11 Jun 2013
The US Virgin Islands is popular among Eastern Caribbean cruise stops and the island of St. Thomas is an American owned island with Caribbean flair. Great beaches and shopping highlight what there is to see and do here.
St. Thomas Benefits
- Beaches: St. Thomas features some very beautiful beaches, including Magens Bay, which is among the most beautiful beaches in the world. There's also other beaches here that offer beautiful water color and very fine sand. When you think of a Caribbean beach, St. Thomas is the sort of beach experience you will have in mind.
- Best public beach: Magens Bay or Coki Beach
- Shopping: St. Thomas offers a lot of shopping options around and near the cruise terminal. Being an American island, the prices here are fairly close to what you'd expect to find back on the mainland. The island boasts good prices on jewelry, liquor, linens, china and crystal. By far jewelry is what is in demand here and there are lots of places to check out. There is no sales tax in the United States Virgin Islands so you can take advantage of the $1,600 duty-free allowance per family member (remember to save your receipts).
- Proximity to St John: It's common for St. Thomas to have many cruise ships in port but St. John is very close and there are water taxi options that take just 20 minutes to get over to the island. For those that have visited St. Thomas before, St. John is close enough to allow for two ports in one.
St. Thomas Detractions
- Traffic: Like many small Caribbean islands, traffic can snarl up the roads often and quickly. This is especially true in the late afternoon, which is typically when cruise ships leave port. If you are planning to use a third-party excursion or going to explore on your own, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get back.
- Crowds: During the busy season, it is not uncommon to have six or more cruise ships docked in port on any given day and that leads to a lot of people in one place. St. Thomas has cemented itself as a cruise destination and many cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, send many of their ships here. More than likely you will feel engulfed in a sea of other tourists.
What to do in St. Thomas
On your next Royal Caribbean cruise to St. Thomas consider these activities
- Beach visit to one of their beautiful beaches, including Magens Bay, Coki Beach or Sapphire Beach
- Take water taxi to St. John
- Duty-free shopping in Charlotte Amalie
- Go to Mountain Top (it's a bit of a tourist trap, but the view is worth it)
Royal Caribbean ships stopping in St. Thomas: Freedom of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas & Legend of the Seas
