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The terminal area consists of gift shops, several bar-restaurants, and you’ll find many local vendors as well. The beach has a horseshoe shape that gives visitors spectacular views of the turquoise waters with a lush green backdrop. At just four miles from the two main cruise ports, it’s a perfect place to spend the day. The crown bay cruise dock is located near a lovely yacht area full of restaurants and shops. From here it is about a 15 to 20 minute walk to the city center of Charlotte Amalie. If you're looking to sit back and relax on the beach instead of exploring, there are several beautiful beaches on St. Thomas to discover.
Spend the Day at Beautiful Magens Bay
Usually cruise ships dock at the Havensight cruise terminal also known as WICO cruise ship dock. However you can also grab a taxi to the city center for just 6 us dollar per person. Both cruise ports are located on the southern side of St. Thomas near the capital and largest city in the US Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie. Havensight Cruise Pier is located 1.7 miles from downtown Charlotte Amalie, while Crown Bay Cruise Port is located 2 miles to the west, meaning the city is bookended by two major cruise ports. The reason for this is simply due to the immense popularity of the city as a port of call and departure point for cruise ships.
How to Explore the St Thomas Cruise Port, USVI - Justin Plus Lauren
How to Explore the St Thomas Cruise Port, USVI.
Posted: Thu, 12 Apr 2018 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Local Art & Craft Markets
However, Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places in the U.S. Located two miles south of St. Thomas, the island is surrounded by coral reefs and is home to the famous Turtle Cove, known for its sea turtle sightings. Cruise ships typically spend eight to nine hours in Charlotte Amalie before continuing on to other Caribbean destinations.
Local Crafts & Souvenirs
This little island is known for its rugged coastline, colorful coral reefs, and an old, hilltop lighthouse offering breathtaking ocean views. This is the perfect opportunity to discover St. Thomas’s underwater world from a different perspective. This unique underwater scooter is custom-built with an oversized helmet that allows you to breathe normally while enjoying great views of tropical reefs and colorful fish. There is no previous diving experience required for this underwater exploration. If you seek a more secluded beach, Solomon Beach located next to Honeymoon Beach might be just a perfect pick for you! It is accessible via hiking trails, has no amenities, and offers amazing swimming and snorkeling.
St. Thomas Cruise Port: Piers, Overview and What to Do
Yacht Haven Grande provides a more upscale shopping experience with high end boutique brands. Between Havensight, Yacht Haven Grande, and Charlotte Amalie, you’ll find everything you need. If you’ve ever taken a cruise to the eastern or southern Caribbean, there’s a good chance that your ship will stop in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. It’s an American port that US citizens don’t even need a passport to visit.
While we originally thought a beach day would be fun in St. Thomas, we ultimately decided that we’d simply wander around and explore the St Thomas cruise port and downtown Charlotte Amalie. This small exhibition center is just a 10-minute walk from Havensight cruise pier and a popular St. Thomas attraction among cruise passengers. Its permanent exhibition showcases items recovered during the Odyssey Marine Exploration and from shipwrecks around the island. Interactive exhibits provide information on the technologies used to recover sunken treasures. Long before cruise ships dotted the harbor of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas was known as the playground of many well-known pirates.
St. Thomas Cruise Port Guide
In addition to offering convenience and fun ways to spend your day in port, Havensight is one of the most scenic cruise ports in the Caribbean. From your cruise ship, you will wake up to amazing views of Charlotte Amalie harbor with its bright red roofs against the sparkling turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. When you exit your ship, you will be welcomed to Havensight, St Thomas by the sounds of island music. A shot of free Cruzan rum awaits at the entrance to the open air Havensight Shopping area. You can stop nearby for a photo op with your ship or in the provided St. Thomas postcard photo spot.
US Coast Guard Calls Off Search for Missing Crew Member
Foodies will love the wide range of restaurants, bars, and cafes. If you’re looking for a high-quality souvenir of your time on the island, St. Thomas is known for fine rum and stunning, hand-crafted jewelry, both of which are available everywhere. With designer shops, local craft markets, and plenty of duty-free malls and stores, there’s no shortage of places to find souvenirs and discounted designer 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.
Best Times to Visit U.S. Virgin Islands
You’ll find plenty of stores and boutiques on Main Street in downtown Charlotte Amalie. Vendor’s Plaza is another downtown highlight if you’re looking for locally-made goods. Part of what makes St. Thomas such an appealing port of call is the wide variety of amenities and attractions within walking distance of the island’s two main ports.
Havensight Pier is the largest of the two ports, with three main berths along a single pier. 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.
We were surprised by the difference between our first and second cruise visits to St. Thomas. St. Thomas cruise visitors will have no problem shopping and even eating like crazy at Havensight Mall. Join me for inspiration and planning on your next travel escape. From camping to cruises, organized tours to solo exploits, I can help you plan your next adventure. If you’re visiting with kids, they’ll love the touch pool and turtle pool.
There’s a cute little hot dog and burger restaurant, where you can grab a bite to eat in paradise. The quietest of the beaches, Lindquist Beach is known to cruise passengers who prefer to avoid the crowds. Located on the Eastern side of the island, this secluded beach has shallow and calm waters and a breathtaking view of the island of St. John. Sapphire Beach is located on the Eastern end of St. Thomas, and has a lot to offer those who enjoy an active beach day. Not only is the snorkeling pretty good, but there’s also jet skiing, parasailing and other activities available. Sapphire Beach is known for it’s stunning sapphire blue waters of course!
Although it’s not the island’s highest point, it is still a must-do, and it couldn’t be in a more convenient location. Given it is one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean, there are regular flights to and from the continental United States and beyond. If your cruise ship docks at Crown Bay Cruise Port, travel time and costs are almost identical, but you may want to give yourself more time to return to port, as fewer taxis travel to and from Crown Bay.
St. Thomas is known for it’s duty free shopping deals, especially for gold jewelry and gemstones and quality tablecloths and linens. If you’re wondering about the pros and cons of booking shore excursions with the cruise line versus on your own, I’ll leave a link to a helpful article at the end of this post. Lauren is the full-time travel blogger and content creator behind Justin Plus Lauren. She started Justin Plus Lauren in 2013 and has travelled to 50+ countries around the world. Lauren is an expert on vegan travel as one of the very first vegan travel bloggers. She also focuses on outdoor adventure travel, eco and sustainable travel, and creating amazing travel itineraries for cities and small towns.
Magens Bay, which is a 25-minute drive from the cruise port, is easily one of the most popular with its calm waters, stunning views and great facilities. 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. 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.
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.
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