One Day in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Are you cruising around the Caribbean Islands and only have one day off the ship in St Thomas? Don’t worry if you don’t exactly know what to do when you get off the cruise just yet. I’ll show you how you can spend that precious couple of hours (from about 7AM to 4PM). I promise you that at the end of the day you’ll feel like you’ve had a quality day exploring.

About the Carnival Cruise

This was the first time we had been on a cruise. We chose a 7-day Southern Caribbean cruise departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico. After thorough research, this was the cheapest way to see five Caribbean Islands in just one week. Depending on the route, a Southern Caribbean cruise can take you to places like to St. Thomas, St. Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, Barbados and Sint Maarten. 

If you’re on a cruise, you don’t have to worry about finding your own mode of transport between the islands or food and accommodation. However, the only downside is that you’ll have a very limited time on each island. If your main purpose for being on a cruise is to see something of the islands, then you’re in the right place. 

Firstly, my biggest advice is to leave the cruise ship as early as possible. Rise early, so you’ll have a chance to see the sunrise and have a fulfilling breakfast. Secondly, bear in mind that the cruise will leave without you if you’re not on it by the time you’ve been told to be back! So whatever plans you have for the day, I recommend starting with the one furthest away and be close to the port before departure. Last, but not least, just try to enjoy your day off sea! You have to accept the fact that you won’t be able to see everything, but it will give you a great opportunity to decide whether to return to an island in the future or not.

About St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Before we jump into the list of amazing things you can do in only one day in St. Thomas, I thought I’d share some interesting information about this island. St. Thomas is one of the three main U.S. Virgin Islands therefore, just like Puerto Rico, is an unincorporated territory of the United States. (Hence the name U.S. Virgin Islands). The island is also home to the capital city of the USVI, Charlotte Amalie. It actually used to be a Danish colony until it was purchased by the United States in 1917. 

Hurricane Irma 

The Category 5 hurricane hit the island in September 2017. We were lucky enough to visit the island literally a week before Hurricane Irma pretty much destroyed it. (We actually had to evacuate from Florida a week later). Therefore, I consider us incredibly lucky to have seen some of the amazing Caribbean Islands before the disaster happened.

Two years after the catastrophe it seems like the island has recovered as much as possible and tourism is almost back to normal. 

What do you need for one day in St Thomas?

Depending on your plans for the day I recommend leaving the cruise ship with the following items:

• Some of your important documents (e.g. identification card – especially if you’re planning on buying alcohol);
• Enough money for the day. (The currency is US Dollar);
• Phone and camera to capture special moments of the day;
• Comfortable footwear;
• SUN-CREAM!! Don’t forget to take care of your skin while gaining a nice tan;
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes;
• Water bottle, to save you from buying bottled drinks and it’s the best way to be environmentally friendly;
• If you’re heading to the beach, then pack some swimwear and a quick-dry towel. I also suggest bringing something suitable to pack your wet swimwear in. You don’t want to end up with soaked items in your rucksack!
• Portable charger for your phone (it can be for safety reasons too, so make sure you’re not without battery life);
• Last but not least, bring along an umbrella or a thin rain jacket just in case. The weather can change in seconds, and we actually almost got caught up in a heavy downpour. 

How to Spend One Day in St Thomas

Most cruise ships, just like Carnival, will dock at Havensight Pier, which is only a few minutes ride from downtown Charlotte Amalie. However, some will dock at Charlotte Amalie harbour or even at Crown Point Marina in peak season. 

Finally, here are some of the amazing activities and sights you can see if you have less than one day in St Thomas:

1. Visit Magens Bay

Even though you only have one day in St Thomas, you probably still want to squeeze some time in on a beach, am I right? After all you’re on a Caribbean Island! Well, there are plenty to choose from in St. Thomas, but by far the most popular and well-known one is the 3/4-mile long Magens Bay. This protected white sand paradise beach is located to the north side of the island. It’s named after Jacob Thomas Magens, a former governor of the island. The best way to get there is by taxi. These safari truck looking taxis will take you through the most scenic routes. 

Cost involved: 

• Taxi ride: around $8/pp each way
• Entry fee to the beach: $5/pp

This is actually the only beach in St. Thomas that has an entry fee. Also, as it’s a popular beach, probably the vast majority of your fellow cruisers will end up here too. 

So why visit it?

It gets crowded plus it’s the only beach you have to pay to get in. Why on earth would I recommend you go there, you might ask? Hang on and hear me out! For the best experience, follow my simple rule. Get off the ship when it docks for the day (7AM), jump into a taxi and be the first one there! 

You might also get lucky like us and you don’t even need to pay the entry fee as no one is there that early, only some locals. This is exactly what we did, and why we had such a great time there for a few hours. Plus, it’s already pretty warm in the morning and the water is the perfect temperature for a morning swim. 

If you’re still not convinced, then head over to the less touristy but still magnificent beaches of Coki, Sapphire or Morningstar.

2. Go to Paradise

How does going to Paradise sound? Yes, I thought you’d like it. 

After spending a few hours on the beach grab one of these safari taxis and head back to Havensight Pier. From there you can take the Skyride all the way up to Paradise Point. 

Cost involved:

• Skyride Adult round-trip: $21/pp, but you can go up as many times as you want that day! (Just a little warning you need to walk approximately 40 steps to the loading dock area!)
• Drinks / Food / Souvenirs: Optional but could cost a few bucks.

 Why visit it?

At 700 ft. you’ll have a fantastic view of the harbour of Charlotte Amalie and the surrounding areas of the island. Whilst admiring the view, you can also try their famous Bailey’s Bushwacker which is basically a mixture of rum, vodka, baileys, Kailua, Amaretto, Coconut and Chocolate. If you’re not a fan of alcoholic drinks, you can just browse the souvenir shops or have a bite to eat. (P.S. There’s also free WIFI so if you didn’t want to pay extra on the cruise, it’s your chance to upload an envious shot onto Instagram.)

3. Shop until you drop

Dear shopaholics, did you know that shopping in St Thomas is actually duty free? US citizens are even allowed to take $1,600 worth of tax-free goods back home. If you still have some time before departure don’t forget to check out the shops located along the streets of Havensight. Jewellery is one of the most common items for sale, but only your imagination can stop you from finding other products, such as perfumes, watches, clothes, alcohol and other local arts. 

If you have more time…

Discover Charlotte Amalie

We didn’t have enough time to explore the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, but if you have a little longer then make sure you pay a visit to three of the five National Historic Landmarks in the U.S.V.I., all located in Charlotte Amalie:

• Blackbeard’s Castle, erected as a watchtower by the Danes in 1679 it is one of the five National Historic Landmarks in the U.S.V.I., so definitely a must see. To get there climb the most popular and most photographed 99 Steps Stairway (which is actually 103 steps). This is one of the many steep-streets that the Danes built to be able to get around the hills of the city. 
• Fort Christian, the oldest-standing structure in the U.S.V.I. It served as a fortress, town centre, government building, a jail and a church.
• St. Thomas Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the United States.

Final Thoughts on One Day in St Thomas

One day in St. Thomas was just enough to fall in love with the island. I really hope that in the near future I’ll be able to return and explore more of its amazing beaches and beautiful nature. Have you been to St. Thomas before? How much of the island did you manage to explore? Let me know in the comments below.