St. Thomas has two cruise docks and one decision: beach or island views. Havensight is a flat mile from Charlotte Amalie; Crown Bay is two miles west. Magens Bay is the classic half-day, while the capital is an easy independent walk. See St. Thomas’s place page and the Eastern Caribbean route.
Getting ashore
Ships dock at Havensight or Crown Bay, both walk-off. Shared taxis cost $6-10 per person to downtown and $12-15 to Magens Bay; open-air safari taxis are standard. Confirm your dock before planning a walk.
What to do in 6-10 hours
Magens Bay is the anchor: a mile-long calm beach, $7 entry, 20 minutes by taxi. For views, ride the Skyride above Havensight ($25) or taxi to Mountain Top. Downtown Charlotte Amalie offers the 99 Steps, historic synagogue, Danish colonial lanes and duty-free shops. Snorkel tours to Buck Island or St. John run $80-150.
Walking level
Havensight to downtown is flat for one mile; Crown Bay needs transport. The 99 Steps and hillside streets are steep and optional. Magens Bay is flat with gentle water, but sand makes wheelchairs difficult. Heat favors taxis even for short hops.
Excursion or independent
Independent for Magens Bay and downtown: shared taxis are plentiful and save $30-50 per person. Book through the ship for St. John or boat snorkeling, where ferry timing matters. See ship excursion or independent.
What it costs
Taxis $6-15 each way; Magens Bay $7; Skyride $25; snorkel boat $80-150; lunch $20-35. Beach day $45-80 per person, boat day $120-220.
The five-minute version
- Ships dock at Havensight or Crown Bay, both walk-off.
- Magens Bay is the anchor: a mile-long calm beach, $7 entry, 20 minutes by taxi.
- Havensight to downtown is flat for one mile; Crown Bay needs transport.
- Independent for Magens Bay and downtown: shared taxis are plentiful and save $30-50 per person.
- Taxis $6-15 each way; Magens Bay $7; Skyride $25; snorkel boat $80-150; lunch $20-35.
- Magens Bay is publicly run by the Magens Bay Authority, with facilities on-site; its cruise-visitor page has the day's logistics and admission details.