St Thomas Cruise Port Guide: 55+ Unforgettable Experiences

Table Of Content

• Travel Is Our Tradition
• General Virgin Islands
• Is there shopping at St. Thomas cruise port?
• St. Thomas Cruise Port Terminal Information: Cruise Line by Cruise Line
• Things to Do Within Walking Distance
• Shopping

The taxi rates are fixed and displayed in the port on a sign as well as in the guides printed by the local tourist information of St. Thomas. The port provides some entertaining facilities and a representative of the tourist information in the first couple of hours after the ship docks. St Thomas is one of the most visited islands in the Caribbean and the most popular of the U.S.

Travel Is Our Tradition

Beach chairs, umbrellas, and snorkeling gear are available for rental, and other amenities include showers, restrooms, and places to buy food and drinks. Beuchert’s Beer Garden – 17 Main Street – Tucked away from the hustle and bustle is a beer garden with fantastic food and even better prices. They have a reputation for a friendly atmosphere and a small-town vibe. Room With a View – Bluebeard’s Castle – Known for their extensive menu, seafood dishes and, as the name suggests, a fantastic view. They have one of the largest wine cellars on the island, fine liqueurs and a flambé that can’t be passed up.

General Virgin Islands

St. Thomas has a very low crime rate, mainly due to the importance of tourism to the island’s economy. Violent incidents are rare, and visitors can generally feel safe exploring the island. Yes, the St. Thomas cruise port is walkable to downtown, although it is a relatively long walk.

Is there shopping at St. Thomas cruise port?

Likewise, if you are booking independent reservations for shore excursions, you need to make sure to adjust between local time and ship time as necessary. Visitors can navigate St. Thomas by taxi, rental car, or public transportation. Taxis are readily available at the cruise port, and rental cars can be reserved in advance or on-site.

Considering that Charlotte Amalie is a top 'shopping-paradise' in the Caribbean, many a cruise ship passenger want to see what this is all about. The overwhelming majority of the shops are on the Main Street (parallel to the Waterfront) and the Alleys in between these two thoroughfares. Taxi fares are clearly established and you shouldn't worry about being ripped off.

St. Thomas Cruise Port: A Comprehensive Guide for Travelers

Located in the Northeastern area of the Caribbean Sea, St. Thomas is part of the Leeward Islands enjoying both a wonderful and reliable weather in the winter months. If you are looking for unforgettable views and sceneries, hop aboard a tram that will take you to Paradise Point, rising 700 ft above the town of Charlotte Amalie. The trams can accommodate 8-12 people each, and the ride takes 5 minutes one-way. Another popular snorkeling and scuba diving location is a wartime-era shipwreck, lying at a depth of around 40 ft (12 meters). Buck Island is a blast and easily accessible by catamaran, speedboat, or sailboat on a guided tour.

To get to the beach on your own, you need to take a golf cart for a small cost. Many tours include Honeymoon Beach, and the best way to reach it is by boat as you get to take in the stunning views of St John’s coastline. Start your day learning about the history of the largest capital city in the United States Virgin Islands. Founded in 1666 as Thapus, the city was renamed in 1691 as Charlotte Amalie in honor of the Danish Queen.

As you can tell by the name, it’s right by the Havensight cruise ship dock. The Havensight shopping area also includes Buccaneer Mall and Port of Sale. In this area, you’ll find more than 60 stores including major retailers. The Skyride up to the Point starts right across from the Havensight cruise ship dock. The Skyride is an elevated tram that soars (slowly) 700 feet above sea level.

It’s the juxtaposition of tranquil beaches and bustling bazaars, of historic forts and hip nightclubs, of coral reefs teeming with life and mountainous terrains waiting to be trekked. As our journey through the wondrous realms of St. Thomas comes to a close, it’s essential to take a moment to reflect on the tapestry of experiences the island offers. St. Thomas isn’t just a destination; it’s a feeling, a vibrant dance of history, nature, culture, and adventure, all set against the backdrop of cerulean waters and golden sands. A cruise stop in St. Thomas promises an unforgettable experience whether you are new to cruising or experience on the seas.

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It’s located on the Northern coast of the island and most enjoyed for it’s snorkeling and diving. The following timetable provides valuable information and keeps track of the future cruise shiparrivals from all major cruise lines. Inorder to find out more about the cruise ship itineraries such as ports, dates, and arrival/departuretimes just follow the ship’s link. Internet cafes can be found close to both cruise terminals, serving mainly the ship's crew.

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. Cruise ships offer excellent tours to most of St. Thomas attractions and highlights but if you wish to explore the island on your own the taxi services are very good alternatives.

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St. Thomas is a popular destination for cruise ships, and it is known for its excellent shopping and dining options. Visitors can find everything from duty-free jewelry to local cuisine in the island’s various shopping centers and restaurants. Yes, you can walk to downtown Charlotte Amalie from the two cruise ports, but most people save time by taking a taxi, as taxis are easy to get, and fares are less than $5. A great port of call on any Caribbean cruise would be St. Thomas on the US Virgin Islands.The US Virgin Islands are a tropical paradise, located in the Caribbean Sea.

Cruise port guide St Thomas US Virgin islands

Table Of Content

• For cruise passengers
• CRUISES FROM ST THOMAS ISLAND USVI
• Taxi prices at Crown bay cruise dock
• The Early Days and European Colonization
• Water Island Map

For those yearning to tread lightly and dive deeper into the natural beauty of St. Thomas, here’s a guide to the island’s most enchanting eco-friendly attractions. St. Thomas is a symphony of stories, where each alley, dish, tune, and artifact narrates a chapter of its multifaceted journey. Immersing oneself in these historical and cultural attractions offers a deeper understanding of the island. Stepping away from the beaches and into the heart of the island, one finds tales of bygone eras, resonating rhythms, and a palette of colors and flavors that narrate the story of St. Thomas. Certain cruise lines take the experience up a notch with themed voyages. With every cobblestone, every ancient wall, and every local story, you’re transported to an era where the New World was still unfolding.

For cruise passengers

You can also chose to travel a little bit further afield to other major shopping area’s like Downtown Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook. Since the island of St Thomas is part of the US Virgin Islands it will be no surprise that the official currency is the US dollar.Creditcards are widely accepted at most shops and attractions. When the mainland United States is on daylight saving time, Eastern Daylight Time is the same as AST (Atlantic Standard Time).

CRUISES FROM ST THOMAS ISLAND USVI

Coral World Ocean Park is located here, so this can make a great full day to combine a beach and aquarium visit. St. Thomas’ white sand beaches are gorgeous and each one has a special character. Depending on what you enjoy most, you’ll likely have a preference. Another tourist attraction located in Charlotte Amalie, closeby to the synagogue, is 99 Steps. Although 99 Steps is the most famous and most photographed, there are many of these “step” streets which cut through the hills in St. Thomas.

Taxi prices at Crown bay cruise dock

Luckily, it is just a five-to-ten-minute taxi to the downtown of Charlotte Amalie. Take the cable car up to enjoy great views over the southern part of the island. First of all we will find the Havensight cruise terminal just east of the town and the Crown Bay cruise dock at the west of the town of Charlotte Amalie. If you are on a cruise with Royal Caribbean or with a sister company then expect to dock at the Crown Bay cruise dock.

Here are the top peaceful excursions that epitomize the serene side of this island paradise. St. Thomas isn’t just another port on the Caribbean map; it’s a mesmerizing blend of turquoise waters, colonial heritage, and tropical wonders. Turn left, once outside the exit in the direction of Charlotte Amalie. After no more than a 5-minute walk, the colorful Skyride will be on your right. The views from Paradise Point are spectacular and a photo-op not to be missed.

The Early Days and European Colonization

With its pristine beaches and lush rainforests, it’s no wonder why the US Virgin Islands are a popular destination for tourists from around the world. From snorkeling and scuba diving to exploring historical sites and taking in the vibrant culture, there is something here for everyone. Whether you’re looking for an adventure or simply want to relax in paradise, the US Virgin Islands is sure to provide an unforgettable experience. Wherever your cruise ship docks in St Thomas it will always be very easy to travel around by taxi. Located a stone’s throw from Charlotte Amalie, this is the closest beach if your ship docks at Crown Bay Marina cruise terminal.

Water Island Map

Some sightseeing tours will include a stop at Magens Bay or one of the other St. Thomas beaches. Just a few minutes walk from the Havensight cruise port, you’ll find the Sky Ride to Paradise Point. Head up 700 feet to the top of the mountain by tram and experience incredible views of St. Thomas and the harbor. The Havensight cruise port has a large shopping plaza right outside the cruise port gates, and has attractions that are close enough that you can go to your own with one of the local taxis or shuttles. If you’re looking for things to do close to the cruise port, you can find a few, even some within walking distance (from Havensight in particular). The schedule for incoming cruise ships at St. Thomas varies depending on the season and the cruise line.

St John, US Virgin Islands

St. Thomas is a bit of a shopper’s paradise; shops include jewelry and gemstones, liqueur and spirits, clothing boutiques and souvenir shops. It does get crowded, but if you’d like to find a quieter spot to sit, head to either end of the beach and you’ll be fine. These step streets were originally built from ballast bricks of the tall ships coming from the Old World. Although guided tours are available, this is an active synagogue and working congregation. In the Historic district of Charlotte Amalie, there are several building and sights history buffs will enjoy.

How safe is St. Thomas for tourists?

A fare schedule is available for anyone who asks as taxis are not metered but fees are calculated based on number of people and the destination. It is a 5-10 minute taxi ride from the port to downtown Charlotte Amalie. Your St. Thomas shopping begins near the cruise port at Havensight Mall. There are outdoor collections of jewelry stores, T-shirt shops, and souvenir stalls conveniently located just a few steps from your cruise ship. A tour of the island of St. Thomas is great for an overview of the whole island and visits to some of the most popular spots. You’ll drive to Mountain Top, where you’ll have amazing views of the island and a chance to take some photos.

Navigating the island of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands on your own is a pretty simple task. Most sites are within walking distance or a short and inexpensive taxi ride away. If you love sightseeing, food and culture, then a food and rum tour is a great way to visit and experience St. Thomas. This tour takes place in the Downtown Charlotte Amalie Historic district, and includes eating Caribbean dishes at local restaurants. Closeby to the cruise port are bars and restaurants, as well as duty-free shopping.

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For budget travelers, expect to spend around $50 to $100 per day, while mid-range travelers may spend around $150 to $250 per day. This includes accommodation, food, transportation, and activities. As busy as Charlotte Amalie and St. Thomas beaches can be, there are actually amazing places that are off the beaten path, that are worth a visit. Check out St. Thomas’ Mangrove lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary and Marine Preserve where you can  for a moderately active kayak tour. If you’re in St. Thomas on a cruise, you may want to do an excursion either with your cruise line or with a local tour operator. Although it’s only about a 30 minute walk, the weather in St. Thomas is usually hot and sunny, so a cab or open air shuttle may be more comfortable.

The 2021 version of this event was held virtually due to the pandemic. On the island of St. Thomas, one of the more popular and family-friendly beaches you will find is Magens Bay. Sailing to Christmas and Honeymoon Coves (Royal Caribbean) is an optional sailing boat tour for snorkeling. The boat is first anchored offshore (at Christmas Cove), then Sails to Water Island (Honeymoon Beach) for swimming and sunbathing.

Costa Concordia captain gets 16 years in prison

Table Of Content

• Top Stories in Crime/Public Safety
• Understanding the Concept of Cruise Ship Jails
• Man sentenced to 30 years in cruise ship killing dies in Alaska prison
• New Consumer Law Mandates Clear Pricing for Cruise Lines
• Search for missing people
• Costa Cruises and its parent companies

A Utah man sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing his wife on a cruise ship was found dead in an Alaska jail this week, the state corrections department said. Schettino was sentenced in 2015 after a court found him guilty of manslaughter, causing a maritime accident and abandoning ship. Ortelli was later on hand when, in September 2013, the 115,000-ton, 1,000-foot long cruise ship was righted vertical off its seabed graveyard in an extraordinary feat of engineering. But the night of the disaster, a Friday the 13th, remains seared in his memory.

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Top Stories in Crime/Public Safety

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Still, these issues were minor compared with what I would have experienced had we encountered a more deadly outbreak such as COVID-19. When it comes to legal aspects and jurisdiction on cruise ships, there are several entities involved, including local authorities, the captain, law enforcement, and criminal prosecution. In the event of a crime or incident, the jurisdiction can vary depending on the location of the ship and the nationality of the passengers and crew. Cruise ships attempt to minimize passenger disturbances and crime at all costs. Since the onboard jail or brig is secluded from guests, most people wonder if cruise ships have jails and how they handle crime. One of the primary security measures on cruise ships is the use of CCTV cameras.

Understanding the Concept of Cruise Ship Jails

Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Handling a serious crime involves negotiation between officials from the cruise ship’s registered country, the U.S. government, and authorities in foreign ports.

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Cruise lines have multiple safety measures in place on every cruise and the crew are trained in all aspects of crime and reporting. For the purposes of this post, I use the terms Brig and Jail interchangeably. The indictment alleges four people supervised dozens of others in a criminal enterprise that included distribution of illegal drugs, cockfighting, possession of illegal firearms, illegal use of the U.S. Postal Service, and attempts to kill those who helped law enforcement in the investigation. It’s true the vast majority of cruises are fun voyages in exotic locations. U.S. lawmakers must do more to prevent that from happening and better protect victims when it does.

An example is if a cruise ship is registered in South America, crimes in international waters are under South American law. The duties of a ship security officer might change, increase, or decrease, depending on the type of the ship and situation, and the type of vessel. They complete safety rounds around the ship and conduct security inspections on the crew cabins. People who work in guest security must have good managerial, organisational, and conflict-resolution skills. Many people imagine cruise ship jails to have iron bars and be similar to that which you’d find on a ship hundreds of years ago, fortunately, this is no longer the case.

New Consumer Law Mandates Clear Pricing for Cruise Lines

It’s hard to discover whether the man and woman who caused the disturbance on the P&O Britannia in July were kept in the brig or confined to cabin. Searching the good old internet, I discovered that the prison is more formally known as the brig – a small holding cell with little to no furnishings. Cruise lines do try to avoid putting guests in the Brig, but in some circumstances where no other options are available, it may be necessary. If the guest had made threats against other guests or threats to end their own life, they may be placed in the Brig. If the guest was being a danger to themselves or other guests they may be placed in the Brig as a last resort. If a guest is suspected of having committed a serious crime, they may be placed in the Brig.

Search for missing people

While the idea of a jail on a cruise ship may seem daunting, it's important to note that cruise lines only use the brig as a last resort and do not intend to hold passengers for long periods of time. It is important to note that the jail facilities on cruise ships are not intended to be used as a punishment or to hold passengers indefinitely. They are a necessary measure to maintain the safety and security of all passengers and crew members on board. In the event of a crime, the captain has the authority to detain the suspect until the ship reaches its next port of call.

Cruise Ships Have Security Guards

Schettino was nicknamed "Captain Coward" by the media, after the coastguard released recordings of him in a lifeboat resisting orders to return to the stricken vessel. “For us islanders, when we remember some event, we always refer to whether it was before or after the Concordia,” said Matteo Coppa, who was 23 and fishing on the jetty when the darkened Concordia listed toward shore and then collapsed onto its side in the water. Schettino contended that no one died because of the collision, but because of problems beyond his control. Those factors included a helmsman who botched Schettino’s orders immediately before and after the collision, and crew members who weren’t fluent in English or in Italian, the working language of the ship. Another worker who spoke to BBC Three and is referred to under the pseudonym Amy, said that while most guests were lovely, "about 5% can be a nightmare." Solo travelers looking to book European cruises have a range of options when it comes to cabin accommodations.

Cruz and other members of the Texas delegation should support these efforts. Galveston Wharves, where a $125 million Royal Caribbean terminal opened in December, saw embarkations surge past 1 million passengers last year, surpassing even pre-pandemic numbers. The cruise ship capsized after hitting rocks off the Tuscan island of Giglio. “I imagine it like a nail stuck to the wall that marks that date, as a before and after,” he said, recounting how he joined the rescue effort that night, helping pull ashore the dazed, injured and freezing passengers from lifeboats. The dinner plates that flew off the tables when the rocks first gashed the hull. The blackout after the ship's engine room flooded and its generators failed.

As the cruise industry in 2023 is expecting a record-breaking year, that also means that the number of rapes and sexual assaults on the high seas is also on the rise. Italy's highest court has upheld the 16-year jail sentence given to the captain of the Costa Concordia, which capsized in 2012 killing 32 people. Following the conclusion of the righting operation, the ship was kept on the platform while further inspections were made and the starboard sponsons attached. In a first step to prevent pollution of the shore and assist in a refloat the ship, its oil and fuel tanks were emptied.

They are responsible for enforcing the code of conduct and maintaining order on the ship. The security team consists of security guards, supervisors, guest security supervisors, and ship security officers. While at first glance cruise ships, prisons, and nursing homes are very different institutions, in fact they share many commonalities. Each is a densely populated congregate setting with cramped housing units that do not lend themselves well to sheltering in place.

The cruise line may also impose fines or other penalties on the passenger. In some cases, the passenger may be banned from future cruises with the company. While most passengers enjoy a great time on their cruise, some break the rules and engage in disruptive or inappropriate behavior. The FBI reports address any theft over $10,000, and none were reported during this year. It may be due to the security of CCTV, stateroom safes, and electronic key card room access.

Therefore, island and mainland tour preparations must also meet the strictest requirements of tourists, Mr. Truong Ngoc Hung added. On the afternoon of February 23rd, at Con Dao, Vivu Journeys Vietnam, a subsidiary of Thien Minh Group (TMG), continued to host nearly 200 international tourists aboard the 5-star cruise ship for an excursion to Con Dao. The average patient is in her or his low 80s, has multiple chronic illness and disabilities, needs hand-on care with activities of daily living, and has some degree of cognitive impairment. Post-hospitalization admissions come daily, often bringing with them such subacute problems as delirium, gastrointestinal upset, pressure ulcers, and atelectasis. Shortages and rapid turnover of nursing and personal care staff create care challenges almost daily. Medical care providers are off-site most of the time and have competing responsibilities16; in consequence, decisions are often made over the telephone, with nursing staff assuming far more responsibility than they do in other health care settings.

When a passenger or crew member dies, officials on the ship will notify the authorities on shore and a medical team will assess the body and move it to the morgue, where it is kept until arrangements are made for repatriation. In most cases, the body will be removed at the next port of call, but sometimes will remain on board until the end of the voyage. This year, there will be at least three visits to Vietnam by this super cruise ships in March, November, and December. Destinations include Halong, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Chan May, and Con Dao, the representative of Vivu Journeys added. That is the bridge that will bring us all closer together, aiming for a better world,” said Mr. Truong Ngoc Hung, the HCMC-based operations manager of Vivu Journeys. Sébastien, a history teacher from France, is one of nearly 200 tourists on the cruise ship visiting Con Dao.