PassageMaker - April 2011

ruins. It is home to some of the largest mangrove forests in the Virgin Islands, as well as coral reefs and a submarine canyon. Every major period of human habitation in the Virgin Islands is represented: several South American Indian cultures, the extermination of the Caribs by the Spanish, attempts at colonization by a succession of European nations, and enslaved West Africans and their descendants.

This location is the first and only positively documented of two sites associated with Columbus on what is now U.S. territory. On Nov. 14, 1493, on his second voyage to the New World, Columbus came upon the island that the then-dominant Caribs called Cibuquiera (“The Stony Land”). Columbus named it Santa Cruz (“Holy Cross”), which helped give the island its name today. The fleet of 17 vessels (including the Niña, veteran of the first voyage) dropped anchor off the Salt River inlet.

The Visitor Center at Salt River Bay is open November through June. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. When the Visitor Center is closed, information may be obtained at the National Park Service visitor contact station at Fort Christianvaern, part of the Christiansted National Historic Site. (Hours are 8 a.m. to 4: 45 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4: 45 p.m. on weekends and holidays.) Park staff may be available for scheduled tours ashore at Salt River Bay. Those wishing to visit may contact rangers at 340.773.1460 two weeks in advance;

rangers will do their best to meet your requests. Scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking tours can be arranged, too. Contact the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism at 340.773.0495, or the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce at 340.733.1435, for more information.

Visitors are sure to encounter some of St. Croix’s rich cultural diversity in the form of arts, crafts, and music at festivals that happen throughout the year. “Mocko Jumbies” (talented dancers who perform on stilts), reggae and calypso music, steel bands and salsa—all are among the vibrant sights and sounds that add to the island’s broad cultural mix. St. Croix is also the home of two large rum producers: Cruzan Rum, distillers of the Single Barrel brand, and Diageo of Captain Morgan fame. Both distilleries are open for tours.

And did I fail to mention that St. Croix is a diving destination for experienced and newbie scuba divers alike? There are more than 70 moored dive sites along the northern and western shorelines, with attractions that range from deep walls to reefs alive with tropical fish, rays, dolphins, and sharks. As you might expect, there are a number of certified dive shops to help you explore these underwater beauties.

Blessed with captivating natural beauty, extraordinary historic sites, and lively cultural traditions, St. Croix offers a mix of attractions that are worthy of your cruising plans. For more information about St. Croix, log on to www.visitstcroix.com. For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands, go to www.visitUSVI.com.