We just returned from MFC and thoroughly enjoyed it. The resort appears to be fully back up and operational, and the rooms, staff and activities were great. We had a unit with a view we could never get tired of in the Jost Van Dyke building. Overall MFC exceeded our expectations and was just a great home base for a trip to the USVI. We definitely plan on going back soon.
We rented a car thru Costco with Avis and unexpectedly got a brand new 4dr Jeep. It took a day or two to get comfortable driving on the Left, but got used to it. Every day we drove to one of several destinations on St Thomas (Magen's Bay, Hull Beach, Coki Beach, Sapphire Beach, etc) and also drove back and forth to Red Hook ferry multiple times for trips to St John, 3 times on the people ferry and once using the car ferry. We had friends staying at the Westin St John during the same week so we got a chance to visit with them and get a feel for the Westin property, although we spent most of our time together off resort driving to some beaches including Hawksnest Beach.
The beaches ranged from beautiful to stunning...and spending time swimming, snorkeling, or just hanging out at them was the best part of our trip.
At Frenchman's Reef Resort and Morningstar Hotel, there are huge sections of buildings at this resort that are completely gutted shells, without exterior or interior walls. And we did not see any noticeable major work being done during our week there. I spoke with a few employees at MFC and while they were hopeful for a 2020 opening, they acknowledged that it did not seem likely based on the current state. At the current rate I am thinking this project won't be completed until more likely 2021, or even parts of it stretching into 2022. I can totally see how getting Frenchman's Reef and Morningstar, and the accompanying restaurants and pools, would take owning or staying at MFC to a whole new level of greatness. Because the only slight downside to MFC right now is the lack of more onsite or nearby dining choice options.
As to the rest of St Thomas, you can definitely see evidence of how the islands are still trying to recover and rebuild from the impact of the dual hurricanes in 2017. Charlotte Amalie has nowhere near the cheery Caribbean look and feel it had when we last visited in 2012. There seem to be a good number of formerly well known restaurants and beach bars, in both St Thomas and St John, that are either still not opened, still not fully operational, or may never open again. In speaking with locals on St Thomas and St John they seem to be making slow but steady progress, although some establishments won't be coming back online until at least 2020 or so.