The final stop on this 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard Carnival Celebration is none other than St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. St. Thomas has been a cruise hotspot for what seems like forever, and is one of the ports I visited on my very first cruise back in 1993 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign of the Seas, which at the time held the title of the largest cruise ship in the world. Today, that ship is just a memory, having been scrapped in 2020.
Clearance to go ashore was given around 7:15 a.m., with an early all-aboard time of 3:30 p.m. That meant anyone with a shore excursion or plans to explore had to get moving early to make the most of their time on land.
St. Thomas has two cruise terminals: Havensight and Crown Bay. Both are located near the capital city of Charlotte Amalie, but most ships — especially the larger ones — dock at Havensight. That’s the one most cruisers are familiar with thanks to its adjacent shopping mall and close proximity to the Skyride to Paradise Point, arguably the island’s most famous tourist trap. Crown Bay, on the other hand, tends to host smaller ships from lines like Holland America. It’s a little farther from the action downtown but still conveniently located.
Having visited this port regularly for over 30 years, I can say with confidence — not much has changed. The moment you step off the ship at Havensight, you’re greeted by the same, rather outdated Havensight Mall where you can stock up on t-shirts, magnets, shot glasses, and all your must-have St. Thomas souvenirs. There is some construction going on near the terminal, but don’t get too excited — it’s not for a shiny new terminal building or modern facilities. It’s for a Hampton Inn.
The surrounding area is generally safe and walkable, with more shops and eateries along the main drag. In fact, this strip is often a lunchtime favorite for off-duty crew members, especially the Filipino restaurant directly across the street that’s become a go-to for many.
When most people think of St. Thomas, they imagine sprawling white sand beaches, private villas tucked into the hills, yachts bobbing in the harbor, and all the glitz and glam that comes with island living. And while that certainly exists, you won’t see much of it unless you venture beyond the immediate cruise port area. Around the terminal, it’s your standard Caribbean port of call in need of some TLC and redevelopment.
If your idea of a perfect day involves hitting the beach, just know there isn’t one within walking distance of the port. But there are plenty of beaches just a short taxi ride away. The most popular is Magens Bay, about 20 minutes by cab. If you’re heading there (or anywhere else) on your own rather than through a ship-sponsored excursion, just make sure you’re keeping an eye on the clock and give yourself plenty of buffer time to get back — island traffic and ferry delays are real.
To help you plan, here’s a look at current taxi rates from the Havensight cruise terminal to some popular spots around St. Thomas as of June 2025:
- Airport / Emerald Beach – $11 for 1 person, $9 per person for 2+
- Bolongo Beach – $15 for 1, $12 for 2+
- Coki Beach / Coral World – $18 for 1, $14 for 2+
- Crown Bay Marina – $10 for 1, $8 for 2+
- Downtown – $6 per person
- Magens Bay Beach – $15 for 1, $12 for 2+
- Mahogany Run Golf Course – $15 for 1, $12 for 2+
- Morningstar Beach – $10 for 1, $8 for 2+
- Mountain Top – $17 for 1, $12 for 2+
- Red Hook Ferry Dock – $20 for 1, $15 for 2+
- Sapphire Beach – $21 for 1, $15 for 2+
- Secret Harbour Beach – $23 for 1, $15 for 2+
Another popular option is a ferry ride over to St. John — one of the other Virgin Islands known for its beaches. The ferry leaves from Red Hook, so you’ll need to grab a taxi there first. Ferries typically run hourly and take about 45 minutes each way. Just like with beach trips, keep track of the time to make sure you’re back on board before that 3:30 p.m. cutoff.
Personally, I’m a fan of staying close to the ship and wandering around. I usually make the short walk over to the Skyride to Paradise Point. This cable car takes you up to a scenic overlook with incredible views of the harbor and town below — it’s a great spot for photos (and selfies, if that’s your thing).
The Skyride is just across the street and takes about three minutes to reach the top. Tickets are $29.95 per person, which feels a bit steep, but once you’re up there, you’ll find a bar, gift shop, and some food options — including the famous Bailey’s Bushwacker cocktail. The views alone make it worth it. If you’re not up for the gondola ride, you might be able to find a cab willing to drive you up the hill instead, but most won’t — and if you don’t spend money once you’re at the top, signs say you may be charged a $10 fee just for being there.
Back on board, everyone was back on time — something that’s been consistent throughout this sailing. At exactly 4:00 p.m., Carnival Celebration pulled away from the pier and began our journey back to Miami, where we’ll be arriving early Sunday morning.
Tonight is a casual night on board, and if you’re dining in the main dining room, you’ll find the usual Carnival favorites on the menu.
Carnival Celebration Main Dining Room Menu – Day 5
Dinner at Bonsai Teppanyaki on Carnival Celebration
For me, tonight’s dinner was a do-over. I had originally planned to dine at Bonsai Teppanyaki last night at 9 p.m., but I got a call letting me know I was the only reservation for that time slot and they needed to cancel and reschedule.
If you’ve never been, Bonsai Teppanyaki is a fun, high-energy specialty restaurant where dinner comes with a show. It’s tucked inside the Bonsai Sushi area but has its own enclosed space.
Dinner here costs $47 per person and includes appetizers like tuna on the rocks and pork belly, followed by a salad or miso soup, and then your choice of proteins to create a two-item combo — chicken, shrimp, lobster, salmon, or tofu — all served with fried rice and veggies.
Dessert is an experience in itself: a bento box filled with six mini desserts, from green tea ice cream to chocolates. The only letdown? They ran out of the chocolate-covered strawberries by the 9 p.m. seating and swapped them out for extra chocolates — not the worst trade-off, but still, how does that happen?
Needless to say, the amount of food served here is impressive, and you definitely won’t be craving a slice or two from Miami Slice afterward.
After dinner, I took a leisurely walk around the ship to help digest the mountain of food before heading back to my room to wind down for the night.
We’ve got two sea days ahead as we make our way back to Florida. Be sure to check back tomorrow — I’ve got something special planned and I’ll be sharing all the details in the next update!
As always, thanks for following along!
FunTimes for June 26, 2025:
The Funtimes for June 26, 2025 is available as a PDF and can be downloaded by clicking here.