Cruz Bay Beach, St. John USVI
Before you even begin to explore anything else in St. John, you’ll be greeted at the main landing point: Cruz Bay. This is where the ferries land when they’re coming into St. John. A great deal of the main transportation throughout the island is arranged on Cruz Bay. You’ll also notice that this is no ordinary landing post. Cruz Bay is the buzzing epicenter of St. John and simply cannot be missed.
If you fashion yourself a shopaholic, then you’ll absolutely love Cruz Bay. Not only is it the main port of call of St. John, it’s also the location of most of the island’s shopping centers and restaurants. Why take a trip to the Caribbean if you’re not going to take full advantage of all the shopping and fine dining of the US Virgin Islands? If you’re interested in getting a nice workout while taking a shopping spree, you won’t want to miss what Cruz Bay has to offer. There’s no better way to get acclimated to the St. John island scene than to dive headfirst into Cruz Bay’s central bar, The Beach Bar. You’ll be able to enjoy a nice, cool beverage while taking in the gorgeous sea views --including watching the waves roll in and sailboats drift along.
You won’t have to worry about getting around on Cruz Bay. You’ll be able to walk right into a car rental shop and arrange your transportation for the duration of your stay. As you get everything you need to enjoy the incredible shopping, perhaps you should stop off at the local supermarket and grab any refreshments you may want to take with you to your hotel or as you plan a trip to the beach. Don’t neglect the smells of the fresh bread --there’s a bakery right around the corner from the car rental shop.
Of course, we did mention the shopping. It’s absolutely fantastic. Right in the heart of Cruz Bay is Mongoose Junction --a cluster of upscale shops for those who love their fashion couture and their jewelry one of a kind. You can also check out many of the local shops and restaurants and get a real taste of the Caribbean with the merchandise that’s around every corner.
As this is the shopping epicenter of St. John --and really it’s only city-- it can get a bit crowded (especially around the high season --that means holidays and week-ends). However, if you’re the type of person that wants to get in as much excitement and shopping as possible then you’re quite accustomed to big crowds. If you like a bit of a bar crawl, Cruz Bay is your place. It harbors St. Johns most impressive nightlife and gives visitors the opportunity to have as much fun as possible. Cruz Bay may be a buzzing whirlwind of activity. But it is a must for anyone coming to port in St. John. Get in as much shopping and incredible food as you possible can before you depart on one of the ferries leaving the US Virgin Islands.