A Great Waterfront Walk In St. Thomas
Years ago when our cruise ship did port calls in Saint Thomas USVI one of our favorite walks was from the pier at Havensight (technically called the West Indian Company docks) along the waterfront to Charlotte Amalie. Starting on the West Indian Company pier you could stroll along the water into Yacht Haven, with its many luxury yachts and a number of upscale shops. Just outside Yacht Haven you’d connect with a stretch of parks and sidewalks that would take you into Charlotte Amalie ending at the historic Fort Christian. If you walked around past the fort entrance you would find yourself just across the street from Dronningens Gade. That’s the “Main Street” famous for the many unique and glamorous shops, that Charlotte Amalie is known for.
Over the past ten years since our first report Havensight has seen a lot of new construction around the piers along with increased security. So if you’re interested in this walk you need to get out of the docks and make your way past the shops to the main road and turn left. Within a few blocks you’ll pass the entrance to Yacht Haven Grande with its shops and restaurants. More information on Yacht Haven Shops HERE.
If you are cruising you need to find out which port facility your ship will be docking at as since that time Saint Thomas has added a second set of cruise piers on the other side of Charlotte Amalie in an area that was once referred to as the “Submarine Base”. It’s now called Crown Bay and walking from the cruise docks at Crown Bay into downtown Charlotte Amalie is a full 1.7 miles with some sections of the walk not having sidewalks.
Crown Bay itself has a large number of duty free shops and the best option for getting from Crown Bay into Charlotte Amalie would be the tourist buses costing as little as $10 round trip. If you’re not up for a walk from the port at Havensight there are also tourist buses available that will take you near Fort Christian.
On the east side of Charlotte Amalie is Fort Christian, a remarkable historical landmark that was built between 1672 and 1680, making it one of the oldest structures remaining in the Virgin Islands. Named after King Christian V of Denmark, the fort was constructed to defend the Danish colonies and served as both a stronghold and an administrative center of the Dutch Virgin Islands. Its strategic position on a peninsula above good anchorages allowed it to play a crucial role in defending anchored ships and repelling attacks, including a major French assault in 1678.
The fort’s architecture is characterized by rubble masonry construction common in the era. Over the centuries, Fort Christian has stood as a symbol of Dutch colonial interests and resistance, transitioning from a military fortification to a structure of historical significance. Today, it stands not only as a monument to the Danish colonial period but also as a reminder of the complex history of St. Thomas and the Caribbean region as a whole.
In a long ago era buying liquor in the U.S. Virgin Islands presented one of the world’s best bargains, but today shopping for duty free liquor in St. Thomas may not be a lot less expensive as buying at home. Be a wise comparison shopper and don’t assume you’re getting a bargain. Actually we’ve found the best prices can be at the local grocery store, Pueblo. There’s one very near the West Indian Company docks and another between Crown Bay and town.
Havensight Cruise Port
In a long ago era buying liquor in the U.S. Virgin Islands presented one of the world’s best bargains, but today shopping for duty free liquor in St. Thomas may not be a lot less expensive as buying at home. Be a wise comparison shopper and don’t assume you’re getting a bargain. Actually we’ve found the best prices can be at the local grocery store, Pueblo. There’s one very near the West Indian Company docks and another between Crown Bay and town.
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