St. Croix Cruise Excursions: How to Plan a Ship Day from Frederiksted to Buck Island

A ship day in St. Croix is short, and the island’s most famous sight, Buck Island Reef National Monument, is on the opposite side of the island from the cruise pier. It’s very doable with a little planning. Here’s how our cruise guests make it work, step by step.

Where do cruise ships dock in St. Croix?

Cruise ships dock at the Ann E. Abramson Pier in Frederiksted, on the west end of the island. Buck Island is off the north-east coast, and the boats that go there leave from Christiansted and Green Cay Marina. Christiansted is about a 40-minute taxi ride from the pier. The Half Day Snorkel always departs from Christiansted; for other tours, please check your confirmation for your departure point, or call us at (340) 773-2628 with any questions.

We don’t provide transportation from the port. Allow time to get off the ship, find a taxi and get to your departure point. For taxi rates, see gotostcroix.com.

Plan your ship day in 3 steps

1. Check your ship’s times. Find out when you dock and your all-aboard time. We run on local (Atlantic) time, not ship time.
2. Get a taxi to your departure point. Christiansted is about 40 minutes away. Please arrive 30 minutes before a Buck Island tour; your confirmation shows the departure point.
3. Pick a trip that gets you back with time to spare. Allow for the taxi back, and don’t cut it fine.

A typical ship day on the Half Day Snorkel

When a cruise ship is in port at 8 am, our morning Half Day Snorkel leaves at 9:30 am instead of 9 am to give you time to get here. A typical day looks like this:

Times are a guide. Always check your own ship’s schedule, and call us on (340) 773-2628 if you’re not sure.

Which trips fit a cruise ship day?

Here’s how each trip lines up with a typical 8 am arrival:

The Full Day Sail

Six hours aboard Wave Dancer, with an hour-plus sail to Buck Island, a guided snorkel and the most time at Turtle Beach. The departure time isn’t moved on ship days, so it only works if your ship docks at 8 am or earlier and your all-aboard time leaves room for the taxi back. It departs from Christiansted now and from Green Cay Marina starting Nov 1, 2026.

Private charters around your ship

A private charter is the most flexible option: your own boat and crew, timed around your ship. Call us with your docking and all-aboard times and we’ll plan it with you. Celebration leaves from Christiansted, while Smooth Recovery, Inconceivable and Good Times leave from Green Cay Marina, east of Christiansted. Wave Dancer departs from Christiansted now and from Green Cay Marina starting Nov 1, 2026. Smooth Recovery starts at $900 for 3 hours for up to 6 guests.

What to bring off the ship

• Your bathing suit (wear it under your clothes) and a towel
• Reef-safe sunscreen or a sun shirt. Oxybenzone sunscreens are prohibited on our trips, and reef-safe sunscreen is sold in our shop.
• A hat, sunglasses and a reusable water bottle
• A snack (lunch isn’t included) and cash for the taxi and your crew’s gratuity
• Your phone, with your ship’s all-aboard time and our number saved: (340) 773-2628

Drinking water, snorkel gear and a lesson are included, and there’s no entrance fee for Buck Island. National park fees are included on our trips.

Time left over? Ideas near the pier

If you’re back early, Frederiksted has its own history. The NPS says Fort Frederik was built between 1752 and 1760 and was reportedly the first foreign fortification to salute the newly established United States, in 1776. At the southwestern tip of the island, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge protects the largest leatherback sea turtle nesting beach in the U.S. and its territories. For more ideas, see our list of things to do in St. Croix.

Ship day checklist

• Your ship’s docking and all-aboard times, in local time
• Your booking confirmation and our number: (340) 773-2628
• A plan for the taxi there and back, about 40 minutes each way
• Arrival at your departure point 30 minutes before departure

Running late on the day? Call us as soon as you can. And if your ship skips St. Croix or changes its schedule, call us too: we’ll help with your booking under our cancellation policy.

Booking tips for cruise passengers

• Book ahead. The morning half day is the best fit for most cruise guests, so reserve your spot before you sail.
• Know the cancellation rules. On public tours, cancel 48 hours or more ahead for a full refund. Within 48 hours you get a 50% refund, and day-of cancellations and no-shows aren’t refunded. If we cancel for weather, we’ll reschedule or refund you in full. See our cancellation policy.
• Traveling as a group? Groups of 10 or more save 10% automatically on the half day trips when booking online.