St. Thomas and St. John on a Cruise
Charlotte Amalie’s busy harbor and the national park island next door.
Get Virgin Islands QuotesThe Most-Visited Stop in the Region
St. Thomas is the port that defines an Eastern Caribbean cruise. Its deep harbor at Charlotte Amalie takes several large ships at once, and the island packs beaches, viewpoints and duty-free shopping into a small, hilly space. Across a narrow channel lies St. John, most of it protected as a national park.
Because it is a U.S. territory, St. Thomas feels familiar: the dollar is the currency, U.S. phone plans generally work, and driving is on the left side of the road (the one surprise for most visitors). Ships use two cruise piers. The main one is Havensight, also called the West Indian Company dock, a short ride east of downtown Charlotte Amalie. Crown Bay, west of town, takes overflow ships. Your ship’s daily program will say which one you are using.
Four Ways to Spend the Day
Magens Bay
The best-known beach on St. Thomas, on the north shore. Calm, wide and an easy taxi ride from either pier.
Charlotte Amalie
Old Danish warehouses turned shops, the 99 Steps, and the waterfront. Good for a walking morning and lunch.
Catamaran and snorkel
Half-day sails to nearby cays and reefs are among the most popular tours, and some go across to St. John.
Hilltop views
Viewpoints above the harbor give the classic picture of ships, town and islands in one frame.
Getting to St. John
St. John has no pier for large cruise ships, so most cruise visitors reach it by ferry from St. Thomas. The shortest crossing leaves from Red Hook on the east end of the island, a taxi ride from the piers; there are also less frequent ferries from the Charlotte Amalie waterfront. Schedules change, so check same-day times and leave plenty of margin to get back to the ship.
About 60 percent of St. John’s land is part of Virgin Islands National Park, which protects beaches such as Trunk Bay, with its marked underwater snorkel trail, and Cinnamon Bay, along with hiking trails and old sugar-plantation ruins. Many travelers find a guided boat tour simpler than piecing together ferries and taxis on their own.
Timing tip: if your ship is in St. Thomas from early morning to late afternoon, a St. John day is very doable. On a short call, pick Magens Bay or a harbor sail instead.
For tours with live prices and reviews, see St. Thomas shore excursions on our Caribbean Cruise Ports site.
Before You Go Ashore
- Taxis are shared open-air vans that charge per person by destination; confirm the fare before you board.
- Bring reef-friendly sunscreen and water shoes for rocky entries.
- U.S. customs: you clear U.S. Customs when you return to the mainland, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have their own duty-free allowance for shoppers.
- Leave a cushion before all-aboard time; traffic between Red Hook and the piers can be slow in the afternoon.
If you are packing for the trip, Cruising Checklist has a cruise packing list and a document checklist.
Cruise to St. Thomas and St. John
Tell us your dates and whether a St. John day matters to you. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will look for sailings with a full day in St. Thomas and send free quotes.
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