St Thomas Island USVI Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands
US Virgin Islands

1179 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Azamara Club Cruises (17 Cruises)

Carnival Cruise Line (131 Cruises)

Carnival Celebration..

Carnival Celebration

5362 Passengers
183521 tons
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Carnival Vista

3934 Passengers
133500 tons
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Celebrity Cruises (92 Cruises)

Cruise celebrity apex ship

Celebrity Apex

2910 Passengers
130818 tons
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Celebrity Cruises Cel Ship Xcel

Celebrity XCEL

3260 Passengers
141262 tons
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Disney Cruise Line (21 Cruises)

Disney Treasure.

Disney Treasure

2492 Passengers
144256 tons
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Emerald Waterways (21 Cruises)

Emerald Sakara.

Emerald Sakara

164 Passengers
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Explora Journeys (31 Cruises)

Holland America Line (81 Cruises)

Cruise HAL Holland America Line ms Eurodam ship

ms Eurodam

2104 Passengers
86273 tons
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Cruise HAL Holland America Line ms Rotterdam ship

ms Rotterdam

2668 Passengers
99935 tons
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MSC Cruises (62 Cruises)

msc meraviglia cruise ship

MSC Meraviglia

4500 Passengers
167600 tons
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MSC Cruises Seashore Ship Cruise

MSC Seashore

5331 Passengers
154000 tons
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Norwegian Cruise Line (205 Cruises)

Cruise NCL Norwegian Cruise Line Aqua Ship

Norwegian Aqua

3571 Passengers
156 tons
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Norwegian Line Epic cruise Ship

Norwegian Epic

4100 Passengers
155873 tons
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norwegian cruise line escape ship

Norwegian Escape

4266 Passengers
164600 tons
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Cruise NCL Norwegian Cruise Line Luna Ship

Norwegian Luna

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Cruise NCL Norwegian Cruise Line Prima Ship

Norwegian Prima

3099 Passengers
142500 tons
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Oceania Cruises (44 Cruises)

Princess Cruises (115 Cruises)

Cruise PCL Princess Crown Ship

Crown Princess

3080 Passengers
113561 tons
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Cruise PCL Princess Emerald ship

Emerald Princess

3080 Passengers
113561 tons
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Cruise PCL Princess Regal Ship

Regal Princess

3560 Passengers
142299 tons
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises (20 Cruises)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (214 Cruises)

royal caribbean cruises harmony of the seas ship

Harmony of the Seas

5400 Passengers
226963 tons
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royal caribbean rhapsody of the seas cruise ship

Rhapsody of the Seas

2040 Passengers
78491 tons
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Cruise RCI Royal Caribbean Star of the Seas Ship

Star of the Seas

5610 Passengers
248 tons
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royal caribbean vision of the seas cruise ship

Vision of the Seas

2048 Passengers
78340 tons
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SeaDream Yacht Club (49 Cruises)

Seadream I

Seadream I

207 Passengers
4333 tons
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Seadream II

Seadream II

207 Passengers
4333 tons
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Viking Ocean Cruises (28 Cruises)

viking sea.

Viking Sea

48000 tons
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Virgin Voyages (16 Cruises)

Port of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands | Cruise Port Guide

The harbour of Charlotte Amalie opens like an amphitheatre: green hills dotted with villas, sailboats at anchor, and a town that has been climbing the slopes since Danish times. St. Thomas remains one of the busiest port calls in the Caribbean, and its port has two main piers: Havensight, about 2.5 kilometres east of the centre, and Crown Bay, 3 kilometres to the west. Depending on the ship's assigned berth, you reach the heart of the capital on foot in half an hour or by taxi in a few minutes.

Charlotte Amalie, between trading houses and Danish stairways

Main Street and its side alleys occupy thick-walled former Danish warehouses, converted into a row of jewellers, watchmakers and duty-free shops that earns the island its title of duty-free shopping capital of the Caribbean. Prices are posted tax-free, and American visitors enjoy an enhanced customs allowance — others should check theirs before giving in to temptation. Between shop windows, heritage pops up: the 1833 synagogue with its sand floor, one of the oldest on American soil, the brick-red 17th-century Fort Christian, and the "99 Steps," a stairway of bricks brought over as ballast in Danish ships, climbing to the lookout at Blackbeard's Castle.

Paradise Point, the effortless panorama

Directly across from the Havensight pier, a cable car lifts visitors about 210 metres above the harbour in seven minutes. From the Paradise Point terrace, the view takes in the ship at the pier, the tiered town and, offshore, the scattering of islets in the passage toward Puerto Rico. The bar at the top has made famous its "Bushwacker," a frozen chocolate cocktail whose invention local legend claims. Walkers can head back down by road in about twenty minutes.

Magens Bay, the other trump card

On the other side of the ridge, on the north coast, Magens Bay unrolls nearly two kilometres of sand between two wooded peninsulas. The deep, sheltered bay regularly features in rankings of the world's most beautiful beaches; its waveless water suits all swimmers. The admission fee funds the upkeep of a site that has remained surprisingly natural. Allow about fifteen minutes by taxi from the piers, stopping at the Drake's Seat lookout, a must-do photo stop above the bay.

Coki Point and the east of the island

Underwater enthusiasts head east to Coki Point: the small, lively and popular beach offers the island's most accessible snorkelling, with sergeant majors and turtles a few metres from shore. The neighbouring Coral World aquarium rounds out the outing for families, with its natural underwater observatory. From there, you can already see St. John, the wild neighbour, which many combine with St. Thomas on a ferry excursion.

Port call landmarks

ItemDetails
DockingHavensight or Crown Bay, depending on the cruise line
Downtown2.5 to 3 km from the piers, plenty of shared taxis
Magens BayAbout 15 minutes by taxi, admission fee
Currency and languageUS dollar; English

The luxury of choice

St. Thomas can be experienced in a dozen ways: bargain hunting beneath the Danish arcades, a cable car ride above the harbour, a swim in a textbook bay or a quick crossing to St. John. This versatility explains its place on almost every Eastern Caribbean itinerary. The challenge of the port call isn't finding something to do, but choosing what to save for next time.

Frequently Asked Questions

At one of Charlotte Amalie's two main piers: Havensight, about 2.5 kilometres east of the centre, or Crown Bay, 3 kilometres west. The berth is assigned to the ship, so check which one before planning your day.
Yes, about half an hour on foot from either pier, along the water. Most passengers prefer a taxi, a few minutes' ride, especially coming back with bags.
Main Street and its side lanes for duty-free shopping, the Danish step streets and the view over the harbour, then a beach by taxi. Anyone after the postcard heads for Magens Bay on the north shore.
Because the old Danish warehouses of Main Street hold a run of jewellers, watch dealers and duty-free shops, with prices shown free of tax. American visitors get an enhanced customs allowance; Canadians should check theirs before giving in.
It depends on the length of your trip rather than where you bought, unlike the enhanced allowance Americans enjoy in the Virgin Islands. Check the current thresholds with the Canada Border Services Agency before you spend.
Magens Bay on the north shore is the best-known beach, a crescent of sand with calm water. Expect a taxi ride from the piers; beach access carries a fee.
The US dollar, and cards are accepted throughout Charlotte Amalie's shops. Keep cash for taxis, which charge a per-person fare, and for tips.
Yes for Canadians: the US Virgin Islands are a United States territory and a valid passport remains the document to present.
Yes, with one caveat: Charlotte Amalie is a very busy call and the downtown streets can be crowded when several ships are in. With young children, the beach usually beats the shopping.
December through April, the dry season and peak cruise season. It is also the busiest: May and June strike a balance between still-settled weather and thinner crowds.