The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year, many of whom visit on cruise ships. This is equivalent to 2 021 kilometers or 1,092 nautical miles. When talking about moving between islands, cruisers will often use the phrases up island and down island. Need more shuttle/tram drivers. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. I don't like spam - I will only send helpful content. Good manners and formality are highly esteemed. Also, your insurance company may not permit travel to some of them without advanced permission. This column is for archipelagos and destinations with multiple islands. It is not only the ultimate tropical vacation location; it can be as affordable as a similar vacation to Florida. The average price for direct flights from Jacksonville, Florida to St Thomas Island is $463. ImproveSailing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When we did the sail, we left from Hampton, VA. You're sailing in November, and it's cold for a few days, but you can get offshore quickly and sail nonstop to the British Virgins or the USVI across the trades, a trip of about 1,500 miles. These refer to islands to the north as "Up" and those to the south as "Down" the island chains. The assumption is you are leaving from and heading to the closest major ports of entry on each island, your time sailing across the island or cruising from one end to the other isn't factored in. The best time to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands is December through March, as the weather is drier and you can enjoy blue skies most of the time. 8:00 AM-11:00 AM, 11:00 AM-5:30 PM, 6:00 PM-10:00 PM. At the time of the US purchase in 1917, the colony did not include Water Island, which had been sold by Denmark to the East Asiatic Company, a private shipping company, in 1905. Rome2rios travel guides to the US tell you the best ways to explore the country, from Amtrak to Greyhound to the New York Subway. You can hop a ride on a safari by sticking out your arm when you see it approaching. Start planning today. When travelling within the territory no passport is required but if you are going to or coming from the USVI - don't forget your passport! All personal care items can be purchased on St. Thomas (although they can be a little pricey) so try to bring your own in travel-sized containers. The land was divided into plantations and sugarcane production became the primary economic activity. Most people dont know exactly where it isso we thought wed help clear that up. The destinations are from north to south, and reverse routes and distances are not given to keep the tables simpler to read. Last updated: March 1 | Data sourced from: ACAPS, OXFORD. Despite a high crime rate, St. Thomas has plenty of beaches, safe tourist areas, hotels, and resorts where visitors are rarely affected by violent crime. Depending on where you leave from - northern Florida or somewhere in the Bahamas - you may sail north to avoid the trades. That being said, it is best to avoid the hurricane season between September to November. Two-thirds of the island is a National Park, and its 5,500 protected acres are crisscrossed by dozens of spectacular hiking trails with panoramic views and diverse flora and fauna. A boat making six knots good on the course will take a little over ten days to make this passage. A sailboat doesn't have to be expensive if you know what you're doing. Of those, only Martinique is a French overseas territory, the rest are all independent countries. The U.S. Department of the Interior took over administrative duties in 1931. Because the Florida coast is a couple of hundred miles further west than a northern starting point like Hampton, VA, the total distance is pretty similar because you have to get back east. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for US COVER FIRST AIR MAIL FLIGHT FAM 6 ST THOMAS VIRGIN ISLANDS at the best online prices at eBay! Charlotte Amalie, located on the island of St. Thomas, is the capital and the largest city of the United States Virgin Islands, founded in 1666 as Taphus (meaning "beer house" or "beer hall"). Leaving from north of St. Lucie isn't going to make the trip appreciably longer. While you are in the tropics and it is warm, the prevailing wind patterns and navigational requirements can turn the time you aren't lounging on a beach into some pretty unpleasant sailing. You can reach the British Virgin Islands by ferry from Charlotte Amalie. You're sailing east before you're affected by the southeasterly trades, and if you hit the trades before 65W, you've gone too far south. Passenger ships dock and anchor in Long Bay, near Charlotte Amalie. For the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel status in United States, please check government recommendations. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. We have received no reports of travel restrictions in U.S. Virgin Islands. Full home rule was achieved in 1970. I am a first time boat owner so forgive me if I dont know the lingo. Distrusted at first by the white masters, they lived among the slaves and soon won their confidence. If pounding upwind into chop, slop, and current between stops on small islands isn't your thing, there is another option - head offshore. The land slopes to flat-lands on the southern side of the island. Which makes it quite convenient to get to if you live in the United States for sure with easy connections out of MIA (Miami International Airport) of FLL (Fort Lauderdale International Airport). It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997. It has plenty of anchorage space, its protected, and most marine services. There is no direct connection from Florida to Virgin Islands. If you insist on everything being done at a fast pace, you may want to stick with a Florida vacation instead. Turns out that owning a boat is pretty affordable. ImproveSailing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The Roques Archipelago is one of the more popular spots, but check current conditions before planning a visit. The islands coastal areas have many fine protected bays. Saint Thomas receives 989 millimeters (38.9in) of precipitation annually over 163.6 precipitation days. For crews without blue water experience or not comfortable being a hundred miles from land, this is a big draw. Virgin Island Ferry Schedules Ferry Schedules Ferry Schedules are published for information purposes only as a service to all tourism interest. For the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel status within U.S. Virgin Islands, please check government recommendations. This sprawling country has many smaller islands you can hop between, most are only a few miles apart. In both cases the route distance is subjective, since you're sailing east to an arbitrary longitude before making a course shift, so wind and sailing conditions can change the distance you need to sail and how long it takes. The island has many regular taxis from compact size to large vans, as well as open-air, covered trucks called "safaris" with bench seats. The Sunday schedule offers a noon departure from St. Thomas and 4 p.m. from St. Croix. Thorough and considerate. Thanks! St. Croix is about 40 miles away from St. Thomas. The waters of St. John are among the most pristine and unspoiled in the Caribbean, so be sure to bring a mask and snorkel. Id like to go to the USVI this fall. Directions. Fares between BVI and USVI do not include USVI Port Fee/$10, BVI Environment Fee/$10 and BVI Departure Tax/$20 ($15 resident). Knowing the sailing seasons around the world help you to plan your trip well. The Safari Taxis follow a loop passing Red Hook, Charlotte Amalie, and the island's resort-heavy East End. The island groups are named relative to the trade winds, which blow from the south and southeast. The West Indies, a misnomer dating back to the days of Christopher Columbus, refers to pretty much all the Caribbean islands and the Bahamas. Passenger and limited car-ferry services to neighboring islands such as Water Island, Saint John, Saint Croix, and the British Virgin Islands run regularly out of the Red Hook Terminal, Charlotte Amalie, and Crown Bay Marina. It takes approximately 8h 45m to get from Florida to Virgin Islands, including transfers. If you have any prescription medications, be sure to bring enough for the duration of your trip and carry a note from your physician, especially for any prescribed narcotics. Saint Thomas is divided into the following subdistricts (with population as per the 2020 U.S. Census): From 1796 a small Jewish community developed in Charlotte Amalie. Where the "island" column is blank on departure, it's a repeat of the row above. It is currently 2:44 AM in Florida and 3:44 AM in Virgin Islands. To get times going the other way, just use the reverse route to your departure point. Most island hopping is in the Eastern Caribbean, in the Windward and Leeward Islands. If foul weather catches up to you, theres little choice but to ride it out. The Virgin Islands are located in the Caribbean. Country Cities United States Florida | U.S. Virgin Islands St Thomas The distance line on map shows distance from Florida to St Thomas between two cities. March is the driest month, receiving 27 millimeters (1.1in) of rainfall over 8.1 precipitation days, the least of any month. The island has a number of natural bays and harbors including Magens Bay, Great Bay, Jersey Bay, Long Bay, Fortuna Bay, and Hendrik Bay. For this article, we're going to focus on the islands. 8: . St. Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island the newest of the four Islands to comprise the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States. Many view the trip past Georgetown as the worst stretch. Saint Thomas (Danish: Sankt Thomas) is one of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea, one of the three largest of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States. Most of the islands rise only to a few hundred feet above sea level. Hamilton, J. Taylor and Hamilton, Kenneth G., Invasion of the Danish West Indies (1807), Transportation in the United States Virgin Islands, Category:United States Virgin Islands people, "Where is the U.S. Virgin Islands: Geography", "2020 Island Areas Censuses: U.S. Virgin Islands", "St. Thomas: island, United States Virgin Islands Britannica", "St. Thomas, Virgin Islands: Facts & History", "Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands", "David Hamilton Jackson - Famous Virgin Islander", Liberty Day festivities to include parade, re-enactment about D. Hamilton Jackson, "Purchase of the United States Virgin Islands, 1917", "Water Island History - the Military History of Water Island", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "Race Relations in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands", American Association for the Advancement of Science, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Thomas,_U.S._Virgin_Islands&oldid=1138363039, Islands of the United States Virgin Islands, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2021, Articles needing the year an event occurred from April 2022, Articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Virgin Islands Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy, This page was last edited on 9 February 2023, at 07:41. It has a deep-water harbor that was once a haven for pirates and is now one of the busiest ports of call for cruise ships in the Caribbean, with about 1.5 million/plus cruise ship passengers landing there annually. This info was very helpful Thanks. Carrying a passport can still be a good idea as hopping between islands from St. Thomas is fairly easy, and a passport is required for travel to the British Virgin Islands such as Tortola or Virgin Gorda. The Greater Antilles includes the islands of Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Hispaniola (with the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. Small boutique hotels, resorts and private villas abound on the island. So when a cruiser in St. Martin may tell you he's heading "down island" next month, he's planning somewhere south, probably St. Barts, St. Kitts, Statia, or Antigua. St. Thomas of the U.S. Virgin Islands is located in the eastern Caribbean, just a mere 1100 miles southeast of Miami. One-way ferry rates are $75. ', 'How much should I expect to pay? You will be approached by "boat boys" in Soufrire, though they are not as organized as those in Dominica they can still be helpful. ? Rome2rio makes travelling from Florida to Virgin Islands easy. Sign up to receive Virgin Islands articles, updates and offers. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Planning your vacation to St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island will be a lot easier with this great packet of magazines and booklets. In 1685, the Brandenburgisch-Africanische Compagnie took control of the slave trade on Saint Thomas, and for some time the largest slave auctions in the world were held there. Protected by Hassel Island, the harbor has docking and fueling facilities, machine shops, and shipyards and was a U.S. submarine base until 1966. There are two main towns Frederiksted and Christiansted. Order a frozen Happy Hour cocktail to toast another beautiful day in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. It also adds an extra 30 minutes for take-off and landing. During this excursion, enjoy a breakfast boat ride to Virgin Gorda's Baths. Red Hook is an unofficial "town" located on the East End subdistrict. The main shopping areas include downtown Charlotte Amalie and around the Havensight dock. Most island passages happen in a more stepwise, logical fashion. The Lesser Antilles are all the rest of the islands. How to Get There from Anguilla: You can fly from Anguilla to St. Thomas direct on Air Sunshine in about 45 minutes. Leaving north of the Bahamas from St. Lucie Inlet in Florida and sailing to 65W then down to the Virgin Islands is about 1,500 nautical miles, half again the length of the thorny path. It is SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE, and NO RESPONSIBILITY is assumed for errors or omissions. So are you on "Team Thorny Path" or the "I-65 Squad?". Is it even possible to transit from Flordia to the Virgin Islands as I think I would have to find fuel every 10 hours. St. Thomas has a tropical climate, and many people from the mainland U.S. and northern Europe are not prepared for the intensity of the sun, the humidity or the heat. In this article, I'll show you what to expect. The federal government then used the island for military purposes until 1950, before finally transferring it to the territorial government in 1996.[19]. It's not a wasteland, but you're not hopping from Ft. Lauderdale to Palm Beach, either. From St. Thomas, you can take the public ferry from either Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie to St. John. The Town has been inhabited for centuries. American Airlines, Finnair, British Airways, and Qatar Airways operate direct flights from Saint Thomas Island to Miami. The distance line on map shows distance from Puerto Rico to St Thomas between two cities. Because there are further breakdowns and groupings you may hear which come from which European powers dominated which islands politically and culturally during the 17th through 19th centuries. Great Location. The total area of the BVI is 59 square miles. Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $108 for one-way flights and $196 for round trip, for the period specified. If you could sail it straight though, how long would it take? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. St Thomas Accommodation Hotels and Resorts Villa Restaurants Location Downtown French Town East End North Side South Side Crown Bay Havensite Upscale and Famous West Indian Cuisine Fast Food/Chains Chinese and Thai Sushi Mexican Pizza Music Hang Outs Happy Hour Specials Aerial Views Beaches Walking Tour Attractions Shopping Nightlife Sailing Diving Most trips are just $1 or $2 per person. This is okay, though you sail more miles you're looking to avoid getting hammered sailing upwind for days. Again much thanks for the info . ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. As you can see from the chart and route snapshot, the rhumb line route from Miami runs Southeast, and crosses right over several large islands and complex archipelagos. The Friday schedule leaves St. Thomas at 8 a.m. and St. Croix at 4 p.m. If you want to learn how to make your sailing dream reality within a year, leave your email and I'll send you free updates. . Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Ease into a conversation instead of jumping right in with a request by asking how the persons day is going, but avoid getting too personal too quickly. St. Croix , St. Thomas is known for having one long ridge of hills running east and west through the center of the island with smaller ridges branching off from the center. U.S. Virgin Islands ; St. Thomas ; St. Thomas Travel Forum; Search. [7], The Dutch West India Company established a post on Saint Thomas in 1657. Thank you , Excellent run down of the two optionsthank you! You can stay on the French side in the lagoon, but you still must transit the Dutch side to leave via the Simpson Bay bridge, so you still have to deal with the Dutch authorities to pay the fees. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The Dutch West India Company established a post on Saint Thomas in 1657. Airlines that fly to St. Thomas (STT) You have several options for which airline you choose to travel with to St. Thomas. [23], During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries a group of French Catholic immigrants known as the Chacas came to St. Thomas from the St. Barthlemy islands to the east, forming one community of fishermen and one of farmers.[24][25]. Very few people sail from an island in the Leewards, to say, Aruba or Bonaire. Also, once you hit the trade winds, the sailing becomes upwind and much less comfortable. The biggest difference may be the lack speed and efficiency. Do you want to earn money to write on our website? But it works better if you start further north. Barbados is one of the more off the beaten path islands. Re: Florida to British Virgin Islands route on power? Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? The unstable situation on the mainland means conditions may be unpredictable. Cruising and travel guides, web sites, and magazine articles often throw these terms around, and it's can be confusing to know where they are talking about. William has been sailing and owning boats for over twenty years. Romantic Sunset, Hotels and accommodation near Virgin Islands, Providenciales Airport PLS to Virgin Islands, Raleigh Durham Airport RDU to Virgin Islands, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport AMS to Virgin Islands, Chicago O Hare Airport ORD to Virgin Islands, New York La Guardia Airport LGA to Virgin Islands. The total area of the USVI is 133 square miles. The southeasterly winds and opposing currents can lead to steep, sloppy and rough seas for upwind sailing. There is 1 way to get from Florida to Virgin Islands by plane or ferry Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Privacy Policy, Improve Sailing helps you to make your sailing dream actionable, by writing in-depth articles on practical questions. Made it difficult for hilltop residents. St. Thomas , St. John is located about 4 miles from St. Thomas east end. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Short hops into rough conditions take a toll on crew energy and on the boat - things break and wear. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. Arawak sites have been uncovered in Magen's Bay and Botany Bay, and Carib sites have been uncovered in Magen's Bay and Salt River. If you're in a rush to get to the Virgin Islands and are fine going offshore, then I-65 sounds like the best plan for you. After what you read in the last section, why would anyone want to do this? The Antilles refers to all the Caribbean islands but does not include Bahamas, which are part of the Lucayan Archipelago. If you press, you can do it in less than a month but you may run into some unpleasant conditions if you push the schedule. [yearneeded]. Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. There are a few natural harbors and protected bays. If you stay in a villa you will most likely need to rent a car or scooter to get around. Like all resort and vacation destinations, it pays to shop for the best deals. Fort Christian is a Dano-Norwegian-built fort in Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. It currently holds the St. Thomas Museum, which holds artifacts and art of the Dano-Norwegian period. For the latest travel status, please check the official page for U.S. Virgin Islands. It's an established part of the local economy, and they will handle much of what you need on the island like tours and supplies. OK, it isn't cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. Men should pack several pairs of shorts, t-shirts and perhaps a polo shirt or two as well as one pair of slacks for going out at night, while women might bring a few cute sundresses, a wrap skirt, shorts, tank tops and other casual attire. Their combined land area is about 195 square miles (505 square kilometres). These distances assume coast-hopping from one end of the island to a different departure point, which we almost always did. Cheap plane tickets may be available from different airlines at different times and with unique terms. [5][6] The island was later inhabited by the Arawaks and then the Caribs. Explore Charlotte Amalie 2. There are 1112 mi between Florida and Saint Thomas Island. Along with surrounding minor islands, it is one of three county-equivalents in the USVI. A direct flight to Saint Thomas Island will take on average 2h 37m to travel the 1107 miles flying distance from Fort Lauderdale. The Leeward Antilles also includes several islands which belong to Venezuela, but take care visiting them. When someone refers to the Spanish West Indies, British West Indies, Dutch West Indies and even the Danish West Indies, it means islands where those colonial powers held the most sway. Never treat Islanders as servants, or tourist attractions. This distance is equal to 111.56 miles, and 96.88 nautical miles. The only way to get to the St. John, in the US Virgin Islands, is by boat. At six knots, sailing from Florida to the Virgin Islands would take you about seven days. [10] The first slave ships arrived in 1673, and St. Thomas became a slave market. About us Spirit Airlines and JetBlue can get you from Florida to Saint Thomas Island in just under 2h 36m. Scooters are also an excellent way to get around the island. Even a day sail is exhausting if you spend the entire day getting beat up and tipped on your ear while bashing upwind. This site is owned and operated by Truly Content. The nonstop route for optimal wind is closer to 1,500 nautical miles. The islands now have an annual celebration in November to honor the legacy of David Hamilton Jackson.[17]. Dont rush things have patience and consider your time here as a chance to relax and enjoy a nice breather. To get a sense of the thorniness of crossing this stretch of water, take a closer look at where this route goes through the Bahamas. In the middle of the island are miles of beautiful beaches, rolling pasture lands and beautiful land. Sun. "St. Thomas" is among the most recognisable instrumentals in the repertoire of American jazz tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins based on a traditional calypso sung to him by his mother, Valborg Solomon Rollins, who was born on Saint Thomas. It has a deep-water harbor that was once a haven for pirates and is now one of the busiest ports of call for cruise ships in the Caribbean, with about 1.5 million/plus cruise ship passengers landing there annually. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. The quickest flight from Miami Airport to Beef Island Airport is the direct flight which takes 2h 59m. [Note: The distance between cities in U.S. Virgin Islands distance chart below is straight line distance (may be called as flying or air distance) between the two locations in U.S. Virgin Islands . This distance is equal to 1235.98 miles, and 1073.33 nautical miles. In 1954, passage of the U.S. Virgin Islands Organic Act officially granted territorial status to the three islands, and allowed for the formation of a local senate with politics dominated by the American Republican and Democratic parties. VIRGIN ISLANDS to ST. LUCIA 1929 LINDBERGH Flown FAM6 . This is only a problem if you turn south too soon. Guadeloupe has several smaller islands on the south end which you can visit. Moving at six knots, you don't want to skip something and go back to it, and the islands in the eastern Caribbean are in a somewhat straight line, which makes for an ordered way of going through them. The answer depends on you - your skill level, your tolerance for discomfort and pounding your boat, how much you like offshore sailing, and how much time you have. Virgin Islands Leward Islands Windward Islands Mediterranean . If you are leaving from St. Kitts, you can go through the narrows between the islands. There are a number of ferry options between the island of the British Virgin Islands and also to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Most sailing yachts come to Falmouth/English Harbour, though you can also clear in to Jolly Harbour, but there is not much of an anchorage. Currently, we are unable to provide domestic travel restriction information for travelling within U.S. Virgin Islands. Since then I've enjoyed sailing very much - and I've never been afraid of the water again. Your flight direction from Orlando, FL to Saint Thomas is Southeast (120 degrees from North). Maybe a follow up article on the options returning from virgins or points south back to Florida or other ports along the east coast?