The shopping on Main Street. The painkillers at the Mountain Top. Beach-hopping in St John. It’s no secret why the US Virgin Islands is a Caribbean cruise powerhouse, and the destination continues to see strong growth in passenger arrivals, Caribbean Journal has learned.
Last year, some 1.7 million cruise passengers came to the USVI’s shores, according to the USVI Department of Tourism. That was a 90,000-passenger improvement over the previous year.
The plan is for more growth this year, with a forecast of 1.8 million arrivals in 2025 and 1.9 million in 2026.
St Thomas continues to lead the way, though St Croix is quietly becoming an in-demand port, with almost 170,000 passengers in 2024. St Croix is now a stop on many itineraries for Virgin Voyages popular adults-only sailings on its Valiant Lady ship.
For its part, St Thomas saw 542,071 passengers at the Crown Bay and 983,862 at the WICO cruise terminal.
The data were revealed by USVI Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte at the recent Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami Beach, where the USVI had a prominent pavilion with steel pan players, mono jumbies and dancers.
“We came to the table with a clear vision for growth and innovation in cruise tourism, and the interest and enthusiasm from our partners have been extremely encouraging,” Boschulte said.
“We’re not just selling a destination—we’re sharing our story,” Boschulte said in a statement provided to Caribbean Journal. “Our islands offer unmatched beauty, but it’s our people, culture, and authenticity that truly make us a world-class destination for cruise travelers.”
