First thing you'll see when you wake up is an incredibly turquoise bay, sailing boats at anchor and a pretty Caribbean town against the backdrop of green mountains and blue sky. Is this paradise?

Well... St. Thomas might look like paradise at first glance, but you are not the only one that has discovered it. Welcoming more than 1.5 million cruise guests annually, there are days that the town of Charlotte Amalie seems to be on the verge of sinking under the weight of your well-fed shipmates. With continuous traffic jams, obnoxious sales people and store after store selling the same electronic stuff, paradise might feel far, far away at times. Our tip: come in summer and you'll have the island more or less to yourself.

Home to the largest cruise ships in the world, St. Thomas has invested heavily on top notch port facilities. Pictured here from the top decks of Explorer of the Seas is West Indies Dock, a shrewd combination of cruise quay and shopping center! Many cruise guests never venture any further!

When you have shopped to your heart's content, it is time to hail a taxi van, agree a price and venture out to Magen's Bay. Some love it, some hate it but Ship Parade enjoyed an unforgettable day on the pristine sands and in the azure Caribbean Sea. We loved it!

The town of Charlotte Amalie was named after the Queen-consort of King Christian V of Denmark. The Danish took over the rule of the island in 1672, setting up many sugar cane plantations. Many slaves were brought to St. Thomas and for some time the largest slave auctions in the world took place here. In 1848 slavery was abolished but it was not until 1917 that the US Government purchased the islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John for US$ 25 million. Under U.S. rule, tourism to the islands was developed and today the US Virgin Islands attract millions of visitors from all corners of the world. Most popular way to arrive at St. Thomas is by cruise ship. On peak days, there might be up to ten cruise ships docked and anchored at Charlotte Amalie.