Plan your trip to Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands

Charlotte Amalie—the main city of St. Thomas and the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands—lies on a famous deep-water harbor, once a favorite pirates’ lair. Today, it’s one of the most popular port stops for Caribbean cruise liners, and the city has grown to support the barrage of tourists. Duty-free shops and high-end boutiques line Charlotte Amalie’s streets, including Havensight Mall.

Aside from being a shopper’s paradise, Charlotte Amalie’s historical district offers fascinating sites including Fort Christian (a Danish fort built in the late 1600s)—which also houses a Virgin Islands history museum—and the 99 Steps (actually, 103 steps).