Water Island Five minutes away, a million miles from the schedule
The USVI's fourth island is its best-kept day trip: 400 residents, one speed limit (walking), a national park on half the island, and Honeymoon Beach — the kind of sand you dream about from cruise ships.
The Island Time Forgot (On Purpose)
Water Island — "Little St. James" — was a U.S. Navy base and later part of the Panama Canal Zone before becoming a USVI borough in 1996. The result: no cruise berths, no chain hotels, no traffic. Just a water taxi that drops you at a village of white cottages and palm avenues.
Rent a golf cart or grab a bike at the dock and point yourself west: the island road is one loop with a speed limit of "island." Half of Water Island is Virgin Islands National Park, protecting quiet coves like The Lagoon and the historic ruins of Fort Den-Mark above Grunt Cove — keep an eye out for the resident deer herd on the hillside.
The day's anchor is Honeymoon Beach: a wide, shallow crescent with kayaks and paddleboards for rent, umbrellas and loungers under the palms, and a beach grill mixing rum punches. It's the perfect 9-to-3 escape from a cruise day — back on your ship before the all-aboard whistle.
Zest Tip
Water taxis run roughly 9:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and the ride is about 5–10 minutes. If you booked our Water Island Bike Tour, the transfers, bikes, helmets, guides, swim stop and gratuity are all included.
The Water Island Rhythm
9:45 AM
Taxi Over
Hop the water taxi at Crown Isle Dock — Charlotte Amalie appears 900 yards away, across the harbor.
10:00 AM
Cart or Bike the Loop
Cruise the traffic-free one-lane road to the national-park side. Deer sightings: likely. Traffic: none.
11:00 AM
Honeymoon Beach
Lounger, umbrella, snorkel off the north point, lunch from the grill. This is the whole assignment.
3:30 PM
Fort Den-Mark & Home
Walk the ruins above Grunt Cove, then catch the taxi back for harbor sundowners.
The Water Island Bike Tour
Our guide meets you at the pier. Water transfer, guided history stops, a reef-shark swim and all gear — bike, helmet, water and gratuity included. Daily, 9 hours, 10–25 riders.
Add Water Island to any St. Thomas stay
It's the easiest, most relaxing day trip in the Caribbean.