St. Thomas, USVI Port Guide
Discovering the Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas Cruise Port in the US Virgin Islands
About the St. Thomas Cruise Port
St. Thomas is one of three islands, the others being St. Croix and St. John, that comprise this United States territory, and it’s a popular cruise destination serviced by most of the major cruise lines. Charlotte Amalie cruise port has two docks, Havensight and Crown Bay, and if the port is particularly busy, cruise lines may even anchor and tender guests to shore, although this is rare. Both docks have spots where cruisers can access free Wi-Fi.
This port is great for cruisers who love to shop, as it’s home to the A.H. Riise Mall on Main Street, surrounded by some other unique shops, such as Turkish Grand Bazaar. It’s also the perfect port of call for a beach day, because along with the Bahamas and Grand Cayman, cruisers will find here some of the most pure sands and stunning clear blue waters.
Havensight Cruise Terminal
Havensight is located in Charlotte Amalie East, and of the two, is the closest walk to the downtown area. Sometimes called the West India Company Dock, it’s home to the Havensight Mall, which is home to many of the shops, bars, and restaurants that cruisers can expect at a cruise port. Click here for a Havensight St. Thomas cruise port map. The benefit of porting here is that it’s a short 6-minute walk to the Skyride to Paradise Point; just hang a left upon exiting the terminal.
Crown Bay Center Cruise Terminal
Crown Bay is in Charlotte Amalie West and contains several duty-free shops, souvenir vendors, a prominent large Windmill, which makes for a great photo opp (and contains the Tourist Center within), coffee shops, and bars and restaurants.
Exploring Charlotte Amalie on Foot
Getting around on foot is a feasible option, but only if you’re porting at Havesight, as Crown Bay isn’t close to any major sites or attractions. In most cases, you’ll want to book an excursion, hire a private driver, or take a taxi to get around. If you prefer walking around to explore, consider taxiing to the city center and exploring from there. You can navigate using a downtown map, like this one, which features shops, bars, and restaurants.
St. Thomas Cruise Port Beach
St. Thomas is a premier port for a beach day. It’s home to some amazing beaches, including the world-renowned Magens Bay Beach, along with Coki Beach, Brewers Bay Beach, Sapphire Beach, and Bolongo Beach. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can ferry to St. John and visit the famous Trunk Bay Beach. You can find a St. Thomas beach guide here, courtesy of the US VI Tourism Authority.
Tip: If you visit Magens Bay Beach, ask your driver to drop you off further down the coast. The beach is one mile long, but most visitors pack in near the Magens Bay Beach Bar, where they can access the bar, along with chair and umbrella rentals. You’ll find a much more secluded, tranquil experience going down further. Of all the St. Thomas Beaches, Brewers Bay is my favorite, as it’s always much less crowded, and holds a special place in my heart since this is the first time I ever got to snorkel
Taxis in St. Thomas
Taxis are readily available, but somewhat pricey, and are available from both docks at the Charlotte Amalie cruise port in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. On a 2024 visit, fares to Magens Bay were $15 each way per person, and taxis are open-air, shared vehicles, where drivers transport groups of cruisers all headed to the same destination.
Taxi fares are regulated and typically non-negotiable. Uber and Lyft are not options in the US Virgin Islands. Given the limitations and cost of taxis, cruisers may want to consider hiring a private driver. My personal recommendation is to use a personal driver. I hate the taxi situation here, and a private driver is a little pricey, but so worth it, because you can pack in so much during one day and really get your money's worth in terms of activities.
Best Excursions in St. Thomas
The top things to do in St. Thomas of course include the island’s famous beaches, but there are also plenty of other great excursions and activities in Charlotte Amalie, including the following, which can be booked independently:
- Private Tour of St. Thomas
This is the rare excursion that I’ve done more than once because it’s just that good. There’s no better way to navigate St. Thomas and see everything you want without being herded like cattle with other cruisers. This private driver option gives you and your group an exclusive experience personalized just to you. - Luxury Catamaran Private Charter
Don’t get sticker shock. If you can round up a group of 12 cruisers, you can enjoy a luxury and private experience for just around $125 each, cheaper than similar cruise line offerings! - Parasailing
- ATV/UTV Tour of St. Thomas
- Sea Trek Helmet Dive
- World Famous Mountain Top
If you have private transportation, this is a cool place to visit, but I wouldn’t recommend making a special trip here. It’s basically a huge duty-free gift shop known for its size and its banana daiquiris.
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas Cruise Port Ship Schedules
As with all cruise ports, I recommend using Cruisemapper to access the ship schedule for St. Thomas, which can be found here.
U.S. Virgin Islands Time Zone
Keeping track of time zones can get complicated when cruising, especially for itineraries with multiple time zone changes on one sailing. Your captain will make announcements during the cruise to update you on these changes, but it’s good to be aware of these differences ahead of time when planning your stop at the port, especially for excursions.
Most cruise lines operate on “ship time” set to the time of the departure port, so for sailings off the eastern coast of the US, this is Eastern Standard Time (EST). The Virgin Islands’ time zone is Atlantic Standard Time (AST), and they do not observe Daylight Saving Time, so the AST time zone may differ from EST — or it may be the same — depending on the time of year.
