We doubt you make your way to the Caribbean to spend all of your time in a movie theater, but there’s something to be said for settling in to watch a great flick. If watching the big screen is part of your ideal Perfect Day, we’ve got you covered.

This weekend, April 5, 6 and 7, 2019, is the first-ever Caribbean Film & Artistic Cinematic Festival at the University of the Virgin Islands. The festival will feature filmakers from the USVI and beyond. Judges will select winners in several categories, including short documentaries, commercials, short videos and music.

Check out the Saturday and Sunday schedules. You can find more information on the Facebook event. The event is a fundraiser for media equipment and scholarships for UVI communication majors.

If you won’t be here for the Film Festival, fear not. St. Croix has a state-of-the-art theater for your enjoyment. Caribbean Cinemas St. Croix opened in 2017 with eight auditoriums featuring comfortable stadium seating with surround sound and digital projection, including one large-format “extreme” auditorium.

Matador Network just included the U.S. Virgin Islands on a list of The 7 most stunning swimming destinations in the world. If you’re a swimmer, St. Croix has plenty of Perfect Days in store for you.

There is a group called FinFolk Caribbean Swimmers that meets on Saturday mornings to swim and explore different areas around St. Croix. The distances range from 1.4 to 2.3 miles in open water with several different unique conditions. For instance, the Cane Bay to Carambola swim goes over “The Wall,” a dramatic drop in underwater elevation, and the Boiler Bay to Smuggler’s Cove swim is nicknamed the Colorado River of St. Croix because of the strong current. Some swimmers use only goggles, while others outfit with snorkels, masks and fins. They post their schedule on Facebook every couple of months. Swimming with the FinFolk can result in seeing some pretty spectacular marine life — check out their Facebook photos!

photo from the FinFolk Facebook group

FinFolk often times head to a nearby restaurant for breakfast after their swim. It’s a great way to be part of the camaraderie and hear stories from folks who have been swimming St. Croix for 30+ years. Plus, you’ve earned it!

You’ll be ready to enjoy the rest of your Perfect Day on St. Croix before noon. To keep up with your swim-themed day, maybe you’ll indulge in a poolside nap or shopping for a new swimsuit in town!

If you’re really hardcore about swimming, the St. Croix Coral Reef Swim might be for you. There is a 1-mile, 2-mile and 5-mile option — the longest being a swim from Buck Island to The Buccaneer Resort! In 2019, the swim is on Sunday, November 10.

Some people can’t wait for the holidays to be over so they can have a break from parties and celebration, but not on St. Croix! Our St. Croix Christmas Festival, also known as Carnival, started on December 26 and culminates with the Children’s and Adult Parades and closing night at the Village with fireworks.

The parades are an opportunity to see many cultural island traditions. Troupes dress in colorful, feathery handcrafted costumes and dance through the streets. Majorettes twirl batons and march along the parade route to the sounds of festive music. The St. Croix Festival Queen and her court are escorted in convertibles while adorned in bejeweled crowns and elegant dresses. Steel pan bands on double-decker trucks fill Frederiksted with island favorites. Mocko jumbies are decked out in their finest cultural attire.

Expect to make a day of the Adult Parade. The start time is 10am, but we are on island time (some groups place friendly wagers on when the actual start time will be). Of course, you’ll also want to get there a little early to scope out the perfect spot along the route. Take into consideration where the sun will be a various points during the day and be sure to bring sun protection (hat, sunscreen, etc.).

For a Perfect Day on St. Croix, visit the Carnival Village for local treats and stick around for the fireworks at 8pm.

Check out the Virgin Islands Carnival Schedules for dates and times, and the Crucian Christmas Festival Facebook page for photos of past festivals and updates.

Photo courtesy of Parasail Virgin Islands

There’s no question, St. Croix is a beautiful place filled with many perfect days. Imagine if you could see it from a completely different perspective — from 350 feet up in the air. Parasail Virgin Islands is back on St. Croix on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through February. If you’re a thrill-seeker, parasailing should definitely be part of your Perfect Day on St. Croix.

Parasail Virgin Islands has a unique winch boat that allows you to take off and land directly on the boat. A 600 foot tow line will put you about 350 feet in the air. By request, you can do a touch ‘n go where they slow down and touch your toes in the water.

The whole parasailing trip lasts about an hour, with you flight being 8-10 minutes, so you’ll have plenty of time for more adventures during your Perfect Day.

For another unique perspective of the island, hop on the ferry over to Hotel on the Cay. The view looking across the water at Christiansted and Fort Christiansvaern will give you a new appreciation for the quaint town.

Hotel on the Cay has a beach barbecue every day from 11am-4:30pm and The Beach Bar is a great place to hang out. Sometimes they have live music and they do trivia on Wednesday evenings. There is also a watersports shack where you can rent snorkel gear, kayaks and other gear, or sign up for a tour. The ferry to/from Hotel on the Cay is $5.

Even if you’re not on a cruise, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all of the energy of cruise ship day. Vendors line Strand Street in Frederiksted, making it a great time to find gifts from local artisans. You’ll also find several shops and eateries throughout town.

We recommend getting a coffee from Polly’s at the Pier and finding a park bench near the clock tower for some people watching. You may even see a mocko jumbie or two! Often times there will be live music from the gazebo, setting the tone for tourists as they step foot on St. Croix.

As you meander through the street vendors, you’ll find handmade arts and crafts, jewelry, food items, clothing, ceramics and more, as well as souvenirs like t-shirts and hats.

The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts is also located on Strand Street and has undergone renovations. In addition to the downstairs gallery, explore the upstairs galleries showcasing regional artists. The gift shop has a variety of handmade items for sale. There is even a nice courtyard in the back where you can enjoy a cold drink and free WIFI.

Dive shops and boutiques offer a relaxed shopping environment, while restaurants and bars feed off the energy that the cruise ships brings to town. Be sure to all the way down Strand Street to check out The Fred, St. Croix’s newest boutique hotel, as well as the nearby restaurants. You might even decide to rent snorkel gear from a dive shop and take in some underwater scenery in Frederiksted.

It’s also a great opportunity to tour Fort Frederik, which is a U.S. National Historic Landmark, and pay homage to the Emancipation Monument.

Check out the 2018-19 Cruise Ship Schedule for the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility at the Frederiksted Pier.