St. Thomas Cruise Day: Magens Bay vs Coki Beach, the Ferry to St. John, and Charlotte Amalie Shopping
Two cruise piers, the best snorkeling beach in the USVI, a 45-minute ferry to a national park island, and $1,600 in duty-free shopping allowance, all without a passport.
Quick answer
Pick one anchor activity for your St. Thomas cruise day: Magens Bay for a relaxed beach morning ($5 admission, $10-15 taxi each way), Coki Beach for snorkeling (free, $8-12 taxi each way), or the ferry to St.
Trip length
3 days
Daily budget
$100–258/day
Best time
December through April
Currency
US Dollar (USD)
Pick one anchor activity for your St. Thomas cruise day: Magens Bay for a relaxed beach morning ($5 admission, $10-15 taxi each way), Coki Beach for snorkeling (free, $8-12 taxi each way), or the ferry to St. John for Trunk Bay ($12 ferry + $5 park entry + $10-15 taxi to Red Hook). A comfortable cruise day budget is $40-80 per person. Visit December through April for dry weather. No passport needed for US citizens because the USVI is a US territory.
St. Thomas is the busiest cruise port in the eastern Caribbean, and it earns it. The island packs beaches, duty-free shopping, and some of the best shore snorkeling in the Caribbean into 32 square miles of steep green hills that drop into turquoise water. Ships dock at one of two piers on the south shore: Havensight (the larger one, with a mall attached) or Crown Bay (smaller, quieter, closer to Charlotte Amalie). Both are within a short taxi ride of everything, and taxis here are not sedans but open-air safari trucks, converted flatbeds with bench seats, canvas roofs, and zero seatbelts. You climb in, hold on, and ride switchback mountain roads with the wind in your face. It is the most fun public transit in the Caribbean.
The beach decision matters more than anything else on a port day. Magens Bay is the famous one: a wide, calm, crescent-shaped bay on the north shore that charges $5 admission and has restrooms, food vendors, and chair rentals. It is beautiful and crowded. Coki Beach, on the northeast shore near Coral World, is smaller, rougher around the edges, and has the best shore snorkeling on the island. You wade in 10 feet and you are over a reef with parrotfish, sergeant majors, and sea turtles. If you want a beach to look at, go to Magens. If you want a beach to get in, go to Coki.
The third option is skipping St. Thomas beaches entirely and taking the ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay, St. John. The ride is 20 minutes, costs $12-13 per person, and drops you on an island where two-thirds of the land is national park. Trunk Bay on St. John is consistently ranked among the best beaches in the world, with an underwater snorkeling trail and $5 national park admission. The catch is logistics: Red Hook is a 30-minute, $10-15 taxi ride from the cruise piers, and you need to watch the ferry schedule carefully to get back in time. It is worth it if you have 7+ hours in port and are willing to commit the day.
Travel essentials
Currency
US Dollar (USD)
Language
English, Virgin Islands Creole
Visa
No passport or visa required for US citizens. The US Virgin Islands are an unincorporated US territory. Fly from any US city with a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or government-issued photo ID. No customs, no immigration line. International visitors follow the same entry rules as the US mainland (ESTA or visa). US citizens returning from the USVI get a $1,600 duty-free allowance, the highest of any US territory.
Time zone
Atlantic Standard Time (AST), UTC-4. The USVI does not observe daylight saving time. During US summer (March-November), St. Thomas is on the same time as the US Eastern time zone. During US winter (November-March), St. Thomas is 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Plug type
Type A, Type B · 110V, 60Hz
Tipping
Same as the US mainland: 15-20% at restaurants, $1-2 per drink at bars, $2-5 per bag for hotel porters, 15% for taxi drivers. Tip safari bus drivers $1-2 per person for short rides. Some restaurants add automatic 15-18% gratuity for large parties.
Tap water
Bottled or filtered only
Driving side
left
Emergency #
911
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Best time to visit St. Thomas
Recommended
December through April
Peak season
December through March. Dry season with the best weather, heaviest cruise ship traffic, and highest hotel rates. Multiple ships dock daily and the taxi lines at Havensight can stretch 30+ minutes in the morning. Charlotte Amalie shops are busiest during this period.
Budget season
May through early June and November. Hotel rates drop 20-40%, cruise traffic lightens, and the weather stays warm with occasional afternoon showers. Hurricane risk is low in May/June and November bookends the season.
Avoid
August through October
Peak hurricane season. September and October are the wettest months with 5+ inches of rain each. Cruise lines occasionally reroute away from St. Thomas during active tropical weather. Hotel and restaurant hours may be reduced.
Tropical marine climate with year-round warmth between 77-90°F. Trade winds keep the humidity manageable. Dry season (December-April) brings lower humidity and minimal rain. Wet season (May-November) has more frequent afternoon showers but rarely full-day rain. Hurricane season runs June through November with peak risk August through October.
Winter (Dry Season)
peak crowdsDecember - February · 77-85°F (25-29°C)
The most comfortable months. Low humidity, minimal rainfall, and consistent trade winds. Water temperature around 79-80°F. Peak cruise season with multiple ships daily. Charlotte Amalie shopping district and Magens Bay are at their busiest.
- Carnival (last two weeks of April, preparations begin January)
- Three Kings Day (January 6)
Spring (Shoulder Season)
high crowdsMarch - May · 78-87°F (26-31°C)
Warm and mostly dry through April. May transitions to wet season with increasing humidity. Cruise traffic remains high through April, drops in May. Water temperature climbs to 81-83°F. April hosts the USVI Carnival, the island's biggest cultural event.
- USVI Carnival / Carnival Village (last two weeks of April)
- J'Ouvert Morning Parade (Carnival finale)
Summer (Wet Season)
low crowdsJune - August · 80-90°F (27-32°C)
Hot and humid with afternoon tropical showers that usually clear within an hour. Water temperature peaks at 84-86°F. Cruise ship visits drop significantly. Fewer tourists at beaches and snorkeling sites. Hurricane season is active but direct hits are relatively uncommon.
- Organic Act Day (June)
- Emancipation Day (July 3)
- USVI/Danish Transfer Day (March 31)
Fall (Hurricane Season)
low crowdsSeptember - November · 79-88°F (26-31°C)
September and October are the wettest months (5+ inches of rain each) and the peak of hurricane season. November marks the transition back to dry season with falling humidity. Hotel rates hit their annual low. Cruise traffic begins returning in late November.
- Hurricane Thanksgiving Prayer Day (October)
- USVI-Puerto Rico Friendship Day (October)
Getting around St. Thomas
St. Thomas has no Uber, Lyft, or conventional bus system. Transportation runs on safari taxis (open-air converted trucks with bench seats), van taxis, and dollar rides. Safari trucks are shared taxis that run set routes for $1-2 per person within Charlotte Amalie and $2-3 for longer routes. Regular taxis charge per-person fares based on government-set zone rates. Fares are posted at both cruise piers. The island is small (32 square miles) but extremely hilly, so walking between attractions is not practical. From Havensight to Charlotte Amalie is a 20-25 minute walk along the road. From either pier to any beach requires a taxi. Red Hook, the ferry terminal for St. John, is a 30-minute taxi ride from the cruise piers on the east end of the island. Driving is on the left side of the road, a holdover from Danish colonial rule.
Safari Taxi (Open-Air Truck)
The iconic St. Thomas transport: converted flatbed trucks with bench seats, a canvas roof, and open sides. Shared rides on set routes. You flag them down on the road or find them at the cruise piers and Charlotte Amalie.
Dollar rides within Charlotte Amalie cost $1-2 per person. Longer routes to beaches cost $8-15 per person each way. Tell the driver your destination before climbing in. The ride over the mountain to Magens Bay on the north shore is 15-20 minutes of switchback roads with ocean views. Hold your bags.
Van Taxi
Regular taxis in vans or SUVs with government-set per-person fares. Available at both cruise piers, the airport, and major attractions. Fares are zone-based and posted at the piers.
Havensight to Magens Bay: $10-15 per person each way. Havensight to Red Hook (St. John ferry): $10-15 per person. Havensight to Coki Beach: $8-12 per person. Crown Bay fares are similar. Always confirm the fare is per person before getting in. Tipping 15% is expected.
Rental Car
Available from agencies near the airport and in Charlotte Amalie. Gives you freedom to explore the entire island. St. Thomas drives on the left side of the road with American-style left-hand-drive cars.
Daily rentals run $50-80. The left-side driving with a left-hand-drive car is confusing. Roads are steep, narrow, and winding with no shoulders. Parking at beaches is limited. Not worth it for a cruise day unless your group fills the car and splits the cost, making it cheaper than per-person taxi fares.
Ferry to St. John
Passenger ferries run hourly from Red Hook to Cruz Bay, St. John. The crossing takes 20 minutes. A less frequent ferry runs from Charlotte Amalie (closer to cruise piers) but the schedule is limited.
Red Hook ferry: $12-13 per person each way, hourly departures. The taxi to Red Hook from Havensight is $10-15 per person and takes 30 minutes. Total round-trip cost for the St. John day trip is $45-55 per person including taxis and ferries. Watch the return ferry schedule and leave a 90-minute buffer before your ship's all-aboard time.
3-day St. Thomas itinerary
Magens Bay Beach and Charlotte Amalie
The famous crescent bay and the duty-free pirate warehouses
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Safari taxi to Magens Bay 15-20 minutes each way · $10-15 per person each way · in North Shore
Grab a safari taxi from the pier. The ride over the mountain gives you the famous Drake's Seat viewpoint (most drivers stop briefly). Magens Bay charges $5 admission for adults 12+, with $2 parking. The beach is a wide crescent of calm, clear water with restrooms, showers, food vendors, and chair/umbrella rentals ($10-15). Arrive early because the beach fills up fast when multiple ships are in port.
MAY 26 -
Magens Bay beach morning 2-3 hours · $5 admission, chair rental $10-15 · in Magens Bay
Magens Bay is calm and shallow, perfect for families and swimming. The snorkeling is limited compared to Coki Beach because the bay has a sandy bottom, not reef. Bring a towel from the ship to save on chair rental. The food vendors sell decent burgers and cold beer for $8-12. The restrooms and changing facilities are clean.
MAY 26 -
Charlotte Amalie shopping and walking tour 2-3 hours · Free to browse · in Charlotte Amalie
Take a taxi back to Charlotte Amalie ($10-15 per person) or to the pier and walk (20-25 minutes from Havensight). Main Street and the alleyways off it are lined with duty-free shops in former pirate warehouses. US citizens can bring back $1,600 in duty-free goods, the highest allowance of any US territory. Jewelry, watches, and liquor are the best deals. A.H. Riise Mall is the anchor, but walk the side alleys for smaller shops with better negotiation room.
MAY 26 -
Fort Christian and St. Thomas Synagogue 45-60 minutes · Free (donations welcome at synagogue) · in Charlotte Amalie
Fort Christian is the oldest standing structure in the USVI, built in the 1670s. It now houses a small museum with colonial artifacts. A 5-minute walk from the fort, the St. Thomas Synagogue is the second-oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, rebuilt after three fires. Its floor is covered in sand, a tradition honoring the Sephardic Jewish ancestors who worshipped in secret during the Inquisition. Both are within walking distance of Emancipation Garden.
MAY 26
Coki Beach Snorkeling and Mountain Top
The best reef you can walk into and the highest banana daiquiri in the Caribbean
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Safari taxi to Coki Beach 20-25 minutes · $8-12 per person each way · in Northeast Shore
Coki Beach is on the northeast shore near Coral World Ocean Park. The taxi ride from Havensight or Crown Bay takes 20-25 minutes through the hills. Coki is free, smaller than Magens Bay, and rough around the edges: vendors are pushy, the parking lot is chaotic, and the facilities are basic. None of that matters because the snorkeling is extraordinary.
MAY 26 -
Shore snorkeling at Coki Beach 2-3 hours · Free (snorkel rental $10-15) · in Coki Point
Walk 10 feet into the water and you are over a reef with parrotfish, blue tangs, sergeant majors, and sea turtles. The reef starts immediately from shore, no boat needed. Bring your own mask and snorkel from the ship if possible. Rental gear is available from vendors on the beach for $10-15. Watch your belongings on the sand; petty theft from unattended bags is the most common issue.
MAY 26 -
Coral World Ocean Park (optional) 1-1.5 hours · $23 adults, $18 children · in Coki Point
A small marine park a 3-minute walk from Coki Beach. The underwater observatory lets you view the reef without getting wet. The sea turtle pool and shark encounter are the highlights. Skip it if you already had a great snorkel session at Coki. Worth it if you have kids who are not comfortable snorkeling.
MAY 26 -
Mountain Top 30-45 minutes · Free to visit (banana daiquiri $8-10) · in St. Peter Mountain
The highest accessible point on St. Thomas (2,100 feet) with a panoramic view of Magens Bay, the British Virgin Islands, and on clear days, Puerto Rico. Mountain Top claims to have invented the banana daiquiri. The view is genuinely stunning. The gift shop is overpriced. Combine this stop with the taxi ride back from Coki Beach and ask the driver to include it.
MAY 26
Ferry to St. John and Trunk Bay
A national park island, an underwater snorkel trail, and the beach that wins every ranking
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Taxi to Red Hook and ferry to Cruz Bay, St. John 30 minutes taxi + 20 minutes ferry · $10-15 per person taxi + $12-13 per person ferry · in St. John
Get on the first tender and head directly to Red Hook. The taxi ride is 30 minutes. Ferries run hourly from 6:30am. Buy tickets at the window. The 20-minute ferry ride crosses Pillsbury Sound with views of both islands. In Cruz Bay, taxis line up at the dock. Tell the driver 'Trunk Bay' and you will be there in 15 minutes. Budget $45-55 per person total round-trip for taxis and ferries. Only do this trip if you have 7+ hours in port.
MAY 26 -
Trunk Bay 3-4 hours · $5 national park entry · in St. John North Shore
Trunk Bay is inside Virgin Islands National Park and consistently ranked among the best beaches in the world. The water is crystal clear, the sand is white, and an underwater snorkel trail with interpretive signs runs along the reef. Park entry is $5 per person. The beach has restrooms, showers, and a snack bar. Snorkel gear rental is available. Go early: by 11am the cruise excursion groups arrive and the beach fills up.
MAY 26 -
Cruz Bay lunch and browsing 1 hour · $15-25 per person · in Cruz Bay, St. John
Cruz Bay is a tiny waterfront town with a handful of restaurants and shops. The Tap Room serves good burgers and local beer. Woody's Seafood Saloon is a dive bar with cheap drinks and a loyal following. Browse the shops on the waterfront but save your duty-free shopping for Charlotte Amalie where the selection and savings are better.
MAY 26 -
Return ferry and taxi to cruise pier 50 minutes total · $12-13 ferry + $10-15 taxi · in Red Hook / Cruise Pier
Catch a ferry at least 2 hours before your ship's all-aboard time to account for the ferry wait, the 20-minute crossing, and the 30-minute taxi ride back to the pier. Afternoon ferries can be crowded and you do not want to be on the wrong island when the ship leaves. The ship will not wait.
MAY 26
Build Your Custom Packing List
Use PackSmart to create a personalized packing list for St. Thomas based on your trip dates, activities, and style.
Try PackSmart FreeHow much does St. Thomas cost?
St. Thomas is expensive because it is a small island that imports nearly everything by ship, and its economy is built around cruise tourism and the financial services sector. Food costs 30-50% more than the US mainland. A casual lunch runs $15-25 per person. A beer at a beach bar is $6-8. The silver lining is that the US dollar is the currency, your US phone plan works, and you get a $1,600 duty-free shopping allowance as a US citizen, which is four times the $400 allowance from most Caribbean countries. Cruise day visitors control costs easily because the ship covers accommodation and most meals. The biggest variable is whether you take a taxi to one beach ($20-30 round trip) or commit to the St. John day trip ($45-55 round trip in taxis and ferries).
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation Budget: Airbnb or guesthouse. Mid-range: Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie hotel. Luxury: Ritz-Carlton or Frenchman's Reef. Cruise passengers skip this entirely. | $65-100 | $150-250 | $400-800+ |
| Food Budget: beach vendor burger ($8-12), food truck ($6-10). Mid-range: sit-down restaurant lunch. Luxury: resort dining. Everything is imported. A basic sandwich at a beach bar costs $12-15. | $20-30 | $40-70 | $100-180 |
| Transport Budget: dollar rides ($1-2) within Charlotte Amalie. Mid-range: safari taxi to one beach ($20-30 round trip). Luxury: private taxi or rental car ($50-80/day). No Uber or Lyft. | $10-20 | $25-40 | $50-80 |
| Activities Free: Coki Beach snorkeling (bring own gear). Budget: Magens Bay ($5 admission). Mid: St. John ferry + Trunk Bay ($30-35 per person). Luxury: catamaran sail, parasailing, or scuba diving. | $5-10 | $25-50 | $80-200 |
| Drinks Beach bar beer: $6-8. Mountain Top banana daiquiri: $8-10. Rum punch at a Charlotte Amalie bar: $10-14. Cruzan Rum is the local brand and costs less than imported spirits. | $6-10 | $15-25 | $30-50 |
| Shopping Duty-free allowance for US citizens is $1,600. Best deals: jewelry, watches, liquor. Diamonds are 25-50% below mainland retail according to some shops. Compare prices before buying. Negotiation works at smaller shops. | $0 | $50-200 | $500-1600 |
Where to stay in St. Thomas
Charlotte Amalie
historic old townThe territorial capital is a compact hillside town wrapped around a deep harbor. Main Street runs through former pirate warehouses that are now duty-free shops, and the side alleys (called 'Gades,' from the Danish for streets) lead to courtyards, restaurants, and smaller boutiques. Fort Christian anchors the waterfront, painted red and dating to the 1670s. The St. Thomas Synagogue with its sand floors is a 5-minute walk uphill. Emancipation Garden provides shade and a central meeting point. Charlotte Amalie is lively when ships are in but empties quickly when they leave. The energy is commercial, historic, and compact enough to cover in 2 hours on foot.
Red Hook
beach partyThe east end of St. Thomas, 30 minutes from the cruise piers. Red Hook is the ferry terminal for St. John and has a small cluster of waterfront restaurants, bars, and dive shops. American Yacht Harbor is the marina, and the vibe is more local and boating-oriented than Charlotte Amalie. This is where the St. Thomas sailing crowd eats dinner and where the dive boats depart. Duffy's Love Shack is the famous bar, loud and touristy but fun. If you are staying overnight, Red Hook puts you close to the St. John ferry and away from the cruise ship crowds.
North Shore Beaches
beach partyThe north shore of St. Thomas is where the postcard beaches are. Magens Bay is the most famous, a calm crescent bay with $5 admission, full facilities, and turquoise water so clear it looks artificial in photos. Hull Bay is around the corner, rougher and less developed, favored by surfers and locals. The north shore has the best sunset views because the beaches face slightly west. Getting here requires a taxi over the mountain, and the ride is half the experience: steep switchbacks through tropical forest with sudden views of the harbor below.
St. Thomas tips locals wish tourists knew
- 1 St. Thomas drives on the left side of the road, but almost all cars have American-style left-hand-drive steering. This makes driving here uniquely confusing because the instincts are wrong in both directions. Pedestrians should look right first when crossing. Safari taxi drivers are experienced with these roads, which is one more reason to take a taxi instead of renting a car.
- 2 Your US phone plan works in the USVI with no roaming charges. Text, data, and calls are covered as if you were on the mainland. This is a genuine advantage over every other Caribbean island and means you can use Google Maps, call taxis, and check ferry schedules without buying a local SIM.
- 3 The $1,600 duty-free allowance for US citizens returning from the USVI is four times the $400 allowance from most Caribbean countries. This makes St. Thomas the single best port for duty-free jewelry, watches, and liquor if you are on a cruise that visits multiple islands. Buy in Charlotte Amalie, not at other ports.
- 4 Vendors at Coki Beach will approach you the moment you lay down your towel. They sell drinks, rent chairs, offer braiding, and push excursions. A firm 'no thank you' works. Do not leave bags, phones, or cameras unattended on the sand while snorkeling. Petty theft from beach bags is the most common tourist crime on St. Thomas.
- 5 The ferry from Red Hook to St. John runs hourly but the last afternoon ferries get crowded, especially when cruise ships are in port. Buy your return ticket at the Cruz Bay terminal as soon as you arrive so you have it in hand. If you miss the last ferry back and your ship has sailed, you are chartering a water taxi at your own expense.
- 6 Try the local Cruzan Rum. It is distilled on St. Croix (the other main USVI island) and costs significantly less than imported spirits at every bar and liquor store. The Cruzan Rum distillery offers tours on St. Croix, but on St. Thomas you can buy bottles at duty-free prices in Charlotte Amalie for $8-15, well below mainland retail.
- 7 The banana daiquiri was supposedly invented at Mountain Top on St. Thomas, and every bar on the island serves their version. Mountain Top is at 2,100 feet with a panoramic view of Magens Bay and the British Virgin Islands. The drink is $8-10 and the view is free. Combine the stop with your taxi ride and ask the driver to include it.
- 8 Safari taxis are shared by default. When you climb into a safari truck at the cruise pier, you will be riding with other passengers heading in the same general direction. The driver makes multiple stops. This is normal, not a scam. Per-person fares are posted at the pier. If you want a private taxi, ask for one specifically and expect to pay 2-3 times the shared rate.
- 9 Bring reef-safe sunscreen. The USVI has not banned non-reef-safe sunscreen the way Hawaii and some other destinations have, but the reefs at Coki Beach and Trunk Bay are fragile and heavily visited. Mineral-based (zinc oxide) sunscreen protects you without bleaching the coral. Apply before you get in the water, not on the beach right before.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport for St. Thomas?
Which is better, Magens Bay or Coki Beach?
Is the St. John day trip from St. Thomas worth it on a cruise?
How much does a taxi cost from the St. Thomas cruise port to Magens Bay?
Is St. Thomas safe for cruise passengers?
Which cruise port is better in St. Thomas, Havensight or Crown Bay?
Is the tap water safe to drink in St. Thomas?
What is the duty-free allowance for St. Thomas?
Cruise ports near St. Thomas
Related destinations
St. Thomas travel guides and articles
Sources
Facts, costs, and travel details in this guide were verified against the following sources. See our research methodology for how we vet and update data.
- World Standards: USVI electrical plug types (A/B), voltage (110V/60Hz) accessed 2026-05-02
- Royal Caribbean: Best time to visit St. Thomas with seasonal weather breakdown accessed 2026-05-02
- Travel Lemming: St. Thomas safety guide with beach theft warnings and taxi tips accessed 2026-05-02
- US EPA: USVI drinking water safety information and cistern water quality accessed 2026-05-02
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