St. ThomasCruise Port Guide
Two docks, one harbor, and a clock that may not match your ship's. Timed plans, real tour prices, and an honest take on how far town is on foot.
Welcome to St. Thomas
Pro Picks
Island tour · 4–6 hrsSt. Thomas Island Tour: Shopping, Mountain Top & Optional Beach
The island's most-reviewed excursion: a guided drive that pairs duty-free shopping in downtown Charlotte Amalie with the lookouts at Mountain Top and Skyline Drive, with pickup included. Magens Bay is only part of it if you add the beach option, which can't be booked when your ship leaves at 2 PM or earlier.
From $65/ person
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Kayak & snorkel · 3 hrsSt. Thomas Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike & Snorkel
Paddle a kayak through the mangrove lagoon to Cas Cay, walk to its tidal pools and blowhole, then snorkel in sheltered water before paddling back. It starts at a marina on the southeast side of the island, a taxi ride from either dock, and asks you to be there 15 minutes early.
From $99/ person
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Full-day sail · 5 hrsCatamaran Sail & Snorkeling Trip with Breakfast and Lunch
A five-hour catamaran day toward St. John's national park or nearby reefs, with two snorkel stops, gear and instruction, a light breakfast and lunch on board. Check-in is at 9:30 am on the beach at the Margaritaville Resort on the east end, so it suits an early arrival and a late all-aboard.
From $157/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
St. Thomas in 3 hours
Jet Boat
High-Speed Jet Boat Ride
Forty minutes of fast turns and spray along the St. Thomas coast, with commentary from the guide. It leaves from the Havensight cruise dock, so from a ship there you can walk to it; from Crown Bay it's a taxi first.
From$65
Time required40 minutes
Marine Park
Coral World Shark Encounter
Step into a shallow pool with juvenile sharks for about 20 minutes, four guests at a time, with the rest of Coral World Ocean Park included for the day. It's at Coki Point: about 12 minutes by taxi from Havensight, about 26 from Crown Bay.
From$64
Time required45 minutes
Snuba
Coral World SNUBA Reef Dive
Halfway between snorkeling and scuba: you breathe through a hose from a tank floating above while a guide leads you over the reef off Coki Point. Park entry is included; allow for the taxi ride to the east end and back.
From$102
Time required75 minutes
Dolphin Swim
Coral World Dolphin Swim
About 20 minutes with the dolphins in a sea pen, from a submerged platform or in the water with a mask, plus all-day entry to Coral World. Check in at the ticket booth 15 minutes early; children under 7 can't take part.
From$182.50
Time required1 hour
St. Thomas in 5 hours
Kayak & Snorkel
Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike & Snorkel
Three hours split between kayaking the mangrove lagoon, a short hike to tidal pools and a blowhole on Cas Cay, and a snorkel. It meets at a marina on the southeast side, a taxi ride from either dock; be there 15 minutes early.
From$99
Time required3 hours
Catamaran & Snorkel
Turtle Snorkel & Catamaran Sail
A sailing catamaran to Turtle Cove and Buck Island for two guided snorkel stops, with snacks and an open bar on the sail back. It boards at the Havensight dock beside Yacht Haven Grande, 20 minutes before departure, on island time.
From$139
Time required4 hours
Boat Tour
Taco Tug: Honeymoon Beach & Floating Taco Bar
A small-group boat to Honeymoon Beach on Water Island for a swim, then to a floating taco bar you reach by boat. It leaves Crown Bay Marina, a few minutes on foot from the Crown Bay dock; you climb a ladder to get back aboard.
From$130
Time required4 hours
Island Tour
Island Tour: Shopping, Mountain Top & Optional Beach
Downtown shopping, then the views from Mountain Top and Skyline Drive, with pickup included. The four-hour version skips the beach; adding Magens Bay stretches it to six and isn't offered when your ship leaves at 2 PM or earlier.
From$65
Time required4 - 6 hours
St. John Day Trip
St. John & Annaberg Plantation Tour
Cross to St. John for national park viewpoints over Trunk Bay, the Annaberg sugar plantation ruins and free time in Cruz Bay. Pickup is at both cruise docks; the ferry tickets, $16.30 per person round trip, are paid separately.
From$66.67
Time required4 hours
Dolphin Swim
Coral World Dolphin Swim
About 20 minutes with the dolphins in a sea pen, from a submerged platform or in the water with a mask, plus all-day entry to Coral World. Check in at the ticket booth 15 minutes early; children under 7 can't take part.
From$182.50
Time required1 hour
St. Thomas in 7 hours
Catamaran & Snorkel
Snorkel Cat Sailing Day
Five hours under sail with two snorkel stops, breakfast and lunch on board. Check-in is 9:30 am at the Margaritaville Resort on the east end, so you need to be off the ship early and have a late-afternoon all-aboard.
From$157
Time required5 hours
St. John Day Trip
St. John & Annaberg Plantation Tour
Cross to St. John for national park viewpoints over Trunk Bay, the Annaberg sugar plantation ruins and free time in Cruz Bay. Pickup is at both cruise docks; the ferry tickets, $16.30 per person round trip, are paid separately.
From$66.67
Time required4 hours
Island Tour
Island Tour: Shopping, Mountain Top & Optional Beach
Downtown shopping, then the views from Mountain Top and Skyline Drive, with pickup included. The four-hour version skips the beach; adding Magens Bay stretches it to six and isn't offered when your ship leaves at 2 PM or earlier.
From$65
Time required4 - 6 hours
Boat Tour
Taco Tug: Honeymoon Beach & Floating Taco Bar
A small-group boat to Honeymoon Beach on Water Island for a swim, then to a floating taco bar you reach by boat. It leaves Crown Bay Marina, a few minutes on foot from the Crown Bay dock; you climb a ladder to get back aboard.
From$130
Time required4 hours
Within a stroll of the boat
Five stops on foot from the Havensight dock: three within ten minutes, then downtown Charlotte Amalie at the far end of a flat 20–25 minute walk around the harbor. There is no beach in walking range, and ships at Crown Bay are a taxi ride from all of this.
Shopping · 0.2 mi · ~5 min
Havensight Mall
Rows of duty-free shops, bars and places to eat right behind the dock. It's the first thing you reach off the ship and the easy last stop before all-aboard.
Museum · 0.3 mi · ~7 min
Pirates Treasure Museum
A small museum in the Havensight shopping area, a few minutes from the gangway. An indoor option when it's hot or raining; check its hours on the day.
Marina · 0.3 mi · ~8 min
Yacht Haven Grande
A landscaped marina with upscale shops and cafes beside the water. The walk to town runs through it, so it works as a turnaround point if downtown feels too far.
Fort · 1.0 mi · ~22 min
Fort Christian
The historic fort on the downtown waterfront and the natural end point of the harbor walk. It's about a mile on foot from the dock, so plenty of people taxi here and walk back.
Plaza · 1.1 mi · ~24 min
Emancipation Garden
The small park at the heart of downtown, with Main Street's duty-free shops and a crafts market close by. A good place to get your bearings before you wander.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in St. Thomas.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
- Princess Cruises — St. Thomas cruise port guide
- Celebrity Cruises — Charlotte Amalie port guide
- Virgin Islands Port Authority — Austin "Babe" Monsanto Marine Terminal (Crown Bay)
- US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism — Skyride to Paradise Point
- Magens Bay Authority — visitor FAQ
- NIST — US daylight saving time rules
- USA.gov — passports and US territories
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in St. Thomas?
Cruise ships in St. Thomas dock at one of two places on Charlotte Amalie harbor: the WICO dock at Havensight on the east side, the busier of the two, or Crown Bay on the west side. Which one you get depends on your sailing and on how many ships are in port that day, so check your itinerary or cruise app. It matters: downtown is a 20–25 minute walk from Havensight, but about 1.7 miles from Crown Bay, which makes it a taxi ride.
Which port does Royal Caribbean or Carnival use in St. Thomas?
In St. Thomas, Carnival, Norwegian and Disney ships usually dock at Havensight (the WICO dock), and Royal Caribbean's largest ships, the Oasis and Icon class, usually dock at Crown Bay. The Virgin Islands Port Authority says Crown Bay's main dock is built to take Oasis-class ships. Royal Caribbean's smaller ships and several other lines turn up at either dock, and assignments shift on busy days, so confirm on your itinerary or the cruise line's app.
Is St. Thomas a tender port?
No, St. Thomas is normally a docking port: ships tie up at Havensight or Crown Bay and you walk off. The exception is a ship that stays at anchor in Charlotte Amalie harbor, whose passengers are tendered to the downtown waterfront. That's uncommon, and your itinerary will say if it applies to your call.
Can you walk around St. Thomas from the cruise port?
Yes from Havensight, with some effort: downtown Charlotte Amalie is about a mile from the dock on foot, a flat 20–25 minute walk around the harbor past Yacht Haven Grande. Princess Cruises calls it about a 15-minute walk, while Celebrity says neither dock is an easy walk, so judge it by the heat. From Crown Bay, town is about 1.7 miles away and not a realistic walk. A taxi from either dock runs about $4–5 per person. The stroll map shows what's on the way.
What is there to do in St. Thomas cruise port?
Yes, even without a tour: at Havensight, duty-free shops, bars and restaurants start a few minutes from the gangway at Havensight Mall, with Yacht Haven Grande's marina and cafes 0.3 miles on. Downtown Charlotte Amalie is a free 20–25 minute walk around the harbor, or about $4–5 per person by taxi. Crown Bay has a smaller shopping and dining complex at the dock, and everything else from there needs a taxi. The Skyride cable car beside Havensight Mall is listed as open only Tuesday to Thursday, so check before counting on it. No beach is walkable from either dock.
Beaches & water
What is the best beach to go to from the cruise port in St. Thomas?
No beach is an easy walk from either St. Thomas cruise dock, so the best one is a short taxi ride: Magens Bay, about 15 minutes from Havensight and 25 from Crown Bay, has restrooms, showers, a restaurant and bar, and chair rentals. Coki Beach, next to Coral World, is the pick for snorkeling, about 12 minutes from Havensight. From Crown Bay there's a third option: a ferry from Crown Bay Marina, 0.2 miles from the terminal, crosses to Water Island in about 10 minutes, and Honeymoon Beach is a walk from the landing.
How do I get to Magens Bay from the cruise ship, and what does it cost?
Take a taxi: Magens Bay is about 15 minutes from the Havensight dock and about 25 from Crown Bay, and drivers wait at both. Fares on St. Thomas are fixed per person by destination, not metered, so ask the price before you board. The beach charges visitors over age 12 a $7 entrance fee and, according to the Magens Bay Authority, is open daily from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm, with showers, a restaurant and bar, and chair and umbrella rentals. Taxis wait there for the trip back.
Can I snorkel in St. Thomas without booking a boat tour?
Yes: Coki Beach, next to Coral World Ocean Park on the east end of St. Thomas, is the island's favorite spot for snorkeling straight from the sand. It's about 12 minutes by taxi from Havensight and about 26 from Crown Bay; no snorkeling beach is walkable from either dock. If you'd rather have a guide and gear, the boat trips in the favorites include snorkel stops.
Do I need reef-safe sunscreen in St. Thomas?
Yes: the US Virgin Islands ban the sale, distribution and import of sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate or octocrylene, under a law in force since March 30, 2020. It was passed to protect the territory's coral reefs, and local officials say banned products still arrive with visitors. Check the label before you pack and bring a mineral sunscreen instead.
Getting around
How much is a taxi from the St. Thomas cruise port?
A taxi from either St. Thomas cruise dock to downtown Charlotte Amalie costs about $4–5 per person. Taxis here aren't metered: fares are fixed per person, by destination, under the VI Taxicab Commission, and most rides are shared open-air safari trucks that may wait to fill up. Confirm the fare before you get in. Don't mix them up with the $1 and $2 'dollar rides', which are similar trucks running set routes for residents.
Can I take the ferry to St. John from the St. Thomas cruise port?
Yes, but not from the dock itself: the hourly passenger ferry to Cruz Bay, St. John leaves from Red Hook on the east end of St. Thomas, about 17 minutes by taxi from Havensight and about 31 from Crown Bay. The crossing takes 15 minutes and costs $8.15 one way for an adult visitor. Count two taxi rides and two crossings into your day, because Royal Caribbean, for one, says the ship will not wait for guests exploring on their own. The full-day plans include a guided St. John trip with dock pickup.
Can I rent a car at the St. Thomas cruise port?
Yes, rental cars are available at or a short walk from both St. Thomas cruise docks; Celebrity Cruises lists car rental among the services at each pier. Driving is on the left. A car makes sense for beach-hopping as a group, since taxis charge per person for every leg.
Time ashore
Is St. Thomas on the same time as my ship?
Not always: St. Thomas stays on Atlantic Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving. That matches US Eastern time from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November, but in winter the island is one hour ahead of Florida. Many ships keep home-port time and give all-aboard in ship time, while tours run on island time, so compare the two clocks before you leave the ship.
Money & documents
Can you use American money in St. Thomas?
Yes, the US dollar is the official currency of St. Thomas, so there's nothing to exchange. Credit cards are widely accepted, and there are ATMs at both cruise docks and in town. Tipping follows mainland practice, 15–20% in restaurants and bars.
Do I need a passport for St. Thomas on a cruise?
US citizens don't need a passport to visit St. Thomas: USA.gov lists the US Virgin Islands among the territories Americans can travel to without one. Your cruise is a separate matter if it also calls at foreign ports. US Customs and Border Protection lets citizens on a closed-loop cruise re-enter with a birth certificate and government photo ID, but warns that other countries on the route may still require a passport.