Overview Charlotte Amalie is the capital of, and largest city in, the U.S. Virgin Islands (an unincorporated territory of the United States). It happens to be located on the beautiful island of St. Thomas. It's one of the most popular ports of call for cruise ships in the Caribbean, and its harbor is famous for its shopping and its pirate-filled past. St. Thomas is also home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, including the famous Magens Bay.
St. Thomas is a particularly popular tourist destination year-round, as there is typically nice weather all year. However, the true peak season for tourists is between January and March. The island of St. Thomas is considered to be a part of the Eastern Caribbean.
Destinations The following destinations can be visited on a cruise leaving from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas:
Caribbean (Eastern)
Transatlantic Cruises
Currency The official currency is the US Dollar (USD). ATM machines are available, but make sure you use one that works with the card you're using. ATM machines will usually give you a better exchange rate than a hotel. Using a credit card is a great way to avoid having to exchange currency.
Language The official language of St. Thomas is English, spoken by locals with a distinct West Indies accent.
Tourist Attractions There are quite a few things to do around either of the cruise ship ports in St. Thomas. Havensight, the main cruise port, has plenty of shops right by it, including various boutiques, a post office, an electronics store and a bookstore. Yacht Haven Grande is an upscale shopping area (and marina) located within walking distance of Havensight. Crown Bay, the newer cruise port in St. Thomas, has plenty of stores located around it as well.
Shopping is particularly popular in Charlotte Amalie because of the fact that there are so many duty-free venues available. Popular items to purchase in St. Thomas include jewelry, watches, alcohol, tobacco, perfume and crystal.
Magens Bay, a popular white-sand beach, is located on the North side of the island. It's one of the most popular tourist attractions in St. Thomas, as it's one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. There is a nominal ($3) per person entrance fee to use the beach. It's about a 20 to 25 minute taxi ride from the cruise port to this area.
Another beautiful beach in St. Thomas is Sapphire Beach. It's less popular and smaller than Magens, but offers truly beautiful views of the nearby island of St. John. If you're there during the right time of day, the water really looks sapphire in color.
Blackbeard's Castle is one of the five National Historic Landmarks in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It's located right in Charlotte Amalie and was built in 1679. Stories are told of how the famous pirate Blackbeard used the tower (in the early 18th century) as a lookout point to help his piracy.
Fort Christian is a Danish-built fort in St. Thomas. It was built during the 17th century when the Danish occupied St. Thomas, and is the oldest standing structure in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Today, it functions as the St. Thomas Museum.
For those that have been to St. Thomas many times and are looking to do something "different," some excursions are usually offered by the cruise lines to take you to the nearby affluent island of St. John (via ferry). You can also take the ferry ride to St. John on your own, but it's always advisable to do such trips through the cruise line, so that if you're running late the ship will be aware of it. In St. John, Trunk Bay (a popular beach) offers an excellent snorkeling opportunity, with an underwater snorkeling trail of its coral reef. In fact, Trunk Bay is usually considered one of the best beaches in the world! St. John is known as being one of the wealthiest of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Port Location The main cruise ship dock in St.Thomas is Havensight, which is about a 5 to 10 minute taxi ride from downtown Charlotte Amalie. There is a newer cruise port, called Crown Bay, as well. If the cruise ports are filled up when your ship arrives you will have to tender. If that's the case, the tenders will take you right into Charlotte Amalie.
