St. Thomas cruise transfers with BlaakLane.com collect you at the Havensight cruise pier east of Charlotte Amalie, or at Crown Bay to the west, and drive you to Cyril E. King Airport (STT), the Red Hook ferry for St. John, Magens Bay or your resort. Hourly island tours start at three hours, and every fare is fixed before you confirm.
How to reserve a St. Thomas transfer
Choose Havensight or Crown Bay as the pickup, add your ship and date, then pick one-way or hourly and a vehicle class. The booker shows one fixed fare. Trips in the US Virgin Islands are driven by a vetted local affiliate from the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network, contracted to the BlaakLane.com written standard, and the confirmation names operator and driver.
Havensight or Crown Bay?
St. Thomas has two cruise docks on either side of Charlotte Amalie harbour.
| Dock | Operator | Position | To downtown Charlotte Amalie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Havensight cruise pier | The West Indian Company (WICO) | East side of the harbour, beside Havensight Mall | 5-10 minutes by car |
| Crown Bay, Austin "Babe" Monsanto Marine Terminal | Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) | West side, towards the airport | 10-15 minutes by car |
Large ships split between the two on busy days, and the ship's programme shows which one you will use. Background is on the West Indian Company and Virgin Islands Port Authority sites.
Left-side driving and island roads
The US Virgin Islands drive on the left, but most vehicles are American left-hand-drive models, which surprises many visitors. Roads over the island's central ridge are steep and winding, and the waterfront road through Charlotte Amalie, Veterans Drive, clogs when several ships are in. Distances are short; time is what varies.
Drive times from the docks
| From Havensight to | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Cyril E. King Airport (STT) | 15-30 minutes |
| Red Hook ferry terminal, for St. John | 25-40 minutes |
| Magens Bay | 20-30 minutes |
| Mountain Top and Drake's Seat viewpoints | 20-30 minutes |
| Sapphire and Secret Harbour beaches | 20-35 minutes |
From Crown Bay, subtract about 10 minutes to the airport and add about 10 to Red Hook.
Where the car meets you
Both docks have organised taxi dispatch areas at the landward end of the pier, run under territorial rules. Pre-booked vehicles collect from the spot the dock operator designates for them, and your driver messages the exact place before you tie up. Walk off with your ID, pass the pier exit and send a message.
Airport to ship, and ship to airport
Some small-ship and yacht-style itineraries begin or end in St. Thomas, and passengers leaving a ship early also fly from STT. Include the flight number and the driver is timed to your landing; flights from the US mainland count as domestic, with 30 minutes of waiting included, and international arrivals include 60 minutes. Pickup is at the airport's pre-arranged area outside arrivals; a name-board meet inside is an add-on available in selected locations only.
Departing for the mainland, passengers and bags pass through a U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection at STT before security, because the territory sits outside the US customs zone. Allow at least two and a half to three hours at the airport.
Private tours on a port day
Tours by the hour start at 3 hours through the hourly chauffeur service.
- Island overview: Drake's Seat and Mountain Top for the views over Magens Bay and the British Virgin Islands, then down to the beach.
- St. John day: a drive to Red Hook for the ferry to Cruz Bay and the Virgin Islands National Park, best on a long port call.
- Charlotte Amalie heritage: the 99 Steps, Fort Christian and the Danish-era warehouses on Main Street.
- Beach time: Magens Bay or Sapphire, with the car booked back for a set hour.
Give yourself an hour's margin before all-aboard, more if you cross to St. John.
Choosing a vehicle
- Standard Sedan or Luxury Executive Sedan: two guests and two bags.
- Executive First Class Sedan (Maybach): only where the booker offers it on the island.
- Standard Black SUV or Executive Black SUV: up to six guests with six bags, the practical choice on the hilly roads.
- Sprinter Van: up to 12 with small bags.
- Sprinter Luxury Jet Van: seven guests, carry-on only.
- Luxury Stretch Limo or Party Bus: eight or fourteen celebrating guests, subject to island availability.
Child seats are free on request. Specifications are on the fleet page.
Shopping, duty-free and what to carry
US citizens returning from the USVI have a larger duty-free allowance than from most Caribbean islands, which is one reason Charlotte Amalie's Main Street jewellers are busy on ship days. Keep receipts for anything valuable, as they may be asked for when you fly home or reboard. Cash and cards in US dollars work everywhere, and the island's grocery stores and pharmacies are easy stops on a tour if you need supplies.
Hotels and villas before or after the cruise
Resorts on the East End near Red Hook, the hillside inns above Charlotte Amalie and the villas around Magens Bay all make good bases for a few extra days. The St. Thomas chauffeur page covers local trips, and the USVI tourism site lists what is on.
Groups, crews and events
Wedding parties, incentive groups and crew changes are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing; see cruise lines and ports and the full services list.
Fare, waiting time and cancellation
The fixed fare includes the vehicle, the driver and 15 minutes of waiting from the booked time; beyond that, waiting runs in 15-minute blocks. Cancellations more than 72 hours before pickup cost nothing. Within 72 hours the charge is 10%, within 48 hours 50%, and within 24 hours or for a no-show the full fare. See rates for how fares are set.
