Cruise Diva Goes Ashore in the Caribbean
Sights to see & things to do
St. Kitts
Looking much as it did in the 18th century, St. Kitts is unusual in the Caribbean because its major source of revenue is sugar cane and not tourism. Cruise passengers are welcomed ashore in the capital of Basseterre at the cruise pier, Port Zante.
Diversions
Most taxi drivers double as guides, making a taxi the best way to get around. Agree on the fare before you set off. A major stop on any tour of St. Kitts is Brimstone Hill Fortress, the centerpiece of a national park. Called “The Gibraltar of the West Indies,” the complex of bastions, barracks, and related structures is built on the top and upper slopes of an 800-foot hill. It features nature trails and a wide range of plant life. There are even green velvet monkeys to make the Gibraltar comparison complete. From the fortress, on a clear day a half-dozen neighboring islands are visible.
Shopping
Shop for local crafts in St. Kitts, as well as Sea Island cotton clothing. Pelican Shopping Mall contains about two dozen shops and is the place to find just about everything from antiques to handcrafts. Port Zante also has about twenty-fice shops of its own. Other shopping areas are found along Liverpool Row and the shops along Fort Street.
Beaches
Only three miles from Basseterre is Conaree Beach and some of the island’s best swimming. Frigate Bay is known for talcum-powder white sand. The twin beaches of Banana Bay and Cockleshell Bay are located at the southeast corner of the island and Friar’s Bay is on a peninsula with openings onto the Atlantic as well as the Caribbean. All beaches are open to the public, but expect to pay a fee to use the facilities of nearby hotels.
Fodor's Caribbean Ports of Call 2013 is all you need to plan your days ashore, PLUS a cruise primer section and cruise line profiles by Cruise Diva, Linda Coffman
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