docking in St. Thomas

[takemewithyou]

My cruise in Feb. on the Noordam has had a change in itinerary. We are now stopping in ST. Thomas on 2/19. Have been there before, but not on HAL.

We are one of two ships that day (according to port time. com). The other ship is the Crown Princess.

Where do you think we will be docking that day?
How far from the downtown?
Any shopping at the pier?

Thanks for your help.

[howard6933]

My cruise in Feb. on the Noordam has had a change in itinerary. We are now stopping in ST. Thomas on 2/19. Have been there before, but not on HAL.

We are one of two ships that day (according to port time. com). The other ship is the Crown Princess.

Where do you think we will be docking that day?
How far from the downtown?
Any shopping at the pier?

Thanks for your help.

Chances are that you will be docking at Havensight Mall. The Princess ship will probably dock at Crown Bay where almost all of the Princess ships go.
Havensight is MUCH BETTER than Crown Bay. LOTS of stores and there are branches of almost all of the stores that are in downtown Charlotte Amalie.
If you do want to go to Charlotte Amalie, you can get a taxi or van or whatever, and I believe the cost is $4.00 per person each way. If you have never been to Charlotte Amalie, you should go. There are so many stores there, you'll get dizzy. ENJOY. ;)

[sail7seas]

There is a tiny chance you'll go to Havensight. The odds are much stronger you will dock at Crown Bay. We were on Maasdam last November/December and there was only one ship docked at Havensight yet we were sent to Crown Bay. :(
We don't care for docking there but HAL has a long term contract at St. Thomas which sets out that is where HAL will dock except for rare exceptions.

As time gets closer, go to ********** (I think that is the address) and it will show where ships are docking.

[sail7seas]

Sorry....... it seems we are not pernitted to give that web address. I can't imagine why?

[c-cruise]

takemewithyou, I would say that we are almost certain to be at Crown bay. Went back and looked at the St. Thomas schedule for earlier this year and didn't find a single instance of a HAL ship docked at Havensight. We were there earlier this year on the Westerdam and were docked at Crown bay with the Caribbean Princess. Not nearly as much shopping at Crown Bay, but plenty of taxis available to take you to downtown or Havensight. We didn't find anything wrong with being at Crown Bay as we are not big shoppers and were just heading to the beach anyways. Crown bay is roughly the same distance (probably a little further) from downtown as Havensight, just in the opposite direction. You can walk it, but it is not as nice a walk as from Havensight to downtown.

Just a quick Edit. I actually did find one instance of HAL being at Havensight. On 1/3/08 the Westerdam docked there as there were two Princess ships at Crown Bay. There may be others I missed as I skimmed over the list pretty fast.

[takemewithyou]

Thanks for the replies. Have docked at Havensight and liked it. I was hoping that this would be the case this time since I would just shop right there at the mall.

It's been years since I was there and I don't remember Crown Bay. That must be new since I was last there. I remember lots of ships being anchored out and if they weren't able to dock at Havensight, they had to use tenders to bring people in to the town.

So has anything else about the town changed? Probably more shops and more congestion downtown?

[djhsolara]

On Westerdam last December we docked at Crown Bay. I think I remember hearing something that perhaps Carnival Corp has dumped a lot of $$ into developing Crown Bay, so if that is the case that is most likely why HAL is using that so often now.

A word about the taxi/bus service. Maybe we just had a "different" taxi/bus service, but we were a bit skeptical when just a bit down the road from Crown Bay the driver popped into what seemed like a back alleyway to collect our money. We weren't quite sure what was going on, but he said he collects the money there because it is so busy downtown. It was all good in the end, but like I said we had a bit of an uneasy feeling being on an unfamiliar island for the first time and being pulled into a back alleyway.

Enjoy your sailing!!

[wrp96]

HAL ships will use Crown Bay, even if there are no ships at Havensight, unless there are more than 2 Princess and HAL ships in port.

The website to use to check docking assignments is www dot vinow dot com and click on the link for cruise ship visitors. You'll find the current month's docking schedule there.

[Sundagger]

ST. THOMAS - Jan. 2007 - Cruise ships of the high-end Holland America Line now will go to Crown Bay rather than Havensight under a deal approved Wednesday.

The nearly 10-year agreement - which took effect Jan. 1 - is similar to one reached in the fall with Princess Cruises. Both pacts offer the lines financial incentives in exchange for bringing a minimum number of passengers to Crown Bay.

[snip]

The agreement with Holland America Line guarantees that at least 48,000 of its passengers are brought to the territory during the first year; 80,000 in each of the second, third, fourth and fifth years; and 100,000 in the sixth through 10th years.

The cruise line can receive rebates for exceeding the required minimums. If more than 54,000 passengers are brought in the first year, the Port Authority will reimburse the line for $54,490 of the per-passenger fees it paid. Those fees total $9.35 per passenger for the first five years of the agreement and can be increased by no more than $2.50 per passenger over its second five years.

If more than 90,000 passengers are brought in the second year, the line will receive $84,150. If more than 100,000 passengers are brought in the third, fourth and fifth years, the line will receive $140,250. And in the last five years of the agreement, the Port Authority will reimburse the line $91,254 if it brings more than 110,000 passengers to the territory and $210,000 if it brings more than 120,000.

The Holland America Line pact expires Sept. 30, 2016.

The Princess agreement, which took effect Oct. 1, aims to bring a minimum of 230,000 passengers to the Crown Bay facility per year.

Under that agreement, which is expected to generate at least $2.15 million in fees annually for the Port Authority, the cruise lines agreed to pay for the minimum amount of passengers - also based on $9.35 per person - whether they bring them all or not. If Princess and its affiliates bring in between 325,000 and 350,000 passengers, the authority will reimburse the line for $292,000 of the wharfage dues it paid. If the company exceeds 350,000 passengers, the authority will pay $479,000.

[MARYVB]

I thought it was fishy when I saw the internet site. It calls itself "The Crown Bay Carnival center". I hope they get more shops real quick.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I really don't like Crown Bay -- and hate the fact that HAL signed a 10 year aggreement to dock there.

Not too long ago our HAL ship and a Princess ship were the only ones in St Thomas and both of us were at Crown Bay. Not one ship at Havensight.

There isn't any room for expansion for Crown Bay to have all the shops like Havensight.

Can't walk to town -- too far.

[takemewithyou]

Thanks, Sundagger for that article you posted. In my research on Crown Bay, I came up with the connection to CCL, also. Your post sheds even more light on it. I would really rather be at Havensight. :(

[sail7seas]

We always enjoyed the walk fron Havensight to town but cannot walk from Crown Bay. It isn't safe to walk IMO and is too far on a very hot day. It would take too long and not leave enough time down town to enjoy strolling around/shopping and lunch.

Crown Bay has been cleaned up and they've done a little building ....a few shops to look at but nothing at all interesting IMO

For those who used to enjoy just roaming around at Havensight, you can catch a taxi there and back. No reason to not still enjoy the shops at Havensight if that is what you like. IF you go to Havensight, stop next door at Yact Haven Marina. The shops there are FABULOUS. They have finally (mostly) finished that development and such stores as Louis Vuitton, Ferragamo....the upscale shops that St. Thomas has been lacking. Even if you don't buy, it's fun to browse these nice shops.

[Copper10-8]

Thanks for the replies. Have docked at Havensight and liked it. I was hoping that this would be the case this time since I would just shop right there at the mall.

It's been years since I was there and I don't remember Crown Bay. That must be new since I was last there. I remember lots of ships being anchored out and if they weren't able to dock at Havensight, they had to use tenders to bring people in to the town.

So has anything else about the town changed? Probably more shops and more congestion downtown?


Crown Bay, before Carnival put lots of $$$ into it and developed it, used to be know as Sub Base

[sail7seas]

That's correct. We docked there on Zaandam way ages ago and it was really a cruddy place then. Actually, we've docked there (pre this new HAL/St. Thomas agreement) at least 3 or 4 times in the past.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thankfully we never docked there when it was the Sub Base.

We were either at Havensight or at anchor.

[m steve]

we were scheduled for Crown last Dec. and as we were appraching St. Thomas we turned to the right and went to Havensite. I was able to get a car reservation there at the last minute and cancelled to other one. We were pleased at the change but I wonder how often this happens. Especially since we were on the Emerald Princess.

[Krazy Kruizers]

we were scheduled for Crown last Dec. and as we were appraching St. Thomas we turned to the right and went to Havensite. I was able to get a car reservation there at the last minute and cancelled to other one. We were pleased at the change but I wonder how often this happens. Especially since we were on the Emerald Princess.

Was there another Princess ship scheduled for the same day as you?

[airlink diva]

I'm sailing on the Maasdam in October. When we are in St. Thomas, there are two other ships in port that day also (Explorer of the Seas and Carnival Glory). Since I never been to St. Thomas, I don't know the distance between the two docks.
My concern is I booked a tour with a local guide recommended from this website. My worry now is if the docks are a distance from each other, would he focus on Havensite with the large ships instead of Crown? Or do Carinval also dock at Crown?
Anyone????
Happy sailing!!
Second time around any my 40th birthday cruise on the
MAASDAM!!
10/24/08-11/07/08

[sail7seas]

Carnival docks at Havensight. Princess and HAL are the main lines that dock at Crown Bay. The tour guides know where the ships are docking but if it were me, I would contact him to confirm it is highly likely you will be docked at Crown Bay and for him to advise you if you should make your way to Havensight to meet up with him or does he meet you at Maasdam.

By taxi, it can vary, but it should take about 15-20 minutes to get to Havensight from Crown Bay. Fare was about $8 for two people each way if I remember correctly.

[airlink diva]

Carnival docks at Havensight. Princess and HAL are the main lines that dock at Crown Bay. The tour guides know where the ships are docking but if it were me, I would contact him to confirm it is highly likely you will be docked at Crown Bay and for him to advise you if you should make your way to Havensight to meet up with him or does he meet you at Maasdam.

By taxi, it can vary, but it should take about 15-20 minutes to get to Havensight from Crown Bay. Fare was about $8 for two people each way if I remember correctly.


Thanks! I'm making note of this in my cruise notebook and will e-mail my tour guide!!

[sail7seas]

I just realized with the increase in price of gas, the fare may be higher in the taxi.

[mommyto2girls]

We were in Crown Bay in January, I liked it, it did not have the hustle and bustle of of Havensight. There were some nice stores ( my favorite Bernard Passman is there) and I always use Godfrey Tours, he picked us up at Crown Bay and it was nice to not have it quite as hectic.

[CinWin]

I was on CARNIVAL'S "Liberty" in January, and we were docked at Crown Bay.
Cindy

[mommyto2girls]

CinWin
Were you with us on the Liberty last January 5? I did that cruise with my daughter, this is my first HAL, and I am going with my husband, he was very jealous that we did the Liberty without him!

[Krazy Kruizers]

All the prices will be going up because of the rise in fuel oil -- Safari cabs -- regular taxis -- tours.

[sail7seas]

I was on CARNIVAL'S "Liberty" in January, and we were docked at Crown Bay.
Cindy


There must have been more than three ships in. Havensight only holds three ships so anything over has to go to Crown Bay or anchor.

I'd rather anchor in the inner harbor than Crown Bay. The tender drops you in the middle of downtown.