Why So Many Changes
There is no explanation given for the many changes to this particular itinerary, but such changes are not uncommon. While it is somewhat unusual for every port day to be affected, many of the changes are minimal, and guests have plenty of time to adjust their plans for their cruise vacation.
Removing Puerto Plata from the itinerary altogether may be due to other scheduling conflicts, berth availability, dock construction, or other factors that would not have been known when the itinerary was originally planned.
With another day at sea on the itinerary, guests will have even more time to enjoy all the amazing freestyle fun the ship has to offer, such as the amazing Waterfront quarter-mile ocean promenade, the five multi-story waterslides on board, the exhilarating thrills of The Plank that extends eight feet over the ships side, the luxurious Mandara Spa, or the brand new Syd Normans Pour House rock club.
Norwegian Getaway is one of Norwegian Cruise Lines larger vessels, weighing in at 145,655 gross tons and measuring 1,068 feet long and 146 feet wide.
The ship can host up to 3,963 guests at double occupancy, with as many as 1,646 international crew members to provide the lines signature great service.
Port Authority Announces Inaugural Visit From Odyssey Of The Seas Changes To Cruise Ship Schedules On St Croix And Crown Bay In St Thomas
USVI Ports HUBStaff Consortium |December 24, 2021 06:01:59 AM
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Odyssey of the Seas arrives at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, FL on June 10, 2021. By ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Odyssey of the Seas will make its inaugural call to St. Thomas on Wednesday, December 29, the V.I. Port Authority has announced. The 16-deck ship is 1,138 feet long and has a capacity to accommodate 5,510 guests and 1,663 crew.
The ship is arriving in St. Thomas at a little above half capacity, according to the release. The Odyssey will berth in Crown Bay for her first call to the territory. A dock-side Plaque and Keys ceremony will be held to welcome Captain Per Kristoffersen who hails from Norway, his crew, and visitors to the U.S. Virgin Islands at 2 p.m.
Odyssey of the Seas skipped docking on two islands this week after 55 passengers and crew tested positive for Covid-19, the cruise line company has said. The cruise departed for an 8-day trip on Dec. 18.
VIPA also announced Thursday that it has received notice of changes to the cruise ship schedule for the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility in Frederiksted on St. Croix and the Austin Babe Monsanto Marine Terminal in Crown Bay, St. Thomas.
Journey Into The Past
Just off Main Street, visit the St. Thomas Synagogue and Frederick Lutheran Church, each the second oldest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Stop by Blackbeards Castle, built in 1679, and see the worlds largest collection of life-sized pirate statues. Or climb the legendary 99 Steps built by 18th century Danes, using bricks that once served as ship ballast.
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Big Itinerary Changes For Norwegian Cruise Line Ship
Every port on Norwegian Getaway’s itinerary has been affected, with one port canceled and other visit times changed.
Travel partners and booked guests have been notified of multiple itinerary changes for the July 9, 2022 sailing of Norwegian Getaway, with every port on the ships schedule affected by the changes in some way.
Not only have some ports been completely changed and one port day eliminated altogether, but other port visits have had their times dramatically changed.
St Thomas Island Usvi Tours Shore Excursions Hotels
City Tours and Shore Excursions
All Inclusive St John Beach and Snorkelling is an optional shore excursion to Trunk Bay beach , featuring guided boat tour to Trunk Bay and a snorkel trail.
Sailing to Christmas and Honeymoon Coves is an optional sailing boat tour for snorkeling. The boat is first anchored offshore , then Sails to Water Island for swimming and sunbathing. Snorkeling is also available. The experience also includes freshly-made beach BBQ served on the boat.
5 Star Island Tour is an optional driving tour, which stops at St Peter Mountain’s top , Magen’s Bay Beach and downtown Charlotte Amalie .
Port St Thomas Island USVI cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port’s schedule lists all ships with cruises going to or leaving from St Thomas Island USVI, Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands. To see the full itineraries and their lowest rates just follow the corresponding ship-link.
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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.
A Cruisers Guide To The Usvi
The USVI is one of the most beautiful ports of call in the Caribbean. It is made up of 4 main islands St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island. Each island has its own unique personality. St. Thomas, considered the cosmopolitan Virgin Island, is home to world-renowned shopping. St. John is often referred to as the gem of the Virgin Islands. Water Island offers peace and tranquility. St. Croix offers a little bit of everything.
In this section you will find answers to many frequently asked questions that cruise ship passengers have about taxi cost, ferry schedules, best beaches and more. If you do not find the information you are looking for in this guide or if you want advice and feedback from other travelers then post your question on the Travel Forum.
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Norwegian Escape Cancels St Thomas And Puerto Rico
On the same day that Norwegian Cruise Line warned guests and travel agents about the possibility of sudden changes to itineraries, Captain Mattias Andersson sent out a letter to guests onboard Norwegian Escape that the vessel would need to change course this week.
In his letter to guests, the captain stated the following:It is always our intention to maintain original itineraries. However, at times, unforeseen circumstances require us to make modifications. Our team has been working diligently with the local government agencies to be able to return to these great destinations. However, at this time, clearance protocols required by several of the destinations resulted in our inability to visit St Thomas and San Juan.
The 164,998 gross ton Norwegian Escape would have visited Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic on January 10, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands on January 11, and San Juan in Puerto Rico on January 12 on the original itinerary. This has now been changed to the following itinerary:
While Norwegian Cruise Line offered discounts for future cruises and an onboard credit of $100 toguests onboard Norwegian Gem due to changes in the itinerary, in the letter from the Norwegian Escape captain, there is no mention of any OBC or discount for future cruises. Any shore excursions in the cancelled ports of call would be refunded to guests accounts.
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
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What’s In Crown Bay Dock Cruise Terminal
Be Aware: the cruise ship passenger in St Thomas is required to have both the ship card and a valid photo ID to re-enter the pier.
If booked on a shore excursions, the cruise ship passenger will be guided by the Shorex staff to the tour buses parked just outside the gate of the Cruise Terminal.
But if you are planning to explore St Thomas independently, which is both easy and safe, you will enter a large shopping mall just outside the pier gates. Besides lots of duty-free shops, you will find everything you need to discover the island on your own.
Crown Bay Center tour dispatch area and online tour operaters meeting point.
For those booked with pre-arranged private online services, you will find your independent tour guides outside the pier gates as you enter this open-air shopping mall.
How To Get To Charlotte Amalie And Around St Thomas By Taxi
If your cruise ship docks at the Crown Bay, walking to Charlotte Amalie is quite a stretch and not particularly pleasant until you get close to town.
The best way to get anywhere – including downtown – is by taxi. Next to exit of the mall there is a taxi dispatch, which displays taxi fares to the main attractions in St. Thomas, including all major beaches.
Typical Shared Taxi in Crown Bay
These fares are official so haggling will not take you far – in fact, you will never get a bad deal as they are affordable. Just keep in mind that taxis in St. Thomas are shared an you will need to with wait for other cruise travelers to until the taxi is full but, usually, it doesn’t take long.
Taxi fares may have been updated since last reviewed in March 2019. However, there was just an increase of $1.00 on the longer rides since 2011. Prices from Charlotte Amalie are very similar if you wish to pass by the capital of St Thomas.
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Us Virgin Islands Cruise Ship Schedule
Cruise ships visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands stop in , and . This schedule displays the information for all three islands together. The dock or port is indicated.
St. Thomas is the most popular port of call for cruise lines: it has two docks, West Indian Co. Dock and Crown Bay Dock additionally ships can remain at anchorage within the Charlotte Amalie harbor. Ships docking in St. Croix will say St. Croix and those anchoring off of St. John will say Cruz Bay, St.John.
07/21/2022: The July September 2022 cruise ship schedule was updated. (Note: Cruise ship schedules are subject to change.
Norwegian Cruise Ship Changes Itinerary Removes Two Ports
Norwegian Escape changes itinerary and removes a call at St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Norwegian Cruise Line is keeping busy this week with many itinerary changes affecting multiple ships. After the cruise line warned of upcoming changes to itineraries earlier this week, letters have been sent out to guests onboard Norwegian Gem, and now also Norwegian Escape.
Norwegian Escape, which sailed from Port Canaveral on January 8, will not be calling in St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Its surely a disappointment for guests booked on the cruise, which is seeing multiple changes to the itinerary. However, considering the strict health requirements both ports have implemented, the changes will not come as a surprise to many.
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Virgin Islands: Cruise Ship Guide
Cruise ship passengers will be in awe when they dock in St. Thomas, one of the most beautiful cruise ship ports in the Caribbean. St. John does not have a cruise ship dock however a few ships do stop there. There is also a cruise ship dock in Frederiksted, St. Croix.
Cruise ships usually sail at night and dock in the early morning. Passengers generally have from 8-5 to get all their shopping and sightseeing completed. The Virgin Islands have a lot to offer. To help you make the most of your visit, explore this site and decide what attractions, beaches and shopping sites interest you the most. This cruise guide is a special guide that discusses the most frequently asked questions cruise ship visitors to the Virgin Islands ask.
St Thomas Cruiseimage Gallery
- Aerial view of St. Thomas
- Sapphire Beach
- Magens Bay, acclaimed as one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world by National Geographic Society
- Coki beach
- Lyretail anthias on a coral reef
- Shopping in St. Thomas
- Get ready for unforgettable fun filled marine life adventure
- Norwegian Getaway cruising St. Thomas
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Cruise Ship Schedule For St Croix April 2022
Virgin Islands Port Authority
Cruise Ships port at Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility at Frederiksted Pier
Cruise Ship Schedule for April 2022
Wednesday, April 6, 2022 Frederiksted
Friday, April 8, 2022 Frederiksted
Millennium
Tuesday, April 12, 2022 Frederiksted
Explorer of the Seas
Wednesday, April 27, 2022 Frederiksted
Equinox
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Tourist Information And Wi
The Information Center is located close to the exit of the Mall – on the north side – and is impossible to miss considering that the building replicates a windmill. Here you will find maps and all information you may need to explore St Thomas on your own.
Free Wi-Fi in Crown Bay
If you missed this emblematic building, don’t rush around looking for it as there are other information booths all over the Crown Bay Center.
Information Booth in the Crown Bay Dock, St Thomas cruise port
Close to main Information Center you will find a bank with an ATM. Not far, to the left, there is an area well-know by cruise crew, staff, officers and savvy cruisers where FREE Wi-Fi is available and that can be useful if you need to check your emails.
Taxi Dispatch in Crown Bay
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Why Is Norwegian Cruise Line Making All These Changes
Norwegian Cruise Line sent out a letter to all travel agents, and at the same time, two ships were forced to change their itinerary. While nothing has been confirmed, it is starting to look as though NCL is pre-emptively canceling ports due to strict entry requirements implemented by local governments recently. The letter said the following:
Destinations may suddenly modify their travel requirements and restrictions, requiring us to revise our itineraries and potentially skip scheduled ports of call. Furthermore, under certain circumstances onboard services may be impacted or limited to provide the safest environment possible. As always, we will do our very best to communicate any changes with you as soon as the information becomes available, however, many of these modifications may come at very short notice, or even during the voyage.
This would be no surprise, of course, while both St. Thomas and Puerto Rico are allowing ships into port, both have set protocols that are either unreasonable or unfeasible. Cruise ships sailing to San Juan, Puerto Rico,need to test all guests and crew members 48 hours before arriving at the port, placing a considerable strain on the vessel.
It makes more sense for the cruise line to see if there is any room for negotiation with the port , and if not, to cancel the call. It would be the lesser of two evils, especially if the ship had not been allowed into both ports without a backup plan.
Things To Do While Visiting St Croix
There are many fun St. Croixtours to enjoy. Tour the Cruzan Rum factory and learn about the process of making this tasty drink and dont forget the samples at the end of the tour . A tour of theWhim Plantationis a great way to step back in time to see how sugar cane was processed. Get of glimpse of what life was like in the 1800s as you tour through the restored great house and old slave quarters. If eco-tourism is more to your liking, you can view beautiful St. Croix flora and fauna at theSt. George Botanical Gardens while strolling by interesting plantation ruins or take in a hike through therainforest. You can explore the island by car, following theSt. Croix Heritage Trail, a 72-mile driving tour that connects our Caribbean island’s historic sites and attractions and includes many significant natural areas.
A visit to St. Croixs Historic Harbor town ofChristiansted is also a highlight. One of the finest, intact examples of old Danish architecture, this town offers historical sites, forts, greatduty free shopping, sumptuous restaurants, and more.
If relaxing is more your speed , you’ll find numerous beautifulbeaches where you can lay around, take in the sun and St. Croix’s beauty. Cane Bay Beach is just one of the many locations on St. Croix that offers awesome swimming, diving,snorkeling, kayaking and horseback riding. You can also enjoy several waterfront beach bars while visiting Cane Bay.
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