With its warm waters, white beaches and protected harbors, St. Croix has been attracting visitors ever since Columbus landed there in 1493. Unfortunately, he was almost immediately attacked by the native Kalinago, and quickly sailed away. The Dutch and English had better luck, forming settlements in 1625, but they fought with each other and subsequent European nations trying to claim the place. Indeed, no fewer than seven nations (including the Knights of Malta and Denmark) have fought for ownership of St. Croix over the years. The U.S. finally bought the island, which is about 40 nm below St. Thomas (and considerably larger than both St. Thomas and St. John) in 1917.
With its colorful, mixed colonial history, Christiansted, the main harbor and the former capital of the Danish West Indies, offers a centuries-old charm that distinguishes it from the other two U.S. Virgins. Frederiksted, the island’s second city, about 15 miles to the west, can be a bit busier, because that’s where the cruise ships dock.
But St. Croix is a laid-back watersports heaven, with reefs for diving, calm water for snorkeling, and almost deserted beaches and anchorages for getting away from it all. For years, the main industry was rum. You can still tour both the Cruzan and Captain Morgan distilleries, and enjoy their products in sampling bars.
Here’s a great story from Southern Boating about what to expect in St. Croix:
