One famous cruise and vacation location in the Caribbean is the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The main cruise lines offer it as a great destination, and on Princess Cruises, it is the first port of call on the 10-day Southern Caribbean itinerary. Apart from being extremely lovely, it is most recognized for being a preferred duty-free shopping location. This article describes what it’s like to arrive at St. Thomas’ cruise port and participate in significant activities. This beautiful cruise port offers entertaining activities, superb beaches, and delicious food.
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One can travel to numerous nations while on a Caribbean cruise without paying a lot for airfare between them. By using a cruise ship as your source of transportation, you can skip the inconveniences of travel itself. After going to bed one evening, you awake on a different island the following day, ready for a new adventure. St. Thomas creates a contemporary paradise by fusing the carefree atmosphere of the Caribbean with contemporary conveniences found in modern civilization.
Tip: Select an itinerary with fewer stops, as you could get overwhelmed.
Usually, this ten-day cruise would stop at Princess Cays, but the weather would not cooperate on this particular trip. After spending two VERY long days at sea with very gusty 50-knot winds, the feeling of seeing land and getting off the ship was indeed a sight for sore eyes! Finally, an end to the blue-grey waters of the tumultuous sea. It was truly paradise at dawn as we arrived at the cruise port of St. Thomas.
Where is St. Thomas?
One of the most stunning island locations in the world, St. Thomas is one of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, along with St. Croix and St. John. It is adorned with powdery beaches and sunny weather. In the Lesser Antilles, St. Thomas lies 1,600 miles south of New York City, 1,100 miles east of Miami, and 70 miles north of San Juan. The Caribbean and Atlantic Oceans met at St. Thomas and its neighbor St. John.
Cruise Port of Havensight – St. Thomas – US Virgin Islands
For those that have yet to go to St Thomas, the cruise port of Havensight is in the city of Charlotte Amalie, and the bay where the cruise ship’s dock is stunning! It is a circular bay dotted with small boats, catamarans, and other watercraft. It is the color of paradise, and its protected waters make a stunning view from the upper decks of a cruise ship.
One of the sights that caught my eye was the larger yachts anchored in the harbor. These are not just the average yacht or fishing vessels. And they are the playthings of the rich and famous. One craft was named the “Blue Moon.” It was several decks high and looked stunning in the azure waters of the mountain-rimmed bay. At one point, a man was coming onto the deck with a cell phone. He was pacing and talking on the yacht. I turned to my friends and said, “look, he’s at work.”
In all likelihood, he was probably doing a multi-million-dollar business deal. We laughed and lamented about what life would be like to live on such a yacht in St. Thomas.
Things to Do in St. Thomas Cruise Port
Sightseeing Tour
Once in St Thomas, there are several options for sightseeing which can be pre-booked through your cruise ship or separately, depending on your preference. You could also hire a taxi from the St. Thomas cruise port and take a trip to the beach.
Things to do in St. Thomas cruise port include Megan’s Bay, one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, a mountain top vantage point, snorkeling, diving, and sailing options, shopping and downtown Charlotte Amalie and other adventures for thrill-seekers, including zipline, kayak, and underwater excursions.
Note: Many people ask, “Can you walk from the cruise port in St. Thomas ?’ The answer is “YES”. It is one of the most developed cruise ports in the Caribbean and easily accessible directly from the ship.
On this particular trip (since it has been 26 years since my last visit to St Thomas), I decided to take a quick sightseeing tour to get a feel for the island. Sightseeing is one of the best things to do in St Thomas on a cruise excursion, as it allows you to visit different island areas. If you stay a few days, you can see several places of interest for extended periods.
Our small group met with the tour driver for my sightseeing tour, and we started our exit through the secure area of the Havensight cruise port terminal. Once onto the main streets of Charlotte Amalie, you begin to get a feel for the local flavor. Charlotte Amalie, the capital of St. Thomas, is a relatively modern city in certain areas as indicated by the American influence. However, St. Thomas is still a tiny Caribbean Island community.
Importance of Tourism
Upon leaving the urban area of the city, one of the common themes that the driver kept referring to was how the recent hurricanes had affected life on the island. Everywhere on the island is touched by these massive and damaging storms. Even though the storms ravished St Thomas in 2017, there is still strong evidence of their effect. Many roadways still show erosion and areas where the road was washed away. Much of the vegetation has returned for the most part, but it is still evident in some areas. This part of the sightseeing tour of St. Thomas emphasized how tourism dollars can affect the repair speed after such weather incidents.
Mountain Top View of Megan’s Bay
On our winding way through the hilly terrain to the Mountain Top, located at 2,100 feet at the highest point of St Thomas, stunning views of the harbor poke their way through the vegetation. There are lookout points on the roads that allow vehicles to pull over and take advantage of the spectacular views in some areas. This is one of the most popular activities at St. Thomas cruise port.
Once at The Mountain Top, the views are incredible. Megan’s Bay beach is so blue that it looks like a beach has been photo-shopped into reality. It is hard to believe that it seems that way in nature. However, make no mistake that even a picture-postcard beach can also be dangerous. The day that we were there, Megan’s Bay had waves of four to six feet. Only good swimmers and those with experience with large waves should venture into the water.
If you are travelling to St. Thomas during hurricane season, you might be interested in learning how cruise ships can make changes to provide a safer journey for passengers.
Charlotte Amalie Lookout
Our driver stopped at the Charlotte Amalie lookout to view the full harbor on our way down the mountain. While there, we were entertained by a local steel drum musician. After the short break, we drove back through the city and along the coastal harbor road.
Once at harbor level, it is easy to see the difference between those that can afford the lifestyle of the sea and those that must live along the city’s hilly streets. Once back in the Havensight cruise port area, we have access to the Skyride to Paradise Point.
Paradise Point
The cable car Skyride to Paradise Point is worth the 8-minute trip. Once at the top (700 feet above sea level), there are again stunning views of the harbor and St. Thomas cruise port. Small shops will keep you occupied looking for the iconic Caribbean treasures, and the local restaurant offers a light lunch and drinks. The ride down provides a different vantage point of the cruise port harbor and the shopping district. This short excursion is well worth the walk from the terminal.
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Is There Shopping at St. Thomas Cruise Port?
Shopping. Need I say more? One of the highlights of any trip to St. Thomas is the abundance of duty-free shopping. There is a store for almost everything, but jewelry is the most common item in St. Thomas. For some reason, the availability, selection, and quality of fine diamonds and gold jewelry here are well documented. Although I am not a shopper, I did pop into several stores to check the selection and prices. For some, shopping is the only thing to do in St. Thomas.
Tip: Know your costs of items at home to determine if your item is a good value for money.
Final Thoughts on St. Thomas Cruise Port Guide
Leaving the island of St. Thomas is bittersweet. On the one hand, leaving was sad as there were so many other island areas to see and experience. Still, on the other hand, I looked forward to returning to my floating hotel, hearing the waves splash, and enjoying a glass of chardonnay while the cruise ship charts its course for the next island. On this itinerary, Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire, and Aruba cruise ports were next to be discovered.
I will return to St. Thomas, US. Virgin Islands when I plan my next Caribbean vacation. There is nothing like waking up in paradise.
Have you been to St. Thomas?
Money Saving Tips
Flights: If you plan to arrive other than on a cruise ship, try using different sites like Cheap-O-Air or Trip.com to get the best possible price for flights. You can also try different routes.
Accommodation: For land holidays, I mainly use Booking.com for accommodation as they consistently have the lowest rates with free cancellation on most properties.
Car Rental: To compare rental car company prices, I use Rentalcars.com. They are the world’s biggest car rental site, comparing all main brands including Budget, Ace, Hertz, Avis, and Alamo.
Travel Insurance: Don’t travel anywhere without travel insurance, it’s not worth the risk. Travel insurance from VisitorsCoverage.com is available to people from over 175 countries. It’s designed for adventurous travelers with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities.
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