Cruise Ships Are Back Some Say Its Better Than Ever
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A Virgin Islands Port Authority pilot boat is dwarfed by the Celebrity Edge cruise ship as it sails through West Gregerie Channel on its way to its berth at the Austin Babe Monsanto Marine Terminal in Crown Bay, St. Thomas, on Tuesday morning. The Celebrity Edge was the first cruise ship to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands in more than 15 months after cruises were shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Daily News photo by BILL KISER
Michele Pavasic, left, takes photos with her cell phone as her friend Diane Giamba, right, walks alongside after disembarking from the Celebrity Edge on Tuesday at the Crown Bay cruise ship dock.
Mocko jumbies, dancers with Enchanted Entertainment Dancers and the Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra perform on the cruise ship dock at the Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal in Crown Bay, St. Thomas, on Tuesday morning as passengers disembark from the Celebrity Edge cruise ship. The Celebrity Edge was the first cruise ship to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands in more than 15 months after cruises were shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Daily News photo by BILL KISER
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- Daily News photo by BILL KISER
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Dock workers Jakoi Percival, left, and Dwayne Abbott attach a mooring line from the Celebrity Edge cruise ship to a bollard at the Austin Babe Monsanto Marine Terminal.
- Daily News photo by BILL KISER
Contact Adian Brewer at 340-714-9104 or email .
Cruise Ship Carnival Freedom Returns To St Thomas After More Than A Year
As part of Carnival Cruise Lines return to guest operations, Carnival Freedom arrived in St. Thomas Wednesday, tying up at the West Indian Company dock for the first time since the industry-wide pause in operations a year and a half ago.
Carnival Freedom became the fourth Carnival ship to resume operations from Miami when it departed on Oct. 9 on an eight-day Eastern Caribbean cruise. St. Thomas is the ships second port of call, and the next featured ports will include San Juan and Amber Cove.
We are delighted to return to St. Thomas and offer guests an opportunity to experience all of the beauty and charm of the island while providing a much-needed boost to the local economy, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. On behalf of Carnival, I would like to thank our partners in St. Thomas for working with us to bring safe cruising and our guests back to the port.
With more than half of its U.S. fleet already in guest operations, additional ships will resume service in the coming weeks and months as Carnivals restart of operations continues.
Carnival Cruise Line has 24 ships sailing from 14 U.S. homeports and employing more than 40,000 team members from 120 nationalities, according to the company.
For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line or to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.
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Are There Any Hotel Beaches Near St Thomas Cruise Port
Falling in love with St Thomas before you even arrive? Trust me, I get it! Start planning your long term visit to the island with a stop at a hotel beach to scope out a great place to stay. As you will appreciate when youre their guest, many hotel beaches offer amenities such as beach chairs and beachside services exclusively for their guests, but some may offer rentals if you want the full guest experience. All beaches in the USVI are public, so you are always welcome to lay out with your towel and partake in the beachside bar!
*This beach WAS NOT PART OF THE DPNR SURVEY for swimming on their February 19 – February 22, 2019 survey.
*This beach WAS NOT PART OF THE DPNR SURVEY for swimming on their February 19 February 22, 2019 survey.
*This beach WAS NOT PART OF THE DPNR SURVEY for swimming on their February 19 February 22, 2019 survey.
– small beach on property*This beach WAS NOT PART OF THE DPNR SURVEY for swimming on their February 19 February 22, 2019 survey.
Limetree Beach– located at Bluebeards Beach Club*This beach PASSED the DPNR water quality standards for swimming on their February 19 – February 22, 2019 survey.
*This beach PASSED the DPNR water quality standards for swimming on their February 19 – February 22, 2019 survey.
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Capture The Views With An Island Tour
When your cruise ship docks in Charlotte Amalie, the capital of St. Thomas, you will either dock at Havensight or Crown Bay. Havensight is the larger and more frequented pier that is within walking distance or a short taxi ride to downtown.
Crown Bay is the newer pier where larger ships have to dock and is located further from downtown. Regardless of where you dock, the islands amenities are easily accessible.
The best way to get a glimpse of all the islands major highlights during a single visit is definitely an island tour. There are various tour offerings that can be booked through the cruise line directly, through third-party companies, or through local vendors like Sunny Liston Tours.
During your St. Thomas island tour, be sure to have your camera ready to capture all the magnificent photo ops awaiting you. After you get a small taste of the island, you will be ready to head back onboard your ship and book another cruise stopping in St. Thomas.
Your St. Thomas island tour will likely stop at Mountain Top. Located on one of the highest points in St. Thomas, here you will have the opportunity to capture some breathtaking views of Magens Bay and the surrounding Virgin Islands, shop the expansive duty-free shop, and indulge in the famous Banana Daiquiri.
Shopping In St Thomas
Shopping. Need I say more. One of the highlights of any trip to St. Thomas is the abundance of shopping. There is a store for almost everything but the most common item to purchase in St. Thomas is jewelry. For some reason, the availability, selection and quality of fine diamonds and gold jewelry here is well documented. Although I am not a shopper, I did find myself popping into several stores to check the selection and prices.
Leaving the island of St. Thomas is bittersweet. On the one hand, it was sad to leave as there were so many other areas of the island to see and experience but on the other hand, I looked forward to returning to my floating hotel, hearing the waves splash and enjoying a glass of chardonnay while the cruise ship charts its course for the next island.
I will definitely return to St. Thomas, US. Virgin Islands when I plan my next Caribbean vacation. There is nothing like waking up in paradise. There are even some interesting at fun activities that I would like to try.
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Shopping Near The Charlotte Amalie Cruise Port
St. Thomas is known for its extensive duty-free shopping, and downtown Charlotte Amalie is where you want to head to shop til you drop. The main streets are home to a number of boutiques, high-end jewelers, and souvenir shops. Near the main street, you’ll find a small market with vendor stands selling jewelry, clothing, crafts, and other Caribbean-inspired artifacts. By the pier, shops offer popular souvenirs like t-shirts, magnets, local artwork, and jewelry.
Latest Royal Caribbean Updates On St Thomas Changes And Pre
Royal Caribbean make changes due to St. Thomas protocols and introduces pre-cruises testing for vaccinated guests.
Royal Caribbean has changed the companys requirements for ships sailing to the US Virgin Islands, including Allure of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas, following an announcement by the USVI government that they require all cruise ship passengers to be fully vaccinated.
There are also changes when it comes to protocols for cruising with vaccinated guests now having to do pre-cruise test days before embarkation.
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How Far Is St John From St Thomas
Image via Google Maps
There are two different cruise piers in St. Thomas, and whether you wind up at Crown Bay or Havensight in Charlotte Amalie will depend on the cruise line you sail. The good news is, you can easily get to Trunk Bay from either dock.
St. John is right off the coast of St. Thomas, and I mean right off the coast. When youre at the Red Hook Ferry Terminal on St. Thomas, you can look across the bay and see St. John theyre that close.
85 percent of St. John is part of the Virgin Islands National Park and, because its a U.S. Territory, its managed by the National Park Service.
Viking Orion Cruise Ship Calls At St Thomas
The U.S. Virgin Islands cruise industry rebound continues with the visit of Viking Orion this weekend.Photo credit: Viking Ocean Cruises
Arrival marks continued return of cruise business to the Territory
The Viking Orion cruise ship is scheduled to stop in St. Thomas on Sunday. The Orion will dock at The West Indian Company Limited port at 7:30 a.m. as part of its 15-day West Indies Treasures cruise, which stops in nine destinations.
It is a pleasure to welcome Viking Orion to the U.S. Virgin Islands, said WICO President & CEO Anthony Ottley. We have a safe, exciting and excellent in-port experience to offer her passengers, and we look forward to a relationship that goes from strength to strength, he added.
At 745 feet, the small-ship class vessel carries up to 930 guests, all of whom are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Its arrival in St. Thomas marks the continued return of cruise ships to the Territory, after a 15-month hiatus owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cruise lines began returning in July 2021.
The Commissioner recently attended the 35th edition of Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, where he spoke of the need for broad collaboration to ensure health and safety protocols are met at each stop on every cruise itinerary. Explaining that one destination does not make an itinerary, the Commissioner urged Caribbean cruise destinations and cruise line partners to work more closely together.
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How To Get To Trunk Bay In St John From A Cruise Ship
If your cruise ship docks in St. Thomas and you want to experience something a little different that doesnt require you to purchase a ship excursion, consider visiting Trunk Bay on the nearby island of St. John.
I first visited the beautiful beach in 2014, while sailing Carnival Liberty, and was so blown away, so much that Ive returned numerous times since.
An aerial view of Trunk Bay in St. John, USVI.
Often, cruisers get nervous about doing anything that takes them too far away from where their ship is docked. And of course, its always important to figure out how much time youll have in port so you dont miss the ship. But assuming time allows, getting to St. John is pretty easy and definitely worth the trip.
What Youneed To Know
- Port Name & LocationShip will DOCK at this port.
- Time ZoneUTC/GMT -4 hours
- LanguageThe local language is English, Spanish and French. Say “hello” in Spanish: “hola” or in French: “bonjour.”
- Currency & ShoppingDuty-free shopping, rum cake and jewelry. Port Shopping Guide.
- Best Way to Get AroundOrganized Shore Excursions for turtle cove, catamaran, snorkelling, beaches, butterfly gardens and more! Taxis and rental car available.
- Famous ForKnown for its beaches, fishing, snorkelling and shopping. St. Thomas is the gateway island to the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean.
- Fun Fact #1The U.S. Virgin Islands are the only place in the U.S. where you drive on the left side of the road.
- Fun Fact #2St. Thomas is also known as the “Rock City,” a name given by the locals for its hilly terrain.
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Arriving By Cruise Ship To St Thomas
Crown Bay, a one time naval base, is St. Thomas’ newest cruise port. The ships dock on either side of a single finger pier. As at Havensight, guests enter and exit the ships via gangways through the shell doors.
Beyond the gates of the port, there is a small shopping mall and a welcome center. Walking from from Crown Bay to downtown is very difficult.
Taxi service is the preferred way of travel to downtown and you can find them in an adjacent designated area.
Things to do in Port Click below
Culture & History Of The Charlotte Amalie Cruise Port
St. Thomas is an unincorporated territory of the United States of America. It is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands archipelago, along with the smaller islands of St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island. St. Thomas was originally a Danish colony settled by the Danes in the 17th century. In 1917, the U.S. bought the USVI from Denmark to help them improve their military foothold in the Caribbean during World War I. In the mid-1900s, the islands became a tourism hub. Today, much of the economy is still bolstered by tourism.
Charlotte Amalie Port Facilities & Location
Cruises to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands stop in one of two ports: Havensight and Crown Bay. Youll find them on either side of Charlotte Amalie on the south side of the island, though neither is close enough to provide an easy walk between the ship and downtown. Its easy to find taxi service between Charlotte Amalie and the ports, or you can opt for a shore excursion to take you around the island and to Charlotte Amalie. Youll find shops, eateries, bars, and ATMs within easy walking distance of both piers.
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What Is There To Do At Trunk Bay
Standing on the shore of Trunk Bay.
The obvious answer to that question is relax! Aside from the mile-long shoreline, theres a snorkel trail just off the coast which features different types of coral and a whole lot of tropical fish.
The water is shallow enough off the beach that it is perfect for wading. There are no steep drop-offs as the water gradually gets deeper.
Snorkeling in Trunk Bay offers great photo opportunities.
The earlier you can get to the beach, the better. Around 11 a.m., people who booked excursions through the ship which tend to get a later start and move slower than you are able to on your own will finally hit the beach, and it can get pretty crowded.
While much of the greenery which provided shade was destroyed during the particularly-destructive 2017 hurricane season, the beachs natural beauty remains.
There are public restrooms and showers, along with a rental hut where you can rent beach chairs and snorkel gear. Id suggest not drinking the water from the water fountains or from the sinks. The potable water on the island, though purified, is trucked in from other places and stored in big tanks. Its best to bring your own bottled water for drinking.
The Best Of St Thomas For Less
St Thomas Excursions and Tours for Cruise Ship Visitors and Hotel Guests visiting St Thomas US Virgin Islands in the Eastern Caribbean
Welcome to St Thomas Cruise Excursions, your guide to shore excursions in St Thomas
We offer cruise excursions and shore trips in :
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Our professional and experienced agents will help you get the very most out of your stay in St Thomas, both above and below the water. Save time and money by using our prompt, friendly, professional and efficient on-line service!
Our experienced agents are available to help you get the most from your visit to the Island of St Thomas. We will make this the most enjoyable and memorable destination of your Eastern Caribbean Cruise.
Booking your own St Thomas excursions will not only save you money, but it will provide you with the option of unique and diverse excursions, small groups, individualized itineraries and the freedom and knowledge to go off on your own if you so choose.
St Thomas Excursions specializes in Cruise ship tours and we represent the best independent operators.
We provide firsthand information on each and every excursion we offer and recommend only the excursions that work best with your port times. Thats the Island Marketing Ltd. difference!
Island Marketing Ltd specializes in unique and boutique tours in addition to our best for less excursions, offering excellent value for some of the most popular tours.
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Virgin Islands Partnering With Royal Caribbean To Expand Ports
Cruise Line & Cruise ShipBrian Major October 01, 2021
The Virgin Islands Port Authority is partnering with Royal Caribbean Group to develop infrastructure and attractions at port facilities on St. Thomas and St. Croix as part of a 10-year extension to an existing pier-use agreement for preferential berthing at VIPAs cruise facilities, said VIPA officials.
Carlton Dowe, VIPAs executive director, and Joshua Carroll, vice president of destination development for Royal Caribbean Group, signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the agreement between the two organizations during this weeks Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami.
The original agreement for preferential berthing at VIPAs Crown Bay, St. Thomas and Frederiksted, St. Croix cruise facilities was reached in June 2016. The pact establishes guaranteed minimum revenues to VIPA and increased visits to St. Thomas and St. Croix, said officials. Royal Caribbean Group has also expressed an interest in financing enhancements to the Crown Bay facility and making landside improvements in the Crown Bay district and St. Croix, said Dowe.
Dowe stated that this development signals an important boost for the territorys economy and increased opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs in the tourism sector in the USVI.
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