Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. We're looking for writers! The island has a land area of 32 square miles (83km2). But you're headed through The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos - that's a tropical paradise, right? These refer to islands to the north as "Up" and those to the south as "Down" the island chains. The nonstop route for optimal wind is closer to 1,500 nautical miles. Since 2012 he's been cruising the world with his wife and living aboard full time. Distance from Virgin Islands to Florida is 1989.07 kilometers . Luggage fees may apply. There are gaps between islands where you'd be pressed to take a shoal draft boat, so you have to take less direct routes and pick your way through the shallows by the color of the water. It is advisable to contact the ferry company the day before your intended . . So when a cruiser in St. Martin may tell you he's heading "down island" next month, he's planning somewhere south, probably St. Barts, St. Kitts, Statia, or Antigua. If it's blank on arrival/to, there's only a single island destination in that country. Rome2rios travel guides to the US tell you the best ways to explore the country, from Amtrak to Greyhound to the New York Subway. St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands has been revitalized in recent years. Your Source for Shipping Excellence to the Caribbean; 305-800-0340 or 340-690-1110 Toll Free: 800-566-2340; . You do this while waiting for favorable (or less unfavorable) weather and winds. The islands have an average temperatures of 70s and 80s degrees Fahrenheit year round. The destinations are from north to south, and reverse routes and distances are not given to keep the tables simpler to read. The United States Virgin Islands is the only place under United States jurisdiction where the rule of the road is to drive on the left. The ocean park consists of an open-water system where water flows through each of the exhibits and back out to the ocean. The highest point is Crown Mountain at 1,556 feet. Thank you , Excellent run down of the two optionsthank you! Their combined land area is about 195 square miles (505 square kilometres). Turns out that owning a boat is pretty affordable. I now understand the options a little more. . This is equivalent to 2 021 kilometers or 1,092 nautical miles. Learn More{{/message}}. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for US COVER FIRST AIR MAIL FLIGHT FAM 6 ST THOMAS VIRGIN ISLANDS at the best online prices at eBay! [5], Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World. Fares between BVI and USVI do not include USVI Port Fee/$10, BVI Environment Fee/$10 and BVI Departure Tax/$20 ($15 resident). The average price for direct flights from Jacksonville, Florida to St Thomas Island is $463. "St. Thomas" is among the most recognisable instrumentals in the repertoire of American jazz tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins based on a traditional calypso sung to him by his mother, Valborg Solomon Rollins, who was born on Saint Thomas. At six knots, sailing from Florida to the Virgin Islands would take you about seven days. Spirit Airlines and JetBlue can get you from Florida to Saint Thomas Island in just under 2h 36m. Distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Saint Thomas The total straight line flight distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Saint Thomas is 1,110 miles. And, unlike Florida, temperatures here are typically in the 80s during the day and the 70s at night all year round. The British Virgin Islands lie to the northeast of the United States Virgin Islands. The islands now have an annual celebration in November to honor the legacy of David Hamilton Jackson.[17]. I don't like spam - I will only send helpful content. The post-war era also saw the rise of tourism on the island. Connect with travelers that are planning vacations right here, right now. St. Thomas and its nearby . Because you're sailing way offshore, I-65 is considerably longer than the Thorny Path on a straight line basis. Following the Danish Revolution of 1848, slavery was abolished and the resulting rise in labor costs further weakened the position of Saint Thomas's sugar producers. [12]) In 1691, the primary settlement there was renamed Charlotte Amalie in honor of the wife of Denmark's King Christian V. It was later declared a free port by Frederick V. In December 1732, the first two of many Moravian Brethren missionaries came from Herrnhut Saxony in present-day Germany to minister to them. The territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie is located on the island. At six knots that would take about ten and a half days. Although St. John's is a major port, it's not a small boat friendly harbor. The US Virgin Islands are located just to the right of Puerto Rico. O and by the way late Aug or Sept, is NOT a Good time to be going that way it can be the worst time for BIG storms LOL just sayin Bob and Connie 15-02-2012, 16:28 The total straight line flight distance from Orlando, FL to Saint Thomas is 1,256 miles. Youll find everyone dressed fairly casually in the Virgin Islands. Coral World is a marine park located on the island of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The Roques Archipelago is one of the more popular spots, but check current conditions before planning a visit. How far is St Thomas from Florida by plane? So it's best to wait for better conditions, and even motor sail on dead days or over night to avoid taking a beating off shore. Sailings from Florida to St. Thomas, VI: Receiving Location: Cutoff Day / Time: Sailing Day: Estimated Transit . Scooters are also an excellent way to get around the island. St Thomas is one of the most visited islands in the Caribbean and the most popular of the U.S. Virgin Islands Cruise Ports. [14] He began the first newspaper in the islands, known as The Herald. The main shopping areas include downtown Charlotte Amalie and around the Havensight dock. Autumn is the wettest time of year because of tropical cyclones. The biggest difference may be the lack speed and efficiency. From To Measure Distance Distance between Virgin Islands and Florida is: Facebook Twitter The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance from Virgin Islands to Florida is 1989.07 km= 1235.95 miles. Le Marin is the most popular port for cruising and charter yachts. About us The total area of the BVI is 59 square miles. The latter usually operate only between high-traffic points, e.g., cruise-ship terminals at Havensight and Crown Bay and downtown Charlotte Amalie. The two islands are maybe 6 miles apart at their closest points. If you press, you can do it in less than a month but you may run into some unpleasant conditions if you push the schedule. Accessible through Cyril E. King Airport (STT), the 32 square mile island is full of hills and cobblestone streets, with the most popular being the picturesque 99 Steps. This site is owned and operated by Truly Content. One advantage of the thorny path is you are closer to land if you need to seek shelter. On St. Thomas, life tends to move at a slower pace than on the mainland. The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are made up of 4 larger islands; Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada, and 32 smaller islands. 9034 GD Marsum Last updated: March 1 | Data sourced from: ACAPS, OXFORD. In 1685, the Brandenburgisch-Africanische Compagnie took control of the slave trade on Saint Thomas, and for some time the largest slave auctions in the world were held there. Water Island is 2 miles long and to 1 mile wide. U.S. Virgin Islands ; St. Thomas ; St. Thomas Travel Forum; Search. Names of the regions in the Caribbean can be a bit confusing at first glance, as there are several names to describe regions, and some of them overlap, are sub regions of others, or cover the same areas. Fort Christian is a Dano-Norwegian-built fort in Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Prices start at $100USD per night. 350 reviews. . [15] The newspaper's focus was civic and labor rights for local workers,[16] and it published criticisms of the labor situation in the islands. In the middle of the island are miles of beautiful beaches, rolling pasture lands and beautiful land. St. Thomas is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, an unincorporated territory of the United States, which means that US citizens can travel there without a passport just as they would when traveling between states in the mainland. The land was divided into plantations and sugarcane production became the primary economic activity. ImproveSailing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Car rental agencies are located at the airport as well as near the main cruise ship dock and large resorts. Saint Thomas's fine natural harbor became known as "Taphus" for the drinking establishments located nearby. One of the main islands of the United States Virgin Islands, This is the figure given on page 1 of the. Of the three islands, St. Thomas is the middle island in terms of size. Taxis are readily available and there are also drivers that run dollar rides via safaris. A safari is a truck thats been outfitted with bench seating in the back. This distance is equal to 1235.98 miles, and 1073.33 nautical miles. When we did the sail, we left from Hampton, VA. You're sailing in November, and it's cold for a few days, but you can get offshore quickly and sail nonstop to the British Virgins or the USVI across the trades, a trip of about 1,500 miles. The distance line on map shows distance from Puerto Rico to St Thomas between two cities. St. Thomas of the U.S. Virgin Islands is located in the eastern Caribbean, just a mere 1100 miles southeast of Miami. Savor a taste of St. Thomas with the dining options at Marriott's Frenchman's Cove, including an oceanview restaurant and bar and a casual market for snacks and drinks. Virgin Islanders are generally a conservative and quiet people. For travel planning advice, please refer to our Rome2rio Coronavirus information page . Charlotte Amalie - St. Croix Charlotte Amalie - St John Charlotte Amalie - Tortola BVI Red Hook - St John Also, your insurance company may not permit travel to some of them without advanced permission. We measured courses to just inside the harbor in most cases with a wide safety margin, and not for optimal course length with the absolute shortest route. Many people get to Georgetown and stop, because the trades get more insistent and the stops further apart. every Hour. The boyfriend of a US swimming star found dead at their home on the Virgin Islands was jailed for ten years after a violent brawl in 2007, according to sources. Im thinking I-65, but Im not sure my wife will. The island groups are named relative to the trade winds, which blow from the south and southeast. Charlotte Amalie, located on the island of St. Thomas, is the capital and the largest city of the United States Virgin Islands, founded in 1666 as Taphus (meaning "beer house" or "beer hall"). In terms of airport transfer options, what are my alternatives (e.g., bus, shuttle, etc.) Coki Beach is a beach on the island Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, located in the Caribbean. The only way to get to the St. John, in the US Virgin Islands, is by boat. You can download the Excel spreadsheet I've used to calculate these itineraries here for free. Moving at six knots, you don't want to skip something and go back to it, and the islands in the eastern Caribbean are in a somewhat straight line, which makes for an ordered way of going through them. ST. JOHN The U.S. Virgin Islands National Team suffered its first loss of the tournament, but still remained in contention to play for the title after Friday's games in . About St. Thomas and the US Virgin Islands. The Lesser Antilles are all the rest of the islands. We are relatively new to sailing. High season is considered to be November, December and January. Id like to go to the USVI this fall. You will be approached by "boat boys" in Soufrire, though they are not as organized as those in Dominica they can still be helpful. The Netherlands When someone refers to the Spanish West Indies, British West Indies, Dutch West Indies and even the Danish West Indies, it means islands where those colonial powers held the most sway. Theres this and theres that. You didnt jump on anyone along the way. What airlines fly to St Thomas to Miami? It's an established part of the local economy, and they will handle much of what you need on the island like tours and supplies. U.S. Virgin Islands Distance Chart (Distance Table): For your quick reference, below is a Distance Chart or Distance Table of distances between some of the major cities in U.S. Virgin Islands. Things to Do in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 1. At the time of the US purchase in 1917, the colony did not include Water Island, which had been sold by Denmark to the East Asiatic Company, a private shipping company, in 1905. Distrusted at first by the white masters, they lived among the slaves and soon won their confidence. The West Indies, a misnomer dating back to the days of Christopher Columbus, refers to pretty much all the Caribbean islands and the Bahamas. The Netherlands [20] The lowest recorded temperature was 11C (52F) in November. An island pulsing with energy A modern paradise filled with colonial jewels, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands is both a historian's and an adventure-seeker's playground. The island boasts one of the most beautiful harbors in the world as well as some of the most popular activities in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Butyou can't sail straight from Miami to St. Thomas, because there are a lot of islands in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos in the way. It's vague, but it's a common way to discuss plans, especially when they aren't settled. Thank you, William, for sharing this helpful item. A few days after celebrating the 60th year of free elections in the Virgin Islands, the V.I. Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to: Improve Sailing Which makes it quite convenient to get to if you live in the United States for sure with easy connections out of MIA (Miami International Airport) of FLL (Fort Lauderdale International Airport). The island has many regular taxis from compact size to large vans, as well as open-air, covered trucks called "safaris" with bench seats. Distance between Puerto Rico and St Thomas is 179.54 km. Copyright 2023 ImproveSailing.com ? ? Your email address will not be published. Most sailing yachts come to Falmouth/English Harbour, though you can also clear in to Jolly Harbour, but there is not much of an anchorage. Hamilton, J. Taylor and Hamilton, Kenneth G., Invasion of the Danish West Indies (1807), Transportation in the United States Virgin Islands, Category:United States Virgin Islands people, "Where is the U.S. Virgin Islands: Geography", "2020 Island Areas Censuses: U.S. Virgin Islands", "St. Thomas: island, United States Virgin Islands Britannica", "St. Thomas, Virgin Islands: Facts & History", "Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands", "David Hamilton Jackson - Famous Virgin Islander", Liberty Day festivities to include parade, re-enactment about D. Hamilton Jackson, "Purchase of the United States Virgin Islands, 1917", "Water Island History - the Military History of Water Island", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "Race Relations in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands", American Association for the Advancement of Science, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Thomas,_U.S._Virgin_Islands&oldid=1138363039, Islands of the United States Virgin Islands, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2021, Articles needing the year an event occurred from April 2022, Articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Virgin Islands Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy, This page was last edited on 9 February 2023, at 07:41. St. Thomas has a tropical climate, and many people from the mainland U.S. and northern Europe are not prepared for the intensity of the sun, the humidity or the heat. There are thousands of islands in the Caribbean, and over forty with major populations. In Dominica's two major cruising ports, organized and helpful "boat boys will greet you. But when you leave from further south, the Bahamas and other islands get between you and the Virgin Islands, which complicates the whole route and adds a lot of time and work to the trip. Free WIFI! By the time you haul anchor and set the sails and drop anchor on the other end, even a three-mile trip will take you an hour. Miami International Airport - Cyril E. King Airport 1107 Miles 1781 Kilometers 962 Nautical miles 2 h 35 min Flight duration 1 h Time difference 157 kg That's total made good towards the route on your GPS. Sign up to receive Virgin Islands articles, updates and offers. And it doesn't mean the waters aren't littered with reefs, shoals, low-lying islands, and other hazards. The Safari Taxis follow a loop passing Red Hook, Charlotte Amalie, and the island's resort-heavy East End. The islands extend from west to east for about 60 miles and are located west of the Anegada Passage, a major channel connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. As you are already on the US side of the Virgin Islands heading over to St. Thomas from St. John is very easy. After what you read in the last section, why would anyone want to do this? Time through the Thorny Path has less to do with boat speed than it does about how you pick your stops, when you sail them, your tolerance for getting beat up on short passages, and what breaks you get in the weather. Do you want to earn money to write on our website? Guadeloupe has several smaller islands on the south end which you can visit. American forces were based on the island during the Second World War. . Virgin Islands is 1h ahead of Florida. A sailboat doesn't have to be expensive if you know what you're doing. The USVI consist of 4 larger islands: St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island, and some 50 smaller islets and cays. In 2010 the City had a population of 18,481, which makes it the largest city in the Virgin Islands Archipelago. Full home rule was achieved in 1970. to Cyril E. King. But it works better if you start further north. ', 'Should I book online before I travel? The company eventually sold the island to the United States in 1944, during the German occupation of Denmark. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Distance Between Puerto Rico and St Thomas. St. Thomas , St. John is located about 4 miles from St. Thomas east end. Virgin Gorda to St Thomas (calls at Road Town, Tortola) 6:30am 2:45pm: 6:30am . Thanks! There are three main islands to visit: St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. And an Underwater Observatory Tower that goes down 20 feet under the ocean with windows for looking and watching ocean life in its natural habit. Like countries in Europe, the majority of outlets on St. Kitts operate with a 230 voltage, unlike the United States and St. Thomas, which use 110 voltage. Despite a high crime rate, St. Thomas has plenty of beaches, safe tourist areas, hotels, and resorts where visitors are rarely affected by violent crime. While there has historically been no ferry service between St. Thomas (or any of the aforementioned islands) and St. Croix, as of January 2019, a brand new ferry service will be operating between Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and Gallows Bay, St. Croix for $50 one way or $100 roundtrip. South Pacific South Pacific Fiji US Northeast Newport - St. Johns Canada Cape Breton _____ Distances Between Islands _____ I s l a n d s: Distance in Miles: Average Length of Sail: St Thomas : to: St Martin: 140: 20 hours: St Martin: to: St Thomas: 114: 14 hours: St Martin: to . Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. By the time Tuesday's meeting took place, members had . If youre planning a getaway to St. Thomas, consider these important things to know before you go to ensure the best possible experience on the island. I-65 is not without risk, since you're offshore, and depending when you sail you may face serious offshore storms or even hurricanes. There are no airports on St. John so you must fly to St. Thomas Cyril E. King Airport (code STT) and travel from there. The Antilles refers to all the Caribbean islands but does not include Bahamas, which are part of the Lucayan Archipelago. Many heading down island from the BVIs leave from Virgin Gorda, as it is the furthest island to the east. It has plenty of anchorage space, its protected, and most marine services. The remaining islands are independent island nations. 8: . While you are in the tropics and it is warm, the prevailing wind patterns and navigational requirements can turn the time you aren't lounging on a beach into some pretty unpleasant sailing. [11], While the sugar trade had brought prosperity to the island's free citizens, by the early 19th century Saint Thomas was in decline. Hotels have been built from the West End to the East End, and in recent years, Saint Thomas has become a busy cruise ship port and vacation venue. It currently holds the St. Thomas Museum, which holds artifacts and art of the Dano-Norwegian period. When talking about moving between islands, cruisers will often use the phrases up island and down island. Start planning today. Known as "I-65," this alternate route has you sail east/east-northeast until longitude 65W, then turn south and reach towards the Virgin Islands across the trade winds. FIRST AIR MAIL FLIGHT FAM 9 MIAMI FLORIDA MULTIPLE BACKSTAMPS US COVER. If your cruising speed on the rhumb line is different or youre tacking back and forth all over the place, adjust times accordingly. Once you get outside hurricane season, the trade winds hit their peak seasonal strength. In 1685, the Danish leased part of the island to the Brandenburger Company,[8] which was resold to the Danish in 1754,[10] and was granted free port status in 1764.[11]. It takes approximately 8h 45m to get from Florida to Virgin Islands, including transfers. Two of the three islands (St. Thomas and St. John) are in close proximity and can potentially be done in the same trip. The United States Virgin Islands are a group of several dozen islands and cays located in the Caribbean, about 1,100 miles (1,770 km) southeast of Florida, 600 miles (966 km) north of Venezuela, 40 miles (64 km) east of Puerto Rico, and immediately west and south of the British Virgin Islands.. Please try again. It also adds an extra 30 minutes for take-off and landing. Built 1672-1680, early in the first successful colonial establishment on the island, the fort served as critical point of defense and government during entire period of Dano-Norwegian, and later Danish, administration, which ended in 1917 with the sale of the islands to the United States. Passenger and limited car-ferry services to neighboring islands such as Water Island, Saint John, Saint Croix, and the British Virgin Islands run regularly out of the Red Hook Terminal, Charlotte Amalie, and Crown Bay Marina. If pounding upwind into chop, slop, and current between stops on small islands isn't your thing, there is another option - head offshore. [13], The first British invasion and occupation of the island occurred in 1801. ImproveSailing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You will be solicited at least 50 times for a taxi or some jewelry sale. For those looking for an accessible tropical destination with warm climate to sit at a pool or on a sandy beach, St Thomas offers an ideal landing spot. The second British occupation of the island occurred from 1807 to 1815, after the Invasion of the Danish West Indies (1807), during which they built Fort Cowell on Hassel Island. Saint Thomas (Danish: Sankt Thomas) is one of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea, one of the three largest of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorporated territory of the United States. Shark Shallows a nursery for adolescent sharks. Required fields are marked *, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. Please try again. Currently, we are unable to provide travel restriction information for leaving United States. [7], The Dutch West India Company established a post on Saint Thomas in 1657. The island has an irregular shape with many bays and peninsulas. The United States granted citizenship to the residents in 1927. The cheapest flight from Tampa to Saint Thomas Island was found 42 days before departure, on average.