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The restaurants are very hip, exciting, and social environments. Our favorite was Extra Virgin, “Elevated Italian,” on Deck 6. From crispy artichokes with caper aioli and charred lemon aperitivo to the secondo porcini-rubbed New York Strip with Calabrian chili butter, farro and sauteed escarole, we raved about every bite.
Explore Charlotte Amalie
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. 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.
Top Sights & Attractions for Cruises to St. Croix
The rich and diverse culture of St. Croix is something everyone should experience. You can spend the morning touring the Whim Plantation or snorkeling around Buck Island and the afternoon diving at Cane Bay or enjoying local cuisine at one of many restaurants. Visit Fort Christiansvaern in St. Croix, or take a dip in the warm, clear blue waters at Cane Bay Beach. Get ready to rejuvenate mind and body in every sense on a luxury cruise with Celebrity. Unfortunately, there is far less to do in Crown Bay Cruise Port.
U.S. Virgin Island Cruise Ports
St. Thomas is an extremely popular port of call, especially for American cruise lines. Hence, there is a need for two cruise ports, even though the entire island is only 32 square miles. You can take a look at the upcoming cruise schedule for the cruise ports right here.
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Both cruise ports are roughly two miles from the capital city. This colorful city features colonial architecture as well as modern stores and restaurants. Make sure you visit the historic district packed with 17th-century churches and other buildings. You can even explore Blackbeard’s Castle, located within the city center. On your cruise to St. Croix, enjoy one of the restaurants or bars along Rainbow Beach north of Frederiksted for a lively afternoon.
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. 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. 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.
At seven miles from Havensight Pier, it is a bit of a drive, but it has some of the best snorkeling you’ll find anywhere in the Caribbean. Many available shore excursions will take you to Coki Beach, so it’s very popular with tourists. This Danish fort is one of the island’s most iconic historical landmarks.
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Charlotte Amalie is lined with boutiques and souvenir shops. As well as searching for duty-free bargains, shop for handmade leather sandals, rum, spicy sauces, and jewelry made from sea glass. On the island of St. John, browse through the shops in Cruz Bay to find local artisan crafts like wood carvings, Moko Jumbie dolls, jewelry, and natural soaps.
This historic site includes a monument called the Millennium Monument, which is a giant sundial. Take photos here and hike to the top of Goat Hill for views of the ocean outstretched as far as the eye can see. See endangered species up close at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, just 15 or so minutes away from Frederiksted by car. The leatherback sea turtle is one of the species the refuge protects, as these turtles nest in the Virgin Islands year after year.
Then, go shopping along Gallows Bay, a commercial district with plenty of small boutiques. We later discovered others who took the same excursion and sailed further afield through the same company. We think our detour was due to being the last excursion of the day. Sharing a room with a friend is always a tricky proposition, but even more so in the tight quarters of a cruise ship. My friend and I shared a 225-square-foot Sea Terrace suite and from the photos, it looked like we’d have some trouble squeezing in clothes for two.
Heart-shaped Magens Bay on St. Thomas is popular for its white-sand shores and lush greenery. The only areas that ever felt crowded were the pools at the Aquatic Club and Gym and Tonic, which is pretty typical of any cruise ship, especially on sea days. But besides feeling like we had the ship to ourselves, there was the feeling of inclusion aboard Valiant Lady. We were told he always greets his ships when he’s on the island, sometimes with fireworks. 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.
Hon Rymer added that the VI continues to speak to the cruise lines and executives and is looking forward to a successful continuation of the tourism season in 2024 and into 2025. The captain, crew, tour, snorkeling, lunch, beverages, and boat were top-notch. Just make sure you book your excursions through your cruise line, as these excursion providers have been vetted and will be aware of arrival and departure times for your ship. If you want to try some Caribbean food, Sugarcane Grill is an open-air restaurant that always serves island favorites. Amalia Café Restaurant is another open-air eatery with an amazing atmosphere and even better food.
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. Havensight Pier is the largest of the two ports, with three main berths along a single pier. The town of Charlotte Amalie has one of the most breathtaking harbors in the world. Once home to pirates of long ago, today visitors find treasures of a different kind, for now beautiful beaches and bountiful duty-free shopping are truly its claim to fame. Tipping is much like traveling in other parts of the U.S—leave 15-20% for restaurants and bars, 10-15% for taxis, and leave a dollar or two per bag for bellhops.
US Virgin Island Cruise Arrivals Nearly Double - Cruise Hive
US Virgin Island Cruise Arrivals Nearly Double.
Posted: Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
My friend’s husband read too many comments about “swingers,” “in-cabin toy packages,” and other tales that made him wonder why we chose Virgin. We, and the people we met on board, laughed at those exaggerated stories. This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
The rooftop lounge in the forward ship was dotted with shaded loungers and multiple hot tubs with a private bar, panoramic views, and nightly happy hour. We spent every afternoon lounging on the rooftop between excursions and watched the sunset during happy hour with an intimate group of cruisers we befriended. On our sea day, when the pool was most packed, the lounge remained an empty reprieve, and we certainly felt like RockStars with our whims catered to at every turn.
Both ports are all on ground level, so no need to worry about elevators or stairs. Wheelchair ramps also ensure curbs and other obstacles do not interfere with accessibility. St. Croix’s cruise port is unique because it isn’t as built up as St. Thomas or other parts of the U.S. There are a few shops and even fewer distractions at the cruise port, meaning you have to use your stop on a St. Croix cruise wisely and head into parts of Frederiksted right away.
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