The Leeward Antilles also includes several islands which belong to Venezuela, but take care visiting them. Since 2012 he's been cruising the world with his wife and living aboard full time. Gift shops and restaurants are also on site. The USVI consist of 4 larger islands: St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island, and some 50 smaller islets and cays. Is it even possible to transit from Flordia to the Virgin Islands as I think I would have to find fuel every 10 hours. Charlotte Amalie - St. Croix Charlotte Amalie - St John Charlotte Amalie - Tortola BVI Red Hook - St John 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. So how might you sail the Caribbean, and what are the distances and times involved? 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. Just tell us the best email address to send your tips to: Improve Sailing Re: Florida to British Virgin Islands route on power? Sitting nearly 4 miles east of St. Thomas, St. John is the smallest (only 20 square miles) and least populated of the U.S. Virgin Islands. But where to go and when? [10] The first slave ships arrived in 1673, and St. Thomas became a slave market. On a straight-line course, the rhumb line distance from Miami to St. Thomas is a little over 950 nautical miles (nm). Sasker van Heringawei 16E 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. Blue Ocean Transport specializes in shipping vehicles between U.S. mainland and St. Thomas and St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Find directions to St Thomas, browse local businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and more. [5], Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World. However, because the islands are a U.S. territory, most cars are imported from the mainland United States and therefore the steering column is located on the left side of the vehicle. St. Thomas, thirteen miles long by four miles wide, encompasses a little over 31 square miles. But you're headed through The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos - that's a tropical paradise, right? It's efficient, comfortable, and fun - the ride alone is worth the cost of the ticket. 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. 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. I-65 is not without risk, since you're offshore, and depending when you sail you may face serious offshore storms or even hurricanes. A stingray pool where guests can feed the stingray after the presentation. The Leeward Antilles aren't in "Island Hopping" range, since reaching them from the Windward Islands is a multi-day offshore passage. It has a deep-water harbor that was once a haven for pirates and is now one of the busiest ports of call for cruise ships in the Caribbean, with about 1.5 million/plus cruise ship passengers landing there annually. Distances are in Nautical Miles, times are in hours rounded UP to the nearest hour. One word to the wisethe taxi drivers and store barkers downtown are the only exception. This gives you plenty of time to wait for favorable conditions and better weather, make night passages to avoid wind, and avoid the worst of the pounding. There are a few natural harbors and protected bays. This sprawling country has many smaller islands you can hop between, most are only a few miles apart. Most of the islands rise only to a few hundred feet above sea level. How far is Saint Thomas from Miami, FL? Built in 1833 for a congregation founded in 1792, it is the synagogue with the longest history of continuous use on what is now United States soil. The Roques Archipelago is one of the more popular spots, but check current conditions before planning a visit. In 1691, the town was renamed to Charlotte Amalie after Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (16501714), queen consort to King Christian V of Denmark-Norway. St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands has been revitalized in recent years. [citation needed], Given its harbors and fortifications, Saint Thomas still retained a strategic importance, and thus, in the 1860s, during the American Civil War and its aftermath, the United States government considered buying the island and its neighbors from Denmark for $7.5 million. Romantic Sunset, Hotels and accommodation near Virgin Islands, Providenciales Airport PLS to Virgin Islands, Raleigh Durham Airport RDU to Virgin Islands, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport AMS to Virgin Islands, Chicago O Hare Airport ORD to Virgin Islands, New York La Guardia Airport LGA to Virgin Islands. The U.S. Department of the Interior took over administrative duties in 1931. The continued export of sugar was threatened by hurricanes, drought, and American competition. You'll see some of the most spectacular megayachts in world in St. Barts, it's a popular spot for the larger boats. 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]. If you have any questions about events, activities and goings on while you are visiting, enter your email on the home page of www.virginislandsaver.com. [26], Magens Bay as seen from Drake's Seat, St. Thomas. 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. Sign up to receive Virgin Islands articles, updates and offers. Two of the three islands (St. Thomas and St. John) are in close proximity and can potentially be done in the same trip. I am a first time boat owner so forgive me if I dont know the lingo. This covered a period of almost a year, since we often spent weeks or even months in some places, especially during hurricane season. It also adds an extra 30 minutes for take-off and landing. Though it's a petite 32 square miles, the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Thomas boasts a few great all-inclusive hotelsall the better for having a stress-free home base while sailing, snorkeling . Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. It's about 1,150 miles (as the crow flies) from Miami to St. Thomas - the actual cruising distance will be longer. Currently, we are unable to provide travel restriction information for leaving United States. 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. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. 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. [20] The lowest recorded temperature was 11C (52F) in November. On St. Thomas, life tends to move at a slower pace than on the mainland. To get a sense of the thorniness of crossing this stretch of water, take a closer look at where this route goes through the Bahamas. What to pack You'll find everyone dressed fairly casually in the Virgin Islands. Since then I've enjoyed sailing very much - and I've never been afraid of the water again. There is widespread community transmission globally. Do you want to earn money to write on our website? As far as islands to hit on the way down, most people making the passage work their way through the Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos, past Puerto Rico and the Spanish Virgins before ending in St. Thomas or one of the other USVI's . Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket? If you could sail it straight though, how long would it take? From there you can either take a car barge to St. John or the people ferry. - to help you get the most out of your next trip. St. Martin (the French side of the split island of Saint Martin), St. Barts, and Guadeloupe are French overseas territories. Contact us Learn More{{/message}}. Also, once you hit the trade winds, the sailing becomes upwind and much less comfortable. Recommended Fly Orlando Sanford to London Fly from Orlando Sanford (SFB) to London (YXU) 3h 28m $276 - $649 Cheapest 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. Heading further south, the Windward islands start with Martinique, then St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. . 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. Id like to go to the USVI this fall. A sea lion show that is held twice daily in Marine Gardens. ImproveSailing is compensated for referring traffic and business to this companies. Carrying a passport can still be a good idea as hopping between islands from St. Thomas is fairly easy, and a passport is required for travel to the British Virgin Islands such as Tortola or Virgin Gorda. What airlines fly to St Thomas to Miami? William has been sailing and owning boats for over twenty years. The two islands are maybe 6 miles apart at their closest points. [11], While the sugar trade had brought prosperity to the island's free citizens, by the early 19th century Saint Thomas was in decline. In 1917, Saint Thomas was purchased (along with Saint Croix and Saint John) by the United States for $25 million in gold ($529 million today),[18] as part of a defensive strategy to maintain control over the Caribbean and the Panama Canal during the First World War. For the latest travel status, please check the official page for U.S. Virgin Islands. Free WIFI! Required fields are marked *, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. From the airport you rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Redhook (east end) St. Thomas. It ends in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. But it works better if you start further north. The total straight line flight distance from Orlando, FL to Saint Thomas is 1,256 miles. Start planning today. Despite natural disasters such as Hurricane Hugo (1989), Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn (1995), and Hurricanes Irma and Maria (2017) the island's infrastructure continues to improve as the flow of visitors continues. Here is a Google map to get from the airport to . If you have a couple of months to explore and gunkhole in the Bahamas on the way down or you don't like long offshore trips, you may have the time to make the Thorny Path a little less prickly. In terms of airport transfer options, what are my alternatives (e.g., bus, shuttle, etc.) Protected by Hassel Island, the harbor has docking and fueling facilities, machine shops, and shipyards and was a U.S. submarine base until 1966. St Thomas is a small island with 32 square miles . Privacy Policy, Improve Sailing helps you to make your sailing dream actionable, by writing in-depth articles on practical questions. Hundreds of ferries and yachts pass by the Town each week. In 1954, passage of the U.S. Virgin Islands Organic Act officially granted territorial status to the three islands, and allowed for the formation of a local senate with politics dominated by the American Republican and Democratic parties. Hi, many thanks for the information was most helpful. When travelling within the territory no passport is required but if you are going to or coming from the USVI - don't forget your passport! At six knots, sailing from Florida to the Virgin Islands would take you about seven days. You will be solicited at least 50 times for a taxi or some jewelry sale. The average price for direct flights from Jacksonville, Florida to St Thomas Island is $463. If foul weather catches up to you, theres little choice but to ride it out. But the answer is a bit more complicated, so we'll give you some detail about why. Made it difficult for hilltop residents. Your subscription could not be saved. Currently, we are unable to provide international travel restriction information for U.S. Virgin Islands relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Directions. [8] The first congregation was the St. Thomas Reformed Church, which was established in 1660 and was associated with the Dutch Reformed Church. [7], The Dutch West India Company established a post on Saint Thomas in 1657. 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. Saint Thomas has a tropical savanna climate (Aw according to the Kppen climate classification) with a drier season and a wetter season. All times are based on an average speed made good on the plotted course of 5, 6, or 7 knots. The island is renowned as the biggest tax-free, duty-free shopping hub of the Caribbean and is home to many artists. [14] He began the first newspaper in the islands, known as The Herald. St. Croix is 84 square miles in size, 22 miles long and the widest point is a little more than 6 miles. Visit the National Heritage Sites Black Beard's Castle Fort Christian St Thomas. In fact, more than half of the island is dedicated to . When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, the area was inhabited by Caribs, Arawaks, Ciboney and Tano native peoples. It currently holds the St. Thomas Museum, which holds artifacts and art of the Dano-Norwegian period. Not a sailboat but powered by two gas engines, basically Chevy 350 V8s. Distance from Virgin Islands to Florida is 1989.07 kilometers . The island has many regular taxis from compact size to large vans, as well as open-air, covered trucks called "safaris" with bench seats. At six knots that would take about ten and a half days. 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. Protected by Hassel Island, the harbor has docking and fueling facilities, machine shops, and shipyards and was a U.S. submarine base until 1966. A lot of sailors heading to the Virgin Islands from the continental U.S. prefer to leave from further north. At six knots that would take about ten and a half days. Taking enough time the Thorny Path can be a much more pleasant experience over two to three months. Great article. As you can see from the chart and route snapshot, the rhumb line route from Miami runs Southeast, and crosses right over several large islands and complex archipelagos. Allow things to be accomplished at their own pace. Pack light clothing, a sun. It is on the southern shore at the head of Saint Thomas Harbor. #topofthelinetransport #usvishipping #autoshipping #vehicleshipping #cartransport #lcltrucking #caribbeanshipping #lclshipping #fclshipping. Virgin Island Ferry Schedules Ferry Schedules Ferry Schedules are published for information purposes only as a service to all tourism interest. You can download the Excel spreadsheet I've used to calculate these itineraries here for free. Saint Thomas receives 989 millimeters (38.9in) of precipitation annually over 163.6 precipitation days. Free shipping for many products! Carrying a passport can still be a good idea as hopping between islands from St. Thomas is fairly easy, and a passport is required for travel to the British Virgin Islands such as Tortola or Virgin Gorda. Where the "island" column is blank on departure, it's a repeat of the row above. 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. To give you a sense of why and how you might plan your sailing itineraries. 9034 GD Marsum Virgin Gorda to St Thomas (calls at Road Town, Tortola) 6:30am 2:45pm: 6:30am . [Note: The distance between cities in U.S. Virgin Islands distance chart below is straight line distance (may be called as flying or air distance) between the two locations in U.S. Virgin Islands . Rodney Bay in the north has most of the marine services, though the scenic Pitons near Soufrire in the south is a popular departure point. Additional terms apply. It was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1977. The cheapest flight from Tampa to Saint Thomas Island was found 42 days before departure, on average. Barbados lies about eight-five miles east of St. Vincent, and can be a tricky upwind sail. Great Location. The options include taking a passenger ferry, car barge, water taxi, boat charter, or term yacht charter. [23], During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries a group of French Catholic immigrants known as the Chacas came to St. Thomas from the St. Barthlemy islands to the east, forming one community of fishermen and one of farmers.[24][25]. You can stay on the French side in the lagoon, but you still must transit the Dutch side to leave via the Simpson Bay bridge, so you still have to deal with the Dutch authorities to pay the fees. Luggage fees may apply. The cheapest RT non-stop flight costs US$197 per person. At six knots, sailing from Florida to the Virgin Islands would take you about seven days. Your trip begins in Orlando, Florida. OK, it isn't cheap, but it can absolutely be done on a budget. This distance is equal to 1235.98 miles, and 1073.33 nautical miles. Did you find the answer to your specific question? St. Croix is about 40 miles away from St. Thomas. For crews without blue water experience or not comfortable being a hundred miles from land, this is a big draw. The Safari Taxi System on St. Thomas allows riders to hop on and hop off whenever they please for just a few dollars per ride (think of a colectivo in Mexico). William has been sailing and owning boats for over twenty years. Le Marin is the most popular port for cruising and charter yachts. A natural harbor is found in Coral Bay, however Cruz Bay is the main town and harbor. However, petty crime still occurs in tourist areas so it's important to take the proper precautions. Depending on where you leave from - northern Florida or somewhere in the Bahamas - you may sail north to avoid the trades. The Greater Antilles includes the islands of Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Hispaniola (with the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. Thorough and considerate. . Thank you, Thanks great write up Leaving Early April from Tampa Fl to St Thomas, Im preparing to head to Dominican republic in about a week For the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel status in United States, please check government recommendations. St Thomas Map The City of St Thomas is located in the State of United States Virgin Islands. Ease into a conversation instead of jumping right in with a request by asking how the persons day is going, but avoid getting too personal too quickly. 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. 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.. Today tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. Since you can't sail that straight line, if you're in a hurry you can sail offshore. Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands are U.K. territories, the U.S. Virgin Islands are an American territory, and the Netherlands administer Saba, Statia, and the Dutch Half of Sint Maarten. The land slopes to flat-lands on the southern side of the island. In 2010 the City had a population of 18,481, which makes it the largest city in the Virgin Islands Archipelago. Like all resort and vacation destinations, it pays to shop for the best deals. The St Thomas time zone is Atlantic Standard Time which is 4 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).