VITRAN buses operate on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John, but routes do not completely cover each island. St. John does have bus service all the way to Coral Bay. The bus service is not reliable on any of the islands, but St. John's operates best. Only opt for the bus if you have plenty of time to spare and a grand sense of adventure. Do not depend on it to get you where you need to go on time, and don't take them at night. You cannot take luggage on buses.
Car
Rental cars are available in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Driving is on the left side of the road, but be aware that the steering wheel is also on the left side of the vehicle. The roads are well marked with route numbers and for the most part are in good shape, but be prepared for some unbelievably steep hairpin turns—especially on St. Thomas and St. John. The law requires use of seat belts at all times.
Ferry
Ferries run between St. Thomas and St. John. Ferries from Charlotte Amalie run approximately every two hours 9 am-5:30 pm (check locally for exact times). Ferries from Red Hook leave at 6:30 and 7:30 am and on the hour 8 am-midnight. Ferries also operate to the British Virgin Islands: between St. Thomas and Tortola and Virgin Gorda, and between St. John and Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke. There is also Friday, Saturday and Sunday ferry service between St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Ship
Many cruise lines include St. Thomas on their itineraries, and some also stop at St. Croix. Smaller ships call on St. John. On St. Thomas, Charlotte Amalie is the main port (and one of the busiest cruise-ship stops in the Caribbean). There are two docks: the West Indian Company dock at Havensight (2 mi/3 km east of town) and Crown Bay (1.5 mi/2.5 km west of town). On St. Croix, the ships occasionally dock at both Christiansted (smaller vessels only) and Frederiksted. On St. John, the port is at Cruz Bay.
Taxi
Taxis are available on all the islands. Fares are regulated and usually available on a printed list. At the St. Thomas airport, you'll have to wait while the taxi driver fills up the vehicle with passengers heading in the same direction. Some taxis may stop to take on additional passengers going in the same direction. Always look for the letters "CP" for St. Croix taxis, "TP" for St. Thomas taxis and "JP" for St. John taxis on the license plate, which identifies authorized taxis.
Creative charging is common on St. Thomas, in particular. If you're traveling solo, you'll have to pay a single rate while the two people next to you traveling together will pay a couple's rate. It makes no sense, but that's the way it is. It does no good to argue, and you'll just get your vacation off to a bad start.
