Day 5 aboard Regal Princess, and today we’re in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
After the short overnight run from San Juan, we were cleared to go ashore at the very early hour of 7:00 a.m., with all aboard set for 4:30 p.m.
We had some company today too. Disney Treasure was docked right next to us at Havensight, while across the harbor Royal Caribbean’s massive Star of the Seas was tied up at Crown Bay.
And yes, St. Thomas has two main cruise docking areas.

There’s Havensight, also known as the WICO dock, which is where we were today and is where most cruise ships dock. Then there’s Crown Bay, across the harbor. Both have shopping right at the pier, but Havensight is the more convenient of the two if your plan is to wander toward Charlotte Amalie or hop on the Skyride to Paradise Point. Downtown is about a mile and a half from either dock, so if you don’t feel like walking in the heat, taxis are easy enough to grab and I’ve posted the current taxi rates below:

It was another hot and steamy Caribbean day, and most of the people I spoke with onboard seemed to fall into one of three categories:
- Staying on the ship.
- Heading to Magens Bay.
- Going snorkeling.
Then there was one woman who told me, “A jewelry store is picking us up at 8:00 and we’re going to do a little shopping.”
Okay. If the jewelry store is sending transportation to the ship to collect you personally, I’m guessing at least a small portion of the kids’ inheritance is about to disappear.

Should You Stay on the Ship in St. Thomas?
Well, it’s time to be honest about St. Thomas.
I first came here on Sovereign of the Seas back in 1994, and there are parts of Havensight today that feel like absolutely nothing has changed since then.
Literally.
Nothing. Has. Changed.
Okay, not literally. There’s a new-ish Hampton Inn sitting there now, which is probably the most noticeable addition in 30 years.
But the shopping complex itself? Still old. Still a bit tired. Still filled with jewelry stores, liquor stores, souvenir shops and more jewelry stores.
Then a few more jewelry stores.
St. Thomas built a huge part of its cruise tourism reputation around duty-free shopping, especially jewelry, watches and liquor and that absolutely still exists today.
If shopping is your thing, you’ll be happy.
If it isn’t, well… you may be ready to head back to the ship pretty quickly.
And that’s really my issue with the immediate cruise-port area here. It’s not dangerous. It’s not horrible. It’s just… tired.
Considering the amount of cruise traffic that pours through St. Thomas year after year, you’d think a little more of that money would have made its way into making the area around the port and downtown look a little more inviting.
But nope.
It still feels very much like a cruise port from another era.
That probably explains why I heard more than a few people say they were just staying onboard.
What Can You Actually Do on Foot in St. Thomas?
If you’re like me and just want to wander around, you can certainly do that.
There are tons of shops, a bunch of bars, restaurants, and you can make your way toward Charlotte Amalie if you feel like walking.
But this isn’t San Juan.
You could wander Old San Juan for hours without really having a plan.
Here?
After you’ve walked past the 37th jewelry store, you start asking yourself what exactly you’re doing.
There is one big attraction within easy walking distance of Havensight, and that’s the Skyride to Paradise Point.
The cable cars take you about 700 feet above sea level and give you some of the best views of Charlotte Amalie harbor.
The ride is $29.95 for an adult.
Tourist trap? Absolutely.
Worth $29.95? Ehhh, probably not.
Do I usually do it anyway? Yep.
It kills some time, the ride itself only takes a few minutes, and once you get to the top you can grab a few beers, get something to eat, browse yet another gift shop and take some pretty great pictures of the ships sitting down in the harbor.
So for me, it’s kind of become the default “I’m in St. Thomas and need something to do” activity.

If You Actually Want to See St. Thomas, Leave Havensight
This is really where St. Thomas gets better.
If it’s your first time here and you want to do something worthwhile, get away from the cruise port and book an excursion.
Magens Bay is probably the obvious choice and for good reason. It’s one of the best-known beaches in the Caribbean, and it’s about a 30-minute ride from the ship.
Princess was offering a Magens Bay Beach & Historic Downtown Exploration for $79.95, along with a Best of St. Thomas tour that included Mountain Top, Magens Bay and scenic viewpoints for $99.95.
Snorkeling is another big one here.
There were several options, including a Turtle Cove Catamaran Sail & Snorkel for $99.95, a Shipwreck and Turtle Coves Two-Site Snorkel for $124.95 and a Two Island Snorkel & Beach Getaway for $114.95.
If you want to go a little deeper, literally, there were also scuba trips, beginner scuba experiences and a Sea Trek helmet dive at Coral World.
Coral World Ocean Park is another solid option, especially for families, with marine-life exhibits and an underwater observatory. The excursion from the ship was $59.95.
And then there’s St. John.
If you’ve already been to St. Thomas a few times, this is probably where I’d be looking, if you want to make a day of it.
St. John is only about a 30-minute ferry ride away, and a huge chunk of the island is protected as Virgin Islands National Park. Trunk Bay is the big draw, and Princess had several options including a beach and swim trip for $134.95, a scenic cruise and snorkel for $154.95, and a simple St. John On Your Own option for $79.95.
There were also island drives, kayaking, hiking and scenic tours if you want to stay dry.
So no, St. Thomas is not a port where there’s nothing to do.
There’s plenty to do.
You just need to get away from Havensight to do most of the good stuff.
If your plan is to walk off the ship and just wander around like I did, you may find yourself a couple hours later staring at yet another jewelry store thinking:
“Okay… now what?”
Unless, of course, your jeweler already sent a car for you!
After wandering around for a while and having a few cold beers that became warm beers remarkably fast thanks to the heat, even way up at Paradise Point, I headed back to Regal Princess.

Let’s Talk… Pizza!
It was around 2:00 p.m., and by then a good chunk of the ship was already back onboard. The pools were busy again, and there was a steady line forming at Prego Pizzeria near the Fountain Pool on the Lido Deck.
And with good reason.
Princess does pizza really well.
I’m talking proper, thin-crust, New York-style slices that come out hot, crisp around the edges and just greasy enough to require the obligatory napkin blot if that’s your thing. Prego keeps churning out whole pies from 11am to 10pm, and it’s really hard to walk past that counter, see a fresh one sitting there and not stop for a slice.
Or two.

Princess has leaned even harder into pizza over the past couple years thanks to its partnership with Tony Gemignani, a 13-time World Pizza Champion and one of the better-known names in the pizza world. He created five signature pizzas for Princess and helped train the line’s pizza makers on his recipes and techniques. His creations are featured at the sit-down Alfredo’s and Gigi’s pizzerias (depending on the ship), along with the complimentary pizza at the pool.
So, does Princess take my number-one spot for best pizza at sea?
No.
That still goes to MSC.
They’re Italian. They’d better know how to make pizza.
MSC’s pizza is consistently fantastic, and there are people who will tell you it’s the best food they serve onboard. I wouldn’t go that far, but it absolutely deserves the top spot.
Number two, though?
Princess. Easily.
Carnival’s pizza isn’t even part of the conversation for me, and Sorrento’s on Royal Caribbean? Heck no.
Princess solidly takes second place.

And Regal Princess actually gives you two different ways to get your pizza fix. Prego is the casual, grab-a-slice-and-go option up on Lido, while Alfredo’s Pizzeria is the more formal sit-down version with table service for lunch and dinner. That’s where you’ll find several of Gemignani’s signature pies made to order, along with salads, wine and beer.

So if you’re one of those people who says, “I’m not eating pizza on a cruise when there are all these other restaurants,” just walk past Prego when a fresh pie comes out of the oven.
We’ll see how long that lasts.
When the magical time of 4:30 p.m. rolled around, everyone was back onboard and Regal Princess started sounding the Love Boat theme on the ship’s horn, which meant it was time to bid adieu to St. Thomas. We actually pulled away a little early, so there were no pier runners today and, thankfully, nobody got left behind, not even the woman who had the private jewelry appointment.

Tonight was an unusually early dinner for me, but before I get into that, here’s a look at what was being served in the main dining room.
Frescobaldi Grand Tuscan Dinner
Tonight I booked the third and final special dining experience of the cruise. If you’ve been following along, Day 3 was Chef’s Table Lumière, Day 4 was the Caymus Winemaker Dinner, and tonight I kept the wine theme going with the Frescobaldi Grand Tuscan Dinner at Sabatini’s.
This one costs $99 per person and started at 6:15 p.m., which is practically breakfast by my dinner standards.
Princess partnered with the Frescobaldi family to create this Tuscan-themed dinner, and Frescobaldi is not exactly a newcomer to the wine business. The family has been making wine in Tuscany for centuries, and the dinner is built around several of their wines paired with a set Italian menu created specifically for the event.
When it’s Frescobaldi night at Sabatini’s, that’s the only dinner being served. You can’t make a regular Sabatini’s reservation at the same time, which gives the whole evening a much more intimate feel. There were probably 25 to 30 people in attendance tonight.
At 6:15 the doors opened, we were shown to our tables, and a few minutes later the cellar master introduced the sommeliers for the evening. Sandra, who led the Caymus dinner last night, was back again tonight, and at this point she may have started wondering whether I simply follow wine dinners around the ship.
The cellar master gave us some background on Frescobaldi, talked through the wines we’d be drinking and explained how the menu would work. After a glass of bubbly and a toast, the servers came around to take our orders. The menu is set, but you do get a choice between two appetizers and two entrees.
I started with the Ragu di Manzo, which was a very thick, rich beef ragu topped with a potato cake. Beef ragu and potato cake may sound like an odd combination when you first read it, but it worked remarkably well. The ragu had plenty of flavor, the potato cake added some texture, and paired with the accompanying wine it was one of the better dishes of the night.

Next came the Polpo Grigliato, grilled octopus served over gnocchi. As the server was describing the dish, a woman at the next table loudly announced that she DOES NOT WANT OCTOPUS because octopuses (octopi?) are intelligent creatures.
Okay then.
The gnocchi were excellent, with that perfect texture where they weren’t heavy little dough bombs but also weren’t so light that they disappeared under the sauce. The sauce itself was equally good. As for the octopus, there really wasn’t much of it, just a small sliver of tentacle on top, so even if you’re a little hesitant about ordering octopus, this isn’t exactly going to look like an entire sea creature landed on your plate.

For the main course, I went with the Tagliata di Manzo, a sliced beef tenderloin served medium rare. It was good, although my particular cut was a little tougher than I would have expected. It wasn’t bad enough to send back, but it also wasn’t quite as tender as I was hoping for.

Throughout all of these courses, different Frescobaldi wines were being poured, and once again the staff apparently considered an empty wine glass some sort of emergency. Just like at Chef’s Table and the Caymus dinner, the pours were generous and the glasses stayed full, which is exactly how a wine dinner should work.
Dessert was Pinolata Senese, a very light white cake with raspberries and a custard-style cream icing. After several courses and all that wine, the lighter dessert worked really well and was paired with a small pour of a very sweet dessert wine.

But the evening wasn’t quite over.
Then came the grappa.
For some people at the table, this was apparently dessert number two. For others, it was punishment.

If you’ve never had grappa, it’s a strong Italian spirit made from pomace, which is basically the grape skins, seeds and stems left over after the grapes have been pressed for winemaking. Instead of throwing that material away, it gets distilled into something much stronger.
Grappa is also one of those drinks where there really doesn’t seem to be much middle ground. You either love it or take one sip and immediately wonder what you did wrong in life.
Me? I don’t mind it, but it is definitely intense. It has that strong, warming, almost fiery quality where you know immediately that you’re not drinking wine anymore. Served with biscotti, though, it made for a pretty fitting end to the meal.
How Does It Compare?
At $99 per person, the Frescobaldi Grand Tuscan Dinner is the least expensive of the three specialty dining experiences I tried this week, and at that price I think it’s definitely worth considering.
You get a multi-course dinner, several Frescobaldi wines, generous refills, commentary from the wine team and a much more intimate atmosphere than a regular specialty restaurant dinner. If you like Italian food and wine, especially if you want to try wines from one of Tuscany’s oldest winemaking families without buying several bottles yourself, this is a pretty easy way to do it.
Was it the best of the three?
No.
If I’m ranking them, this one comes in third out of three, with Chef’s Table Lumière still taking the top spot because it felt like the most complete experience, from the galley tour to the food, wine and service. Caymus comes in second, with Frescobaldi taking third.
But third place here doesn’t mean bad by any stretch. At $99 compared with the $140-plus price range of the other wine-focused experiences, it’s probably the easiest one to recommend if you want something special without going quite as deep into the wallet.
And you still get plenty of wine.
Plus grappa.
Whether that last part is a selling point or a warning is entirely up to you.
After dinner, I stopped by the Piazza to check out the 80s night entertainment, where the DJ was playing pretty much the soundtrack of my childhood. Of course, there were also plenty of younger cruisers dancing along to songs they know from TikTok, movies or wherever kids discover old music these days, probably completely unaware that when Tony Basil sings “Mickey,” she is not talking about Mickey Mouse.
The Piazza was lively, the music was good, and it was a fun way to wrap up the night, although for some reason a multi-course dinner paired with several glasses of wine has a way of making a person sleepy.
So with that, I called it a night.
We’ll be spending the next two days at sea as Regal Princess makes her way back toward Fort Lauderdale for our Saturday return. In tomorrow’s report, I’m going to take a deeper look at all of the dining options onboard and give you a complete overview of where you can eat, from the main dining rooms and buffet to specialty restaurants, pizza, quick-service spots and everything in between.
Until then, thanks as always for following along.
Regal Princess Daily Planner – Day 5
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 07:00am-10:00am | St Thomas Photographs Today! | Regal Princess, Deck 5 Mid |
| 08:30am-09:15am | Tai Chi at Sea | Movies Under the Stars, Deck 16 Mid |
| 09:45am-10:00am | Speedy Sudoku Challenge | Princess Live!, Deck 7 Mid |
| 10:00am-10:45am | Let's Get Quizzical | Princess Live!, Deck 7 Mid |
| 11:00am-11:45am | Shuffleboard Tournament | Lawn Court, Deck 19 Aft |
| 01:00pm-01:45pm | Red Zone Challenge | The Piazza, Deck 5 Mid |
| 02:00pm-02:45pm | Afternoon Trivia | Princess Live!, Deck 7 Mid |
| 03:00pm-03:45pm | Ping Pong Tournament | Princess Photo, Deck 6 Mid |
| 03:00pm-03:45pm | Walking in Comfort | Wheelhouse Bar, Deck 7 Aft |
| 03:00pm-04:00pm | All About Eyes: Tips and Tricks | Lotus Spa, Deck 5 Fwd |
| 03:30pm-04:15pm | Win Up to $500 in Spa Treatments | Princess Live!, Deck 7 Mid |
| 03:45pm-04:30pm | Improving Metabolism at Any Age | Wheelhouse Bar, Deck 7 Aft |
| 04:00pm-04:45pm | Live Music with Vivace Strings Duo | The Piazza, Deck 5 Mid |
| 04:00pm-05:00pm | Tighten your Skin with Thermage | Lotus Spa, Deck 5 Fwd |
| 04:15pm-04:45pm | Let's Quiz Again | Princess Live!, Deck 7 Mid |
| 04:15pm-05:15pm | Natural Relief for Arthritis, Back and Knee | Lotus Spa, Deck 5 Fwd |
| 04:30pm-07:00pm | Effy Jewelry Auction Preview | The Shops: EFFY Jewelry, Deck 7 Mid |
| 05:00pm-05:45pm | Contemporary Artists Seminar | Princess Live!, Deck 7 Mid |
| 05:00pm-05:45pm | Live Music with Solo Pianist Tiana | Crooners Bar, Deck 7 Mid |
| 05:00pm-09:00pm | Princess Photo-Art Showcase | Princess Photo, Deck 6 Mid |
| 05:30pm-06:15pm | Welcome To Swarovski Wonderland! | The Shops: Accessories, Deck 7 Mid |
| 05:30pm-06:30pm | CHANEL: something new is coming | The Shops: Beauty, Deck 7 Mid |
| 05:30pm-06:30pm | Explore Swiss Craftsmanship With Tissot | The Shops: Watches, Deck 7 Mid |
| 05:30pm-09:00pm | Iris Photography Showcase: Join Us! | Princess Photo, Deck 6 Mid |
| 05:30pm-10:00pm | Invicta Watch Sale | The Shops: Gifts, Deck 7 Mid |
| 06:00pm-06:45pm | Before They Were Famous: 80s Edition | Princess Live!, Deck 7 Mid |
| 06:00pm-06:45pm | Live Music with Vivace Strings Duo | The Piazza, Deck 5 Mid |
| 06:00pm-09:00pm | Last chance for Casual, Fun Portraits! | Regal Princess, Deck 5 Mid |
| 06:00pm-09:45pm | Old and Modern Masters Exhibition | Fine Arts Gallery, Deck 7 Fwd |
| 06:15pm-07:00pm | Live Music with The Heartbreakers Duo | Wheelhouse Bar, Deck 7 Aft |
| 06:15pm-09:45pm | Art Scavenger Hunt | Fine Arts Gallery, Deck 7 Fwd |
| 06:30pm-07:15pm | Walking in Comfort | Lotus Spa, Deck 5 Fwd |
| 06:30pm-09:30pm | Frescobaldi Grand Tuscan Dinner | Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, Deck 5 Fwd |
| 07:00pm-07:45pm | 80s Movie Quote Trivia | Princess Live!, Deck 7 Mid |
| 07:00pm | Scratch Card Special | Princess Casino, Deck 6 Fwd |
| 07:00pm-07:45pm | Theatrical Show: Fiera | Princess Theater, Deck 7 Fwd |
| 07:00pm-08:00pm | Italian ingenuity with Gucci | The Shops: Accessories, Deck 7 Mid |
| 07:15pm-08:00pm | Live Music with Solo Pianist Tiana | Wheelhouse Bar, Deck 7 Aft |
| 07:15pm-08:00pm | Vibin' with DJ Brian | The Piazza, Deck 5 Mid |
| 07:30pm-07:35pm | Watercolor Fountain Fantasy | Fountain Pool, Deck 16 Mid |
| 08:00pm-08:45pm | A New Kind of Diamond: Reverie Reveal at Effy | The Shops: EFFY Jewelry, Deck 7 Mid |
| 08:00pm-08:45pm | Family Bingo | Vista Lounge, Deck 7 Aft |
| 08:00pm-08:45pm | Game Show: Do You Wanna Dance? | The Piazza, Deck 5 Mid |
| 08:00pm-08:45pm | Guess That 80s Song | Princess Live!, Deck 7 Mid |
| 08:00pm-09:30pm | Art Auction Registration | Fine Arts Gallery, Deck 7 Fwd |
| 08:00pm | Heat Wave | Princess Casino, Deck 6 Fwd |
| 08:15pm-09:00pm | Live Music with The Heartbreakers Duo | Wheelhouse Bar, Deck 7 Aft |
| 08:30pm-09:15pm | Pre-Loved Rolex Power Hour Event | The Shops: Watches, Deck 7 Mid |
| 08:45pm-09:00pm | Effy Collector's Club Giveaway | The Shops: EFFY Jewelry, Deck 7 Mid |
| 08:45pm-09:30pm | Let's Party with Static | The Piazza, Deck 5 Mid |
| 09:00pm-09:45pm | Theatrical Show: Fiera | Princess Theater, Deck 7 Fwd |
| 09:15pm-09:45pm | Laugh Lounge: John Wesley Austin | Vista Lounge, Deck 7 Aft |
| 09:15pm-10:00pm | Guitar & Vocals with Arma Gideon | Wheelhouse Bar, Deck 7 Aft |
| 09:30pm-10:00pm | Back to the 80s Dance Class | The Piazza, Deck 5 Mid |
| 10:00pm-10:30pm | Cruise Director's 80s Sing-Along Experience | The Piazza, Deck 5 Mid |
| 10:15pm-11:00pm | Guitar & Vocals with Arma Gideon | Wheelhouse Bar, Deck 7 Aft |
| 10:30pm-11:00pm | Laugh Lounge: John Wesley Austin | Vista Lounge, Deck 7 Aft |
| 10:30pm-11:30pm | Back to the 80s Party | The Piazza, Deck 5 Mid |
| 11:00pm-11:15pm | Over $600.00 Paradise Lotto Draw | Princess Casino, Deck 6 Fwd |
| 11:30pm-01:00am | 20s & 30s Get-Together | The Piazza, Deck 5 Mid |
| 11:30pm-01:00am | 80's After Party | The Piazza, Deck 5 Mid |






