Caneel Bay Resort
Est. 1956
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Enjoy laid back luxury in a serene seaside landscape!
Treat guests to gourmet picnics, island entertainment and cocktails amid the 18th-century ruins of a sugar mill, surrounded by gas torches and a sparkling night sky.
The Lowdown
Type
Beach / Lake / Waterfront LocationBoutique HotelHotel / Resort / SpaIsland
Views
CoastlineForestGardenOcean
Style
Coastal
Contemporary
Romantic
Tropical
Days Venue is closed
Please note that Caneel Bay operates a seasonal closure between August 26 and November 1, 2014. During this period, there are no facilities available for guest use.
Best type of Celebrations

Venue Setting

Perfectly located on 170 lush acres within the Virgin Islands National Park, the Caneel Bay Resort offers a destination wedding setting like no other in the Caribbean. From the captivating point at Turtle Bay to secluded Honeymoon Beach, the enchanting surroundings of St. John create an inspiring backdrop for your special celebration. For onsite weddings, refined creativity, sophisticated craftsmanship and crisp service blend seamlessly - ensuring that every moment is just how you’ve imagined it. Caneel Bay offers commanding views of the Caribbean coastline and elegant wedding facilities – setting us as the dream destination wedding location of couples seeking the intimacy and personalized service of a boutique hotel. During the planning process, you will choose from a variety of indoor and outdoor venues, as well as splendid catering options from our renowned chefs. The venue remains true to the vision of Laurance Rockefeller, who once called this island home and designated it as a protected region in the midst of the Virgin Islands National Park. An eco-smart setting, the resort maintains many green practices, and Rockefeller's influence remains, from Cottage 7 (his former private residence and now home to many of our A-list celebrity guests,) and our stunning sugar mill ruins provide space for party settings and romantic dinners for two. We offer fine and casual dining in our collection of restaurants and terrace grill, as well as cruise dinners and cocktail parties to make the most of our spectacular sunsets. For weddings, couples can choose from several settings, including the bluff overlooking the ocean, on the beach, in our open-air restaurant, our Estate House fine dining establishment, and other sites. Since we are in the midst of the protected wildlife and nature of the National Park, you'll often see families of deer and fawn enjoying our sprawling grounds, as well as our wild donkeys, iguanas, pelicans, turtles, herons and many other delightful wildlife friends. We've been chosen for notable magazine cover photoshoots, including Sports Illustrated, since our beaches are so sublime. We welcome celebratory groups, family reunions, girls' getaways, and corporate functions as well as our many wedding groups and honeymoon couples, and we provide personal touches like nightly gifts left in our suites. We invite you to visit our site at http:www.caneelbay.com for more information or to ask our staff any questions you may have.

Capacity

Seated
250
Buffet
250
Standing
250
Fees
(Prices listed here are estimates only & are subject to change)
Price range

Does this include catering fees?

No

Additional charges

This is the basic rental cost for a 3 or 7 night complete takeover. Other charges will apply based on event needs. Please contact directly for more information.

Insurance

Additional Insurance May Be Required Depending On The Event

Connect
Event Logistics and Amenities
(Essential event logistics and amenities to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for you gathering)
Celebrations hosted here since
1956
Curfew
10 PM
Venue spaces
Indoor & Outdoor Venue Spaces Available
Catering
Client Must Use The Catering Provided By The Venue
Music
Indoors & Outdoors
Smoking
Non-smoking Venue
Accommodations
Amidst Caneel Bay’s lush foliage and pristine beaches, with the Caribbean just steps away, each of the Caneel Bay Resort’s 166 charming accommodations is a study in casual luxury. Ever faithful to founder Laurance Rockefeller’s vision for the island, the resort is a place to relax and unplug from digital distractions. Rooms are blissfully free of telephones and televisions. Native design influences include Caribbean stone, natural woods, hand crafted furnishings, commissioned artwork and richly textured fabrics.
Amenities
  • A/V Equipment
  • Bridal Suite/Changing Rooms Onsite
  • Valet Parking
  • Wifi
  • Ample Parking Onsite
  • Dining Chairs
Inside Scoop

The resort features seven pristine , sugar-sand beaches, and with their FREE snorkeling gear, you just need to take a few steps into the spectacularly clear Caribbean waters to swim with turtles, tropical fish, stingrays, and even dolphins during early spring months. Scott Beach rooms are on a designated no-kids section of the resort, so you get plenty of quiet, and you'll quite often be the only ones on this beach. The sunset sail takes you on a tour of celebrity-owned mansions dotting the cliffs of St. John, and they have two open-air massage cabanas overlooking the ocean. Their signature drink is the Painkiller, but the BBC (banana and Bailey's colada) is phenomenal. A quick taxi ride takes you into Cruz Bay where all the shops are -- walk a few blocks up and you'll find Joe's Barbecue for delectable ribs to take back to your resort's terrace.

Venue Features
Standout venue features:
Our sugar mill ruins offer a standout setting for private events, with no ceilings to block that starry night sky view, and we can custom-design décor include candles, flowers and fine table settings. We have onsite rum tastings for guests -- an enjoyable and educational event for groups -- a weekly manager's reception including live entertainment, buffet dining and cocktails, and we can arrange for private sails aboard catamarans and luxury yachts. Our onsite spa offers indulgent special treatments such as warm bamboo massage and hot stone massages, and we also have an award-winning tennis center for guests' sporting events.
Extra perks:
Contact us for our extensive list of extra perks included in our various wedding and special event packages; we introduce new features on a regular basis, such as fine linens, fine china and table décor, seating and more.
Awards & Notables
Awards, recognitions, or noteworthy achievements associated with the venue.
Caneel Bay has been featured in Bridal Guide, Polka Dot Bride, Style Me Pretty, and many other top bridal magazines and blogs, and we've won many industry and traveler awards from Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and more: 2013 Conde Nast Traveler: Readers' Choice Awards - Top 25 Resorts in the Caribbean Celebrated Living: Readers' Choice Platinum List - No. 2 in the Caribbean Tennis Resorts Online: Top 100 Tennis Resorts - No. 1 in the Caribbean, No. 8 in the World Conde Nast Traveler: Readers' Poll - Top 270 Spas U.S. News & World Report: U.S. Virgin Islands Best Hotel Rankings 2012 Travel + Leisure: World's Best Awards - Top 25 Hotels in the Caribbean, Bermuda & The Bahamas. Conde Nast Traveler: Readers' Choice Awards - Top 30 Resorts in the Caribbean Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report: Best in the World Reader's Survey Results - Beach Resort & Family Resort Wine Spectator: Award of Excellence - Turtle Bay Estate House Celebrated Living: Readers' Choice Platinum List - Top 10 Hotels in the Caribbean Conde Nast Traveler: Readers' Poll - Top 270 Spas 2011 Conde Nast Traveler: Readers' Choice Awards - Top Caribbean Resorts Celebrated Living: Readers' Choice Platinum Awards - Top 10 Hotels in the Caribbean Expedia Insiders' Select List: Top Ranked Hotels Tennis Resorts Online: Top 100 Tennis Resorts - No. 1 in the Caribbean, No. 6 in the World Wine Spectator: Award of Excellence - Turtle Bay Estate House World Travel Awards: U.S. Virgin Islands' Leading Resort
Food Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Lounges
This section provides insights into our diverse culinary and social offerings.
Turtle Bay Estate House Delight in delicious fare at the Turtle Bay Estate House, set along the northern end of Caneel Bay’s expansive peninsula. Here you’ll find an array of ways to please your palate from nightly chef’s specials to classic dinners and beyond. Your warm surroundings serve as the perfect backdrop for a romantic dining experience. Savor classical and creative American cuisine with a steakhouse-inspired theme while our attentive staff takes care of all of your needs. Wine Spectator magazine has named our Estate House to several of their best-of lists. **Days and hours of operation of the resort's dining venues vary according to season. ZoZo's at the Sugar Mill Perched atop the resort's 18th-century sugar mill ruins, overlooking the stunning scenery surrounding Caneel Bay, ZoZo's at the Sugar Mill offers a menu of northern Italian fare presented by famed local restaurateur John Ferrigno and his team. Bask in the breeze in this open-air environment while you gaze at the shimmering lights of St. Thomas, scattered along the horizon. **Days and hours of operation of the resort's dining venues vary according to season. Children under 5 years of age are not permitted to dine in ZoZo's at the Sugar Mill. It is strongly recommended that reservations for dining in ZoZo's at the Sugar Mill be made prior to arrival at Caneel Bay. Caneel Beach Terrace Conveniently positioned next to the resort’s main reception and dock area, the Caneel Beach Terrace treats guests to open-air dining with a spectacular panoramic view of Caneel Beach and the sea beyond. With the gentle sounds of lapping waves, and cool Caribbean trade winds to set the mood, guests are invited to treat their taste buds to buffet-style dishes and à la carte choices all day long. Caneel Beach Bar & Grill Find flavors for the entire family at the Caneel Beach Bar & Grill, located right next to the resort’s main reception area. Stay current on the latest news or catch the game on large TV screens while you browse the menu for your favorite classic dish. Featuring delectable sandwiches, burgers and tempting desserts, as well sushi and sashimi rolls, this casual setting is the perfect place to unwind after a full day of recreation. At sundown, stop into the bar for creative cocktails and unwind as the scenic Caribbean backdrop fades to night. Cannella Cannella Gelateria and Coffee Shop offers homemade gelato, a large variety of coffee drinks and delicious panini’s all freshly made using high quality products in an eco-friendly environment. In true island fashion, we offer afternoon tea at two locations on most days, in an open-air setting and with a tea menu of hot or iced teas and a buffet of baked treats made by our pastry chefs. Another highlight of our culinary offerings is the picnic lunch that you can have our chefs prepare to your liking, and pick up prior to your hike around our easy hiking trails or to take along with you as you depart for the ferry ride to the airport.
The bar at the Terrace offers barstool and couch seating, and this is the one spot on the resort where you'll find large-screen televisions to keep up with the outside world. Tropical drinks flow here, as do ice-cold beers and soft drinks to sip or take to-go. There is also a beach bar and bar cart delivering drinks right to your beach chairs, and our servers have been known to offer you your drink as you walk out of the ocean after a snorkeling dive.
Celebration Locations
This section outlines the various spaces available within the venue for different types of events.
Caneel Bay Terrace
Breezeway
Sunset Terrace

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Caneel Bay Resort
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