Where Do Cruise Ships Dock In St Croix?

St. Croix, the US Virgin Islands, is home to a small town called Fredericksted, where cruise ships dock. With only one ship allowed to dock at a time, the small town makes cruising an intimate affair. The single dock allows passengers to enter the smaller of the islands’ two largest towns, Frederiksted and Christiansted. Frederiksted provides a beautiful setting with many restored and un-restored buildings.

As a cruise ship passenger, you will arrive at the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility, or the Frederiksted Pier, located in the heart of Frederiksted. This pier is a popular destination for scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and more. Visitors arriving at the pier often walk through the small town of Frederiksted and walk to nearby beaches and beach clubs. All large cruise ships berth at Port Frederiksted (locode VIFRD), while smaller-sized ships and superyachts usually dock at Port Christiansted (locode VIFRD).

In Christiansted, smaller cruise ships pull in at the Gallows Bay Dock, which is about 1 mi1.6 km east of town. Most large cruise liners dock at Port Frederiksted (locode VIFRD), while smaller-sized ships and superyachts usually dock at Port Christiansted (locode VIFRD).

The cruise ship pier in St. Croix is in the heart of the town of Frederiksted, with its historic buildings, shops, and even a beach. The pier can accommodate cruise ships and other vessels docking at the Ann E. Abramson Marine Terminal or Christiansted. The pier is the only pier that cruise ships can dock on St. Croix, making it an ideal destination for those looking to explore the island’s natural beauty and history.


📹 The cruise port at St Croix

Drone flight if the fort.


Where do cruise ships dock in st croix map
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What is the main town in St. Croix?

Christiansted is the largest town on Saint Croix, one of the main islands composing the United States Virgin Islands, a territory of the United States of America. The town is named after King Christian VI of Denmark.

The town was founded by Captain Frederik Moth after he was made governor of St. Croix in 1733. Departing from St. Thomas, Moth’s party had cleared a space for Fort Christianswærn by 5 September. In a ceremony next to this fort on 8 January 1734, the French formally handed the island over to the Danes in the form of the Danish West India and Guinea Company. St. Croix was to be allotted 300 plantations, 215 for sugar and the rest for cotton. The plantations surveyed were 3,000 by 2,000 feet. In addition, the company established a sugar refinery and distillery. The fort was completed by 1740. The 1742 census listed 120 sugar plantations, 122 cotton plantations, 1,906 slaves, about 300 Englishmen, and 60 Danes. By 1743, St. Croix had a hospital. In 1745, the number of slaves had increased to 2,878. By 1754, the town included 83 “white inhabitants”, “each of whom owned from a single slave to sixty-six of them”, according to Westergaard. Slaves on the island numbered 7,566.

Christiansted is a former capital of the Danish West Indies and home to the Christiansted National Historic Site. It has preserved the 18th-century Danish-style solid stone buildings in pastel colors with bright red tile roofs line the cobblestone sidewalks, adding a touch of 18th-century European architectural style. Because the town was constructed by African slaves, there are also African influences in Christiansted’s design, making it one of the world’s few “African-Danish” towns. The town’s symmetry, with streets running at right angles to the waterfront, makes it popular for walking tours. The commercial area centers on King and Company streets, adjacent to the Christiansted National Historic Site. The residential area, including portions that were originally settlements for free blacks, extends inland and uphill from the commercial area. The botanist Julius von Rohr started a botanic garden in the 18th century and produced a number of landscapes of the island.

St Croix cruise port map
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What currency is used in St. Croix?

The U.S. Dollar Because it is a U.S. territory, the currency used on St. Croix is the U.S. Dollar. Credit cards are accepted by most St Croix businesses, however, there are still quite a few small businesses that only accept cash. ATM machines can be found at most banks, and many gas station convenience stores also have ATMs.

St. Croix is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The territory is considered an unincorporated U.S. territory. St. Croix is by far the largest of the 4 U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, Water Island and St. John are the other three). At 84 square miles, St. Croix is about three times the size of St. Thomas, however, it has about the same population as St. Thomas. St. John and Water Island are tiny in comparison. Saint Croix has flown seven different flags. It has been colonized by Spain, England, the Holland, France, the Knights of Malta, Denmark, and the United States.

The Carib were the last of the Native Indian people to inhabit St. Croix. The Carib people were originally from the Guiana region of South America. They were not the first Indians on St. Croix.. The Tainos or Arawaks came before them and the Caribs didn’t arrive on the island until the early 1400’s. It was the Carib that greeted Columbus on his second voyage through the islands.

The Caribs continued to inhabit St. Croix for about a decade after Columbus’ visit. During this time they lived with an understanding of mutual coexistence with the Spanish on Puerto Rico. This understanding ended when a Spanish adventurer raided St. Croix for Carib slaves. The Caribs then joined with the Tainos of Puerto Rico, to fight against the Spanish. As a result of their uprising, the Caribs were ordered to be eliminated by the Spanish Crown. With ‘legalized’ extermination and military action inevitable, the Caribs permanently abandoned St. Croix.

St Croix cruise port what to do
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Why is St. Croix less popular?

Croix doesn’t have the same levels of tourism as St. John, and it’s also further away from the other Caribbean islands, making it more work for cruise ships to get there. For those reasons, crime is not a huge issue, especially compared to St. John.

I feel lucky just to even be writing that sentence.

As many families that live in Norway do, last December we were looking for a way to escape at least one month of our five-month-long winter season. Our original plan was to meet my parents in Florida, but after hurricane Ian, we decided to shift even further south.

Paradise. Next in line from Puerto Rico, St. Croix is a two and a half hour direct plane ride from Miami. One of three that make up the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is known for being the biggest, the most spread out, and the chilled-out version of the top cruise-line destination St. John.

St Croix cruise port shopping
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Can you swim in the ocean in St. Croix?

St. Croix is ringed by beaches of all shapes and sizes, some are long white sand stretches, others are small patches shaded by low sea grape trees and towering coconut palms. Some have smooth sandy bottoms ideal for swimming, and others have rock and coral-lined entries perfect for snorkeling!

; Art-Music-Nightlife ; Beach Guide ; Calendar of Events ; Duty Free Shopping ; Island Tours ; Watersports ;

DID YOU KNOW THAT… St. Croix is ringed by beaches of all shapes and sizes, some are long white sand stretches, others are small patches shaded by low sea grape trees and towering coconut palms. Some have smooth sandy bottoms ideal for swimming, and others have rock and coral-lined entries perfect for snorkeling!

Did you know… St. Croix is the only Caribbean Island where a diver can:●Dive a wall that drops over 13,000 feet●Dive a reef that is the largest living reef of any Caribbean Island●Dive five wrecks that are within 100 yards of each other●Dive a pier.

St Croix cruise ship schedule 2024
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Can you walk to a beach from St. Croix Cruise Port?

Frederiksted Beach, also known as Fort Frederik Beach, is the most easily accessible beach from the cruise ship pier. There are some trees here that provide relief from the sun, and the park across the street is a great spot for young kids to play.

Snorkeling can be great here, especially along the rocky patches and near the pier. Make sure to keep a look out in the clear, shallow water for octopus, flounder, butterfly fish, angel fish and blue tangs. While Frederiksted Beach can be rocky in places, there are places to enter to swim and snorkel – just watch out below for sea urchins!

Since Frederiksted Beach is located so close to downtown Frederiksted, you also have access to restaurants, stores, dive shops and more withing walking distance.

It is the most easily accessible beach from the cruise ship pier, so keep in mind that this beach can be crowded when there is a ship. Also, you cannot go onto or snorkel or dive under the pier when a cruise ship is in port.

Frederiksted, St Croix cruise port
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What language do they speak in St. Croix?

English English is the official language, but some French is spoken on St. Thomas, and Spanish is spoken on St. Croix among Puerto Rican immigrants.

Saint Croix, largest island of the U.S. Virgin Islands, in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It lies some 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Puerto Rico and 40 miles (65 km) south of St. Thomas. In the west some hills run parallel to the coast, culminating in Mount Eagle (1,088 feet (332 metres)) and Blue Mountain (1,096 feet (334 metres)). It is the only island of the group with an extensive plain, most of which is cultivated. A meagre growth of secondary scrub has replaced former seasonal forests, which were sacrificed for sugarcane plantations. The town of Christiansted, on the northern coast, is the capital, but Frederiksted, on the western coast, is commercially more significant.

Visited by Christopher Columbus, who named it Santa Cruz, St. Croix (both names mean Holy Cross) was colonized by both the English and the Dutch in 1643, though the latter were driven out after quarrels. As sugar production became more profitable, St. Croix increased in attraction, and in 1650 the English themselves were expelled by the Spanish, who in turn succumbed to French conquest. In 1651 the Knights of Malta acquired St. Croix but resold it to the French West India Company in 1665. It became a French colony in 1674 but during 1696–1733 was uninhabited. In 1733 the king of Denmark bought it; subsequently it shared the general history of the Virgin Islands.

On September 17–18, 1989, St. Croix was devastated by a hurricane that destroyed or damaged 90 percent of the island’s buildings and left about 22,000 people homeless. The island recovered with the help of copious aid from the U.S. government.

How do I get to Rainbow beach from Cruise Port in St. Croix?

FROM THE FREDERIKSTED PIER Rhythms at Rainbow Beach is located less than 3/4 mile from the Cruise Dock in Frederiksted, St. Croix, USVI. It’s just a 5 minute taxi ride or a quick 20 min walk.

St Croix Cruise Port excursions
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Do any cruise ships go to St. Croix?

Welcome Cruise Ship Passengers!. Get ready for a day packed full of fun! St Croix in the US Virgin Islands is a traveler’s paradise and a wonderful port of call for cruise ships. You will enjoy the fact that you don’t have to battle large crowds to enjoy the St. Croix experience, as there is usually just one cruise ship in port at a time. Once you step from the ship onto land, a multitude of St. Croix activities will be found. Yes, St. Croix has something for everyone on a cruise ship visiting St. Croix!

Your cruise ship will dock at the recently renovated waterfront of Frederiksted, the smaller of the two main towns on the island. This quaint town provides a beautiful setting with many restored and un-restored, historical buildings, historic Fort Frederik, shops, restaurants, beautiful sandy beaches and much more. There will be many vendors on the waterfront selling island art, crafts, jewelry and of course T-shirts! From Frederiksted you can enjoy several island tours and close to town you can enjoy several beaches and beach bars. You may also want to take a taxi into historic downtown Christiansted, the former capitol of the US Virgin Islands. U.S. citizens visiting St. Croix can take advantage of the most generous duty free allowance in the Caribbean…$1,600 per person! Click here for more duty free shopping information.

Cruise Ship Visits: “The Island is Beautiful” by Carol Buchanan (click here to read article). Things To Do While Visiting St. Croix. There are many fun St. Croix tours to enjoy. Tour the Cruzan Rum factory and learn about the process of making this tasty drink and don’t forget the samples at the end of the tour (of course you must be at least 18 to drink!). A tour of the Whim Plantation is a great way to step back in time to see how sugar cane was processed. Get of glimpse of what life was like in the 1800s as you tour through the restored great house and old slave quarters. If eco-tourism is more to your liking, you can view beautiful St. Croix flora and fauna at the St. George Botanical Gardens while strolling by interesting plantation ruins or take in a hike through the rainforest. You can explore the island by car, following the St. Croix Heritage Trail, a 72-mile driving tour that connects our Caribbean island’s historic sites and attractions and includes many significant natural areas.

A visit to St. Croix’s Historic Harbor town of Christiansted is also a highlight. One of the finest, intact examples of old Danish architecture, this town offers historical sites, forts, great duty free shopping, sumptuous restaurants, and more.

St Thomas cruise port
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Where do the cruise ships dock at St. Croix?

Our PortThe Ann E. Abramson Pier is named in honor of the Virgin Islands Public Works Commissioner who was responsible for much of the rejuvenation of the Frederiksted area. This is the pier where most of the large cruise ships dock, as well as military ships, submarines, and other naval vessels. From time to time, tall-ships especially from Denmark, can be seen here.

The dock itself has been a favorite diving place especially for viewing bright coral, sponges, and a multitude of fish life. A night dive should reveal the sea-horses unique to this pier. Visitors arriving at the pier often walk through the small town of Frederiksted and walk to the nearby beaches and beach clubs.

All large cruise ships berth at the island’s only major pier, officially named after a former Public Works Commissioner, Ann E. Abramson. The pier is 1,526 feet long, allowing two cruise ships to tie up at the same time. A kiosk filled with tourism information sits at its head. Public restrooms are nearby. While the pier is the gateway to shopping in Frederiksted, taxis and tour buses take visitors to Christiansted for shopping, sightseeing, and on round-the-island tours. There is no admission charge.

Cruise ships to St Croix
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What is the nicest part of St. Croix?

The North Shore consistently ranks at the top of best areas in St. Croix due to its location, great beaches, pristine nature, activities, and many wonderful beachfront vacation rentals in prime locations.

Now you know the Best Places to Stay in St. Croix USVI in 2024!. See photos of Villa Margarita here.

What to do in Frederiksted St Croix
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How do you say hello in St. Croix?

  • The first thing you say to someone as a greeting should be “Good Morning,” “Good Afternoon,” or “Good Night” depending on the time of day. If you jump right into a conversation with someone before offering one of these greetings, they will find it rude and most likely let you know. People here tend to be reserved, but once you greet and engage them, they will warm up to you and be as friendly as can be.
  • Don’t be surprised if people toot their car horns at you. Shorter than a HONK, Horn tooting is a friendly gesture. Two short toots often means “Hi” or “Go ahead” or “Thank you.” Drivers will toot to let you cross the street or let you pull out into traffic. Drivers may toot at each other to say hello or to get the attention of someone they know. Don’t be surprised if they slow down or stop for a moment to chat with a passerby. Give them a moment (remember, you’re on island time).
  • Enjoy the slower pace. Sometimes I think service is slow on purpose
  • to remind those visiting that you need to slow down and relax. Whatever it is can wait a few more minutes… enjoy this minute, enjoy this view, enjoy the fresh warm salty air, because next week you’ll be back to a place where life is hectic, and you’ll be wishing you had more time on St. Croix.
  • Be respectful and cover up when walking around town or the grocery store. I know that you are reveling in the fact that it is warm and sunny and you want to go home with a tan, but the bathing suits should be confined to the boat, beach or pool. Bare shoulders, too short shorts and unbuttoned shirts are frowned upon in public. Respect the law and the local customs. Men: wear a shirt and women: wear a conservative cover up when out and about.

If you are looking for a true West Indian island, no fluff, a place to relax, but still luxurious, something to do, but only if you choose to, natural beauty and warm, friendly people, then St. Croix is the place for you.


📹 Grandeur of the seas – walk to this FREE beach in ST. CROIX, Part 1 of 2 #cruise #royalcaribbean

Vlog 5 – We have a late arrival into St. Croix and head up to the Windjammer Buffet to have breakfast and watch the ship sail in.


Where Do Cruise Ships Dock In St Croix
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Debbie Green

I am a school teacher who was bitten by the travel bug many decades ago. My husband Billy has come along for the ride and now shares my dream to travel the world with our three children.The kids Pollyanna, 13, Cooper, 12 and Tommy 9 are in love with plane trips (thank goodness) and discovering new places, experiences and of course Disneyland.

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