St Thomas: Wow

Stepping off the cruise ship, I took a look around, inhaled the warm, salty Caribbean air, and whispered to myself, “I think I’m going to like this place.”

Truthfully? I was wrong. I didn’t just like it… I absolutely LOVED it. St. Thomas has this immediate, infectious energy. The dock was a vibrant chaos of steel drum music drifting through the humidity, cheerful locals guiding visitors, and the faint, sweet scent of roadside rum punches being mixed in the sunshine.

A View Fit for a Privateer

Our first proper stop was the legendary viewpoint known as Drake’s Seat. Standing up there, looking out over the Atlantic and the Caribbean meeting in the distance, the views were just outstanding. Apparently, Sir Francis Drake himself used this exact vantage point to spy on approaching Spanish galleons. Learning that bit of pirate history made the view feel even more epic.

The wind was whipping through the palms, and my love for the place was growing by the second—a fact proven by the sheer number of pictures I was frantically taking. Every angle looked like a postcard.

Paradise Found at Magens Bay

Next, it was off to Magens Bay Beach, and honestly, I haven’t seen the sea look this beautiful sky-blue colour in a long time. It was a proper treat for the eyes. The water here is incredibly calm, framed by lush green hills that protect the bay from heavy waves.

While everyone else was splashing about, I grabbed a cold local beer, found a quiet spot under a sea grape tree, and just took a proper moment to reflect. Listening to the gentle lap of the water and the distant laughter of beachgoers, the reality of the moment hit me. In the middle of a hectic cruise itinerary, sitting on that soft sand felt like pure bliss.

Pro Tip: Magens Bay is world-famous, which means it gets incredibly busy when the ships are in town. If you want a bit of tranquility, walk all the way to the far right end of the beach. Most of the crowds stick near the bar and facilities, leaving the edges beautifully peaceful.

Ending on a High

Finally, we took a cable car ride up to Paradise Point, which rounded off the day in spectacular style. Swooping up the hillside, the panoramic views of Charlotte Amalie harbour opened up beneath us. It was so special to spot our cruise ship docked down below, looking like a tiny toy boat in the middle of that turquoise basin. Up at the top, the vibe was brilliant—reggae music playing, people sipping Bushwackers (the local chocolatey-rum cocktail), and everyone just soaking in the sunset.

I hadn’t heard much of St. Thomas before I arrived. It was just another dot on our cruise itinerary. Now? It is firmly etched in my memory for a long time to come.

What I’d Recommend vs. What I’d Skip

• RECOMMEND: Paradise Point at the end of the day. Watching the late afternoon light hit the harbour from that height is unbeatable.

• DON'T RECOMMEND: Booking an expensive cruise line excursion for this. You can easily grab a local open-air safari taxi right outside the port to do this exact route for a fraction of the price, and you get to support the local drivers directly.