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St. Croix, USVI

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:02:13 +0000

ST. CROIX : Overview

OVERVIEW

St. Croix, the largest of the US Virgin Islands spans 82 square miles. Besides beautiful beaches scattered around the island, this island paradise has many cultural events throughout the year. The largest event begins the first Thursday of December and runs through early January, and is known as the “Crucian Christmas Festival. If you’re searching for a relaxing destination that caters to the physically challenged or mature traveler, St. Croix is a wonderful place to visit.

Accessibility on St. Croix can be researched and planned through the USVI Barrier Free Travel Website.

LANGUAGE

The official language of the U.S. Virgin Islands is English.

CURRENCY

The official currency of the U.S. Virgin Islands is the U.S. dollar.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

ST. CROIX : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

Henry E. Rohlsen Airport: The Henry E. Rohlsen Airport is a small international/public airport.

“STX is extremely accessible. We have been there on numerous occasions with my father who uses a rolling walker and in the past few years has been using a wheelchair. The airport is all on one level and they have large accessible bathrooms. We use American Airlines and they always offer to use the lift to get into the planes and the aisle chair if needed.” Stacy, 11/30/2009

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FERRY

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CRUISE PORT

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TAXI/SHUTTLE/RENTAL CAR (Wheelchair Van)

A variety of St. Croix taxi companies are located at the airport.

“There are not any rental companies providing wheelchair accessible vehicles on the island.” Stacy, 11/30/2009

Wheel Coach Services, Inc.: Provide wheelchair accessible transportation and tours for people with disabilities. Please call 340719-9335 for further information.

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ST. CROIX : Accommodations

HOTELS

St. Croix offers accessible hotel options. Please visit the USVI Barrier Free Travel Website for a complete list of accessible hotels.

“We have stayed at 2 different hotels over the years in STX. We first stayed at the Hibiscus Beach Hotel west of Christiansted. It was fine for the years that my father only used his rolling walker. As his condition has progressed we have changed to the Divi Carina Bay Resort. They have 2 accessible rooms. One has a roll-in shower and the other has a tub that you can easily get into. They staff is always very helpful. The beach is very accessible as the slope is a low angle. The pool area is also accessible. They have an elevator in the main lobby.” Stacy, 11/30/2009

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LUXURY RESORTS

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ST. CROIX : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

Wheel Coach Services, Inc.: Provide wheelchair accessible transportation and tours for people with disabilities. Please call 340 719-9335 for further information.

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ACTIVITIES

Diving/Snorkeling: There are several dive companies located on the island of St. Croix that offer people with disabilities a chance to dive the beautiful waters of St. Croix. The following website lists dive companies to contact – USVI St. Croix

Buck Island: “We recently made our first trip out to Buck Island using Caribbean Sea Adventures. They were awesome! My father went in his wheelchair (a lightweight transport chair) and they lifted him right in the chair from the dock into the boat. He had always been nervous about making that trip but he said it was well worth it!! They also offered him assistance with swimming and snorkeling but he did not feel comfortable to do so. They were very accommodating!!!” Stacy, 11/30/2009

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NIGHTLIFE

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ST. CROIX : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

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ST. CROIX : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

The Caribbean can get quite hot, and one can easily overheat while exploring the island. One of the biggest health problems on St. Croix can be overexposure to the sun. Be mindful and bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and cool.

St. John, USVI

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:40:04 +0000

ST. JOHN : Overview

OVERVIEW

St. John is one of the most tranquil islands of the Caribbean and one of the smallest of the Virgin Islands. It’s known as a popular honeymoon destination and for possessing some of the most beautiful (accessible) beaches in the world. St. John’s beauty has remained pristine and welcomes everyone to come enjoy what the island has to offer.

Accessibility on St. John can be researched and planned through the USVI Barrier Free Travel Website.

LANGUAGE

The official language of the U.S. Virgin Islands is English.

CURRENCY

The official currency of the U.S. Virgin Islands is the U.S. dollar.

QUICKLINKS

ST. JOHN : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

There are no airports located on St. John., but there is an airport on neighboring island, St. Thomas. To access St. John, one must go by boat or ferry.

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FERRY

St. John (Cruz Bay) can be accessed by ferry. There are two ferry dock locations on St. Thomas. One ferry dock is located in Charlotte Amalie and the other is located in Red Hook (45 minutes from Charlotte Amalie). All three ferry docks are wheelchair accessible, but access depends on the tide (especially at Charlotte Amalie). It may be necessary to hire Dial-A-Ride to use the lift to access the boat. Cruz Bay, Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook ferrys can be accessed via ramp with assistance.

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CRUISE PORT

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TAXI/SHUTTLE/RENTAL CAR (Wheelchair Van)

Dial-A-Ride: Dial-A-Ride is a service that provides wheelchair accessible transportation for a fee. It costs $30 to register, which is a lifetime membership. Other costs depend on where you would like to go on the island of St. John. You can contact Dial-A-Ride via email: dar@viaccess.net or by telephone 340 776-1277.

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ST. JOHN : Accommodations

HOTELS

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LUXURY RESORTS

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ST. JOHN : Entertainment

ST. JOHN : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

Schneider Regional Medical Center: The Roy Lester Schneider Hospital is located on St. Thomas and serves not only the local people of St. Thomas, but also neighboring islands as well. There is no hospital located on St. John.

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

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ST. JOHN : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

The Caribbean can get quite hot, and one can easily overheat while exploring the island. Be mindful and bring plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and cool.

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI

admin — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:01:52 +0000

CHARLOTTE AMALIE : Overview

OVERVIEW

Charlotte Amalie is the largest city of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and also serves as the capital. It is a busy port on the Caribbean cruise ship circuit, and is worth a visit. The island offers a variety of activities including shopping, dining, an accessible beach with accessible snorkeling, and nightlife.

LANGUAGE

The official language of the U.S. Virgin Islands is English.

CURRENCY

The official currency of the U.S. Virgin Islands is the U.S. dollar.

QUICKLINKS

CHARLOTTE AMALIE : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

Cyril E. King Airport, located west of Charlotte Amalie, offers convenient access to the island of St. Thomas. The airport features the following resources for travelers with a disability: Automatic opening and revolving doors, restrooms with wheelchair accessible stall, ramps, elevators, lowered public telephones, disabled parking spaces, curb cuts, and a portable wheelchair lift to assist with boarding and disembarking off the plane since the airport does not have a jet bridge.

If wheelchair transport (vehicle with ramp or lift) is needed, arrangements should be booked in advance as these vehicles do not frequent the airport.

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FERRY

If you’re spending more than a day in St. Thomas, another beautiful island to explore nearby is St. John (Cruz Bay), which can be accessed by ferry. There are two ferry dock locations on St. Thomas. One ferry dock is located in Charlotte Amalie and the other is located in Red Hook (45 minutes from Charlotte Amalie). All three ferry docks are fairly wheelchair accessible depending on the tide (especially at Charlotte Amalie). Cruz Bay, Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook ferrys can be accessed via ramp with assistance. To get to the ferry dock, you can prearrange a ride with Dial-A-Ride. Dial-A-Ride is located on both St. Thomas and St. John.

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CRUISE PORT

Charlotte Amalie is served by two distinct cruise ports, which collectively are able to accommodate multiple cruise ships at one time. Because the island is such a popular destination, some cruise ships are forced to moor in the harbor, and their passengers must utilize ferries to access the city. For the physically challenged traveler that is dependent on a electric wheelchair or cart, it is worthwhile to check if your ship will be docking or mooring so you can plan for the stop accordingly. Charlotte Amalie is some distance away from both cruise terminals, and we would recommend utilizing accessible ground transportation to get there.

Havensight: The Havensight Port has a mall with over 100 shops, bars and restaurants, a butterfly farm, and they also have a pharmacy in building 4. The Havensight Mall is wheelchair friendly and most of the shops and restaurants are accessible. If you have problems navigating around the center, visit the Havensight Tourist Center, located near the entrance of Havensight, as they are always happy to answer any questions.

Crown Bay: Holland America uses the Crown Bay port to dock on visits. Crown Bay features a large dock, and was not very crowded, unlike some stops. This dock did not have a curb along the side to prevent falling into the ocean. However, there is plenty of room on the dock which allows one to stay safely away from the edge. Outside the Crown Bay Center Gate are a plethora of shops. The shops are typical jewelry store and souvenir shops. Most of the stores were wheelchair accessible as well as the restaurants, but surprisingly not all were. There is a taxi stand around the right hand corner of the shopping plaza. None of the taxis waiting were wheelchair accessible, and transportation should be secured in advance if accessible travel is needed.

“If you’re looking for something else to do at Crown Bay, unfortunately there’s not much more. It looks like they are still in the process of developing the surrounding area further. You can find more shopping in Havensight or downtown Charlotte Amalie, but you should use transportation to get there. We arranged weeks in advance for Dial-A-Ride, a company with a wheelchair van, to pick us up and take us to an accessible beach, which was about a 40 minute scenic drive with traffic.” Christopher, 3/1/09

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TAXI/SHUTTLE

There are a couple of wheelchair accessible transportation options available on the island of St. Thomas. Click through pictures located on the top right of this page to view vehicle types.

When we visited in 2006, Chilly’s taxi service offered a full-size van complete with electric lift. Chilly’s dropped us off in the center of Charlotte Amalie and picked us up several hours later in town right on schedule. We have also used the accessible tour trolley services and Dial-A-Ride on other visits. Below is a list of transportation options:

Dial-A-Ride: Dial-A-Ride is a service that provides wheelchair accessible transportation for a fee. It costs $30 to register, which is a lifetime membership. Other costs depend on where you would like to go on the island of St. Thomas. You can contact Dial-A-Ride via email: dar@viaccess.net or by telephone 340 776-1277. Dial-A-Ride also provides services on St. John.

“When we used Dial-A-Ride the van was in good shape and could fit 6 people, 1 power wheelchair, and 1 stroller. Our driver, Raniqua (spelling) was very friendly and shared a lot of her island knowledge with us. Our scheduled pick up was for 10:00 AM and Dial-A-Ride arrived within 5 minutes. They were also flexible about where we wanted to go as long as the locals weren’t scheduled to use the service.” Christopher, 1/25/09

Taxi: Contact Mr. Williams through email in advance to schedule a wheelchair accessible cab. Email: ianellis52@hotmail.com

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RENTAL CAR (Wheelchair Van)

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CHARLOTTE AMALIE : Accommodations

HOTELS

Secret Harbour: Secret Harbuor is located in a secluded cove, on the East side of the island. There are a total of 4 ADA, ocean view rooms at this hotel and 1 of the rooms has a roll in shower. To get to the hotel, it’s about a 35 minute drive from downtown Charlotte Amalie. Secret Harbour is also close to the Red Hook ferry terminal that goes to St. John, in case you would like to island hop a bit. The ferry is wheelchair accessible, and Dial-A-Ride, the wheelchair transport, is also on St. John. There is a lot to do at this resort, in fact, there is a dive/water sports center called Aqua Action Dive Center right next door that offers everything from accessible snorkeling and scuba, to beach wheelchairs.

At the resort there are also wheelchair accessible companion bathrooms that can be accessed by a ramp. They are located between the Aqua Dive Center and the Blue Moon restaurant. If you click through the pictures on the top left on this page, you can see a few pictures of the restaurant, bathroom, beach chair, and resort.

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LUXURY RESORTS

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CHARLOTTE AMALIE : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

St. Thomas is a hilly island, and is worth touring – the views of the port and surrounding islands from higher elevations are breathtaking. Tour coaches frequent the cruise terminal, at Havensight, including wheelchair accessible trolleys. A sight seeing tour company called Accessible Adventures is equipped to handle the physically challenged traveler. It is best to call ahead to arrange the tour in case they get booked.

ACTIVITIES

Accessible Scuba and Snorkel Lessons: Aqua Action Dive Center offers accessible scuba and snorkel lessons for people with disabilities. The main instructor has been certified by the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA). Lessons must be booked at least two weeks in advance and be sure to mention you have a disability in order for them to book you with the right instructor.

Butterfly Farm: At Butterfly Farm you can admire the beauty of the many butterfly species up close and personal, as they fly elegantly around the enclosure. You can also be in awe of the various stages the butterfly goes through to becoming a baby butterfly. With assistance, the guides will allow you to hold the butterflies and caterpillars.

“Butterfly Farm is really nice, and you should be able to take your wheelchair through with no issues.” Pam, 1/25/09

Havensight Mall: The Havensight Mall is conveniently located near the Havensight cruise ship dock. The mall is wheelchair friendly and has over 100 shops, restaurants, bars, and shady places to lounge to escape the island sun.

“The Havensight shopping mall on the pier is large and you will be able to go all over it in your chair and into the Yacht Haven Grande area next to it. That area is very nice and offers lots to look at. If you are docked in Crown Bay, you will be able to go in your chair around the pierside shopping area.” Pam, 1/25/09

Skyride to Paradise Point: We found out that Skyride to Paradise Point is not wheelchair accessible.

“The Skyride is like any ski lift, everything is built on the hillside and requires going up and down to various levels. Access from the street is by stairs only.” Pam, 1/25/09

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

The Blue Moon (An American) Cafe: The Blue Moon Cafe is an outdoor cafe, located on the beach. The cafe offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they also have a full bar. You can enjoy the dining experience at a table underneath a tropical palm tree, umbrella, or in the Caribbean sun.

“On our visit to the Secret Harbour resort, we ate at the Blue Moon (An American) Café. We were very impressed with the food, drinks, and the friendly Iguanas that kept coming by to visit. The service was also great!” Christopher, 3/1/09

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CHARLOTTE AMALIE : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

Schneider Regional Medical Center: The Roy Lester Schneider Hospital is located on St. Thomas and is the only facility on St. Thomas for the local people of St. Thomas and visitors.

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

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CHARLOTTE AMALIE : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

The city of Charlotte Amalie is a far walk from the cruise terminal. The Caribbean can get quite hot, and one can easily overheat while wandering through the streets and shops of Charlotte Amalie. Be mindful and bring plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and cool.