Cruises to St. Thomas

4,845 Reviews
St. Thomas (Photo:Claude Huot/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to St. Thomas

If you cruise regularly to the Caribbean, chances are you'll end up in St. Thomas. Its popularity as one of the world's most heavily trafficked cruise ports is well-earned. The island offers something for just about everyone and has the infrastructure that can accommodate a huge daily population influx. In addition to a duty-free shopping scene that's virtually unparalleled, other on-the-beaten-track sites include the world-famous beach at Magens Bay.

In September 2017, the Virgin Islands -- along with many other islands in the Caribbean -- were rocked by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. While St. Thomas worked to quickly recovered its most popular tourist destinations, some have sadly closed their doors indefinitely -- including the SkyRide to Paradise Point. Beloved restaurants like Cuzzin's shut down. However, new restaurants and attractions have popped up in their place, solidifying the island's commitment to welcome visitors.

Nearly every ship sailing an Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes St. Thomas as a port of call, as do many Southern Caribbean voyages. You'll even see St. Thomas on Panama Canal and South American itineraries (when a Florida port such as Fort Lauderdale or Miami serves as a port of embarkation or debarkation). It's not uncommon, particularly during the Caribbean's winter high season, to see six ships or more docked or anchored in a day -- and that can mean an extra 20,000 people mixing into a population hovering in the mid-50,000s.

Believe it or not, it's easy to find some respite from the inevitable crowds by exploring St. Thomas' quieter, more undiscovered side -- a lovely historic district, trips to Water Island (the "fourth" and youngest, U.S. Virgin Island), beaches all over the island and fabulous restaurants in Frenchtown. It's also an easy jaunt via 20-minute ferry to tranquil St. John from the town of Red Hook. Even this town has local character (this is where expat residents of St. Thomas spend their time) that's a far cry from Charlotte Amalie's shopping mall vibe. Just taking transportation to the eastern end of the island will give you emotional distance from the hectic pier.

Even if it's your first time on St. Thomas, don't be afraid to explore. Although locals drive on the left side of the road, the island has an American familiarity that makes it a perfect introduction to the Caribbean style of life. Attractions, beaches, shopping, golf, water sports -- the island offers a wide variety of activities, with new ones added every year. Even if it's your tenth trip, you're bound to find something fun to do, even if that just means discovering a new beach. Explore more of St. Thomas as part of your next U.S. Virign Island cruise itinerary.

  • More about St. Thomas

  • Why Cruise to St. Thomas?

  • St. Thomas Cruise Port Facilities?

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Celebrity Beyond
C E L  B Y  Drone  Aerial 6 (7)

7 Night
7n St. Thomas, St. Kitts Holiday Cruise

158 Reviews
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Norwegian Encore
Norwegian Encore (Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)

7 Night
Eastern Caribbean - Miami

424 Reviews
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Celebrity Beyond
C E L  B Y  Drone  Aerial 6 (7)

7 Night
7 Nt St. Maarten Usvi & Puerto Plata

158 Reviews
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Independence of the Seas
Independence of the Seas

7 Night
7 Nt Eastern Caribbean Holiday

1,701 Reviews
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7 Night
Eastern Caribbean - Port Canaveral

4,409 Reviews
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7 Night
Eastern Caribbean Holiday

39 Reviews
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10 Night
Caribbean - Eastern Cruise

144 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

7 Night
Eastern Caribbean

963 Reviews
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7 Night
Eastern Caribbean - Port Canaveral

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10 Night
Caribbean - Southern Cruise

1,873 Reviews
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10 Night
Caribbean - Eastern Cruise

144 Reviews
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10 Night
Caribbean - Eastern Cruise

1,020 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

14 Night
Southern Caribbean

1,028 Reviews
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7 Night
Eastern Caribbean - Port Canaveral

4,409 Reviews
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10 Night
Caribbean - Eastern Cruise

1,873 Reviews
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More about St. Thomas

Why Cruise to St. Thomas?

Pros:

The primary Caribbean shopping destination, this port sells just about everything you'd want

Cons:

St. Thomas is expensive; retail therapy here can drain your wallet quickly

Bottom Line:

Beaches and watersports supplement souvenir shopping for a well-rounded day in port

St. Thomas Cruise Port Facilities?

Depending on your cruise line and the time of year, your ship will dock at Havensight Pier, the primary dock for cruise ships, or Crown Bay. Each terminal is about a five- to 10-minute taxi ride to downtown Charlotte Amalie. If more than six ships call on St. Thomas in one day, your ship could be anchored in the harbor; the tenders will drop you in the heart of Charlotte Amalie.

The dock at Havensight, in essence, is a mini-downtown. You'll find more than 50 shops, many of which are outposts of Charlotte Amalie's better-known boutiques, such as A.H. Riise and H. Stern. Also within the expansive Havensight Mall, you'll find a post office, ATMs for Bank of Nova Scotia and First Bank and Havensight Pharmacy. Depending on your plan, your American cellphone might work in St. Thomas without roaming charges.

Across the main drag running outside Havensight's facility are convenience stores, coffee shops and museums. The Yacht Haven Grande Marina also is within walking distance of the Havensight Pier. When you exit your ship, turn left and follow the dock around the harbor. It's the first genuinely upscale shopping and dining area, featuring restaurants and shops, such as Coach, bebe, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. (Note: These are not duty-free.)

Beyond the immediate facility, the best bargains on duty-free liquor can be found at Kmart -- no lie! Walk up Long Bay Road to the Lockhart Gardens Kmart (you'll notice a lot of crewmembers heading that way -- a good sign, as they often know where to find the best bargains).

Crown Bay, on the other side, features a recreated stone sugar mill in honor of the island's plantation era. Crown Bay Center businesses include jewelry, clothing and liquor stores, Passengers whose ships are docked in Crown Bay have more limited options nearby than those docked at Havensight. The Crown Bay Marina has a branch of Gourmet Gallery (and the ferry to Water Island leaves from there). Tickles is a charming waterside pub at the marina with nautical decor (open 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily).

You'll need to head downtown for serious shopping and dining.

Good to Know?

  • Though most ships will dock mid-week -- with Wednesdays in high season accommodating up to six ships in port at the same time -- if you find yourself in St. Thomas on a Sunday, you might discover that many of the shops are closed. Our advice? Head to the beach.

  • Adventurous types should be hesitant when wandering off the beaten path in Charlotte Amalie; crime can be an issue. Also, though most ships will dock mid-week -- with Wednesdays in high season accommodating up to six ships in port at the same time -- if you find yourself in St. Thomas on a Sunday, you might discover that many of the shops are closed. Our advice? Head to the beach.

Getting Around?

By Foot: Because where you're docked -- or dropped by the tender -- is likely close to downtown, it's easy to get a few steps in exploring the shops and eateries of Yacht Haven and other complexes around Charlotte Amalie. A new pedestrian center is in the works so walking around town and browsing is even more cruiser-friendly. However, if you want to head to the beach or get to other major attractions, you'll likely need some wheels.

By Taxi: Though they exist, individual "cabs" are unusual. In most cases, you'll be shepherded to a van or safari truck that's heading to the vicinity of your destination -- and might make multiple stops on the way as locals ask the driver to let them off. You'll pay a set price per person. Tipping is recommended when a driver is particularly helpful or knowledgeable, but is not required. Taxi drivers like to load up as many people as possible and travel to on-the-beaten-path tourist sites. If you want to veer off that path, you might have trouble finding a driver to take you. If this is an issue, we recommend you rent a car.

By Car: At the cruise ship dock, Avis (340-777-8888) and Budget (340-776-5774) have outposts; reservations are recommended. In downtown Charlotte Amalie, try Dependable Car Rental, with free pick-up and drop-off services (800-522-3076). From Crown Bay, the nearest car rental offices are at the airport (a five-minute taxi ride); Hertz (340-774-1879), Avis and Budget have desks there. Discount Car Rental is next to the airport (877-478-2833).

Remember, drive on the left. It takes a little while to get the hang of it. Also, hand use of cellphones while driving is against the law.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

Currency is the U.S. dollar, and ATMs are readily available.

Language?

English is the official language, but you might hear French Creole or Spanish spoken, as well.


St. Thomas Cruise Reviews
We took the ferry from Red Hook, St. Thomas to the island of St. John. From the Cruz Bay ferry dock a 40 minute hike along the Lind Point Trail gets you to beautiful Honeymoon Beach. It was a gorgeous, quiet beach wiRead More
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Maggie99999
Beautiful Island! Magens Bay alone is worth a visit to St. Thomas. Super friendly locals and lots of things to do and seeRead More
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TroyandMargaret
We took the public ferry from downtown Charlotte Amalie (about $13/person each way) to St. John and did some hikes in VI National Park (we stopped by the visitor’s center where a helpful volunteer had some good recomRead More
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mikepowie
St. Thomas is beautiful. Right off the boat, you walk across the street and can shop at the mall which is a strip of different stores with great deals! We did the Magens Bay Beach excursion and it was very nice. Read More
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Suzylovescruising1226

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