St. Thomas shines as the “Best Caribbean Cruise Destination” according to Porthole Cruise Magazine’s readers in its 21st Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, published in the November/December 2019 issue.
There are probably many reasons why people choose St. Thomas. A major reason why it is a crowd favorite is because it is a U.S. territory, so passports are not necessary. Add stunning views just about anywhere you go, world class beaches and fishing, and myriad snorkling venues combined with a laid back vibe that convinced Jimmy Buffet to set up his Margaritaville Vacation Club here, and you have about as perfect a vacation as you can have. Seriously.
And many people return to the islands year after year because they never get tired of them. That’s exactly why Jane and I have been visiting the islands for more than 30 years. There is always something new to discover.
In addition to the three main islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, there are dozens of smaller islands to explore. And, the weather is almost always warm and welcoming.
One of the nice things about vacations for me is the discovery and planning before I actually go on vacation. It is fun to look up the history and geography of a new place to visit. And every time I planned a new vacation to the Virgin Islands, I could easily go to sleep thinking about my past travels there. This blog is one resource for you, but there are many others, including Wikipedia, of course, the official Virgin Islands website, and other sources such as U.S. News and Lonely Planet. And, there are books about the Virgin Islands. The most famous is probably “Don’t Stop the Carnival” by Herman Wouk.
Although the story can be a little misleading, it captures some of the craziness found in the islands, which is to be expected. After all, we are a thousand miles away from the continent, have to rely upon ourselves for almost everything, and don’t have an option to drive to another city for a weekend vacation. We’re stuck with each other whether we like it or not. So, sometimes, we can be a little different.
Another book I recommend is “Caribbean” by James A. Michener. A long read, but a pleasant one to read as you relax under an umbrella on a white, sandy beach. Supposedly, Michener worked on the novel while spending some time on Jost Van Dyke hanging out with the likes of the famous Foxy and his friends.
And then there are a few pulp fiction-like, easy-t0-read, fast-paced novels situated in the Virgin Islands. “Sun, Sand, Murder: A Mystery” by John Keyse-Walker is a book I bought for some friends who sailed with me to Anegada in the British Virgin Islands a few years ago. The novel is about a murder that takes place on the island, so it was fun to read about a place we had never been before.