St. Thomas Cruise Port
Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands · Caribbean
Cruise ships dock at Havensight Pier — West Indian Company Dock, Charlotte Amalie.
Busy USVI cruise port with two alongside piers — easy DIY taxi day to Magens Bay or a longer ferry trip to St. John's Trunk Bay.
At a glance
Port summary
Two cruise piers share St. Thomas: Havensight (West Indian Company Dock) on the east side of Charlotte Amalie harbour is the primary berth and has its own shopping arcade; Crown Bay sits 5 km west and is used by the second wave of ships on busy days. From Havensight it's a 25 min waterfront walk to the Old Town past Yacht Haven Grande, or a $4-per-person open-air safari taxi-van. From Crown Bay you'll need a taxi to reach the Old Town. The headline beach day is Magens Bay (15 min taxi); Coki Beach plus Coral World on the east end is the family option; and St. John's Trunk Bay is reachable as a full-day independent run via taxi to Red Hook plus Roadtown ferry. USD is the currency; this is the United States, prices are high.
Cruise docks
🚢 Havensight Pier — West Indian Company Dock
Primary cruise berth on the east side of Charlotte Amalie harbour. Two-finger pier handling up to four mega-ships at once. Havensight Mall (50+ duty-free shops, ATMs, food court) is at the head of the pier; the Old Town is a 25-min waterfront walk west via Yacht Haven Grande.
📍 Latitude: 18.3327, Longitude: -64.9224
See dock on port map →🚢 Crown Bay Cruise Center
Secondary cruise berth 5 km west of Charlotte Amalie. Used by the second wave of ships on busy days; can host two mega-ships alongside. Crown Bay has its own duty-free arcade but the Old Town is a $4 safari taxi-van or 35–45 min walk away.
📍 Latitude: 18.336068, Longitude: -64.947646
See dock on port map →Getting to Charlotte Amalie
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
The Old Town is an easy 25 min waterfront walk from Havensight; from Crown Bay it's 35–45 min and not recommended.
📍 Exit Havensight Pier and follow the waterfront path west along Long Bay Road.
USVI uses shared open-air safari taxi-vans with government-fixed per-person rates; confirm the fare and destination before boarding.
📍 Open-air taxi-van rank just outside each pier gate.
Cruise-line and independent shuttles run to Magens Bay and Coki Beach; quicker than the taxi-vans on busy days.
📍 Outside both pier gates when ships call.
Red Hook–Cruz Bay ferry is the fastest route to St. John (Trunk Bay); the slower Charlotte Amalie–Cruz Bay run leaves from the Edward Wilmoth Blyden terminal next to Havensight.
📍 Red Hook ferry terminal east end; secondary terminal next to Havensight.
Driving is on the LEFT (US territory but British-style traffic). Narrow mountain roads with steep grades; taxis are usually faster.
📍 Avis and Budget desks at Havensight; Hertz at Crown Bay.
VITRAN runs slow but cheap routes from Charlotte Amalie to Red Hook (Route 7) and Bordeaux. Cash-only and locals' transport, not signposted for tourists.
📍 VITRAN bus stop on Veterans Drive at Charlotte Amalie waterfront.
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Cards fine for shops and restaurants; carry small USD bills for taxis and beach concessions
Things to do
Blackbeard's Castle & 99 Steps
⭐ Highlight
17th-c watchtower above the Old Town, reached via the 99 Steps.
🕐 Mid-morning before the climb gets hot
Frenchtown Waterfront Walk
Short stop🚶 Walk
Working fishing harbour founded by 19th-c St. Barths émigrés.
🕐 Late morning before lunch service
Emancipation Garden & Waterfront
Short stop🚶 Walk
Shaded waterfront park beside Fort Christian.
🕐 Mid-morning before midday heat
Coki Beach
🏖️ Beach
East-end beach with parrotfish snorkelling straight off the sand.
🕐 Mid-morning before the wind picks up
Magens Bay Beach
🏖️ Beach
Heart-shaped white-sand beach with calm water and sea-grape shade.
🕐 Late morning to early afternoon
Trunk Bay St. John
🏖️ Beach
Postcard crescent with an underwater snorkel trail off the sand.
🕐 Mid-morning ferry to make the most of the day
Coral World Ocean Park
🎯 Activity
Underwater observatory and sea-lion encounter next to Coki Beach.
🕐 Sea-lion shows scheduled hourly
St. Thomas Synagogue
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
Sand-floor 1833 synagogue — second-oldest in continuous use in the Americas.
🕐 Weekday mornings outside services
Fort Christian
🏛️ Museum
Mustard-yellow Danish fort — oldest standing structure in the USVI.
🕐 Tue–Sat opening hours
Mountain Top
📸 Viewpoint
Highest cruise viewpoint on the island — terrace with the banana-daiquiri bar.
🕐 Mid-morning before excursion buses
Drake's Seat Viewpoint
Short stop📸 Viewpoint
Roadside bench with the postcard view down to Magens Bay.
🕐 Mid-morning when light is good for photos
Main Street Shopping
Short stop🛍️ Shopping
Colonial warehouses turned duty-free strip — jewellery, watches and rum.
🕐 Mid-morning when shops open
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Plan my day →Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Charlotte Amalie?
- Your ship docks at one of the cruise terminals in Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands. The specific berth is assigned by the port a few days before arrival.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Charlotte Amalie?
- Yes. Charlotte Amalie is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Charlotte Amalie centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Taxi, Shuttle bus, Ferry, Car rental, Local bus. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Charlotte Amalie?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Charlotte Amalie independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Charlotte Amalie and are cards accepted?
- Charlotte Amalie uses the US dollar. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Charlotte Amalie cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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