St Thomas Island USVI

St Thomas Island sits in the Caribbean, about 40 miles (64 km) east of Puerto Rico, and the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie is located on the island. The cruise port here is mainly a port of call on Caribbean itineraries, though some ships also use it as a turnaround. Most cruise ships dock at one of two piers: Havensight and Crown Bay, both on either side of Charlotte Amalie on the south side of the island, though neither is close enough for an easy walk between the ship and downtown. In Havensight, the area has been largely developed and now boasts a shopping mall, restaurants, and a welcome centre.

Charlotte Amalie has roots that run deep. When the Danes first claimed St Thomas in the 17th century, they founded what is now the capital, named after the wife of the Danish King Christian V. Main Street, sometimes known as Dronningens Gade, has long been a shopping hub on the island, and many of its 18th and 19th century buildings are said to have been used as pirate warehouses, and today house restaurants and luxury boutiques. The town is known for its extensive duty-free shopping, from perfume to jewelry and electronics. Vendor's Plaza is an outdoor market in Emancipation Park where stalls sell souvenirs ranging from clothes and accessories to homemade candles and art.

Getting around is straightforward but different from the mainland. The USVI is the only place under USA jurisdiction where the road rule is to drive on the left, inherited from Danish practice at the time of American acquisition in 1917. Local taxis are small, open-air shuttle vehicles called safari trucks, and you flag one down heading in the direction you want to go and pay a set price per person that is usually quite reasonable.

The island itself offers plenty of appeal beyond shopping. The territory is known for its beaches and plentiful sunshine, with a tropical climate moderated by easterly trade winds and with relatively low humidity. Coral World Ocean Park is located around a 20-minute drive east of Charlotte Amelie, where you can swim among ocean creatures, walk along the seabed, and observe the underwater world in the Marine Gardens gallery and Undersea Observatory. The islands have many well-known beaches, including Magens Bay on Saint Thomas.

On The Cruise Globe you can trace the exact route your ship took through these waters.