Is The Buccaneer trying to keep locals off their beach?

I think they are. I used to go there about 3 times a week and always spent at least $100 on food and drink. Now I've quit going too many other places on the island actually want my business.

Of course they are. I don't know how they get away with it. The resorts are supposed to have a signed public access route (Like Carambola does). But I've never seen one. I get charging for chairs. But they make enough money on drinks and food to cover someone who wants to bring a towel or chair in for a few hours. Heck, my husband has a golf membership there and plays 2x a week, and I got charged to sit on the beach while I waited for him to finish.

We used to go there all the time to have lunch and sit on the beach. The last few times we've been there, either the Mermaid food or service was terrible. They can't seem to get both right on the same day. So we don't bother.

I got charged to sit on the beach while I waited for him to finish.

You got charged to sit in a chair, not on the beach right?

This situation is distasteful... there is no other way to access that beach, or simply no convenient way?

It doesn't seem outlandish or illegal. They can charge for parking on their property and they can charge for beach chairs. They can't charge you to access the beach and it doesn't sound as though they're doing that. Is there something special about that particular beach or it just more convenient to where you live?

There is something wrong with the Buccaneer. They always have job openings that seem to get filled then a week or two later they are back open. Doesn't sound like they treat their employees right either.

If someone is buying drinks, etc. I don't think they should be charged to sit in a chair. By purchasing a drink, the customer has purchased the right to reasonably use the bar's amenities (bathroom, chair, etc). Someone who brings their own drinks or is just loitering, then maybe.

This is another reason why we need more locally-owned large establishments. It is unlikely that a local would initiate such flagrantly anti-local policies.

i thought the buccaneer was owned by a local , The Armstrongs. or arent they local enough or did they sell?

Unless something has changed very recently the Buc is still locally owned by the Armstrongs. I heard about the recent price increases for Mermaid Beach, thought is was only $10 per person to include parking, chairs, restrooms, presumably beach towels. I was also told that they had not changed the "parking" fee for the other beach, Shoys I think, was still $4. No chairs or facilities there.

Ask them what they charge to just go and eat at the mermaid restaurant and no beach. They shouldn't charge for that. They can charge what they want to sit on their beach chairs above the high tide line. Are they making hotel guests wear different wrist bands now too?

Unless you come by boat the only way to get to Mermaid beach is through the Buc property. Let's organize a protest and drop 200 people off at the beach by boat and all sit just below the high tide line.:D Nothing they can do to stop that is there? Anybody got a boat?

If someone is buying drinks, etc. I don't think they should be charged to sit in a chair. By purchasing a drink, the customer has purchased the right to reasonably use the bar's amenities (bathroom, chair, etc). Someone who brings their own drinks or is just loitering, then maybe.

On every single beach on STT where there's a chair concession or a resort which provides chairs free of charge to their paying guests, you pay for a chair. And you pay for your drinks at either the resort bar or a concession bar. By purchasing a drink you certainly do not have a "reasonable right" to a chair or to any other resort amenities.

If someone is buying drinks, etc. I don't think they should be charged to sit in a chair. By purchasing a drink, the customer has purchased the right to reasonably use the bar's amenities (bathroom, chair, etc). Someone who brings their own drinks or is just loitering, then maybe.

This is another reason why we need more locally-owned large establishments. It is unlikely that a local would initiate such flagrantly anti-local policies.

The owners are more local than you are monogram.

The Buccaneer is one of the largest employers on St. Croix. All of their rooms are full every Christmas. They need all their chairs / restaurant tables for their guests this week. They usually take out an ad apologizing that they won't have room for non-guests during this week. We / you can enjoy the Buc the other 51 weeks of the year. Cut them some slack.

hey Scubadoo, there is no charge to park at Shoy's. You just tell the guard you are going to the beach and she lets you go.

I guess for the Buccaneer, there is no way for them to tell if you are going to eat at the restaurant, or go to the beach, unless you have beach gear in the car and they can see you are wearing a bathing suit.

It has irked me in the past that I would have to pay to use a beach chair, if indeed I was eating at the restaurant also. However like I said, I guess the guard at the gate has no way to know what you intend to do.

This is not because they are full for Christmas. We were charged these prices last month! Just today we went to drop off two people, not park, and were told there is a fee of $5.00 per person to use the beach. Chairs are $10.00 each regardless of how much money you spend.

Confirmed once again, it will cost each local $15.00 to sit in a chair on their beach.

In the past it was $4.00 per local to access the beach and chairs were free.

Shoys is free, no charge for anything.
I like the protest idea.

Just today we went to drop off two people, not park, and were told there is a fee of $5.00 per person to use the beach. .

If that's the case, I believe that's in contravention of the open shoreline act. Any beachfront resort in the USVI is mandated by CZM to provide free public access to the beach through its property. Who was collecting this fee? Before staging any protest it would be wise to first confirm that this is indeed happening and then contact CZM for clarification and any action.

This was at the guard gate where you pay to enter. The guards confirmed it.

Then contact CZM (or your local senator) for clarification.

"All St. Croix beaches are open to the public. Some, however, are only accessible through private property. If that is the case, please check with the property owners, ie: resort hotel or condo complex, to inquire about any fees associated with accessing the beach through their property. Also, keep in mind that the public access extends 15 feet up the beach from the waterline, after that its private property so please be considerate of the owners."
http://www.stcroixtourism.com/beaches.htm

Then contact CZM (or your local senator) for clarification.

+1,000,000.99

Thanks, Rotorhead - that seems clear! Anyone in doubt can always seek clarification from the horse's mouth.

"Is The Buccaneer trying to keep locals off their beach?"

Isn't this being inflammatory? Aren't they charging all non-guests? Not just locals?

http://www.stcroixtourism.com/beaches.htm

So mickeyg, since you have the first hand facts perhaps you can contact the stcroixtourism.com folks to update their cost information for the Buccaneer Beaches.;)

Yes they are charging the fee to everyone but just go to Shoy's and bring your own. The fee is credited to your bill at the Mermaid but you still have to pay the chair fee if you want to sit in one.

The Buccaneer's number one priority is their hotel guests. They are well aware of the law and don't need the few dollars locals bring in down at the Mermaid to stay in business.

Stop pissing and moaning about something that you can't change.

I am unable to find a law which requires that Resort Hotels provide beach access across their private property. All beaches are public, accessible from the water, for 15 feet beyond mean high tide.

That being said. Any Resort Hotel which is an EDC beneficiary agrees to provide free access to the beach via a designated route across their property. They are not required to provide free parking or free beach chairs. The Buccaneer is an EDC beneficiary. If you take a taxi or park outside of the Buccaneer property they should allow you to walk to the beach across their property at no charge. As for what they charge for parking and chairs, that would be up to them.

"In order to receive benefits from the V.I. Economic Development Commission, an applicant must:
•Provide full-time employment for at least 10 residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands who have resided in the V.I. at least one year prior to being hired by the tax beneficiary. Provided further, than an enterprise which is apply for economic development benefits as a category IIA enterprise engaged in non-labor intensive financial services, shall be required to employ a minimum of five (5) full-time persons.
•Invest at least $100,000, exclusive of inventory, in an industry or business that advances the economic well-being of the USVI.
•Meet the requirements of Section 934 of the Internal Revenue Code in the case of a USVI corporation, individual or partnership, or Section 936 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code in terms of a V.I. Subsidiary of a U.S. Corporation.
•Be an actual investor in the enterprise for which industrial development benefits are sought, not a contractor, subcontractor or other person or corporation acting as an agent.
•Comply with all federal and local laws and regulations, including environmental laws.
•Provide an easement for free access to the beach or shoreline, if the applicant will be doing business on property that adjoins the shoreline."
http://www.usvieda.org/start-business/edc-tax-incentives/edc-eligibility

This is not because they are full for Christmas. We were charged these prices last month!

Yep. People just make things up to justify anti-local policies. LOL