When you consider Caribbean vacations, chances are visiting a U.S. National Park isn't the first activity you think of –– but that's just what you can do on your next cruise. At Virgin Islands National Park in St. John, you can take a walk through history, hike some of the most spectacular scenery on the islands, and explore the various salt ponds, mangroves, and coral reefs. Many Caribbean itineraries include a stop in St. Thomas that allows easy access to Virgin Islands National Park, giving travelers the chance to explore St. John's protected beaches, trails and reefs.

Key takeaways

Most travelers visit the park by taking a cruise to Virgin Islands National Park with a stop in St. Thomas.

From St. Thomas, a short ferry ride takes visitors to St. John to explore the National Park.

Many cruise itineraries offer guided shore excursions during a cruise to St John Virgin Islands.

Visitors can snorkel coral reefs, hike scenic trails and explore historic plantation ruins.

Beaches like Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay are highlights when taking a cruise to Virgin Islands National Park.

Learn the history of the park

It wouldn't be a National Park without history. Virgin Islands National Park has plenty of it. An archaeology program at Virgin Islands National Park explores the human habitation here, dating back to around 1000 BC. This small island has been the home to African and Caribbean cultures, as well as European colonial leaders, at different times through the centuries. You can learn about everything from the earliest inhabitants to the emancipation history and cultural transitions in the 19th and early 20th centuries. You'll also learn about the establishment of the Virgin Islands National Park and the Coral Reef National Monument in more recent years.

Hike through a diverse landscape

The Virgin Islands National Park encompasses more than 7,000 acres of beautiful valleys, hills, and beaches. Explore the diverse natural landscape of the park by hiking one the 20 different trails, which range from accessible boardwalks to more rugged options, such as the steep Reef Bay Trail.

Along the trails, you can walk through some of the park's historic ruins. You'll also be able to navigate through salt ponds for bird viewing, or hike your way down from the old sugar mill to the beach.

Aerial View of Coastal Town with Turquoise Waters.
Aerial View of Coastal Town with Turquoise Waters.

Explore the natural ecosystems

Since more than 40 percent of the Virgin Islands National Park is actually underwater, snorkeling is a popular activity for visitors. The park area consists of seagrass beds, patch reefs, mangrove shorelines, and many other ecosystems for you to explore.

Stop by the visitor center for the most current information on snorkeling. You'll have the opportunity to observe spectacular coral and fish at Salomon Bay, Hawksnest Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Brown Bay, Waterlemon Cay - and Trunk Bay — two of the park's most popular beaches for cruise visitors — which even has an underwater snorkeling trail marked with informative signs that offer facts and illustrations.

Start your St. John adventure with Princess

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Princess excursions to St. John

St. John has no cruise pier, so reaching it on your own means a taxi across St. Thomas, a public ferry from Red Hook and a second ride to the park on the other side — then the whole sequence again in reverse, watching the clock the entire way. Princess® excursions collapse that into one booking, and guests on a ship excursion are covered if the return runs late.

A few of the excursion options from St. Thomas, ordered from the most immersive park experience to the easiest overview:

Getting there from your ship

Most Caribbean cruise ships dock in St. Thomas, making it the primary gateway for visitors traveling to St. John and Virgin Islands National Park. When your cruise ship docks at the pier in St. Thomas, a taxi ride takes you to the ferry that can take you over to the island. It's a scenic 30-minute ride. Ferries typically arrive at Cruz Bay and run regularly from terminals such as Red Hook in St. Thomas.

While on St. Thomas, you can take advantage of an excursion to St. John to experience many of the natural wonders the island has to offer. Many cruise lines offer guided tours as part of a cruise to St John Virgin Islands, combining ferry transportation with sightseeing across the national park. This trip includes a hike just over a mile through the Virgin Islands National Park, during which you can explore the beaches, plant life, and history.

Ready to make Virgin Islands National Park a part of your Caribbean vacations? Book your cruise now.

Multi-generational family enjoying sunny beach day together
Multi-generational family enjoying sunny beach day together.

FAQs - Visiting Virgin Islands National Park on a cruise