St. Thomas: when your ship stops here

Magens Bay beach, the 1672 fort and the 99 Steps in town, and Main Street shopping, all between the two cruise docks.

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026, each with its source. No prices on this page.

Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the US Virgin Islands, on the island of St. Thomas. Cruise ships tie up at Havensight on the east side of town and at Crown Bay on the west, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) apart, and about 1.5 million cruise passengers land here every year.

Source: Wikipedia: Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands

Top 3 things to do

1. 1. Magens Bay

   A white sand beach nearly three quarters of a mile long on the north side of the island, given to the people of St. Thomas in 1946 by Arthur Fairchild, who had bought the land in 1916. It has lifeguards, showers, bathrooms, beach wheelchairs and a snack counter.

   Tip: It is on the far side of the island from the ships, so it is a taxi ride, not a walk.

   Source: Wikipedia: Magens Bay

2. 2. Fort Christian and the old town

   The red fort on the waterfront was begun in 1672 and is the oldest standing structure in the US Virgin Islands. It was a town hall, a government building and a jail; after ten years of repairs it reopened in 2017 as the St. Thomas Museum. Nearby, Emancipation Garden has a copy of the Liberty Bell, and the famous 99 Steps climb the hill, built in Danish days to get people up the steep streets.

   Tip: All of this is in the middle of town, between the two cruise docks. Take the steps slowly; the hills are steep.

   Sources: Wikipedia: Fort Christian; Wikipedia: Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands

3. 3. Main Street shopping

   The territory is sometimes called the duty free capital of the world. Main Street (Dronningens Gade) has more than 400 shops, most of them selling jewelry, and there are more shops right beside the piers at Havensight and Crown Bay.

   Tip: Up to eleven ships can be in port on one day, so the shops fill up fast. Go early or late.

   Source: Wikipedia: Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands

What to skip

• Trunk Bay on a short day in port

  Trunk Bay, with its underwater snorkel trail, is on St. John, a different island, inside Virgin Islands National Park. Getting there means a ride across St. Thomas to Red Hook at the east end, then the hourly ferry to Cruz Bay, and the same back. It is a fine trip, but only when the ship stays late.

  Sources: Wikipedia: Virgin Islands National Park; Wikipedia: Red Hook, U.S. Virgin Islands; Wikipedia: Trunk Bay

Before you go ashore

You do not have to book a tour: you are free to go ashore on your own. Royal Caribbean sets the all aboard time about 30 minutes before the ship sails, posts it near the gangway, and says the ship does not wait for guests touring on their own.

Source: Royal Caribbean FAQ: Do I need to book a shore excursion?

Back-to-backs that stop in St. Thomas

Back-to-back cruises from these home ports have a stop in St. Thomas, from the Royal Caribbean sailings we track:

• Back-to-back cruises from Miami 185 back-to-backs with a stop in St. Thomas
• Back-to-back cruises from Port Canaveral 132 back-to-backs with a stop in St. Thomas
• Back-to-back cruises from San Juan 115 back-to-backs with a stop in St. Thomas
• Back-to-back cruises from Fort Lauderdale 13 back-to-backs with a stop in St. Thomas
• Back-to-back cruises from Cape Liberty 7 back-to-backs with a stop in St. Thomas
• Back-to-back cruises from Barcelona 2 back-to-backs with a stop in St. Thomas
• Back-to-back cruises from Tampa 2 back-to-backs with a stop in St. Thomas
• Back-to-back cruises from Baltimore 1 back-to-back with a stop in St. Thomas
• Back-to-back cruises from Colon 1 back-to-back with a stop in St. Thomas

Sources

• Wikipedia: Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
• Wikipedia: Magens Bay
• Wikipedia: Fort Christian
• Wikipedia: Virgin Islands National Park
• Wikipedia: Red Hook, U.S. Virgin Islands
• Wikipedia: Trunk Bay
• Royal Caribbean FAQ: Do I need to book a shore excursion?