Buck Island
Cruise Ship Crowd Forecast
High Risk
2 ships in port today carrying 6,501 passengers
Best time to visit: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Today's Hourly Forecast
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High Risk
Buck Island
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Ships Contributing to Crowds Today
Vision Of The Seas
at Frederiksted
2,443 passengers
Adventure Of The Seas
at Frederiksted
4,058 passengers
How to Read the Hourly Timeline
Each box below represents one hour. The color tells you the expected crowd level from cruise ship visitors at that time.
Low
Few or no cruise ship visitors expected.
Moderate
Expect cruise ship visitors but shouldn't be overwhelming.
High
Expect large crowds. Consider going early, late, or picking another day.
Wed
22
Today
April 22, 2026
2 ships, 6,501 passengers
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Thu
23
April 23, 2026
No ships scheduled
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Fri
24
April 24, 2026
No ships scheduled
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Sat
25
April 25, 2026
No ships scheduled
Sun
26
April 26, 2026
1 ship, 2,573 passengers
7a
8a
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1p
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Mon
27
April 27, 2026
No ships scheduled
Tue
28
April 28, 2026
No ships scheduled
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About Buck Island
Buck Island Reef National Monument is a protected island off St. Croix's northeast coast with an underwater snorkeling trail. Cruise excursion boats typically depart from Frederiksted or Christiansted, arriving about an hour after the ship docks.
Crowd estimates are based on published cruise ship schedules, passenger capacity, and arrival/departure times. Real crowd levels depend on weather, excursion bookings, and actual occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do cruise passengers visit Buck Island?
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Via excursion boat from Frederiksted or Christiansted. Trips typically take 45 minutes each way, with 2-3 hours snorkeling the underwater reef trail. Book through the cruise line or an NPS-authorized concessionaire.
What is Buck Island Reef National Monument?
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Buck Island is a protected islet off St. Croix's northeast coast with a coral reef ecosystem. It has the only underwater snorkel trail in the US National Park System.
Is Buck Island crowded today?
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Today 2 ships in port carrying 6,501 passengers, so Buck Island crowd risk is high. Best time to visit today: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM. Excursion boats typically arrive about an hour after the cruise ship docks at Frederiksted.