Home / Ports / St. Thomas / Things to do
What to do in St. Thomas on a cruise stop
Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands · A cruise-stop guide built around the typical 10-hour port day: 10 things to do, two ready-made day plans, plus the crowd and weather context that decides how the day actually feels.
Photo: Captain-tucker · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
What to do in St. Thomas on a cruise stop
Quick answer
St. Thomas pairs one of the Caribbean's famous beaches with a compact, historic duty-free capital. Ships dock at Havensight or Crown Bay, either side of Charlotte Amalie, and a typical call runs about 10 hours — long enough for a beach morning and a downtown afternoon, or a full-day hop to St. John. If you only do one thing, make it Magens Bay, the island's signature mile of calm water.
Don't miss: Magens Bay Beach
Your port day, in numbers
Median of 309 scheduled calls with published times in our combined official + itinerary schedules (2026-11-05 to 2027-09-30).
Source: PortCrowds schedule data (official port schedules + published cruise-line itineraries), checked Nov 6, 2026
How busy does it get?
St. Thomas spreads its crowds well: a typical day brings about 3,700 passengers ashore, though the busiest scheduled days pass 19,000 when several large ships dock together. December to March is peak season in our schedules; the summer and early-autumn months run far quieter.
Your own day can land anywhere in that range — check your date on the St. Thomas crowd calendar before you plan around the crowds.
Source: PortCrowds schedule data (official port schedules + published cruise-line itineraries), checked Nov 6, 2026
Weather, in visitor terms
Steadily warm — highs of 78–83°F all year, kept comfortable by the trade winds. February to April is the driest stretch (rain on under a third of days). September to November is the wet season, with rain on about half of days and the year's highest tropical-storm risk.
Derived from the port's 2015–2024 climate typicals in PortCrowds' weather dataset (Open-Meteo ERA5). Rain % = share of days with measurable rain.
Source: PortCrowds weather typicals (Open-Meteo ERA5, 2015–2024), checked Nov 6, 2026
Things to do on a cruise stop
Magens Bay Beach
St. Thomas's signature north-shore beach park, with exceptionally calm, turquoise water sheltered by two peninsulas. Lifeguards, restrooms, chair rentals, food and the 2.4-mile Discovery Nature Trail are on site, and green sea turtles are often seen in the bay.
North shore; about 10-15 minutes by taxi/drive from downtown Charlotte Amalie, per Visit USVI · Admission for nonresidents is $7 per person daily and children under 12 are free. Parking is $2 per vehicle.
Source: https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/magens-bay-beach/, checked Nov 6, 2026
Fort Christian and the St. Thomas Historical Trust Museum
The red-brick Fort Christian, completed in 1680 on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront, is the oldest structure still standing in the territory and a National Historic Landmark. Its museum holds 300-year-old Danish relics, and the roof offers harbor views past the cannons.
In downtown Charlotte Amalie, on the waterfront · $ · under ~$25 approx.
Source: https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/best-things-to-do-in-charlotte-amalie-on-st-thomas/, checked Nov 6, 2026
Skyride to Paradise Point
A seven-minute aerial tram ride from Havensight climbs 700 feet above sea level for panoramic views over the harbor, cruise ships and downtown Charlotte Amalie. At the top there is an observation deck, a Skywalk, shops and restaurants.
In Havensight, across from the Havensight/WICO dock area · $$ · ~$25–75 approx.
Source: https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/best-things-to-do-in-charlotte-amalie-on-st-thomas/, checked Nov 6, 2026
99 Steps and Blackbeard's Castle (exterior only)
Climb the 18th-century Danish step-street known as 99 Steps (actually 103 steps, built with bricks brought as ballast on Danish tall ships). At the top is Blackbeard's Castle, a 1679 lookout tower - it is no longer open to the public, so it is an exterior photo stop with city and harbor views.
In downtown Charlotte Amalie, uphill from the waterfront · Free approx.
Source: https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/best-things-to-do-in-charlotte-amalie-on-st-thomas/, checked Nov 6, 2026
Main Street shopping, Charlotte Amalie
Charlotte Amalie's Main Street (Dronningens Gade) and its cobblestone side streets fill 18th-century stone warehouses - once used for sugar and rum exports - with luxury shops, boutiques and restaurants. Visit USVI notes each person can bring up to $1,600 worth of duty-free merchandise back to the US mainland.
In downtown Charlotte Amalie · Free approx.
Source: https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/best-things-to-do-in-charlotte-amalie-on-st-thomas/, checked Nov 6, 2026
Coral World Ocean Park
A 5-acre marine park at Coki Point with exotic aquariums, outdoor pools and nature trails on a self-guided route through Caribbean Sea life. General admission includes access to all marine life exhibits; animal encounters cost extra.
At Coki Point on the East End, adjacent to Coki Point Beach · Explorer Day Pass: Adults Ages 13+ $29; Children Ages 3-12 $17; Kids Under 3 Free
Source: https://coralworldvi.com/general-admission/, checked Nov 6, 2026
Coki Point Beach
Right next to Coral World, Coki Point is described by Visit USVI as one of the best St. Thomas beaches for beginner snorkelers and casual swimmers. Its shallow, clear water holds sea turtles and colorful fish around the coral reefs, with snorkel gear and chair rentals on the beach.
East End, adjacent to Coral World Ocean Park · Free approx.
Source: https://www.visitusvi.com/st-thomas/best-st-thomas-beaches/, checked Nov 6, 2026
Sapphire Beach
An East End beach near Red Hook where you can snorkel a shallow brain-coral reef with rays, sea turtles and parrotfish, or rent paddleboards and beach chairs. Sapphire Beach Bar serves casual food and tropical drinks with views over the water toward St. John.
East End, near Red Hook · Free approx.
Source: https://www.visitusvi.com/st-thomas/best-st-thomas-beaches/, checked Nov 6, 2026
Ferry to St. John and Trunk Bay (Virgin Islands National Park)
Passenger ferries run daily from Red Hook (the short crossing) and from downtown Charlotte Amalie to Cruz Bay, St. John, gateway to Virgin Islands National Park and Trunk Bay. It is a full half-day commitment on a port day - build in taxi time to Red Hook, the crossing, and the return ferry, and check the seasonal schedule before you go.
Ferries depart Red Hook on the East End and the downtown Charlotte Amalie waterfront; the Red Hook-Cruz Bay route takes approximately 15 minutes, per the VI Port Authority · Transportation Services & Varlack Ventures, Red Hook to Cruz Bay: Non-Resident One-way $8.15; Child (2-11) One-way $1; Luggage/Box $4.00 each (per VI Port Authority). Trunk Bay charges an Expanded Amenity Fee of $5.00/person ages 16 and up (per National Park Service).
Source: https://www.viport.com/schedules-ferrycargoschedules, checked Nov 6, 2026
Mountain Top
A mountaintop overlook just north of Charlotte Amalie, near the highest point in the US Virgin Islands (1,556 feet, per Visit USVI). The view takes in Magens Bay and a string of cays and islands, and the stop is famous for its banana daiquiri and souvenir shopping.
Inland/north of Charlotte Amalie, usually reached by taxi or island tour · $ · under ~$25 approx.
Source: https://www.visitusvi.com/st-thomas/shop-and-sun-in-st-thomas/, checked Nov 6, 2026
Two ways to spend the day
If you have ~4 hours
- Ride the Skyride to Paradise Point right by the Havensight dock for the harbour view
- Taxi into downtown for Fort Christian and the St. Thomas Historical Trust Museum
- Walk Main Street shopping back along the waterfront
If your ship is at Crown Bay instead, start downtown and treat the Skyride as the optional extra.
Full day
- Taxi over the hill to Magens Bay Beach for the morning (nonresident admission US$7, under-12s free)
- Back to Charlotte Amalie for lunch and the 99 Steps and Blackbeard's Castle (exterior only) climb
- Finish with Main Street shopping before the ride back to the ship
The full-day alternative is the ferry to St. John and Trunk Bay — beautiful, but it is the whole day; start early and guard the return ferry time.
Getting around from the ship
Ships dock at Havensight (WICO) east of downtown Charlotte Amalie or at Crown Bay west of downtown. Downtown's historic core - Main Street, Fort Christian, Vendors Plaza and the 99 Steps - is walkable once you are in town, but no beach is in the walkable core, so most cruise visitors use taxis from stands at the docks for beaches and the East End, with VITRAN public buses and the St. John ferries as the public-transit options.
| Option | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walking (downtown Charlotte Amalie) | Main Street, Palm Passage, Vendors Plaza, Fort Christian and the 99 Steps are all in the compact downtown/waterfront area described by Visit USVI, and can be combined on foot. Getting downtown from the Havensight or Crown Bay docks is usually done by taxi. | |
| Taxi | Taxis are the default way to reach beaches and the East End; Visit USVI notes a taxi stand is available at Magens Bay for the return trip. Confirm the fare with the driver before you ride - no official St. Thomas taxi fare table was found on an official government/tourism site during this check, so no specific taxi fares are published here. | |
| VITRAN public bus | VITRAN is the USVI public transit system run by the Department of Public Works, providing fixed-route bus, paratransit and ferry services territory-wide, including on St. Thomas. It is the public system locals use; routes and frequency are limited compared with taxis, so allow extra time on a port day. | |
| Ferry to St. John | Red Hook to Cruz Bay non-resident one-way $8.15 (official, per VI Port Authority) approx. | Two passenger ferry routes link St. Thomas with Cruz Bay, St. John: Red Hook-Cruz Bay (approximately 15 minutes, the shortest route) and downtown Charlotte Amalie-Cruz Bay (longer, and described by the Port Authority as close to cruise ship docking facilities). Schedules are seasonal - the Port Authority page carries the current timetables and fares. |
Source: Getting around: destination tourism / port authority, checked Nov 6, 2026
Cruise-stop questions
How much does Magens Bay cost?
The Magens Bay Authority charges US$7 per nonresident adult; children under 12 are free and parking is US$2 per vehicle (published on the official Visit USVI site). It is about 10–15 minutes by taxi from Charlotte Amalie.
Which dock will my ship use in St. Thomas?
Either Havensight (the WICO dock, east of downtown) or Crown Bay (west of downtown). Both are a short taxi ride from Charlotte Amalie's Main Street — neither is a comfortable walk in the heat with beach gear.
Can you visit St. John on a cruise stop?
Yes, and many do: passenger ferries run from both the Charlotte Amalie waterfront and Red Hook to Cruz Bay (the Red Hook crossing is the short one, US$8.15 one-way for non-residents per the VI Port Authority), then it is a short taxi to Trunk Bay. It takes the full day — take an early ferry out and do not cut the return close.
Is Blackbeard's Castle open?
No — the castle is no longer open to the public. You can still climb the 99 Steps past it and see the exterior as part of a downtown walk, which is how we list it.
Guide sources: Visit USVI — official tourism · Coral World Ocean Park · VI Port Authority — ferry schedules · VI Dept. of Public Works — transit
Plan around the crowds
St. Thomas’s full crowd calendar →
Best time to visit St. Thomas on a cruise →
Busiest St. Thomas cruise days →
Quietest St. Thomas cruise days →
Data & accuracy
- Schedule source: WICO
- Data last fetched: Nov 6, 2026
- Estimates are based on published ship capacities, not actual bookings or how many passengers go ashore.