<p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128); font-size: 20px;">Port of Basseterre, St. Kitts</strong></p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p>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.&nbsp;</p><p>St. Kitts is a popular destination year round but most cruise ships call during the autumn and winter season. &nbsp;The capital is Basseterre with a population of about 15.000 and the highest point is Mount Luamuiga (1156m).</p><p><strong>About the Island</strong></p><p>Christopher Columbus discovered St. Kitts in 1493.&nbsp; 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.</p><p>French explorers founded the capital city of Bassetere in the 17^th century.</p><p><strong>Attractions</strong></p><ol><li><em>The Circus</em> 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.</li><li><em>Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park</em> is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort was a part of the British fortifications in the Caribbean in the 17^th century. The African slaves built the entire complex.</li><li><em>Black Rocks</em> is a collection of rock formations of a volcanic origin. The site is great for nature-admirers.</li><li><em>Romney Manor</em>, 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.</li></ol><p>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.</p><p><strong>Beaches</strong></p><p>St. Kitts has numerous white-sand beaches ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports. The unique <em>Great Salt Pond</em> borders the Atlantic Ocean on the North and the Caribbean Sea on the South should not be missed.</p><p><em>Turtle Bay, Frigate Bay, South Friars Beach, Cockleshell Beach, </em>and <em>Conaree Bay</em> 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.</p><p>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.</p><p><strong>Transportation</strong></p><p>Buses are marked with the letter “H.” There are many taxis, which, however, require price negotiation.</p><p><strong>Eating and Drinking</strong></p><p>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 <em>Mr. Xs Shiggidy Shack, the Beach House, Ackee Café,</em> or <em>Spice Mill Restaurant</em>. The local cafes and bars are packed on Fridays and during special party evenings.</p><p>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.</p><p><strong>Internet Connection</strong></p><p><em>Dot Com Café</em> and <em>Sun Surf Internet Café</em> are close to the port and offer a strong internet connection.</p><p><strong>Language</strong></p><p>The official language of St. Kitts is English. However, the informal speech contains local idioms not peculiar to formal English.</p><p><strong>Currency</strong></p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>******</p><p>For more port guides visit our port section by clicking here: &nbsp;<strong><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.cruiselegend.com/Ports.aspx" target="1" href="http://www.cruiselegend.com/Ports.aspx"><span style="color:#0000FF;">CruiseLegend Ports</span></a></strong></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>