St Thomas

St Thomas was one of my earliest cruise port visits, and it still holds a bit of that “first time magic” for me. I first arrived in 2017 and booked an excursion out to Coral World Ocean Park. It was a full experience, starting with the small aquarium, followed by a helmet dive through the coral park where you walk along the seafloor wearing what looks like a space helmet. Back on land, I fed lorikeets in the aviary and wandered the paths where iguanas roam freely like they own the place.

Since that first visit, I’ve returned a few times and usually opt for an island tour by bus or open-air jeep. Most tours eventually make their way to the top of Paradise Point via the gondola. The view from up there is picture-perfect, with the harbor below dotted with yachts and cruise ships, and the hillsides sprinkled with colorful homes. I’ve taken far too many photos from this spot, and somehow they all still feel worth it.

Each visit shows a little more of the island’s charm. The people are friendly, the views are stunning, and the iguanas still seem totally unbothered by human presence.