82°F
Clear sky · feels like 87°
Red Hook, St. Thomas ↔ Cruz Bay, St. John · published schedule, not a live departure guarantee — confirm same-day before you go.
First time here?
What and where is St. John?
The smallest of the three main U.S. Virgin Islands — about 20 square miles, two towns, roughly 3,900 residents, four miles east of St. Thomas across Pillsbury Sound. U.S. territory: dollars, English, no passport for U.S. citizens from the mainland, and Atlantic Standard Time all year.
Why is it different from its neighbours?
About 60% of the island is Virgin Islands National Park, established in 1956 on land donated by Laurance Rockefeller. The park keeps the North Shore beaches — Trunk Bay, Cinnamon, Maho — undeveloped and the snorkeling world-class. There is no airport and no cruise pier.
When should I go?
December–April is the dry, busy high season. May–June and November are quieter with warm water. Hurricane season runs June 1–November 30 and peaks August–October, when some restaurants close and the weather page earns its keep.
How do I actually get there?
Fly into St. Thomas (STT), taxi to Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie, then take the passenger ferry to Cruz Bay. The Red Hook crossing is about 20 minutes and runs roughly hourly. Full steps, fares and schedules are under Getting here and Ferries.