If you’re in St. Thomas on a cruise and you want a beach day that feels easy from start to finish, Magens Bay is the one people keep recommending. The only tricky part is that the simplest plan is the one people tend to second-guess: “Can I just take a taxi and go?”
You can, and that’s exactly what we do in the video. Here’s the exact flow we used, plus a couple of quick checks that keep it simple.
Watch the step-by-step video here: Taxi to Magens Bay from St. Thomas (DIY cruise excursion). If you want the full trip context, this beach day happens during our week on NCL’s newest ship: 7 nights on Norwegian Aqua (full cruise video).
Key Takeaways
- St. Thomas has two main cruise terminals, so confirm whether you’re at Havensight or Crown Bay before you hop in a taxi.
- Bring cash and confirm the per-person taxi rate each way before you leave the port.
- Use the Magens Bay Authority site to double-check current Magens Bay passes and fees before your sailing.
- Build a return buffer that respects your ship’s all-aboard time, not the “back on board” time you wish you had.
When This Guide Helps You
This plan is for you if you want a beach day that’s simple, scenic, and predictable … without committing your whole port day to a bundled tour.
- You’re comfortable taking a shared “safari taxi” for a short ride.
- You want an easy beach with facilities (restrooms and rinse-off showers are a big deal on cruise days).
- You’d rather control how long you stay, instead of being locked into a tour schedule.
A Quick Snapshot of St. Thomas and Why It’s Such a Popular Cruise Stop
St. Thomas sits in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and it has been shaped by centuries of global trade and naval strategy. The island became a Danish possession in the late 1600s, and Charlotte Amalie developed into a major Caribbean harbor over time. In 1917, the United States purchased the Danish West Indies (including St. Thomas) from Denmark, a transfer that still shows up in local culture and place names today.
For modern travelers, the practical upside is that St. Thomas functions as an easy port day for many U.S.-based cruisers. You’re on U.S. territory, using U.S. currency, and the island’s short driving distances make it realistic to do a half-day beach visit and still get back to the ship with a safety buffer.
Why Magens Bay Works So Well on a Cruise Day
Magens Bay is on the north side of St. Thomas, and the shape of the bay matters. It’s naturally protected, which is one reason it’s known for calmer water compared with more exposed stretches of coast. That calm, gradual-entry feel is exactly what you want when you’re trying to make a beach day relaxing instead of chaotic.
The park is managed by the Magens Bay Authority, which operates the beach as a public park and maintains amenities that cruise visitors tend to care about: facilities, rentals, and food options.
Step By Step: Taxi to Magens Bay from the Cruise Port
1) Confirm which cruise port you’re actually in
St. Thomas has two primary cruise ship terminals: Crown Bay (Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal) and Havensight (the West Indian Company Dock). If you’re not sure which one you’re docked at, your ship’s daily schedule usually says it, and you can also compare against the Virgin Islands Port Authority cruise ship port information.
2) Walk to the taxi line and say one sentence
Once you’re off the ship, walk out of the terminal and head to the taxi queue. For this beach day, we didn’t pre-book anything. You walk up and ask for a ride to Magens Bay.
The Magens Bay Authority publishes a straightforward overview of getting there from cruise terminals, including typical drive times and general taxi pricing: How to get to Magens Bay from your cruise ship or resort.
3) Confirm the per-person rate each way, and confirm your return port
This 10-second check prevents confusion later. Before you commit, confirm:
- The per-person cost to get to Magens Bay.
- The per-person cost to get back.
- Which cruise terminal you need to return to (Havensight vs Crown Bay).
Shared safari taxis often wait until they have enough riders to depart. On the return, you’ll usually walk back up to the entrance area and join the taxi line there.
4) Pay the park entry fee at the gate
At the park entrance, you’ll pay admission. In our video, we paid $7 per adult at the gate, and kids 12 and under were free. After combining transportation and entry, our total came out to $31 per adult for the full round trip plus admission.
Since fees can change, check the official page before your sailing: Magens Bay passes.
Timing That Works: How Long to Stay Without Cutting It Close
The only real gotcha on port days is treating “it’s only 15 minutes away” like a guarantee. It’s better to build a buffer that absorbs traffic, taxi fill-up time, and the occasional “wait, where did we leave the towel bag?” moment.
A practical timing template
- All-aboard time: Start with your ship’s all-aboard time and work backward.
- Leave-the-beach time: Plan to leave Magens Bay 90 minutes before all-aboard if you want a calm, unrushed return (more buffer if your ship is tendering, or if you’re traveling during peak crowd days).
- Taxi reality: Add time for the taxi to fill up, especially on the way back when multiple groups are leaving at the same time.
If you want to be extra cautious, set an alarm on your phone for a “leave the beach” time and treat it like a flight boarding time … not a suggestion.
What to Pack for Magens Bay (and what to leave on the ship)
Here’s what we’d bring again for this beach day:
- Cash: Helpful for taxis and entry fees.
- Ship towel: Bring it with you, and bring it back with you.
- Water: It’s a beach day, hydration disappears fast.
- Sun protection: Hat, sunglasses, and reef-safe sunscreen.
- Sand-friendly setup: We used a sand-free blanket, and it’s the kind of small upgrade you appreciate immediately.
- Minimal valuables: Bring what you need, not what you’d be sad about losing.
What You’ll Find at the Beach
Magens Bay is set up for the kind of beach day that’s popular for a reason. Expect calm water, a wide arc of sand, and on-site amenities that support longer stays.
- Facilities: Restrooms and rinse-off showers.
- Rentals: Chairs and umbrellas are typically available to rent.
- Food and drinks: There are food and drink options on site, which is handy if you don’t bring a full picnic (and you can’t usually take food off a ship with you).
For an overview of the park and what’s offered, the Magens Bay Authority site is the best starting point.
Accessibility and Comfort Notes
This beach day works for a lot of travelers, but a few details are worth knowing:
- Walking: You may have a short walk from the taxi drop-off to your spot on the sand.
- Heat: Shade can be limited depending on where you sit, so plan for sun exposure.
- Water entry: The bay is known for calmer water and a more gradual entry, which many people find easier for swimming.
Small Logistics Tips That Save Headaches Later
- Know your port: On the way back, confirm again whether you’re returning to Havensight or Crown Bay.
- Take a photo of your ship’s daily schedule: You want the all-aboard time saved offline.
- Drive-left island: If you’re tempted to rent a car, remember the U.S. Virgin Islands drive on the left, and roads can be winding.
- Prices and policies can change: Fees and taxi pricing can shift, so confirm the current details before you commit.
A Little Extra Context: Why Magens Bay Is Named What It Is
Place names in the Virgin Islands often carry history in plain sight. According to the Magens Bay Authority, the area was renamed “Magens Bay” after Jacob Jorgenson Magens, a territorial governor whose family owned land in the region. In the mid-1900s, financier Arthur S. Fairchild donated a significant portion of the property for use as a public park, with an explicit desire that it be maintained for public use without discrimination.
It’s one of those details that quietly changes how you experience the place. You’re not just visiting a pretty stretch of sand … you’re visiting a park that was intentionally preserved for public access.
Want the exact flow we used?
The most helpful way to see how this looks in real time is to watch the DIY excursion video: Taxi to Magens Bay from St. Thomas (DIY cruise excursion). If you’re planning a similar sailing, the bigger cruise context is here: 7 nights on Norwegian Aqua (full cruise video).
What To Do Next
If you’re building an easy Caribbean cruise playbook, this Magens Bay taxi plan pairs well with a few other practical guides. Next, consider adding a “how to plan port days around all-aboard time” post, and a simple beach gear checklist you can reuse across islands. And if you want the full story around this day, watch the full cruise video for the bigger itinerary context.
If this guide helped, we’d love it if you’d like and subscribe to Replicate the Magic … and tell us what your St. Thomas port day plan looks like.
