In the early hours of this morning the cruise ship made a series of west and north-westerly courses as we approach the port of St Thomas, which we will do so from the south east. The cruise ship will pick up the local pilot and make its way through the buoyed channel passing small islands before docking at the pier in Crown Bay at approximately 7am and will be here till we leave at 5pm this evening.

Slept well last night with the rocking of the ship on the high seas, watched the Royal Princess dock, the Captain reverses this large cruise ship like a car it is fascinating to watch. Looks like a good day today, mostly overcast with sunny periods and a chance of rain, temperature in the high 70⁰C. Thankfully not high like it was last time.

We are spoilt every breakfast Aurel (F&B Supervisor) brings us a bowl of raw nuts for the day. From the Cruise Terminal we take the Shuttle to downtown Charlotte Amalie and go straight to the main Royal Caribbean store and get our missing battery charger. They remembered us and were most apologetic, walked back to Emancipation Park where all the local tour operators are. Missed the tour guide we wanted (his tour was booked) but he organised us to go with Jose at the same time 11.30am. It is a two hour tour US$25 each and he drops you off back at Crown Bay Cruise Terminal where Duty Free shops, vendor of local arts and crafts are.

With time to spare we did a bit of Duty Free shopping, Lancôme products from Penha (lady who served us on the previous cruise wasn’t there so Richard bartered for extra discount) and footwear from Crocs. If I had bought these in Australia the Lancôme would have been double the price plus I received a Cosmetic Bag with samples.

Met some nice people also taking the island tour who were on the Princess cruise, now the tour is a bit of a blur seeing the Driver/Guide only spoke when he stopped at different viewing spots. Hard to take photos and listen to him at the same time, as he didn’t give you enough time to listen then take photos.

Started from Emancipation Park ahead can see the Hotel 1829, the 99 Steps with Blackbeard’s Tower above, Government House on the left and turned left at F.D.R Veterans Memorial Park where we stopped last time in Charlotte Amalie. First stop was halfway up the mountain for a view of Charlotte Amalie, Long Bay, and Havensight Cruise Terminal where two cruise ships were docked. Climbing further up the hairpin turns of the mountainside you have a better view including Crown Bay where Royal Princess is docked pity we couldn’t stop here. Taking the local shuttle to Mountain Top (US $16 each return) for excellent views of St Thomas and neighbouring islands would have been better with a 360⁰ views.

Snaked our way through the lush rainforest to Drakes Seat for a panoramic photo stop of Magens Bay, islands and Atlantic Ocean. Magens Bay Beach is the largest on St Thomas and named one of the world’s most beautiful beaches (just looks like another island beach with white sand). The bay is where the rich and famous come, many homes, condos and resorts, if you have money to waste come here.

Back to the quiet guide driving through the lust mountainside to Beacons Point for a free famous Banana Daiquiri with or without the rum, plus enjoy another lovely view don’t know which section of the island we are looking at down and out to the ocean. The caged Marcaw birds were a bit disturbing then back on the road past a golf course, towns, Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, views of bays, Atlantic Ocean and islands in the distance on our left a bit hard to take photos/video from a moving vehicle would love to know what we are looking at. We can only see the driver/guide and his off-sider eating junk food (both are on the large size).

Quick view of Red Hook where one catches the ferry to St John in Vessup Bay, then Nazareth a large town (at least the homes on this island are not as rundown as the other islands) to Secret Harbour Resort on Nazareth Bay where we stopped for 20 minutes of the usual views of coconut palms, white sand, turquoise water, yachts and people on lazy boys under umbrellas. Some of the people on the tours stayed here for a couple of hours while the reach of us continued on passing mangroves on the Oceanside before winding our way back to firstly Havensight Cruise Terminal where half the people on-board ending their island tour and the rest of us to Crown Bay.

Late lunch before the rain set in and it was funny watching everyone round the pool area run for cover when it started raining this put a dampener on the rest of the day till we departed after 5pm to a lovely view of the islands as Royal Princess sailed on a south course out of St Thomas to Princess Cays on Eleuthera.

As usual dinner in the Concerto Dining Room, lovely three course seafood dinner then retired, didn’t want to watch the Rootberry Juggling team tonight. Up in the Horizon Court we thanked the Ukraine violinists for their lovely music then drank our peppermint tea outside by the pool.