A St. Thomas Cruise can give you a glimpse of the 18th century as your cruise arrives at this marvelous destination. Defense structures such as canons, forts, and watchtowers are some of the sights a cruise to St. Thomas will deliver. History will speak to you; many of the scenes have specific historical significance attached to them. This makes traveling to St. Thomas a fun and educational experience.
Cruises to the Panama Canal and other South American itineraries will commonly include St. Thomas as a destination. Winter season is the usual time more people flock to get a St. Thomas cruise. During this peak period you will find five or more ships docked in the harbor.
Off season, the island houses about 51,181 locals; this increases to more than 70,000 with the arrival of tourist season. During the peak season, ships use various ports on the island; Havensight is one and another is Crown Bay.
No matter where your cruise ship docks you will have easy access to the island's features. Some worthwhile sights include: Fort Christian, St. Peter Mountain, and Tillett Gardens.
Fort Christian
Fort Christian overlooks Charlotte Amalie Harbor. It was constructed for the Danish King Christian V in 1672 to safeguard the villages from pirates and European enemies. It is the oldest existing structure in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The first attack to this fort was by the French. Since that time the fort has undergone many changes including underwent renovations in the 1870s to add a Victorian clock tower, and later to be transformed into a jail and police headquarters. At present, it is a museum, which holds relics of the Danish era. In 1977, the National Historic Landmark was awarded. Visitors may enjoy the history of the Virgin Islands from Prehistory to the present inside the museum. A natural history section is also included in the tour.
St. Peter Mountain
It measures 1542 feet from top to bottom and this peak is the highest in all of St. Thomas. Referred to as Mountain Top or Signal Hill, communication signals were launched from this peak in earlier times. During the 1940s, the government used the area as a strategic communications location. It is said that over 20 different islands can be viewed from this mountain.
Today, shops, food establishments, and bars are located at the summit. A balcony for a scenic viewing is also located there. It is a perfect place to view Drake's passage, the Virgin Islands, and the exceptional Magens Bay. St. Peter Mountain is known for the banana daiquiris you can find at the top, so when you have the opportunity make sure to try it.
Tillett Gardens
A Danish farm used to exist on this location. Although several restorations and transformations have been done to suit the needs of visitors, it remains one of the oldest buildings still standing on St. Thomas. Jim Tillett, a silkscreen artist, helped in the evolution of its physical appearance to accommodate local artists. According to Tillett, the place is now "a peaceful sanctuary of creativity and wonderment". People visit the area to be able to watch arts show or classical music concerts.