If you’re on a cruise ship right now and about to dock at the port of St. Thomas and you have nothing planned, this guide is for you!
So get ready for a great day in the islands!
St. Thomas is one of the busiest cruise ship ports in the Caribbean and the world. For good reason. The massive harbour and cruise ship piers are exploding with shops, bars, tours and activities. It is also wonderfully easy to navigate…after you check out this port guide.
In this guide I’m focusing on the activities that are right at the cruise ship port or within a short walk or taxi ride of less than 5 minutes. So no need to worry about getting lost, running out of time or missing your departure. 🙂
And, after reading this guide, you can enjoy your shore time without feeling like you’ve missed out on anything here in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
First things first:
If you are traveling on Norwegian, MSC, Carnival, Disney, Princess, Azamara or Holland you are arriving at Havensight or the West Indian Cruise Ship Dock (WICO). Section 1 is for you!
If you are arriving in St. Thomas via Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise lines you’ll want to read Section 2.
And Section 3 is for all St. Thomas cruisers!
Section 1: Havensight/WICO Dock
The West Indian Company (WICO) dock is the busiest ship port on St. Thomas. On any given day there are 2-3 ships docked here. But have no fear, it’s a massive pier and there is lots to do right off the ship.
If you have no desire to go anywhere else on your visit, you can stay right in the complex known as Havensight Mall. Below are some of the offerings within a 5 minute walk and within view of your ship.
Bars and Restaurants
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Tap & Still – a burger joint.
Tap & Still is a local favorite. They offer burgers, fries and other delicious, grilled and fried goodies. And they have great milkshakes too!
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Virgin Haven – a simple bar.
Virgin Haven is within spittin distance of your ship. Seriously, you could jump off your balcony and land on the bar. It’s directly on the pier. I guess you could grab a drink right as you get off the ship – nice to get the party started early.
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Smoking Rooster – BBQ restaurant.
Smoking Rooster has both an outdoor and indoor space (if you need air-conditioning). I prefer the open-air bar and seating. Can’t beat this BBQ restaurant only a few hundred feet from your gangway. Sometimes they have live music. Food is good and the vibe is very relaxed.
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Stir it Up
My kids’ favorite breakfast spot. Their baked goods are fantastic. And while I don’t know anything about coffee, their coffee is probably my favorite on island. The cafe doesn’t have a lot of space to sit so it’s usually best to grab and go with your order. My personal favorite is the spinach and feta croissant. My wife could eat an endless number of their almond croissants. My 5-year-old daughter always orders the massive pig in a blanket.
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Paradise Point
There’s a little more effort involved getting here but worth it if you’d like to add sightseeing to your day. A 5-6 minute walk from your ship will take you to the Skyride. It’s a ski lift/gondola that takes you up the side of a small mountain. At the top are shops and a bar and restaurant. The food is good enough and the views are phenomenal!
Sites, museums, activities
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Sky Ride
Enjoy a beautiful gondola ride up the side of the mountain. You’ll have views all the way to Puerto Rico and right down at your cruise ship. The ride is quick but offers a fun experience. Once you reach the top you’ll have shops, a bar, restaurant and more insane views.
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Pirate Museum
Worth the price of admission to see all the artifacts and interactive displays – although I am a bit of a pirate fanatic. I have a perfectly normal, heterosexual love for Captain Jack. So spending some time around all the treasure and sunken goodies makes me want to chase Sparrow and Will Turner across the Caribbean Sea.
For kids under the age of 10, this museum guarantees you’re kids will run around for at least an hour of so. A short walk from the pier, this small children’s museum is basically an indoor playground with some learning thrown in. But not too much. It’s a nice, air-conditioned break from the throngs of people and tourist shops.
Shopping
I won’t go too deep into specific store recommendations but be satisfied knowing you’ll find countless jewelry and souvenir shops. A couple notable spots:
1. Caribana – my favorite.
A wide assortment of goodies from the usual souvenir junk to some cooler items. I shop here when I want to send a “local” gift to one of my favorite people in the states – rum balls, key chains or shirts. They also have a wide selection of booze. If you need to buy a souvenir for yourself or someone else, this is the place.
2. Caribbean Surf Company – my other favorite.
If you want something beachy and of high quality, check out Caribbean Surf. They have bathing suits, swim trunks, t-shirts, sunglasses, watches and flip flops. They carry only the better brands – Billabong, Quiksilver, Hurley, Volcom, RVCA, etc. When I’m clothes shopping this is my first stop.
Section 2: Crown Bay Dock (aka The Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal)
If you’re traveling on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruise Lines to St. Thomas you’ll dock at Crown Bay. Cruise ship traffic isn’t as busy at Crown Bay since there are only two cruise ship berths. That being said, when a Royal Caribbean behemoth arrives, it can get a bit crowded at the pier.
After walking off the ship you’ll be funneled through a security fence and enter into a large complex full of shops and food purveyors – from small stands to sit-down restaurants.
If you aren’t feeling especially adventurous you can stick within the Crown Bay confines and do a little shopping and drinking. And for that, I can’t really offer specific recommendations as there are a wide assortment of options. And all of them are within ear shot of the boats.
The only notable restaurant in the area is Tickles. It’s a 5 minute walk outside of the Crown Bay terminal. Tickles is a crusty spot right on the water – great for some decent food and drinks for not outrageous prices. They also sometimes have live entertainment. The reason I like Tickles is the grungy, almost pirate-like, atmosphere.
Section 3: Historic Charlotte Amalie
If you are taking a cruise for the simple pleasures of unlimited food, pools and entertainment then I would question the rationale of ever leaving the ship.
My wife and I live in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. We love to cruise.
We have a simple routine when on a ship: 1. wake up and hit the buffet 2. go to the pool and hit the buffet 3. go to the casino, drink heavily and then hit the buffet or other food option. So we have little to no desire to get off the ship at many of the ports.
And even if we do venture off the ship, we like to stick close by. It is anxiety inducing to travel across an unfamiliar island with no guaranteed way back to the ship. (And, to be honest, 99% of the Caribbean ports offer the exact same things – jewelry shops, souvenir shops and uninspired bars and restaurants. And you want to know the crazy part? Many of the shops are owned by the same parent company with almost the exact same inventory on every island.)
So I’m not giving up my buffet, pool and air-conditioned cabin for another crowded port experience unless there is something interesting to see. That’s why, even though we live here, we still like getting off in St. Thomas. We have one of the most historic and beautiful towns in the Caribbean: Charlotte Amalie.
Too many people come to St. Thomas and do a boat trip or beach excursion. And yet, almost every island offers the exact same excursions and beach experiences. But no island has a downtown quiet like Charlotte Amalie. (I have traveled extensively to Antigua, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, Bahamas and Tortola and don’t feel the same energy and history as I do here in St. Thomas. Old San Juan is the only one that comes close.)
Downtown Charlotte Amalie is no more than a 5-minute ride from either cruise ship terminal. If you are adventurous, you could walk but I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s little shade or few places to rest if you need a break. Meaning you’ll be overheated before you even get to town. Instead, I highly recommend you grab a taxi.
At each cruise ship terminal there is a taxi dispatcher as soon as you walk off the gangway and cross the security fence. The taxis fit up to 20+ people each and will charge you around $6-7 for the trip to town.
Once in town, there are a ton of historical sites, bars and mini-experiences to make the trip worthwhile.
Bars & Restaurants
1. Greenhouse – a classic.
This place has been around as long as I’ve been on island and many years before my arrival. They have seafood and some other fried goodness. Very casual with a view of the waterfront.
2. 13 Wimmelskafts – a garden oasis.
An absolute hidden gem. Slightly off the beaten path, this is a wonderful discovery. Part of a 200+ year old slave house property there’s nothing like it. They offer drinks, some island specialty foods. After you order you can enjoy relaxing among the palm trees and tropical plants. A wonderfully unique property and a fun way to kill an hour or three.
3. Side Street Pub – relaxed dive bar.
Tucked into an alley right off the main street in town is Side Street. The staff is friendly and you’ll find a simple menu. It is outside but there is cover for shade or in the event of rain.
4. Taphus – island coolness.
If we were in the states, Taphus would be the cool, trendy bar. But here in the islands we’re more laid back and chill than “cool”. Taphus is a great spot to end up after shopping if you are in the market for a drink.
5. Virgilio’s – Italian food.
I have many fond memories of this place. Virgilios’s is quaint, cozy and the food does the job. My wife and I had one of our first dates here. She told me later that taking me to Virgilio’s was a sign that she really liked me. It was either the meatballs or the crème brûlée…but that night we made magic.
6. Greengos – Mexican food.
I love living on an island. That being said, you miss out on the many options you find in the states. We only have a few Mexican joints here and Greengos is the best. The restaurant has a Day of the Dead vibe with some stellar margaritas. They have both outdoor in and indoor seating.
7. Stone House Cafe – A little bit of everything.
This is like an Applebee’s with an island twist – an extensive menu with something for everyone. The restaurant is air-conditioned and comfortable for a drink or lunch or dinner.
Sites, museums, activities
For a thorough list of historical sites, check out: The Best Historical Sites in St. Thomas.
1. Fort Christian – a beautiful monster.
The fort is the largest structure in town and also the oldest. Pay the $10 admission fee and wander the walls, rooms and dungeons of this nearly 400-year old military fort.
2. Creative Native Gallery – both a shop and museum of sorts.
Ama Dennis is a local gal with a eye for capturing lively and powerful images. Her gallery is full of gorgeous photos of St. Thomas and island culture. Come to browse and get a sense of the island’s culture or purchase a painting to take home. Either way, if you want some local love, Ama is warm, friendly and can’t wait to meet you.
3. Johnny’s – 60% restaurant, 40% museum.
You have to know about this place to know about this place. Not well advertised and thankfully so! Enjoy local foods and even some Danish delights at this historic old building. Formerly the servants’ quarters for a grand estate, Johnny’s is a beautiful old girl. The walls and courtyard are full of old bric-a-brac and artifacts. They have plaques throughout covering the islands past. Perfect if you want to have a truly local experience and learn just enough about St. Thomas history to be dangerous.
And, seldom discussed, St. Thomas is a former Danish possession. Johnny’s is the only place on St. Thomas that offers food from the island’s Danish roots.
4. 81C – wine and art.
A small gallery just off Main Street, this is another hidden gem and worth the sort trek. They feature local and international artists in this lovely, restored building. And they have a nice wine bar.
Shopping
They have it all in Charlotte Amalie. Taxis will drop you off right near the top of Main Street. As soon as you turn the corner you’ll be blasted by shops. The first hundred feet or so will be mostly jewelry shops. As you get deeper in, you’ll find more eclectic offerings sprinkled along Main Street and the small alleys.
There are more shops here in town than at either of the cruise ports. So if shopping is your game, this is your World Cup.
Transportation back to the ship is relatively easy once you’re in Charlotte Amalie. Taxis move up and down Main Street looking for passengers. So you can flag one down. Or just about any shop owner can point you in the direction of the taxi dispatch locations.
Final Thoughts
St. Thomas is a perfect cruise ship port – there are a crazy number of options for shopping and food/drinks. But for my money, if I were looking to enjoy St. Thomas I would take a taxi into downtown Charlotte Amalie and check out the history and sites.
Save the beach day or other excursions for another island.