St. Kitts Scenic View

St. Kitts Information
Contributed by
Nancy Norris
Nancy@SinglesCruiseCenter.com
http://www.SinglesCruiseCenter.com

Language and Currency
What is St. Kitts Like?
What is the Weather Like?
Where Does the Ship Dock?
Where is the Shopping?
What is There to Buy?
What is There To Do?
Is There Anything of a “Don’t Miss Quality?
Are There Any Great Restaurants or Bars?

St. Kitts Port Reviews

Language and Currency

English is the official language, but a form of patois (Jamaican Creole) is commonly spoken.  Currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar.  US $ Bills are widely accepted, but not US coins

What is St. Kitts like?

Vast, green, wind-furrowed sugarcane fields, a huge dormant volcano, dense tropical forests, beautifully restored plantation homes converted to inns and an abundance of wild, green, vervet monkeys, brought to the island by French colonists, greet the visitor to St. Kitts.  This 65 square mile island was established in 1623 as Britain’s first colony in the West Indies.  In 1983, St. Kitts and its tiny sister island, Nevis (less than 2 miles away) became independent nations.  This easy-going island of unspoiled natural beauty is a blend of sunlight, sea and abundant vegetation. The picturesque capital, Basseterre, lies on the Caribbean shore near the southern end of the island.  Balconied white colonial houses surround the central, octagonal Circus, designed in the style of Piccadilly Circus.

What is the weather like?

St. Kitts enjoys an average year round temperature of 79°F, with water temperatures a pleasant 80°.  Low humidity produced by the constant northeast trade winds makes for idyllic conditions.

Where does the ship dock?

Ships dock at Port Zante, a brand new 27 acre cruise-ship/pier-marina in Basseterre.  Scheduled for completion in 2003, at this time, the domed welcome center/pier are being utilized, but the shops and restaurants slated to be part of the complex are not yet fully functional.  Although the city proper of Basseterre is within walking distance, a plethora of taxis are available for your convenience at the pier. Fares are fixed, but, prices can be negotiated and vehicles can be hired by the hour.

Where is the shopping?

Most of the shopping is located at the Pelican Shopping Mall on Bay Road, in Basseterre, or in the shops on Liverpool Row and Fort Street.

What is there to buy?

Souvenirs and local handicrafts, such as, island baskets and leather (goatskin) goods are the best buys.  Another popular item is batik (cloth dyed using wax) found at Caribelle Batik at the Romney Manor.

What is there to do?

A view of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea on St. Kitts

First take a short stroll around Basseterre. Wander around Independent Square and the Circus, before making plans to venture to other parts of the island.  The top historical attraction is most definitely Brimstone Hall fortress and well worth the trip about 9 miles outside of town. Part of a national park, in addition to its historical significance, provides breathtaking views of the surrounding islands.

From there make sure to visit Romney Manor, home of Caribelle Batik.  This unique shopping/viewing experience should be high on your list of priorities while in port.  A day at the beach is always an option.  Banana Bay and Cockleshell Bay, lie side by side, and provide a beautiful 2 mile stretch of white sand.  Frigate Bay on the southeast peninsula, near Basseterre, is another good choice. Here you can enjoy horseback riding on the beach.  Kayaking and hiking in the rain forest are other active diversions.  Perhaps one of the best excursions is a 6 hour catamaran trip that visits Pinney’s Beach in neighboring Nevis.  This 4 mile stretch of golden sand is the location of the 4 Seasons Resort.

Is there anything of “Don’t Miss” quality?

I would rank a trip to Caribelle Batik at Romney Manor and a catamaran trip to Pinney’s Beach as my top 2 choices.

Are there any great restaurants or bars?

I cannot make any personal recommendations, but would love to hear from readers who have a suggestion.

St. Kitts Port Reviews
(Click on the Review you are Interested in Reading)

CA; Scenic Railway Tour
Monica Pileggi; Hired a Van for Tour of Island
Paula; Awesome Views Touring Island by Hired Cab
Karen Audet; Catamaran Snorkel Tour
Karen Anderson; Problems With Scenic Railway
Anne Goyer; Friars Beach by Cab
Philip Haggerty; Ship's Island Overview Tour
Chris Gregory; Nice Walk into Town & Friars Beach by Taxi
Billy Wood; Resident Taxi Tour on Your Own 

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