Charlotte Amalie, an Oasis of the Seas port of call

Charlotte Amalie, the capital city of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is one of the most storied and famed ports on any cruise itinerary. Its lovely deep blue-water harbor was once a refuge for swashbuckling pirates such as Blackbeard and Drake who established it as hub for trading stolen goods (booty arg!).

Located on the island of Saint Thomas, Charlotte Amalie is a relatively small town with a population of 19,000. The city is named after the queen consort to King Christian V of Denmark, Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel who lived from 1650-1714.

The downtown area is accessible from where most ships dock (next to Haven Sight Mall) about a mile east of downtown. Walking the shopping district is the most effective way to experience the picturesque alleyways and discover hidden cafes.

Recommended stops include Paradise Point. Take a scenic tram ride to a mountaintop for memorable views of the island. The ride takes just 5 minutes each way, and costs $18. When you get to the top you can take a short walking trail to view local flora and fauna. Also recommended is “99 Steps.” It is a pathway built in the mid 1700s by resident Danes.  They used brick from the hulls of sailing ships that were used for ballasts on the trip over.

The Oasis of the Seas first sailing to Charlotte Amalie departs on Dec 5, 12 2009. If you can wait to book, prices may yet come down. Inside cabins on the Oasis first sailing to Labadee have dropped from $1,099 to $699 in the past week. Can’t make the Oasis? Charlotte Amalie hosts over 1.5 million cruise ship visitors each year so there are plenty of other lines cruising there.

Here is a list of other ships sailing to the famed port next month: RCI’s Adventure of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas; Carnival’s Freedom, Glory, Victory, Liberty; Caribbean Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess,   Sea Princess; Disney Magic; Costa Atlantica; HAL’s Eurodam, Noordam, Westerdam; SeaDream I, SeaDream II; Siverseas Silver Shadow; Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Pearl and MSC’s Poesia.

Photo Source: Charlotte Amalie photo by Daquella manera at flickr