As the leaves fall and the temperatures drop, I am reminded that I will be experiencing my first “real” winter since 2009.  I spent the US winter of 2010 enjoying the beaches of Central America.  I spent the US winter of 2011 enjoying the wine, seafood, and pretty views of Chile.  This winter I have to suck it up, break out the boots, giant coat, and wool hat.  And I will research and dream about warm weather, pretty beaches, and blue water just like you will read about in this guest post.

Into the Blue Cruising America’s Paradise

When you are cruising the U.S. Virgin Islands, you are destined to ask yourself the following question.

Are St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix better than the British Virgin Islands, or vice versa?

Of course, after you ask yourself this koan-like question, you will realize how absurd it is. It is impossible to compare and contrast tropical islands, and to get away from that type of linear, rigid thought process is exactly why you looked at cheap cruises in the first place. It doesn’t matter where in the Caribbean you are, it’s the summertime, and the living is easy.

Today, the port of call is America’s Paradise, and tomorrow it is in Jamaica; either way the trade wind blows, the sun is shining.

St. Thomas

St. Thomas is the most populated of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Charlotte Amalie, its commercial centre, is home of one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.  Charlotte Amalie’s quaint, cobbled streets are lined with colourful Danish architecture. Locals claim that there are over 100 jewellery stores on Dronningens Glade, which is the main street in town. When the cruise ships are docked in the harbour, it seems that every passenger is on the street looking for a duty-free deal.

However, there is more to St. Thomas than beaches and shopping. Sightseeing hotspots include Frenchtown, Drake’s Seat, Bluebeard Castle and the 99 Steps. From island tours and horseback riding to sunset cruises and whale watches, there is plenty to see and do beyond Charlotte Amalie.

St John

Travel guidebooks and honeymooners agree that St. John is the most beautiful of the three U.S. Virgin Islands. In fact, whoever came up with the term America’s Paradise was no doubt referring to this 28 square mile island. While St. Thomas is showy and built up and looks a lot like South Florida, two thirds of St. John is a national park.

Ecotourism in St. John is second only to Costa Rica. Trunk Bay Beach and Irving National Park are must-see destinations. Referred to as Love City by the locals, the village of Cruz Bay is where you will find the St. John ferry terminal. There are no cruise ports in St. John, so if you want to visit the island, you need to take a 20-minute ferry from St. Thomas.

St. Croix

St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, but it is also the least visited. It takes roughly 90 minutes to reach St. Croix from St. Thomas. If you want to visit this idyllic island, which is globally recognized for its tropical reefs and scuba diving, then you are going to need to plan accordingly by setting up an early morning cruise excursion.

The Cruzan Rum Distillery is located on St. Croix, so after you spend the day exploring shipwrecks, you can take a tour and then belly up to the bar for some traditional Caribbean rum.

Which do you think fits your style?