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St Croix, your port of solace
The Caribbean island of St Croix is growing in popularity. With a newly refurbished marine
facility, St Croix offers cruise visitors more than just tropical sun and clear waters; it’s a chance
to experience idyllic island life.
Following the multi-million dollar refurbishment of the
Ann E Abramson Marine Facility and the Frederiksted
pier area, St Croix has opened its doors to a new world of
sights and sounds for cruise passengers.
The pier is now equipped to welcome more cruise ships than
ever before. As a testament to its renewed popularity, many
popular cruise lines added St Croix to their itineraries in 2009,
including Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Amazara Cruises,
Disney Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Holland America Line,
Crystal Cruises, Seabourn Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
With its enchanting towns, magnificent coastline, historic
sites, and incomparable water adventures, a world of
unforgettable moments is waiting to be discovered in St Croix.
Discover its towns
Cruise passengers are often enchanted by Crucian hospitality as
they are greeted by Mocko Jumbie stilt dancers, the sounds of
steel pan music and Cruzan Rum punch. After docking,
passengers can stroll through flower-filled parks and down
cobbled paths that stretch along the town’s waterfront, passing
by the shopping area located close to the pier.
Along the waterfront, residents and visitors can explore the
monthly Sunset Jazz Festival at Fort Frederik Beach and enjoy
music from locally and internationally acclaimed jazz artists
against the backdrop of a spectacular Caribbean sunset.
From the pier, cruise passengers can embark on a scenic taxi
or bus ride across the island to Christiansted, which offers
historical churches, traditional pastel buildings and unique art
galleries, along with charming shops, boutiques and pavilions
which sell crystals, designer perfumes, handmade jewellery,
local arts and crafts and, of course, Cruzan Rum. US citizens
enjoy a $1,600 duty-free shopping quota.
St Croix has dozens of charming restaurants, all offering
eclectic menus. Found in Christiansted, Frederiksted and smaller
towns, they serve local West Indian dishes laden with rich
spices and flavours, as well as international cuisine inspired by
Europe and Asia.
Discover its history
St Croix is an undiscovered Caribbean gem that offers authentic
cultural and historic experiences.
The St George Village Botanical Garden displays lush flora over 16
acres with more than 1,500 plant species growing amongst the
renovated ruins of a 19th century Danish sugar plantation.
The Estate Whim Plantation, the oldest plantation museum in the
Virgin Islands, attracts visitors with its architectural charm and history.
One of 54 factories built when sugar was the island’s main industry,
this lovingly restored mill is situated among 12 acres of plantation
buildings, tropical flora, a windmill and shops.
The island of St Croix is a major destination of cruise itineraries.
Discover its natural beauty
The breathtaking beaches that dot the shores of St Croix provide an
escape for cruise passengers in search of tranquillity and relaxation.
Equally as stunning, and just a boat ride from the northeast
shore, is the Buck Island National Reef Monument, a natural
wonder that stretches across 19,000 acres of protected land and
pristine waters. Designated one of only two underwater national
monuments in the US, visitors can swim and snorkel in the
crystal clear sea.
Scuba enthusiasts can explore the largest living reef in the
Caribbean along the Cane Bay underwater wall while nature
lovers will enjoy kayaking through the lush tropical ecosystem
of the Salt River National Historical Park. Sandy Point National
Wildlife Refuge offers one of the longest stretches of white
sandy beach in the Caribbean, and is a nesting site for the
endangered leatherback turtle. �
US Virgin Islands
Tel: +1 (800) 372 – USVI
Website: www.VisitUSVI.com
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