If you were in Cruz Bay yesterday, you may have noticed a sizable cruise ship anchored off of Cruz Bay. You may have even caught a glimpse of it on one of our webcams. The ship that visited yesterday was the Explora III, and yesterday was its inaugural visit to Cruz Bay.
The Explora III was carrying 926 passengers, according to the USVI’s cruise ship schedule. That is a relatively large ship to visit Cruz Bay. Typically we get smaller ships that carry around 400 passengers or less. The Star Pride is anchored off of Cruz Bay today, and it carries a maximum of 312 passengers.
Cruise ships have anchored off of Cruz Bay for years, so this is nothing new. The larger cruise lines – Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney, for example – anchor over in St. Thomas. Those guests then often taxi and ferry over to Cruz Bay for the day. When these smaller ships anchor off of Cruz Bay, they are brought to shore from the ship via a smaller tender.
Cruise ships are commonly seen off of Cruz Bay between late October and often until late March or early April. We typically do not see them in the summer months.
Want to know what’s going on with the ships and the island? Check out these helpful links:
- USVI Cruise Ship Schedule
- Explore STJ’s webcam page
- Marine Traffic: See where ships are located near Cruz Bay and around the world
Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!
Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour
See the island of St. John with a longtime resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.