St. Thomas is one of the most popular cruise ports in the world and was voted the #1 cruise port in the Caribbean in the 2013 Cruise Fever Fan Awards. There is something for all ages in St. Thomas and here are a few options for you to choose from when you stop in St. Thomas on a cruise.
Shopping
St. Thomas is known for its duty free shopping and is the shopping mecca of the Caribbean. While there are many shops next to the cruise dock (especially in Havensight), the best shopping is in downtown Charlotte Amalie.
You can take a cab to downtown for $4 a person or you can choose to take an easy 20-30 minute walk (from Havensight) along the water to downtown. If your ship is docked in Crown Bay, you will want to take a cab. Main Street is lined with jewelry stores where you can have a fun time bartering to get yourself the best deal. There are a variety of restaurants and many locals will set up shop across from Fort Christian on days cruise ships are in port.
If you are looking for a nicer place to shop while in St. Thomas, head over to Yacht Haven Grande. If your ship is docked in Havensight, take a left when you disembark your ship and it will be a 5-10 minute walk from the pier. It is also a fun great place to look at the million dollar mega-yachts that are docked at the pier.
Visit St. John
Trunk Bay in St. John
St. John is also one of the U.S. Virgin Islands and is located just two miles of the coast of the east end of St. Thomas. Since 75% of the island is a national park, you will find an uncommercialized island of paradise.
The most popular beach to visit in St. John is Trunk Bay. This beautiful palm tree lined beach has an underwater snorkeling trail and an abundance of sea life. Trunk Bay can get crowded when several cruise ships are in port. If you are looking for a quieter beach, Cinnamon Bay is the largest beach in St. John and is located right down the road from Trunk Bay.
If you are looking for a amazing place to snorkel away from the mass of cruise passengers, head over to Waterlemon Cay. Since getting to Waterlemon Cay requires a 1 mile hike after you park at the ruins, it limits the number of people who visit the Cay. However, you are pretty much guaranteed to snorkel with wild sea turtles here.
For a quiet beach, take the hike to Salomon Beach. This small 100 yard beach is a slice of pure paradise and you will usually just have to share it with just a handful of others. It is worth noting that there are no facilities at this beach.
Island Tour
Taking an island tour is a great way to learn the history of St. Thomas and stop for some breathtaking photo opportunities. Most island tours will stop on Mountain Top, a few scenic overlooks, take you to a beach, and a stop for shopping before returning to the ship.
Mountain Top is one of the highest points on St. Thomas and overlooks Magens Bay. There is a massive gift shop that offers excellent prices on clothes/souvenirs and is also the home of the world famous Banana Daiquiri.
Megans Bay
Megans Bay has been named one of National Geographic’s top 10 beaches in the world. This mile long beach is the most popular beach in St. Thomas and is a $8 cab ride (each way) from the cruise port.
If you are looking for a beach day where you can just lay out and enjoy some sun, then this beach is perfect for you.
Paradise Point
Paradise Point is located near the Havensight Pier and offers spectacular views of the island and of the cruise ships while they are in port. The Tramway to get to Paradise Point is a little pricey (around $21 a person for the 3 minute ride).
There are several shops on Paradise Point, a wedding gazebo, as well as a bird show. They are also home of the Baileys Bushwacker which are served in a tram shaped souvenir glass.
You will be hard pressed to find a wedding gazebo with better views than this in the world.
Coral World
Coral World is one of the most popular attractions in St. Thomas that offers an undersea observatory, sea lion swims, shark and sea turtle encounters, a butterfly garden, and a semi submarine so you can stay dry and enjoy the sea life of the island.
This is a great place to take a family as kids will love the attractions that are offered such as the touch pools, stingray lagoon, and the turtle pool.
Whatever you decide to do while in St. Thomas on your next cruise, we hope you enjoy the beauty of the Virgin Islands as much as we do every time we visit.