St. Thomas Upgrading Port for the World’s Biggest Cruise Ships

St. Thomas is gearing up for a major upgrade — and cruise travelers are going to notice. The island’s main cruise facility is tackling a long-standing challenge that has kept the biggest ships in the world from docking there.

St. Thomas Is Getting Deeper — Literally

The West Indian Company Limited, better known as WICO, runs the Havensight dock in St. Thomas. For years, the dock had plenty of space for large ships — but the water wasn’t deep enough for the largest ones to get in safely.

That’s about to change. A major dredging project is set to begin in September 2026. The goal is to deepen the channel and the turning basin so the newest, biggest cruise ships can sail right in.

“We have the dock space and the berthing space to take a large ship,” said Joseph Boschulte, president and CEO of WICO. “However, we didn’t have the depth of the channel and the turning basin to allow the largest vessels to come in safely. After this dredging is done, that changes.”

The project was awarded to Orion Marine Construction. The company has a strong track record in the Caribbean and around the world. Work is expected to wrap up by mid-2027.

Big Ships, Big Opportunity

Right now, the largest ships — like Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class vessels — have to dock at Crown Bay, St. Thomas’s second cruise port. Once the dredging is done, Charlotte Amalie Harbor will be open to that next generation of mega-ships.

WICO is already projecting strong numbers for fiscal year 2027. The port expects 362 ship visits and 1.2 million passengers through Havensight. That’s a big deal for the island’s economy.

Five ships will make their very first calls to the WICO dock in 2027. Those ships are the Carnival Festivale, Carnival Firenze, Explora III, Norwegian Aura, and Seven Seas Prestige.

Something for Every Type of Cruiser

That list of new ships isn’t random. It covers mainstream, premium, and ultra-luxury cruise lines. Boschulte says that mix is exactly what St. Thomas needs.

“I’m a firm believer in diversification,” Boschulte said. “All economic levels benefit the island and all the ancillary industries that depend on cruise traffic. When people think of Carnival Cruise Line they think one type of passenger. Disney is different again. Explora and Regent bring a completely different traveler to St. Thomas.”

Different cruise lines bring different types of travelers. Disney guests tend to book shore excursions in advance. Carnival guests are more likely to explore on their own.

Those independent travelers are a huge boost for local businesses. They hop in local taxis, hire smaller tour operators, and spend money at independent shops. “If you talk to our taxi concession, they deal with more non-pre-paid clients,” Boschulte said. “Those smaller businesses invest in themselves because they are competing for that business. Their taxis are clean, their service is sharp. Both models benefit the island but in different ways.”

Competing With Private Islands

One of the biggest questions facing Caribbean ports today is the rise of cruise line private islands. Carnival’s Celebration Key, Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day destinations, and MSC’s Ocean Cay are all pulling passengers away from traditional port stops.

Boschulte takes this trend seriously. He’s studied it closely and understands the appeal. “Private islands have been around for a while, but now they are offering bigger and more spectacular resort-style packages,” he acknowledged.

But he believes St. Thomas has something private islands simply can’t offer — authenticity. “There are still thousands of people who still want something that is really authentic about their experience they can find on their own,” he said. “They don’t just want an obvious package, they prefer to go rogue and get stuck into the real feel of the place.”

His plan is to push St. Thomas toward more hands-on, local experiences. Think real food, genuine beaches, and moments that feel truly local — not manufactured.

“More interactive experiences, the ability to taste local food, beautiful authentic beaches, gritty and great real experiences instead of just always choosing a pre-organized package,” he said. “I still believe that people crave that.”

St. Thomas Is Back — and Then Some

The numbers back up the positive outlook. Through May 2026, WICO had already welcomed 302 ship calls and nearly 946,200 passengers. That’s a strong pace heading into an even bigger 2027.

The pandemic hit St. Thomas hard. The island went without a single cruise ship for 18 months. “But things are now normalizing and getting so much better,” Boschulte said. “We are getting back to above normal and this fiscal year we see as our new base. Oh, and I’m super bullish!”

More Changes Coming at Havensight

The dredging project isn’t the only upgrade in the works. The WICO board recently approved plans to develop more than 13 acres of land at the Havensight dock. The port’s water distribution system will also get an upgrade.

Boschulte sees the land development as a chance to rethink the whole guest experience at St. Thomas. That could include new hotels and hospitality options that keep visitors engaged even beyond their cruise stop.

With a signed dredging contract, a growing ship schedule, and five new ship relationships starting in 2027, St. Thomas is clearly playing offense. “The cruise industry is growing again, which is wonderful,” Boschulte said. “And St. Thomas is so ready.”