St. Croix

Frederiksted is the cruise port on the west coast of St. Croix, the largest of the US Virgin Islands. Ships dock at the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility, and the town centre is right there. Frederiksted has colonial-era buildings with gingerbread trim and Fort Frederik, a Danish fort from the 1700s where emancipation was declared in 1848. The pier itself is a popular snorkelling spot, with an artificial reef underneath where sea turtles, seahorses, and tropical fish are common. Christiansted, about 17 miles east, is the other main town and has Fort Christiansvaern and a waterfront boardwalk. The Cruzan Rum Distillery offers tours and tastings. Buck Island Reef National Monument, offshore, has a marked underwater snorkelling trail. The food mixes Caribbean and Danish influences: try fungi (a cornmeal dish) with saltfish. The US dollar is the currency since it's a US territory. No passport is needed for US citizens.