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Overview
St. Thomas is one of the world's top cruise ports. Its lofty popularity is earned because St. Thomas offers something for just about everyone. Its duty-free shopping scene is relatively unparalleled -- and because St. Thomas is an American port, U.S. travelers get an extra duty-free allowance from customs. Other on-the-beaten-track sites include the world-famous Magen's Bay and a scenic tram ride to a mountaintop.
But it's also amazingly easy to find some respite from the inevitable crowds by exploring St. Thomas' quieter, more undiscovered side -- a lovely historic district, trips to Water Island, north shore beaches, fabulous restaurants in Frenchtown and an easy jaunt, via 20-minute ferry, to tranquil St. John.
Virtually every ship sailing an Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes St. Thomas as a port of call as do many Southern Caribbean voyages. You'll even see St. Thomas on Panama Canal and South American itineraries (when a Florida port serves as embarkation or debarkation). It is not uncommon, particularly during the winter's Caribbean high season, to see six or more ships docked and/or anchored in a day.
Getting Around
Taxis: Individual "cabs" are highly unusual. In most cases, you'll be shepherded to a van or safari truck that's heading in the vicinity of your destination -- and may make multiple stops on the way. You pay a set price per person; Havensight to town, for instance, is a flat $3 each way. Tipping is recommended when a driver is particularly helpful or garrulous but not required.
Renting a Car: At Havensight, Budget has an outpost; advance reservations are highly recommended and cost starts at $62 a day. From Crown Bay, the nearest car rental offices are at the airport (a five-minute taxi ride); Hertz, Avis and Budget have desks there and cost starts at $35 a day.
What's Nearby
At Havensight, almost a mini-downtown, there are more than 50 shops, many of which are outposts of Charlotte Amalie's better-known boutiques, such as A.H. Riese, H. Stern and Royal Caribbean (the electronics store, not the cruise line). Also within the expansive Havensight shopping area is Dockside Books, the island's only bookstore; Gourmet Gallery (with a terrific selection of wine and Caribbean beer); a post office; Banco Popular and Chase Manhattan Bank ATMs; and Havensight Pharmacy. There are plenty of pay phones for calling card cruisers who want to avoid costly on-ship phone calls. Even so, late in the afternoon people -- mostly crewmembers -- are queueing up behind them.
Adjacent is the Port-of-Sale strip mall; the highlight is a shop called the Comfort Zone, which sells high-end bath salts, lotions and the like.
Across from Havensight, King's Caribbean Coffee Cafe is an Internet cafe/coffee shop, Budget has a car rental agency, and Modern Music a decent selection of CDs.
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