ST THOMAS NEVER DISAPPOINTS! CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION TODAY!

Regal Princess/Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI
Monday, October 21, 2024
Sun, 88F

 

Port of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

WARNING:   This post contains information about buying jewelry.

Since this was our 23^rd time in St. Thomas, we knew what we wanted to do. Let me rephrase that—I knew what I wanted to do! But first, because this was our first U.S. port after being in Europe, everyone on the ship had to go through Customs and Border Protection.  Passengers were given a specific time slot to go through this procedure in the ship’s dining room, beginning at 7 a.m.  Apparently all the CBP agents did not show up, so everything was backed up. It is a simple procedure: show your passport and have your photo taken, that is all.  It took us one hour.  We were in the 6^th group. I really felt sorry for those after us because we found out some did not get off the ship until after 11 a.m.  

 

L to R: Regal Princess, Sapphire Princess

Only two ships in port today

When we were finally able to leave the ship at the Havensight port area, we looked for an open air taxi for downtown.  This part was a mess too. Usually, the taxis are organized into those going to beaches and those going downtown.  Taxis were all over the place with virtually no plan for the two groups. Finding a taxi took another 45 minutes. Don’t they know we have jewelry shopping to do?   We did learn later in one of the shops that today/this week was the opening of the season.

 

Open Air Bus in St. Thomas
(photo from another passenger)

I think downtown Old St. Thomas is a treasure—the buildings are very old.  Charlotte Amalie has the largest collection of colonial buildings in the Caribbean. Most of them are classic Caribbean adaptions of English Georgian architecture built by the Danes, dating to the 1830s. What I call the main street is filled with stone buildings that have withstood multiple hurricanes through the years, with major hits about every eight years. Even the double hit in 2017, Hurricanes Irma (178 mph wind, Category 5) and Maria, did not destroy these stone buildings. Of course, other areas of the island near this port were devastated, including Friend H’s favorite hotel.

I wonder what stories these buildings have to tell. Many of the shops maintain the original bare stone walls and I do find them fascinating.  After visiting our favorite jewelry shop, Alpha Jewelers, for a check on my rings, reinforcing the prongs, a thorough cleaning, and replacing a small diamond on one ring (all at no charge), we continued our walk around the charming town.   https://alpha-jewelers.com/

 

Alpha Jewelers

We stopped at Gladys’ Cafe (https://gladyscafe.com/) for lunch where many locals eat, roast chicken, rice and beans, plaintains for TK and a burger for me and then headed back to Alpha to retrieve my rings. I may or may not have made another purchase.  By the way, I am grateful that my brother makes beautiful necklaces for me!

Gladys' Cafe

Inside Gladys' Cafe (photo from Internet)

TK’s Takes: Even though the temperature is 88F, it feels like 99F. This is the only cruise where he went from wearing gloves, layers of shirts, long pants, and a coat to wearing shorts and a tee.

Love this police car!

TK was very interested in this

A Hampton Inn is being constructed

right next to the port at Havensight!

Note:  Tonight at dinner I learned from Friend F that there is a Maitre d' on Sapphire Princess who has worked for Princess for 52  years!!   That is a wonder!