St. Thomas shopping

[DEM]

This will be our first cruise, and I have no idea of what to expect. Is it better to take the excursion that the ship offers (downtown shopping and beach getaway) or are we better off to just get a taxi to take us into town?

[DEM]

This will be our first cruise, and I have no idea of what to expect. Is it better to take the excursion that the ship offers (downtown shopping and beach getaway) or are we better off to just get a taxi to take us into town?

[SherryG2]

Taking the ships excursions cost a little more but the difference is. If you are on a ships excursion and are late, the ship will wait.
If you are on your own and are late, the ship will leave without you.
Best to pay the little higher cost then to be left behind.
You will love your cruise.
Sherry

[eetonaee]

In St. Thomas there will be lots of locals at the port ready to take you to the downtown shopping area for a few dollars. If you go on your own you can visit whatever stores you want and not just those 'suggested' by the cruise company.

There is also a large shopping center right at the cruise dock so you can also go to the beach on your own, then leave in plenty of time to get back to the ship and then shop up to boarding time.

On our last St. Thomas stop in March we enjoyed a great time at Trunk Bay on St. Johns Island. We got there on our own using the locals to get us to the ferry and to the beach. We spent more time at the beach then we would have had we taken the ship's tour.