Table Of Content
The capital of the American Virgin Islands is Charlotte Amalie, located on Saint Thomas Island. The island features Drake’s Seat, the best panoramic vantage point from which to see the islands in their entire splendor. This is the point from which Sir Francis Drake would observe his fleet. Check out the hard-to-miss yellow brick Fort Christiansvaern in Christiansted for a vivid history lesson – it’s the best preserved Danish-built fort in the Virgin Islands.
Getting to and From the Cruise Ports
Popular with scuba and snorkeling enthusiasts, this eye-catching beach is one of the island’s true hidden gems. Thanks to the surrounding timeshares and hotels, there are also plenty of restaurants, bars, cafés, and ice cream shops, so there’s plenty to do when you’ve had enough beach fun. It’s about 10 miles from Havensight and roughly 8 miles from Crown Bay, so you’ll need to take a taxi. Royal Caribbean International features cruises to the US Virgin Islands, such as a 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise visiting St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. Onboard, enjoy amenities like a rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, and varied dining options.
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The castle is a historic landmark, providing stunning views of the city and harbor. Magens Bay Beach can get crowded during peak season, so consider visiting early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the masses. The beach is open from 8 am to 5 pm daily, with an admission fee of $5 per person. Set sail on a memorable journey to the US Virgin Islands, a tropical paradise with stunning beaches, fascinating history, and lively culture.
A BETTER POINT OF VIEW
Crown Bay is mainly used by Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean. Havensightis is mainly used by Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean (non-Oasis class ships). The US Virgin Islands are steeped in history, offering many intriguing sites to explore.
FORTIFIED FINDS
I’ve sailed a variety of cruise lines throughout the years, beginning with my first voyage as an 18-year-old living in Fort Lauderdale when my mother took me on a nighttime sail. Back in those days (not to date myself), you could get on a ship out of Port Everglades and go into international waters to drink and gamble. Yes, you can walk to downtown Charlotte Amalie from the two cruise ports, but most people save time by taking a taxi, as taxis are easy to get, and fares are less than $5.
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Fast forward to May 2021, and we were looking for another place to stay on another planned trip to St Thomas. Through the Citi Thank You travel portal, we saw that the cheapest rooms for Bunker Hill hotel were around $85 (without tax), and we can redeem our Thank You points at a valuation of 1.25 cents per point. Note – we did travel to St Thomas and the other US Virgin Islands during the coronavirus pandemic. For up to date information, please visit the official USVI health portal. Taste your way through the history of rum on St. Croix as you tour the Captain Morgan and Cruzan Rum distilleries, where you’ll learn about the process of making the Caribbean’s favorite spirit. Due to essential maintenance our website will be down from 5am to 9am on Sunday 17th Sep.
Visit Fort Christian
With these cruise lines, you can tailor your US Virgin Islands experience to your preferences, whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation. Virgin Islands, you can swim among sea turtles and explore colorful coral reefs. Spend the day in Charlotte Amalie, known for its Danish colonial architecture and duty-free shopping, and hike to the top of Skyline Drive for incredible views. Take a catamaran trip to much quieter St. John for snorkeling off Honeymoon Beach, famous for its turquoise waters and palm-fringed sandy shore. We are going to take an in-depth look at the two main cruise ports in St. Thomas so you can enjoy a stress-free experience when you visit. After we have discussed the ports and their facilities, we’ll also explore some of the nearby attractions and various excursion opportunities St. Thomas offers visitors.
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Vendor’s Plaza is another downtown highlight if you’re looking for locally-made goods. Daytime highs cool down and tend to stay in the upper 70° F range, but the winter is also very sunny and dry. This makes it a popular time to visit St. Thomas and the other US Virgin Islands. You shouldn’t have to worry about rain, but you may want to pack a sweatshirt and light pants for the evenings. Havensight Pier is a little further, with 4.2 miles separating the port from the airport, but this is still only about a 15-minute drive in St. Thomas traffic.
U.S. Virgin Island Cruise Ports
Luckily, it is just a five-to-ten-minute taxi to the downtown of Charlotte Amalie. Crown Bay is a bit smaller, as it was not purpose-built for cruise ships. In fact, it was once used as a United States naval base but has since been remodeled to accommodate three full-sized cruise ships along the same single-pier design found at Havensight Pier.
But the best places to shop in St. Croix are the duty-free shops offering jewelry, liquor, clothing and souvenirs.
So Coki Point, Magens Bay, and a lot of other beaches in St Thomas will probably have to wait until our next visit to the island. Water Island and St John are doable on day trips if on a cruise as well, so these are also options to consider if you’ve been to the US Virgin Islands before. If you could spend a week in St Thomas or the area, then go for it.
You can even find sea turtles drifting through the deep blue and rays skimming across the seabed. U.S. Virgin Islands cruises take you to blissful tropical destinations with white-sand beaches, fine snorkeling, and pristine water in endless shades of blue. The USVI offers endless adventures in its national parks, delicious local rum, picturesque hiking trails, and gorgeous Caribbean scenery.
Although you’ll encounter locals who speak with a distinct Caribbean accent, communication should not be an issue for English-speaking travelers. You might also hear locals speaking Virgin Islands Creole, a unique dialect influenced by various languages, including English, French, and African languages. While it’s not essential to learn Creole, knowing a few phrases can help you connect with the locals. The US Virgin Islands use the US Dollar (USD) as their official currency, making transactions straightforward for American travelers.
There’s plenty to do if you love beaches, hiking, and nature across St Thomas, Water Island, and St John. However, if you have a job and are only traveling every weekend, then 4 days may be enough. Sleepy St. John is an easy boat journey away, should you want to get away from it all. Of course, a sea day wouldn’t be a sea day without a visit to the spa, and Valiant Lady offered an easy and inexpensive way to enjoy the spa with its Thermal Suite Pass. For two hours, we could take advantage of Redemption Spa’s steam room, sauna, salt therapy room, mud bath room, hot and cold plunge pools, and heated Turkish marble lounges.
While we’re talking geography, cruises to St. Croix let you explore a variety of it, ranging from the east end’s desert vistas to rainforest and palm trees on the west. Underwater, coral reefs are abundant, making SCUBA diving a great way to see best-hidden local sights during cruises to St Croix. As far as unwinding goes, there’s rum — the good stuff — and plenty of it, with famous brands’ distilleries located right here.
If, like most visitors, you arrive at Havensight Pier, there are plenty of things to do within the immediate vicinity of the port. Given that the entire island of St. Thomas is known to be a shopper’s paradise, it is no surprise that they have even included a mall directly beside the main cruise port. Visit Fort Christiansvaern in St. Croix, or take a dip in the warm, clear blue waters at Cane Bay Beach.
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