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Cruise Ship Passengers visit Cruiser's Guide & FAQ.
If you don't find the answer to your questions here, ask them on our Virgin Islands Discussion Board!
Q: Do you have a rainy season?
Q: What about Hurricanes?
Q: Which month has
the best weather?
Q: The weather report says 'chance of showers', does
that mean it is going to
rain all day, every day?
Q: Do I need to bring proof of nationality?
Q: Do I need a passport? Driver's
license alone sufficient? Birth certificate?
Q: Do children need
travel documents as well?
Q: I am not an American, what travel documents do I
need to visit?
Q: What is the airport code? Is there an airport on each island?
Q: I don't like to fly. Can I get there by boat?
Q: How do I get from the airport to my hotel? Is there a shuttle? Can I
take the bus?
Q: What is the legal drinking age?
Q: Should I rent a car?
Q: Is 4wd required? Should I get a car or a jeep?
Q: Are seat belts the law? What about Car Seats
for children?
Q: I am vacationing on St. John but heard that
car rentals are cheaper on St. Thomas. What are the pros and cons of renting on
St. Thomas and taking the rental over to St. John on the car barge for the week?
Q: Is driving on the left side of the road difficult?
Q: Do I need a temporary driver's license? Will my
U.S. license be sufficient?
Q: I am under 25 can I rent a car?
Q: Is parking available at beaches, restaurants, attractions?
Q: Can I use the public bus, walk, rent a scooter?
Q: How much will a taxi charge to get from 'here' to 'there'?
Q: Where should I stay?
Q: Do you have a high and low season? Do rates
(hotels, airfare) vary by season?
Q: Is there a hotel room tax?
Q: I would like some brochures. Where can I order maps & guidebooks?
Q: Is it safe to drink the water? Should I use only bottled water?
Q: Do I need to stay at my hotel after dusk? What is the crime like?
Q: Is there a hospital? Doctors?
Q: Do I need any special vaccinations to visit?
Q: Are there pharmacies?
Q: Are there any clothing optional beaches? Are thong bikinis allowed?
Q: What are the best beaches?
Q: Is there an admission fee at beaches?
Q: Do beaches have chairs and umbrellas for rent?
Q: Where is the best snorkeling?
Q: Should I bring my own snorkel gear, buy it on island or rent it?
Q: What's the cost on renting snorkel gear? Is gear available at all beaches
for rent?
Q: Can I fish from shore? Is a permit required?
Q: Are outlets standard American outlets?
Q: Do I need dinner reservations? What about for activities like a day
sail or a fishing charter?
Q: What is the standard for tipping?
Q: How are gay & lesbian visitors received? Are there any gay bars, restaurants?
Q: What are the dates for Carnival, Bastille Day Fishing Tournament, St.
Croix Jump Up...?
Q: What holidays are celebrated?
Q: Will my cell phone work there?
Q: Are there payphones? Should I get a
phone card?
Q: Are there post offices?
Q: Are there internet cafes?
Q: Is the US dollar used?
Q: Are credit cards widely accepted?
Q: Are ATMs easy to find?
Q: What are the best buys?
Q: What is the duty-free allowance?
Q: Is there sales tax?
Q: What sorts of cloths should I bring?
Q: What is the dress code like at
restaurants?
Q: When does the sunset (fill in the blank)?
Q: How many islands are there? Can I easily hop from one to the next?
Q: Are the ferries reliable?
Q: What is your time-zone? Do you observe day-light saving?
Q: New Yorkers are New York residents. What are the people that live
there called?
Q: I heard that there are British & American islands, is that so?
Q: Are the
residents of the USVI American?
Q: Any particular taboos I should be aware of when visiting the
US Virgin
Islands?
Q: What is the official language?
Q: I visited the islands and would like to buy a condo or property. Any
help?
Q: I would like to move to the islands. What type of jobs are there,
apartments?
Q: What are the regulations for traveling to the Virgin Islands with dogs/cats?
Q: Do you know when and where any Rotary meetings take place?
Q: Do you have a rainy season?
A: There is a greater chance, expectation of rainfall in the months
of November, October, September, August and May (in that order).
Q: What about Hurricanes?
A: Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th
with the highest occurrences of storms in August and September.
Q: Which month has
the best weather?
A: Temperatures in the Virgin Islands
are warm year-round so any month is a good month in terms of enjoying warmth and
sunshine. Visit Virgin
Islands Weather/Climate for more details.
Q: The weather report says 'chance of showers'. Is it going to rain
all day, every day?
A: Our weather reports frequently say 'chance of showers' because we
often get brief early morning showers. We do not usually get rain all day long,
this sort of rain is an exception and is usually caused by storm systems in the
area.
Q: Do I need to bring proof of nationality?
A: U.S. citizens are not required to have passports or proof of
citizenship when ENTERING the U.S. Virgin Islands from a U.S. airport. All
arrivals to the U.S. Virgin Islands from foreign airports are required to
show proof of citizenship and pass through customs.
All persons leaving the U.S. Virgin Islands, whether American citizens or not,
must be prepared to show proof of citizenship upon leaving the islands to return
to the mainland.
Q: Do I need a passport? Driver's
license alone sufficient? Birth certificate?
A: Accepted documents for Proof of Citizenship for Americans: 1. A passport issued
under competent authority, 2. An Alien Registration Card (this applies to United
States of America permanent residents only) 3. A certified copy of a birth
certificate and government issued photo identification like a driver's license 4. A Certificate of
Naturalization, issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization
Service.
Q: Do children need
travel documents as well?
A: Yes. For small children that do not have any form of photo
identification a birth certificate is sufficient or one of the other three
options listed above.
Q: I am not an American, what travel documents do I need to visit?
A: Citizens of any country other than the United States should follow U.S. travel
regulations and requirements for entry into the United States. If you have any questions
call (340)774-4279.
Q: What is the airport code? Is there an airport on each island?
A: There is an airport on St. Thomas (STT) and on St. Croix (STX).
Q: I don't like to fly. Can I get there by boat?
A: St. Thomas is a popular port of call for cruise ships. Many cruises
require that you fly to Puerto Rico to board the ship. A few itineraries begin
on the mainland; primarily Miami, Florida. So taking a cruise is an option.
There are no ferries operating between the US mainland and the Virgin Islands.
Q: How do I get from the airport to my hotel? Is there a shuttle? Can I
take the bus?
A: There are no airport shuttles. The public bus is not a suitable
option. Taxis are readily available at the baggage claim area of the airport.
Rental car agencies are also available.
Q: Should I rent a car?
A: Renting a car is a great idea if you'd like the freedom of getting
around the island on your time and schedule. If you have a lot of plans for day
activities and dinners then it is a good idea to have your own transportation as
taxi fares will add up quickly. On the flip side we do drive on the left so the driver does
need to concentrate on not only trying to find their way in an unfamiliar place
but also on adjusting to driving on the opposite side of the road; so they might
miss out on seeing the scenery, getting to drink when going out to dinner and
relaxing. Visitors to St. Croix often encourage renting a car
because the island is larger than its sister islands and having a car is really
the only way to enjoy the entire island. Visit the Car Rental section for the
island you are interested in to read comments by people who rented
vehicles while
on vacation and to view rental car agencies: St.
Thomas Car Rentals, St.
Croix Car Rentals, St.
John Car Rentals
Q: Is 4wd required? Should I get a car or a jeep?
A: 4wd is not required on St. Thomas or St. Croix. On St. John
it is often recommended, however 80% (rough estimate) of the island's roads can be
navigated with out it. Some villas on St. John are accessed by steep, sometimes
dirt roads which make 4wd a must. On St. Thomas and St. Croix a car or a jeep is
fine, go with your preference. Car rental agencies on St. John only have jeeps
& SUVs.
Q: Are seat belts the law? What about Car Seats for children?
A: Driver and front passenger must be restrained by a safety belt. Any
child under age five must be in a car seat. In the case of a child aged three
through five, seat belts can be used but the child must ride in the backseat.
Any child older than five but under twelve must wear a safety belt. (This
information is a summary and subject to change, confirm current regulations
with your rental car agent.)
Q: I am vacationing on St. John but heard that car rentals are cheaper on
St. Thomas. What are the pros and cons of renting on St. Thomas and taking the
rental over to St. John on the car barge for the week?
A: The pros: the dollar value/savings as rentals on St. Thomas are often
cheaper than on St. John, Budget Rental Car on St. Thomas
is the only one that will rent a vehicle to persons under 25 (addition fee
charged) and if you'd like to grocery shop on St. Thomas it is convenient to
get your vehicle at the St. Thomas airport and head to the store and then to the
barge. The cons: if you need road assistance for one reason or the other (locked
keys in car, car trouble...) your assistance is a water crossing away. Some
frequent St. John visitors also point out that when renting a car from a agency
on St. John often you are allowed to use their parking lot in Cruz Bay. Parking
is tight in Cruz Bay so if you plan on dining and shopping there often, this
could be a plus.
Q: Is driving on the left side of the road difficult?
A: We are creatures of habit, so yes if you are used to driving on the
right side of the road breaking the almost instinctive urge to be on the right
side takes some adjustment. Most visitors report that after a few minutes they
get adjusted. It isn't difficult to drive on the left, you need only remind
yourself to stay on the left - particularly when turning corners and exiting a
parking lots.
Q: Do I need a temporary driver's license? Will my U.S. license be
sufficient?
A: No temporary licenses are required for those holding a valid U.S.
license. Temporary licenses are available for those holding a non-U.S. licenses
for a small fee. Out of territory licenses are valid for 90 days after arrival.
Q: I am under 25 can I rent a car or scooter?
A: In order to rent a car you must be at least 25 years old in most
cases. An exception is Budget Car Rental on St. Thomas, who will for an
additional fee rent to persons under 25.
Q: Is parking available at beaches, restaurants, attractions?
A: Parking is easily found. There are a few exceptions. On St. John a
few beaches have very limited parking (Maho Bay, Jumbie Bay, Gibney are
examples). Also Cruz Bay, the main 'town' on St. John has limited parking. On
St. Croix, Christiansted has limited parking. During some large events,
namely Carnival, some roads and parking lots close for use during the events.
Q: Can I use the public bus, walk, rent a scooter?
A: The Virgin Islands public bus is called Vitran. It operates in
major commercial and residential areas. The schedule and reliability can make it
difficult to use, particularly if you are on a tight schedule. Walking is not a
suitable means of transportation on any of the islands in the U.S. Virgin
Islands with the exception of Water Island. Scooter rentals exist on St.
John and St.Thomas only. For more information on transportation visit: St. Thomas Transportation, St. Croix Transportation, St. John Transportation, Water Island Information.
Q: How much will a taxi charge to get from 'here' to 'there'?
A: Visit the taxi rate section: St. Thomas Taxi Rates, St. Croix Taxi Rates, St. John Taxi Rates.
Q: Where should I stay?
A: Visit the accommodations section for more information: St. Thomas Accommodations, St. Croix accommodations, St. John Accommodations, Water Island accommodations.
Q: Do you have a high and low season? Do rates (hotel, airfare) vary by season?
A: Yes. High season runs from mid-November to mid-May. Rates are
typically much lower during off season.
Q: Is there a hotel room tax?
A: Hotel room tax is 8% and most hotels charge a 10% service fee.
Q: Is there a hospital? Doctors?
A: The Roy Lester
Schneider Hospital is located on St. Thomas and the Juan Luis
Hospital on St. Croix. Emergency room service is available 24 hours a day at the hospitals and 911 is available. The Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center is
available on St. John. Doctors are available.
Q: Do I need any special vaccinations to visit?
A: No.
Q: Are there pharmacies?
A: Yes there are pharmacies on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John.
Pharmacies sometimes run out of medications. If you are dependent on a
particular medication be sure to travel with it, with a copy of your
prescription and you might even call some local pharmacies to confirm
availability.
Q: Are there any clothing optional beaches? Are thong bikinis allowed?
A: Public nudity is illegal in the Virgin Islands and consequently there
are no designated clothing optional beaches. There are however, a few beaches
that are visited by those choosing to go nude and/or topless'. On St. John you risk the
chance of being ticketed by the National Park Service if caught on one of their
beaches. Despite this deterrent beach goers at Soloman Bay still take the chance
and so it is known as a 'nude beach'. Little Magens on St. Thomas is another
beach locally known as a 'nude beach'. Little Magens is NOT the same as Magens
Bay! On each island very isolated beaches are often sought out by those who want
to go 'au natural".
Thong Bikinis are definitely not popular among the residents, as most Virgin
Islanders are quite conservative with showing skin even at the beach. That said
they are allowed and some visitors do wear them.
Q: What are the best beaches?
A: The answer has to do with so many factors; do you want to snorkel,
want chairs and a bar, want to people watch or prefer to be just one of a few on
the beach, like super calm water or prefer a little wave action. Visit the beach
guides for each island for more information: St. Thomas Beach Guide, St. Croix Beach Guide, St. John Beach Guide, Water Island Beach Guide.
Q: Is there an admission fee at beaches?
A: The majority of beaches do not have an admission fee. There are a few
exceptions. On St. Thomas there is an admission fee at Magens Bay, on St. John
at Trunk Bay and on St. Croix the Buccaneer Resort charges beachgoers if
they wish to park on the resort property when going to the beach.
Q: Do beaches have chairs and umbrellas for rent?
A: Beaches that have resorts on them will have chairs for rent as well as a
few others (Magens Bay & Coki Beach on St. Thomas and Trunk Bay & Cinnamon Bay
on St. John), otherwise
no. Umbrella rentals are not popular. Visit the beach guides for each island for
more information: St. Thomas Beach Guide, St. Croix Beach Guide, St. John Beach Guide, Water Island Beach Guide.
Q: Where is the best snorkeling?
A: Visit the Snorkeling section for more information: Snorkeling on St. Thomas, Snorkeling on St. Croix, Snorkeling on St. John.
Q: Should I bring my own snorkel gear, buy it on island or rent it?
A: If you intend to do a lot of snorkel nothing is better then having a
good mask and snorkel set that fits you well. So definitely if you have a set
bring it with you and if you don't have a set you might look in your
local sports shops and buy one. You can buy one on island at local dive shops as
well. Dive shops on island do rent snorkel gear and rentals are available at a
few beaches.
Q: What's the cost on renting snorkel gear? Is gear available at all
beaches for rent?
A: Prices differ by beach/resort. Typically $5-$10 a set. Snorkeling
gear rentals are not available at all beaches.
Q: Can I fish from shore? Is a permit required?
A: You can line fish from shore if you choose. Visit the Fishing section
for more information: St. Thomas Fishing, St. Croix Fishing, St. John Fishing, Fishing Regulations
for the Virgin Islands. Permits are required only for commercial fishing.
Q: Do I need dinner reservations? What about for activities like a day
sail or a fishing charter?
A: Dinner reservations are a good idea, particular if its a popular
restaurant or a restaurant you really want to go to. A couple days in advance is
sufficient. For daysails and fishing charters it is a good idea to reserve weeks
or even months in advance if you have a particular operator you want to go out
with.
Q: What is the standard for tipping?
A: 15%-20% for quality service at restaurants, bars, tours, activities
and domestic service at resorts/villas. Some hotels and restaurants
automatically add a service charge and for parties over 6 people at restaurants
the tip is almost always added automatically; so be sure to check your bill.
Q: What are the dates for Carnival, Bastille Day Fishing Tournament, St.
Croix Jump Up...?
A: Visit the Events Calendar.
Q: What holidays are celebrated?
A: January 1 - New Years Day
January 6 - Three Kings Day
January - Martin Luther King's Birthday
February (3rd Monday) - Presidents Day
March 31 - Transfer Day
April - Holy Thursday
April - Good Friday
April - Easter
April - Easter Monday
May (last Monday) - Memorial Day
June (3rd Monday) - Organic Act Day
July (4th Monday) - Supplication Day
July 3 - V.l. Emancipation Day
July 4 - Independence Day
September (1st Monday) - Labor Day
October (2nd Monday) - Columbus Day & Puerto Rico-USVI Friendship Day
October (3rd Monday) - Hurricane Thanksgiving Day
November 1 - Liberty Day or D. Hamilton Jackson Day
November 11 - Veterans Day
November (4th Thursday) - Thanksgiving
December 25 - Christmas
December 26 - Christmas 2nd Day
Q: Will my cell phone work there?
A: Sprint PCS and Cingular Wireless are cellular phone providers in the
Virgin Islands. Some other cellular services work in the Virgin Islands however
roaming charges are likely as they operate off the networks of the locally
established cellular phone providers.
Q: Are there payphones? Should I get a phone card?
A: There are payphones on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. They
are typically located in public areas: shopping areas/centers, hotels, post
offices. Phone
cards are a good idea; you can purchase them on island at grocery stores,
calling centers and gas stations. Local calls - 35 cents for five minutes (this
charge applies to public payphones). Calls within the territory are free. Calls
to the US Mainland are long distance.
Q: Are there post offices?
A: There are several U.S. Post Offices on the three larger islands. There
are mail collection reciprocals at the airports. Postal Service rates are the
same as the U.S. mainland.
Q: Are there internet cafes?
A: There are internet cafes on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John.
Q: Is the US dollar used?
A: Yes. It is also used in the British Virgin Islands.
Q: Are credit cards widely accepted?
A: Yes, with a few exceptions: small shops, roadside vendors, taxis,
small purchases.
Q: Are ATMs easy to find?
A: Yes, there are ATMs on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John at banks, in
some large grocery stores, at some hotels.
Q: What are the best buys?
A: Alcohol, Jewelry, Linens, Crystal, some Electronics.
Q: What is the duty-free allowance?
A: $1,600 Exemption
If you return directly or indirectly from a U.S. insular possession (which
includes the U.S. Virgin Islands), you are allowed a $1,600 duty-free exemption.
You may include 1,000 cigarettes as part of this exemption, but at least 800 of
them must have been acquired in an insular possession. Only 200 cigarettes may
have been acquired elsewhere. For example, if you were touring the Caribbean and
you stopped in Jamaica, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other ports of call, you
could bring back five cartons of cigarettes, but four of them would have to have
been bought in U.S. Virgin Islands.
Similarly, you may include five liters of alcoholic beverages in your duty-free
exemption, but one of them must be a product of an insular possession. Four may
be products of other countries. Duty free allowance on alcoholic beverages
applies if you are 21 years old, it is for your own use or as a gift and it does
not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.
Travel to More Than One Country
If you travel to a U.S. insular possession and to one or more of the Caribbean
Basin countries, for example, on a Caribbean cruise, you may bring back $1,600
worth of items without paying duty, but only $800 worth of these items may come
from the Caribbean Basin country(ies). Any amount beyond $800 will be dutiable
unless you acquired it in one of the insular possessions.
For example, if you were to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Jamaica, you
would be allowed to bring back $1,600 worth of merchandise duty-free, as long as
only $800 worth was acquired in Jamaica.
Keeping track of where your purchases occurred and having the receipts ready to
show the CBP officers will help speed your clearing customs.
Q: Is there sales tax?
A: No.
Q: What sorts of cloths should I bring?
A: Frequent visitors to the Virgin Islands will tell you 'put everything you
want to take on the bed to pack... but before you pack put at least half of the
stuff back because you aren't going to need it'. Casual, tropical friendly (in
terms of the weather), beachwear will suffice. A few pairs of shorts, t-shirts,
tank tops, flip flops, swim suit or trunks, a couple causal outfits to wear to
dinner. Visit the Packing Tips section for
more suggestions.
Q: What is the dress code like at restaurants?
A: The majority of restaurants in the Virgin Islands are casual; this means you
will see patrons wearing everything from linen outfits with matching purses,
shoes, accessories to shorts and a tank top. There are a few dressier
restaurants located at resorts like Ritz Carlton on St. Thomas and Caneel Bay on
St. John.
Q: How many islands are there? Can I easily hop from one to the next?
A: There are four major islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Thomas,
St. Croix, St. John and Water Island. There are however some 50 small islets and
cays. For more information visit Virgin Islands Geography.
Island hopping is possible by ferry service, seaplane and air service. The
ability and island choices varies. From St. Thomas it is possible to
island hop to St. John and Water Island by ferry and to St. Croix by ferry,
seaplane and air service. From St. John it is possible to island hop to St.
Thomas. From Water Island to St. Thomas. And from St. Croix to St. Thomas. It is
possible to visit the British Virgin Islands from St. Thomas & St. John. Note:
The options listed are for direct travel only; it is possible to leave St. Croix
by ferry to St. Thomas and continue from St. Thomas to St. John on another ferry
for example. Or to take the seaplane from St. Croix to St. Thomas and continue
to the British Virgin Islands by ferry; however these options take quite a bit
of commute time and can be pricey for a daytrip. Visit the Ferry Schedules for more information.
Q: Are the ferries reliable?
A: Yes, the inter-island ferries operating in the USVI are reliable. For
more information visit: USVI Ferry Schedules.
Q: New Yorkers are New York residents. What are the people that live
there called?
A: Virgin Islanders is used for all those from the USVI. For each island
the following names are used: St. Thomas - St. Thomians. St. John - St.
Johnians. St. Croix - Crucians. Water Island - Water Islanders.
Q: I heard that there are British & American islands, is that so?
A: Yes the Virgin Islands as a whole includes the British Virgin Islands,
the United States Virgin Islands and the Spanish Virgin Islands.
Q: Are the residents of the USVI American?
A: Residents that were born in the U.S. Virgin Islands or
naturalized are American.
Q: Any particular taboos I should be aware of when visiting the Virgin
Islands?
A: Virgin Islanders are quite conservative, so it is seen as an insult when
visitors walk around in swimwear (for ladies) or without shirts (for the gents)
if not on the beach or poolside. This situation can be seen in the main 'tourist
shopping areas', particularly in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas as it is a
popular cruise ship port of call. Visitors clad in only a bikini top and shorts
or bareback with shorts are likely to receive a surly response from customer
service in stores. Be respectful and wear shirts and beach cover ups when
everywhere else besides the beach and pool.
A long standing tradition in the Virgin Islands is greeting someone before any transaction of any kind starts. So it is strongly recommended to say Good Morning or Good Afternoon before asking 'how much is this' or 'how do I get to such and such place'. And Good Morning is the suggestion... not Hello or Hi - they don't have the same effect. Saying 'Excuse Me, how much is this' rather then 'Good Morning, waiting for a response and then asking the question' will sometimes be ignored. Adding a 'How are you today?' is a nice addition as well.
Q: I visited the islands and would like to buy a condo or property. Any
help?
A: Visit the Real Estate Section for more information: St. Thomas Real Estate, St. Croix Real Estate, St. John Real Estate, Water Island Real Estate.
Q: I would like to move to the islands. What type of jobs are there,
apartments?
A: Visit VI Moving Center - Relocation
Guide for the Virgin Islands.
