We woke up on Day 4 of our Southern Caribbean cruise to find St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands waiting just outside our balcony. The Grand Princess was pulling into Charlotte Amalie Harbor, marking our first port of call of the voyage.
Ferry to St. John and Virgin Islands National Park
We took a short taxi ride to the marine terminal to catch the ferry to St. John and Virgin Islands National Park. We arrived early enough to enjoy a relaxing breakfast at the Petite Pump Room, located just above the ferry terminal. The omelet was excellent, and the sweeping views of the harbor were just as satisfying.
Soon, it was time to board the ferry for the scenic 45-minute ride to St. John. The route skirts the southern shoreline of St. Thomas before turning northeast and crossing the narrow channel separating the two islands. Before long, we entered Cruz Bay, where we disembarked and began our exploration.
Exploring Virgin Islands National Park
A short walk from the ferry terminal brought us to the Cruz Bay Visitor Center for Virgin Islands National Park. This was our first visit to this national park, even though our time here would be relatively brief. The National Park Service manages nearly two-thirds of St. John, along with the adjacent Virgin Islands Coral Reefs National Monument, preserving both land and sea ecosystems.
After checking in at the visitor center, we decided to hike the Lind Point Trail, heading toward Honeymoon Beach and Salmon Beach.
Hiking the Lind Point Trail
The Lind Point Trail conveniently splits into upper and lower paths, creating a pleasant loop hike. Along the way, we passed through one of the Caribbean’s most diverse dry tropical forests, where cactus and agave line the trail alongside tropical trees like gumbo limbo, known for its peeling red bark.
The vegetation is dense in places, but every so often the trail opens up to reveal glimpses of the turquoise Caribbean waters below. Taking the upper trail, we soon reached Lind Point, where expansive views stretch across Cruz Bay to the south and the Caribbean Sea to the north.
The trail continued along the ridge before beginning its descent—just over a mile from the trailhead—toward Honeymoon Beach.
Honeymoon Beach and Salmon Beach
The Virgin Islands are famous for their beaches, and Honeymoon Beach lives up to the reputation. Soft white sand meets crystal-clear blue water, making it an irresistible spot to linger. We hadn’t brought our swimsuits on this excursion—saving beach time for later in the cruise—but the water was incredibly inviting.
On our return, we took the lower Lind Point Trail and soon came to the cutoff for Salmon Beach. Just as beautiful as Honeymoon Beach, Salmon Beach felt more secluded and noticeably less crowded, adding to its charm.
Lunch with Unexpected Company
Back at the Cruz Bay Visitor Center, we stopped for lunch. Our meal came with unexpected company—a hen and several chicks that appear to have claimed the visitor center as home. They seemed mildly offended that we didn’t share our lunch with them.
Back to St. Thomas
Before long, it was time to catch the ferry back to St. Thomas. Once there, we did a bit of shopping near the cruise pier before reboarding the Grand Princess. The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing by the pool, enjoying a well-earned break after a full morning of exploring.
As the sun set over St. Thomas, we sailed onward toward our next destination—St. Maarten—bringing a perfect close to an unforgettable day in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
