Charlotte Amalie with Kids
Charlotte Amalie works for families if you pick the day’s anchor first and fit the rest around naps, heat and the ferry or boat times. Cruise-ship days fill the main attractions, so aim to arrive when they open. All prices are in US dollars.
Anchor: Coral World Ocean Park
The park at Coki Point charges US$29 for adults and US$17 for ages 3 to 12, and it lets under 3s in free. Seniors aged 65 and over get 10 percent off. The family pass is US$100. Doors are open 9 am to 4 pm, with the ticket booth closing at 3 pm, and it is open Tuesday to Saturday only in May, June, August and September.
For children, the Undersea Observatory and the touch tanks are the easy wins. Presentations include sea lions at 11:00 and 2:00, a shark feeding at 1:00 and a turtle talk, so plan your lunch around them. Snuba, Sea Trek and the animal encounter programmes are extra and supervised. Whether a child is ready for them is a decision for the parents, and the standard visit is full without them.
Beach: Magens Bay
This beach is run by the Magens Bay Authority and is open from 7 am to 5:30 pm. Children under 12 are free, non-resident adults pay US$7, and parking is US$2. Rental chairs, umbrellas and cabanas help with shade. No lifeguard service is described on the Authority’s page, so supervise swimmers closely.
A ride with a view: the Skyride
The Skyride runs from Havensight up to Paradise Point. It costs US$34.95 for adults and US$24.95 for children. Rain does not stop it, though high wind or lightning can. It closes an hour after the last tram, and its schedule is tied mainly to cruise ships, so read the posted calendar first. Read more: Attraction tours in Charlotte Amalie .
A boat trip: Water Island
An hourly boat from Crown Bay Marina reaches Water Island in about 10 minutes, which suits children who like boats. Pay the captain in cash and plan to catch the 6:15 pm last return. Honeymoon Beach is a short walk or golf-cart ride away, and Dinghy’s Beach Bar rents chairs, umbrellas, paddleboards, kayaks and snorkel gear.
For older children: the zipline
The Tree Limin’ Extreme Zipline operates on St Peter Mountain. Resellers list prices from about US$145, rising to US$209 in cruise packages. Riders need to stand at least 44 inches tall and meet weight limits, so call the operator about your child before booking.
Practical points
Use mineral sunscreen. The territory bans the retail sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate or octocrylene. Carry a little cash for taxis. Hurricane months are 1 June through 30 November.
See the operators’ own pages for Coral World and the Magens Bay Authority , and compare family tours on Viator .