The Port of Basseterre (St. Kitts)

This guide is tailored for cruise passenger visiting Basseterre (St. Kitts).

About the Port: The port of Zante was built in 2005 and is located near the capital city of St. Kitts - Bassetere. It’s only a 15 minutes’ walk from Bassetere downtown. The port has a welcome center, cafes, restaurants, and shops.
The port can host only two large cruise ships at a time. Others will have to dock at the cargo terminal or tender the passengers to the shore.
About the Island: Christopher Columbus discovered St. Kitts in 1493. Columbus named this volcano island after himself – St. Cristopher, which was later turned into St. Kitts. The island used to be a famous market for slaves. St. Kitts, together with the island of Nevis, gained independence from Great Britain in 1983.
French explorers founded the capital city of Bassetere in the 17th century. St. Kitts is a popular destination year round but most cruise ships call during the autumn and winter season. The capital is Basseterre with a population of about 15.000 and the highest point is Mount Luamuiga (1156m).

Internet Connection: Dot Com Café and Sun Surf Internet Café are close to the port and offer a strong internet connection.
Language: The official language of St. Kitts is English. However, the informal speech contains local idioms not peculiar to formal English.
Currency: The local currency is the East Caribbean Dollar, which is cheaper than the US Dollar. The latter is also accepted (excluding the coins). The change is given only in the local currency. East Caribbean Dollar and USD. 1 usd is 2,7 EC dollars

Port Facts

Port: St. Kitts
Country: St. Kitts & Nevis
Region: Caribbean (East)

Area: 176 km2

Population: about 40.000

Things to Do
The Circus was inspired by the London Piccadilly. It includes the Berkeley Memorial, which consists of a fountain and a clock. The area is full of shops and eating-places. o Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort was a part of the British fortifications in the Caribbean in the 17th century. The African slaves built the entire complex. o Black Rocks is a collection of rock formations of a volcanic origin. The site is great for nature-admirers. o Romney Manor, a former sugar plantation, once belonged to Thomas Jefferson’s grandfather. Today it’s a botanical garden, where the staff demonstrates the making of batik fabric.

St. Kitts has many beaches and of course the look-out point to see the small strip of the island with on the left side the Atlantic Ocean and on the right side the Caribbean Sea.

Beaches
St. Kitts has numerous white-sand beaches (mainly on the SE part of the island) ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports. The unique Great Salt Pond borders the Atlantic Ocean on the North and the Caribbean Sea on the South.

Turtle Bay, Frigate Bay, South Friars Beach, Cockleshell Beach, and Conaree Bay are perfect for swimmers and water sports fans. Locals will probably say that Cockleshell Beach is best for snorkeling. They might be right but don’t get your hopes up too high as you have to be lucky. Going to closer to the rocks along the coast is dangerous, especially with unpredicatable currents.

Most beaches have a small shop where you can buy souvenirs, beachwear and more. Most also have one or two beach bars where you can get just about anything from local food to a nice cold beer.

Eating and Drinking

Beach bars stretching over the coastline are a great idea for lunch. If you’re looking for an exclusively local place, where there are almost no tourists, visit Mr. X's Shiggidy Shack, the Beach House, Ackee Café, or Spice Mill Restaurant. The local cafes and bars are packed on Fridays and during special party evenings.

Seafood is the best choice; order lobster or fish, as they will definitely be very fresh. “Ting with a Sting” cocktail is made of specialty rum called Cane Spirit Rothschild and is a must-try while in St. Kitts.

Welcome to the Port of Basseterre, St. Kitts