Cruise Ship Visitors

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Virgin Islands: Cruise Ship Visitors FAQ (Page 1)

Banks

There are several major banks in the U.S.V.I. First Bank and the Bank of Nova Scotia are located on St.Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. On St. Thomas and St. Croix you will find Banco Popular.  They all have ATM machines. Bank locations can be found around the main towns and shopping areas on each island.

Beaches

There are many gorgeous shorelines in the Virgin Islands. This site has the best beach guides for the USVI, each guide includes great photos, descriptions and a check list for amenities like restrooms, accessibly, snorkeling and more. Select the appropriate island beach guide. St. Thomas Beach Guide , St. John Beach Guide, St. Croix Beach Guide and Water Island Beach Guide

On St. Thomas there are no beaches within easy walking distance from the cruise ship docks, you will need to take a taxi or rent a car. On St. Croix, Frederiksted Beach is within walking distance of the Frederiksted Pier. Beaches on St. John require a drive or hike from Cruz Bay. Water Island is accessible from St. Thomas by taking a ferry to the island. Beaches are in walking distance from the ferry dock once on Water Island.

Popular Beaches

The beaches listed below are only a few of the great beach options you have. They are some of the more popular choices. (Relaxing means swimming, laying out, reading, having a picnic all rolled into one. For amenities offered at these beaches use the complete beach guides mentioned above.)

Best Buys

The USVI is known for its great duty free shopping deals. Alcohol is by far the best-priced item to purchase. Jewelry, high-end electronics, gemstones, watches, crystal, linens are also great buys to look out for. Areas to shop on St. Thomas include Charlotte Amalie and Havensight; on St. Croix, Frederiksted and Christiansted; and on St. John, Cruz Bay.

British Virgin Islands

Some visitors to St. Thomas on cruise ships inquire as to whether a day trip to the Baths onVirgin Gorda or to Jost Van Dyke is a possibility by ferry. The BVI islands although close are not close enough for a cruise ship visitor to get a worthwhile visit out of their time by ferry. Additionally the ferries to Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke are not daily or frequent. This sort of day trip is best suited for someone who is an on-island visitor. As a cruise ship visitor with only a limited 8 or so hours your best bet is to visit the island your ship is calling on or to daytrip to an island that is closer so that you have more time to enjoy the location.

Cell Phones

European GSM cellular phones will not work in the USVI. U.S. standard digital cellular phones will probably work if your carrier offers roaming features and allows roaming in the Virgin Islands. If your cellular phone provider is Sprint PCS or Cingular Wireless your phone will work; they are cellular phone providers in the Virgin Islands. Some ATT users and Verizon users have reported; that their phones work, others have said their phones have not worked and some note the phone worked with large roaming charges. If you use ATT, Verizon or another carrier you should call customer service to find out whether your phone with work in the USVI.

Climate

The islands experience perpetual summer. Temperatures range between 79 degrees and 82 degrees depending on the time of the year. For more information on weather, rain fall, water temperatures and today's forecast visit Weather in the USVI

Currency

U.S. dollar, Travelers Checks and Credit Cards are widely excepted.

Docking/Pier Information

On St. Thomas ships most commonly dock at the West Indian Company Dock (WICO) in Havensight. They also dock in Crown Bay and some large ships remain at anchorage in the Charlotte Amalie harbor. Passengers are then tendered into the Waterfront in Charlotte Amalie. On St. Croix ships dock at the Frederiksted Pier. Ships that call on St. John remain at anchorage off the St. John shore; passengers are tendered onto the island. More information and monthly schedules are available at USVI Cruise Ship Schedule

Ferry Schedules/How to get to St. John from Ship

Ferry Service is available between St. Thomas and St. Croix; St. Thomas and St. John, St. Thomas and Water Island and St. Thomas/St. John and the BVI Islands. For details on ferry schedules, prices, operators and length of ferry ride per destination visit Ferry Schedules. Visiting close neighboring islands on your own while in port is possible through the use of these inter-island ferry services.

St. Thomas - St. John Ferry

Many cruise ship visitors to St. Thomas want to visit St. John and rely on the ferry. You should note that there are two passenger ferries; one in Charlotte Amalie and one in Red Hook. There is only one car barge that takes passengers and their cars over to St. John; it leaves from Red Hook.

Which passenger ferry should you take depends on you, here is a comparison.

Time comparison; the Charlotte Amalie ferry will take longer by a little over 10 minutes, if there is traffic going to Red Hook the total commute time might work out to be the same in terms of taxi + ferry commute. View the Ferry Schedules to find out which ferry service works best for your plans.

You might consider; would you rather spend more commute time on a ferry/water or on taxi/land. By ferry you will see a bit of the islands coastline and by taxi you will see a bit of St. Thomas while you drive. If you are prone to seasickness it is best you take the Red Hook ferry so that you are spending less time on the water. Some visitors take both; going to St. John on the Red Hook ferry and then returning directly to Charlotte Amalie on the Charlotte Amalie ferry from St. John. This is an option as you can purchase one way tickets. Both the Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook ferry arrive and leave from Cruz Bay, St. John at the same dock. Taxis are always available in Cruz Bay to take you to Trunk Bay, Annaberg or wherever you would like to go on St. John.