I wouldn't go shopping on a no-cruise ship day just because there won't be as many vendors in the plaza. Personally I would head to Trunk Bay that day since it won't be overrun with people.

sc dude,

Whenever there is a day with no ships in port we often head for Coki Beach. It really is a lovely beach with lots of local atmosphere. If you are interested in going to the aquarium next to Coki, Coral World, it would also be much less crowded. Another St. Thomas beach that is much nicer when there are no cruise ships docked is Magen's Bay. On St. John, Trunk Bay also benefits from the lack of cruise ships, as mentioned above. Many stores downtown and in Havensight Mall stay closed if there are no ships in port.

Gerie

I agree with the Trunk Bay suggestion , I would also say Sapphire Beach is much better on a non-cruise ship day ! Enjoy !

No ships = no shopping. Stores and vendors will be closed.

As others have said, hit the popular beaches!
Magens, Coki, Sapphire.....and Trunk on STJ. Enjoy!

Most stores in STT are open even when there are no ships in town, though not all. Havensight stores generally open at 10 and close at 3 when there's no ship at Havensight. Most stores in town are open normal hours 9-5.

Though it's more crowded, it's best to shop when there's a ship in town, and shop in the "alleys - Hibiscus Alley, Palm Passage, Royal Dane Mall, etc to avoid the crowds. That way, you'll have more stores to choose from since more will be open.

Definitely go to one of the popular beaches - Coki, Sapphire, or Trunk on a no ship day. That way, you can really enjoy yourself.

Thanks for all the recommendations. Will follow up with a trip report once I am back.

Karen,

very different from my experience. We hit Main Street on a no ship day and it was like a ghost town - stores had the doors closed and it was hard to find anything open. maybe we tried on the wrong day or something.

Are the stores at YHG open w/o regards to the cruise ship schedule?

MOST of the stores everywhere on the island are open even when there are no ships in town. The hotels generally recommend to their guests that they shop on no ship days, and locals prefer to shop without the crowds so the stores open though maybe on an abbreviated schedule for the day. So, yes, most of the Yacht Haven Grande stores were open.

I was on the Waterfront yesterday after 4:30, and I noticed the Captain's Corner, Local Color, Tommy Hilfiger, and Tradewinds stores were open and there was no ship. I didn't go on Main St, though.

What about shopping centers that are open in the evening? Are there any? Thanks.

Evening hours are very unpredictable for most stores, but I think Dolphin Dreams in American Yacht Harbor on the east end is open in the evening. Yacht Haven Grande's original plan was to have shops open in the evening, but so far, that hasn't happened but maybe once or twice. That will probably change during season, though.

Some of the shops on St John are open until 9, because people are walking to the bars and restaurants.

When ships stay in Havensight late, some of the stores stay open until maybe 7 p.m. That's either on a Tue or Wed.

Unless you want to go to KMart...that's open in the evening all the time!

Ms411 - are you and "Karen" the same person?