High-quality restaurants serve everything from French and Italian to Chinese cuisine. Island specialities include fresh fish and lobster. Dining out is casual and there is an increasing number of eateries on the main islands offering seafood, burgers, steaks and local fare.

National specialities:
• Kallaloo (a stew of okra, meat, seafood, local greens and spices).
• Sause (lime-flavoured stock of pig's head, tail and feet).
• Fungi (cornmeal and okra side dish that accompanies fried or boiled fish).
• Seafood: lobster, wahoo, grouper, mahi-mahi and tuna.

National drinks:
• Cruzan rum is strong and distinctive.

Tipping: Restaurants will either add a 10 to 15% service charge or expect the equivalent tip.

Steel bands, folk singing, calypso and limbo dancing are popular. Discos are also available. St Thomas has several nightclubs; many hotels also offer entertainment. Cinemas on St Croix and St Thomas show English-language films. There is a casino on St Croix.

All luxury items up to US$1,200 are cheap as they are duty-free. Charlotte Amalie on St Thomas is the best shopping centre. Best buys include watches, cameras, fine jewellery, china, leather goods, perfume, spirits and designer clothing.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700. When cruise ships are in port, some larger shops open on Sunday.