turtle Bay Estate House
Manager's weekly cocktail party
Gift shop/clothing boutique with a wide selection of apparel, souvenirs, magazines and select essentials
Business Center
Computers (with high-speed Internet access), phone and fax machine
Cellular phones are available to guests at no extra charge
Wireless Internet access available in select locations throughout the resort's grounds
Operator: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Staff: 450 employees
Opened:
Caneel Bay originally opened in March 1955
Opened 1993 as A Rosewood Resort
Re-opened November 1996 after extensive refurbishments
CONTACT INFORMATION
Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort
P.O. Box 720, St. John, V.I., USA 00831
T 340.776.6111
F 340.693.8280
caneel@rosewoodhotels.com
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