No excursion? No problem! St. Thomas in the USVI is an easy port to arrive at with no plans. Getting around the island from the ship is incredibly easy (and not to mention beautiful!). St. Thomas is truly a tropical paradise and deserves your time off the ship. I can think of no better day than to lounge on the golden sand of Magens Beach. It has been voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean time and time again, and is a perfect way to spend a day. Here is how to have a perfect port day in Magens Bay on St. Thomas!
Read More: 7-Day NCL Encore Caribbean Cruise
Docking & Getting to Magens Bay
On St. Thomas, there are two cruise ports. The Cruise Port of Charlotte, located here on the West side of the city, and the Havensight Cruise Port located here, on the East side. We docked at the Havensight port, but from what I understand both ports are pretty comparable and will have similar amenities and access to the island. Once the ship was cleared by local authorities and we were able to disembark, we made our way off and down the pier to grab a taxi.
Getting a taxi is easy, and the process is a well-oiled machine. Prices are set per person and will take you to several popular places all over the island. When you exit the port gates, look for employees working the taxi lines. You will tell them where you want to go and they will direct you into a line with others going to the same place. All the taxis will be shared with anywhere from 6-20 other people. Many are open-air safari busses and some will be sprinter vans. As of January 2025, it was $12 USD per person each way from the cruise port to Magens Bay. Once our van was loaded up, we left right away. The ride across the island was short, only about 20 minutes. The views were incredibly scenic as you go up and over the mountains, so try to get a window seat if you can!
Arrival at Magens Bay
Once the taxi arrives to Magens Bay, each person will be required to pay the $7 USD entrance fee (as of January 2025). Magens Bay is entirely cash-only, so be sure to have enough USD on hand. I did see some ATMs near the shops at the cruise port, if needed. The taxi will park in the lot near the other safari busses and then you’re on your own! The beach is a very short walk from the parking lot. Walk past the coconut trees and straight onto the golden sand. I’d recommend turning either right or left and walking further down the beach to avoid crowds. The best snorkeling is along the rocks at the far ends of the beach!
A perfect Caribbean beach!
Magens Beach is seriously a perfect Caribbean beach. Tall coconut palms line the soft, golden sand. The water is crystal-clear and a gorgeous shade of turquoise. The beach is inside a cove, so the waves will be gentle and calm. As an added point of safety, there are also lifeguards on duty all day. I absolutely loved laying out on the soft sand and then jumping into the water to cool down. Then going back out on the sand and repeating the same process a dozen times over. The water also is dotted with buoys, showing which areas are safe for swimming. They are further out than they appear, so plenty of room to spread out, swim, or float!
I typically wear water shoes every time I go in the water, but they really are not needed here! The sand is so soft and I didn’t feel a single rock. We also packed small floating loungers (like this one) that ended up being a great idea! They fold up really small in your luggage and don’t require a lot of blowing up. We loved using these in the water to have a relaxing float in the clear blue water!
Beyond the Beach
Aside from the perfect beach and clear water, Magens Bay has so much more. It’s really easy to spend an entire day here, becasue it has everything you need! Magens Point Bar and Grill is located right on the beach and serves everything from fresh fish to their famous drink called “The Unknown”. There are also restrooms, foot wash stations, and fresh-water showers to spray off all the salt water and sand.
If you’re looking for a little space away from the crowds or are traveling with a large group, there are also several pavillion shelters available to rent for the day. You’ll also find other beach gear available to rent such as day beds, chairs, and umbrellas. No need to pack your snorkel gear because you can rent masks and fins right on site, as well as larger items such as kayaks and paddle boards. Reminder that Magens Bay runs only on cash, so be sure to have enough on hand!
Getting Back to the Ship
Once you’re ready to go back, catching a taxi is pretty simple. During my planning, this was the part that brought me the most anxiety. I knew I could get a taxi at the port to the beach no problem, but was nervous about getting back. I didn’t know if I needed to pre-arrange transportation, have a phone number to call, or if Uber was even a thing on the island. Turns out, it’s a breeze. St. Thomas is very accommodating to cruise ship passengers and they will have dozens of taxis waiting at Magens Bay to bring passengers back to the ships.
When you’re ready to leave, simply make your way back to the parking lot. Workers will direct you to an area where you will wait in a line (that goes fast) to board the next taxi. They are constantly coming and going, so there is no need to book anything in advance. The same fees per person will apply for the ride back (as of January 2025, it was $12 pp). The taxi will drop you off right at the port gates so it is a quick walk back to your ship – and the pool bar!
Traveling soon? Check out my Travel Tips page to help you score good deals on flights, packing tips, tools to help you plan, and more!
No Comments