Virgin Islands Guide

U.S. Virgin Islands Travel Guide

By Ziv KahanaUpdated

Painted island harbor with a ferry and green hills; conceptual illustration

The short answer

Compare St Thomas and St John, choose where to stay, and plan the crossings: the passenger ferry, the car barge and the St Croix connections.

Islands

Plan Your Trip

Choose Your Base

Painted aerial view of two neighbouring islands, one with a harbour town, one forested

The base decides how much of the trip is spent crossing between the islands.

Our launch coverage focuses on St Thomas and St John. Decide whether your priority is a convenient arrival base, a nature-led stay, or a short visit from a cruise ship. St Croix appears here only for the ferry and flight connections from St Thomas.

Ferries and Getting Between the Islands

Painted passenger ferry crossing a channel seen from the end of a wooden dock

The crossing is the short part; terminals and onward rides take the rest.

A crossing costs more than the minutes on the water. Add the journey to the terminal, the ticket, boarding and onward transport, then work backward from your real deadline.

Which guide you need depends on what you are moving. Foot passengers cross between St Thomas and St John through the day, from Red Hook or from downtown. Vehicles use a separate car barge to a separate terminal. One passenger ferry, on set days, reaches St Croix.

Sources and Last Checked