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Spend the day in Charlotte Amalie, known for its Danish colonial architecture and duty-free shopping, and hike to the top of Skyline Drive for incredible views. Enjoy a rum tasting on St. Thomas before you spend the afternoon relaxing on the sands at Magens Bay Beach. No matter when you visit, a blissful luxury vacation awaits on one of our U.S. Virgin Islands, you can swim among sea turtles and explore colorful coral reefs.
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Hurricane Forces Closure of Caribbean Cruise Ports - Cruise Hive
Hurricane Forces Closure of Caribbean Cruise Ports.
Posted: Sun, 22 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Many visitors call this refuge a must-see while they were in St. Croix. There are blissful beaches on all the Virgin Islands, from dreamy Honeymoon Beach on St. John to the aquamarine water of Trunk Bay and the gorgeous horseshoe of Magen’s Bay on St. Thomas. On Tortola, you could combine a hike up wooded Sage Mountain with a cooling dip off sheltered Cane Garden Beach. Or take a trip to The Baths on Virgin Gorda, where you can clamber over tumbled granite boulders to grottoes, narrow rock passages, sheltered tide pools, and tiny coves. It’s about a half-hour drive from Christiansted, but well worth the journey— once you arrive at the rocky bluff, you can wander up a paved road to the overlook for the best views on the island.
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Huge Cruise Port Expansion Set for US Virgin Islands - Cruise Hive
Huge Cruise Port Expansion Set for US Virgin Islands.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Enjoy the best shopping in the Caribbean, visit the Wreck of the Wit Shoal II, take a 700-foot skylift ride, and stand-up paddle board off beaches like Magens Bay. Cruises to the Virgin Islands last between seven and 10 nights, with a wide choice of departure ports and itineraries. Embark in Fort Lauderdale to explore the jewel-like islands of the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Virgin Islands, dates back to the 17th century and has influences from Denmark, Africa, and the Caribbean. There’s plenty to explore amid the narrow lanes, imposing Fort Christian, the 17th century Blackbeard’s Castle, and stone stairways lined with lush tropical vegetation. Wander along Main Street, where many of the old buildings house tempting duty-free shops, and join a culinary tour to sample traditional Caribbean dishes.
U.S. Virgin Islands Cruise Ship Schedule
One word of caution is that many of the excursions are extremely large and crowded. One passenger complained of having 40 people on his sailing excursion, while a kayaking trip in Antigua had more than 60 guests. We wished we had known how many people were booked on each excursion before selecting, as we would have chosen smaller Experiences.
From customizable eggs and omelettes with yuca home fries to big burritos and mahi-mahi sandwiches, Cafe Fresco puts a new spin on classics. Head to breakfast or lunch in downtown Frederiksted after your St. Croix cruise ship docks. Breakfast eats like bagels, eggs rancheros, and all of the fixings are available, while lunch focuses on sandwiches like grilled cheeses, wraps, and salads. From Frederiksted, Point Udall is an hour’s drive, but it’s well worth it.
Coki Point Beach
Walk along Frederiksted Beach or explore the historic district to spot Danish-influenced architecture. Tortola and its colorful capital, Road Town, is the hub of activity in the British Virgin Islands, where glorious beaches, yachting, hiking, and rum are the order of the day. Head to Sage Mountain National Park for hiking with magnificent views, or enjoy a beach day on the wide sweep of Cane Garden Bay. Take a boat trip to Virgin Gorda to splash around in The Baths, or snorkel off Norman Island, the inspiration for the classic Treasure Island. We are dedicated to providing excursions and experiences of a lifetime to you and your family. Unfortunately, neither of the two ports offers complimentary public Wi-Fi, but it’s not too difficult to find.
You’ll also find boardwalk bars serving traditional American fare, like hamburgers with rum punch. The underwater trail at Buck Island Reef is practically famous among divers, who scuba the clear waters for stunning views of the coral reefs below. Visitors can also walk the nature trails and take in what it’s like to visit this uninhabited island. If you’re coming from Frederiksted, Buck Island is less than an hour’s drive, but access to the island is only available through boat or tour.
Not only is it the oldest standing structure on St. Thomas, but it also functions as a museum that showcases the unique history of the entire island. Roughly two miles from either cruise port, you can get there in less than ten minutes via taxi. For those looking to enjoy more of the island’s natural side, there is also the Skyride to Paradise Point, just a five-minute walk from the Havensight Pier.
Don’t forget to tip your tour operators at least 15% of their fee. If you head to one of the flea or farmer’s markets, haggling with vendors is pretty common. Credit cards are commonly accepted, and ATMs are scattered throughout the city too. On the north shore of St. Croix is the town of Christiansted, where Danish-colonial sites and romantic waterfront restaurants are just a normal part of daily life. Christiansted is only a half hour drive or taxi ride from Frederiksted. Take a tour of Fort Christiansvaern, an 18th century historic landmark used to ward off pirate attacks on the town.
Let Celebrity show you the finest of the Virgin Islands, from pristine beaches to vibrant coral reefs. Discover the landscape on a guided hike or a thrilling ATV tour, or fly above the rainforest on a zipline. Explore the historical heart of Charlotte Amalie, or the tropical trails and white sands of laid-back St. John. The islands are divided between Britain and the U.S., and each has its own personality. St. Thomas is the place for duty-free shopping and fun-filled days, while sleepy St. John is all lush rainforest, dazzling reefs, and sugary beaches.
Celebrity’s luxurious, contemporary ships are perfect for cruising the balmy Caribbean. Relax around the pool, or watch the sun sink over the horizon from the Sunset Bar. On Edge-series ships, you can dine on BBQ favorites at the al-fresco Rooftop Garden Grill, or sink into a sofa with your favorite cocktail on the Magic Carpet, with ocean views on three sides. Choose The Retreat for the ultimate in luxury, with access to a suite, a private sundeck, an exclusive lounge, and a fine dining restaurant, Luminae at The Retreat. Virgin Islands, you'll find excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. The U.S. Virgin Islands are home to hundreds of species of beautiful tropical fish like angelfish, parrotfish, and blue tangs, which make for great underwater viewing.
Taste your way through the history of rum on St. Croix as you tour the Captain Morgan and Cruzan Rum distilleries, where you’ll learn about the process of making the Caribbean’s favorite spirit. Still, we took advantage of the Experiences offered by Virgin. By far, our best Experience was a day sailing to the Pitons in Saint Lucia, where we stopped to snorkel and dropped anchor in a quiet yet colorful bay for local eats and Piton beer. RockStars get the first access to book restaurants and experiences and are moved to the front of the line for any shows that do not require reservations. Considering the booking window opens 45 days before the sailing date, and that passengers in the know set their alarms to begin booking as soon as the app launches, this first access alone can be worth its weight. We didn’t feel like we had to dress to the nines or that meals were completely over the top when dining every evening.
Bus, bicycle, motorbike, and walking are all options for getting around St. Croix. Taking a bus is trickier than getting around in other ways, as the Vitran Public Bus system can run erratically sometimes. You can also rent a car and drive yourself, or take a taxi from the cruise port in Frederiksted to various destinations around the island.
Daytime highs cool down and tend to stay in the upper 70° F range, but the winter is also very sunny and dry. This makes it a popular time to visit St. Thomas and the other US Virgin Islands. You shouldn’t have to worry about rain, but you may want to pack a sweatshirt and light pants for the evenings.
No matter where you end up going, make sure you try some rum cake at the end of your meal; it’s a must-try in St. Thomas. With designer shops, local craft markets, and plenty of duty-free malls and stores, there’s no shortage of places to find souvenirs and discounted designer goods. With both ports located such a convenient distance from a major airport, you shouldn’t have difficulty finding your way to your ship if you fly into St. Thomas.
We had decided to make our vacay a week of self-improvement, promising to partake in the ship’s more than 100 free exercise classes. We also swore we would utilize the open-air track on Deck 17 called The Runway, join the calming morning yoga sessions on The Perch, and visit the ship’s gym, B-Complex. Virgin Voyages is pretty gung-ho about its scarlet red hammock on the balconies, but having the hammock hanging down made it feel even smaller for both of us to enjoy the space at the same time. It is a petty complaint, considering we were hardly ever in our suite, but the only time we would be in the hammock was when the other was in the shower.
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