Why Honeymoon on St. Croix
St. Croix is the choice for couples who want space. Days unfold without traffic, without crowds at the beach and without the sense of being one of thousands of visitors. Locals call themselves Crucians. The island has a stronger everyday culture than the more tourist-focused St. Thomas.
Underwater it is the standout of the three islands. Buck Island Reef National Monument, a short boat ride from Christiansted, has elkhorn coral and a marked snorkel trail. Off the north shore a steep wall drops into deep water close to land. The Frederiksted pier is famous among divers for seahorses and octopus at night.
Add a glowing bioluminescent bay, two distilleries open for tastings and a historic district run by the National Park Service. A week fills easily.
When to Go
Like the rest of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix is at its best from December through April. Expect dry days, steady trade winds and highs in the low 80s Fahrenheit. St. Croix lies a little farther south and is slightly drier on its east end, which is covered in cactus and scrub rather than forest.
The Crucian Christmas Carnival runs from late December into early January, with parades, food fairs and music in both towns. It is festive but books up lodging.
May and June bring calm seas and lower rates. They are excellent months for diving. Hurricane season lasts from June through November, peaking August to October, when some restaurants and hotels close for a few weeks. Leatherback turtles nest on Sandy Point beach in spring. Access is restricted during that time.
Where to Stay
Christiansted is the most practical base. You can walk from a small hotel or condo to dinner on the boardwalk. Boats to Buck Island leave from the harbor. Hillside rentals east of town add views without much driving.
The Buccaneer, a family-run resort just east of Christiansted that has welcomed guests since the 1940s, spreads over a former sugar estate with several beaches, tennis and a golf course. It is a classic choice for couples who want a full resort.
Frederiksted suits couples who want quiet and sunsets. The Fred, a kid-free boutique hotel on the waterfront, puts you steps from the pier and Rainbow Beach. The East End has villas on dry, windswept hills near Point Udall, ideal if privacy matters more than nightlife. As a rough guide, small hotels and condos often run about $250 to $450 a night in high season, with resort rooms costing more.
Romantic Things to Do
Book a half-day or full-day boat trip to Buck Island. Swim the underwater trail through coral gardens, then come ashore at Turtle Beach, one of the prettiest strands in the Caribbean.
Drive to Point Udall for sunrise. It is the easternmost point of the United States by most measures. The stone sundial monument makes a good backdrop for a photo.
After dark, kayak Salt River Bay with a guide when the moon is new or thin. Watch your paddles light up blue-green. The same park preserves the spot where a Columbus expedition came ashore in 1493.
Spend an afternoon in the rainforest around Mahogany Road, tour a distillery and end with a sunset drink on the Frederiksted waterfront.
Getting There and Around
Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) has year-round nonstops from Miami on American. Seasonal service runs from Charlotte, Atlanta and Chicago. United has added a Saturday flight from Newark. Many travelers also connect through San Juan or St. Thomas.
Short commuter flights connect St. Croix and St. Thomas, which makes a two-island honeymoon simple. Check current schedules, since small carriers change often.
Rent a car. Distances are larger than on the other islands. Taxis are not set up for casual touring. Traffic keeps left. The main roads are in decent shape, though rural roads can be potholed after rain. Allow about 30 to 40 minutes between Christiansted and Frederiksted.
Food and Drink
St. Croix has a serious food scene for an island its size. In Christiansted, a handful of chef-run restaurants in old stone buildings serve modern Caribbean cooking, with Savant a long-standing favorite for a special dinner. The boardwalk bars are better for casual seafood and rum punches with a harbor view.
Try Crucian classics: kallaloo, a leafy stew; fungi and fish; goat water, a spiced goat stew; and pates filled with saltfish or beef. Sweet potato stuffing and johnnycakes turn up at local lunch spots.
Cruzan, founded on the Estate Diamond plantation in the 1700s, offers tours and tastings. So does the newer Captain Morgan distillery. Pours are generous, so pick a designated driver or book a guide.
Honeymoon Tips
Plan Buck Island for your calmest weather day, since winds affect the crossing. Book a tour that includes the snorkel trail and beach time.
Check the moon calendar for the bio bay. A bright full moon washes out the glow, so the best nights fall near the new moon.
Bring water shoes for rocky entries along the north shore and reef-safe mineral sunscreen. Several chemical sunscreen ingredients are banned in the territory.
Because flights are fewer than to St. Thomas, check whether your return falls on a day with direct service. If not, plan an earlier connection via St. Thomas or San Juan. Leave time for US Customs at the airport before you check in.
The Christiansted boardwalk is fun in the evening, but take a taxi back rather than walking quiet streets late at night.
