The Ultimate St. Thomas Cruise Excursion

November 20, 2024
An aerial view of a city and a large body of water with a cruise ship in the distance.

Will you be stopping on the island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands on your next cruise? Cruise ships love St. Thomas, and for good reason! There is so much to see and do in the Virgin Islands, even if you only have a couple of hours to explore.


Want to know a surprising fact? One of our most popular tours for cruise ship visitors isn’t a beach day. Not focusing your entire day on the beach on an island with many world-class beaches IS unusual. But here’s what people love to do on St. Thomas instead:

This tour is an incredible way to explore more beyond the beach. After all, on a cruise, you will be seeing almost an endless stream of beaches. This ecotour adds some variety to your vacation with an infusion of time in nature. This tour is also a great way to get active for the day—you will get to kayak, hike, AND snorkel. It’s not strenuous, but it is quite the adventure.

An aerial view of a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains.

Your tour begins in the Mangrove Lagoon, conveniently located a short ride from the cruise ship ports. Here, you’ll meet your guides and have a briefing on the area. Then, you’ll board your two-person kayaks and paddle through the winding waterways of the mangroves. The Lagoon is a protected ecosystem that is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Your guides will point out the local flora and fauna, and provide you with detailed information on the natural world and the islands’ history.


Cas Cay is an uninhabited cay just outside of the Mangrove Lagoon. After beaching your kayaks, you’ll have the opportunity to both snorkel and hike around the island with your guides. The cay is home to an army of hermit crabs, panoramic views, tide pools, and a volcanic blowhole that makes for some incredible photo ops.

A collage of photos of people standing on rocks near the ocean

After about 3 hours, you’ll return to the Mangrove Lagoon with amazing pictures and memories that those who just went to lay on the beach will envy!


For more information on this tour and to explore other options for your cruise ship stop day on St. Thomas, visit our website.

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