| Itinerary: | 8 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip) |
| Departing on: | 03/26/2016 |
| Returning on: | 04/03/2016 |
| Cruise Line: | Carnival Cruise Lines |
| Cruise Ship: | Carnival Breeze |
| Dining Request: | Early Dining (around 6:00pm) |
| Stateroom Category: | 4D (Interior Stateroom) |
| Stateroom Number: | 6487 |
| Cruise Reservation Number: | 8R8NJ9 |
CCL $50 OBC (WCC)
March, 2016 Carnival Breeze
Vidio
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9A_-fMe3og&t=33s
2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGxdtEl_dU8&t=1187s
3/26. Sat Miami
3/27. Sun At sea
3/28. Mon Grand Turk Island, Turks & Caicos
This small island, only six miles long and three miles wide, provides all the activities sun lovers need. Spend time scuba diving, horseback riding on the beach, playing golf or whale watching (in season).
3/29. Tues San Juan, Puerto Rico
3/30. Wed Basseterre, St. Kitts
3/31. Thur Philipsburg, S. Maarten
4/1. Fri At Sea
4/2. Sat At. Sea
4/3. Sun Miami
$1,810.57 : $1,220.00 + Tax $565.58 +24.99(Processing fee)
3월 24일 목요일
아침 8시 집에서 출발 예정
universal studio를 간단다. 865 miles 12h 35min
Grand Turk is a British governed island; however, the local currency is the US Dollar
small untouched Caribbean island 7 miles long by approximately 1.5 miles at its widest point. It is approximately 575 miles southeast of Florida,
Port of St. Kitts: An Overview
In 1493, Christopher Columbus was allegedly so smitten with this volcanic island that he named it after St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. Since its discovery, St. Christopher (later shortened by British sailors to St. Kitts) has been fought over by the British and French who, tragically, made it a center of the West Indian slave trade. Pirates, including the notorious William Kidd who was marooned on Nevis after his crew mutinied, enjoyed lucrative careers in Basseterre Harbor.
St. Kitts and sister isle Nevis were part of the British Empire until 1967, earning semi-independent status when they were named associated states of Great Britain. In 1983, the 68-square-mile St. Kitts and Nevis became an independent, two-island nation with a parliamentary government headed by a prime minister. While British holdovers such as cricket and driving on the left side of the road remain, the Kittitians are extremely proud of their history and how far they've come on their own.
The island's lush geography lends itself to eco-tourism, starting with the dense tropical rainforests that surround dormant volcano Mount Liamuiga. Colorful birds and butterflies, as well as the green vervet monkey, reside here.
Sugar cane, the staple of the economy since the 17th century, was St. Kitts' main export until production stopped just a few years ago. However, wild sugar cane fields remain, particularly in the west, and offer a scenic ambience that is more reminiscent of Hawaii than the Caribbean these days. While tourists have discovered St. Kitts (evidenced by the row of lively beach bars on South Frigate Bay, known as "The Strip"), the island is still relatively unspoiled and crowd-free, with a relaxed, authentic atmosphere.
Mention St. Kitts to just about anyone, and chances are they’ll draw a blank on this low-lying Leeward Island. That’s why it’s such a special port; it’s one of the Caribbean’s last authentic places — once you bypass the commercial cruise terminal. You can stroll from Port Zante right into capital Basseterre for West Indian flavor. Locals walk slowly, chat easily, and are fiercely proud of their history. U.S. dollars are accepted, along with the local East Caribbean dollar, so hop in a taxi and make your way into this rain forest- and beach-filled land.
The National Museum is situated just to the left of the Pelican mall, as one continues the short walk into the historic district of downtown Basseterre. one minute north of the museum is the Circus, an octagonal plaza that can remind one of a miniature version of London’s famous Piccadilly Circus. The focal point of the Circus is the Berkeley Memorial Drinking Fountain and Clock, erected in 1891, while its circumference comprises more duty-free shops, banks and restaurants. This is also the ideal place from where to get a taxi cab.
Explore St. Kitts
Imagine an island that has set aside more than a quarter of its land as a National Park, with a rainforest that is actually expanding in size rather than shrinking. This is St. Kitts. An island surrounded by new and untouched dive sites, marked by massive beds of coral, teeming with fish of every stripe and color.
Here you will be surrounded by wildlife, from chattering vervet monkeys and scurrying families of mongoose, to roaming cows, goats, and black-bellied sheep.
Here you can drive or hike through the Valley of Giants, zip line over the rainforest or climb up to sit yourself in the cradle of Sofa Rock, once the very cap of a now dormant volcano that you can climb to the very edge of, then be guided down 1000 feet to its steaming crater floor.
Once called the Gibraltar of the West Indies for its domination of 18th century battles, St. Kitts so honors its past with careful restoration that the UN has designated The Brimstone Hill Fortress & National Park a World Heritage Site, and it is a living museum of historical exploration.
Whatever you do, leave no stone unturned. Fill your heart and soul with new experiences on this island of a thousand treasures. And make St. Kitts your next great discovery.
As the first English settlement in the Eastern Caribbean, St. Kitts' colonists contended with resident Carib Indians and later the French. Many place names, including the capital city of Basseterre, reflect the French influence, which lasted until 1783. Today, St. Kitts and its nearest island neighbor, Nevis, form one country: the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Sugar made St. Kitts one of Britain's wealthiest West Indian colonies until slavery was abolished in 1834. Although the sugar industry ended officially in 2005, you still see large fields of the green cane as your ship approaches the island. That big hump of ground in the distance off to the left is Mt. Liamuiga, a dormant volcano.
St. Kitts' cruise port, Porte Zante, is a large modern complex of duty-free shops only yards from the cruise pier, with many of Basseterre's historic attractions conveniently located just a few blocks away.
Tip: When touring, keep in mind the best beaches are on the Southeast Peninsula, almost 9 miles away, and Brimstone Hill Fortress is located to the north. It's difficult to cover everything in a single day. Choose ahead of time.
Adventurer
Although exciting, tandem skydiving, offered by Sky Dive St. Kitts, is only available from December to spring. Year-round, you can get airborne — sometimes up to 30-feet-high -- with a water-powered jetpack, available year-round, at St. Kitts and Nevis Flyboarding at Reggae Beach on the Southeast Peninsula. Be aware that this extreme water sport requires intense instruction, is expensive and the belly flops hurt.
The next best thing to flying is ziplining over tree tops at Wingfield Estate with Sky Safaris St. Kitts. Glide along five ziplines, up to 250-feet-high and 1,350-feet-long. The full experience takes two hours, but you can opt for a shorter adventure.
Want to be more active? Explore the rainforest on a trek up 3,792-foot Mt. Liamuiga (Mt. Misery), a dormant conical volcano. Greg's Safaris pioneered this seven to nine hour hike.
Entertain Me
In Port Zante, stilt walkers and other carnival costumed masqueraders typically greet the cruise passengers. For a big party day, take the seven-hour cruise aboard a 52-foot catamaran with an open bar to the neighboring island of Nevis for offshore snorkeling (gear provided) and a barbecue on beautiful Pinney's Beach. Since the bar is open all day, the return sail is often lively as the crew encourages passengers to display their best dance moves to the booming island music.
Wildlife watching is always interesting and it's easy at Shipwreck Bar & Grill at South Friars Bay where mongoose and green monkeys gather in an open feeding area. Let them eat fruit while you dine on fish tacos.
Family
Exploring a fort is fun. There are few larger than Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, a 38-acre, UNESCO World Heritage Site located 800-feet above sea level. This "Gibraltar of the West Indies" was captured by 8,000 French troops against 1,000 British defenders.
Craving a quiet beach day? Cockleshell Bay on the southeast peninsula, a mile-long crescent with clear shallow water but little shade, has a fine view of Nevis in the background. The beach bars at both ends don't always have prompt service. To keep kids happy, make sandwiches at the breakfast buffet and carry those in a collapsible cooler.
Foodie
Cook authentic Caribbean back home after attending the Island Flavours Cooking Class offered daily except Sunday at Fairview Great House & Botanical Garden. Although the 3.5-hour session is mostly demonstration, you'll savor the prepared dishes and receive recipes for them. Included is a tour of the restored 18th-century great house and its botanical gardens; arrange for a cruise ship pickup when you book.
EASY TRIP PLANNING: Try using a travel agent
If you're island sightseeing, stop for the famous Caribbean lunch buffet at Rawlins Plantation (reserve ahead). After your 10-dish meal, explore the 12-acre tropical garden and enjoy the magnificent view of distant St. Eustatius. Don't miss the rum punch.
Luxury Lover
Hire a cab for an island day tour and let your driver suggest what to visit beyond the obvious. Taxi drivers are experts on their island; tell them your interests. Great houses? Best beach bars? Make it your personal tour based on advance research.
You can board the 48-foot Reel Thing to chase mahi mahi, tuna, marlin, mackerel and whatever else is seasonally biting. Between strikes, relax in the air-conditioned salon with its 32-inch TV and entertainment center.
With water hazards on 10 holes, the 18-hole Royal St. Kitts Golf Club is a challenging championship course bordering both the Atlantic and Caribbean. This soft spike facility, offering some of the best views of any golf course in the Americas, is located at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
Romantic
Live out the dream of riding horseback on a beach with Trinity Stables. Rides are on an Atlantic, black sand beach, and if more shade seems appealing, ride the high mountain rain forest where introduced green vervet monkeys reside. Horses know the way and don't require constant instruction. Arrange well in advance, including pickup. Wear jeans.
Wallet Watcher
Use a Google Earth map to guide your walking tour of downtown Basseterre. one of the largest sites, the Old Treasury Building, is at the port's edge. From Bay Road, walk Fort Street to The Circus (a roundabout) and the Berkeley Memorial Clock, both iconic symbols. Follow Bank Street to W. Independence Street and jog left. The major landmarks border Independence Square, also once St. Kitts's slave market.
Afterwards, lunch inexpensively at Ballahoo Restaurant, Fort Street. Ballahoo's second floor balcony overlooks The Circus roundabout, providing the best view in town for people watching. Classic dishes include conch chowder, fish and lobster sandwiches, burgers and salads. Feel adventurous? Try the bacon, brie and cranberry sandwich. Closed Sunday, like the rest of Basseterre.
--M. Timothy O'Keefe has visited almost all the Caribbean islands and writes about them at GuideToCaribbeanVacations.com.
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.
5 Best Things to Do in St Kitts on a Cruise
St. Kitts, an island in the West Indies, was the first Caribbean island to be permanently settled by both the French and the English and is now the independent island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. With cruise ship traffic just emerging, St. Kitts remains a relatively hidden gem in the Caribbean.
Is your next Caribbean cruise stopping in St. Kitts? If so, you are in luck! St. Kitts is home to many historic landmarks, pristine beaches, and authentic experiences with less tourism traffic than most other Caribbean islands. With so much to do and see, you will want to make the most of your time spent on this lovely island. So in this post, we give you our 5 Best Things to Do in St. Kitts on a cruise.
DB and The Princess in St. Kitts
5 Best Things to Do in St. Kitts on a Cruise
Take an Island Tour
With so much rich history, an island tour definitely makes our list of the 5 Best Things to Do in St. Kitts on a cruise. You will visit notable landmarks for a brief exploration and photo opportunity. You might even learn something in the process. An island tour will give you a quick taste of what St. Kitts has to offer and lure you back for more.
Your island tour will likely begin in the island’s capital city, Basseterre, where you will drive through Independence Square viewing various sites along the way including churches, government buildings, the police station, the Berkley Memorial Clock, and more while en route to Romney Manor.
Gardens at Romney Manor
Romney Manor is home to magnificent gardens and natural landscapes, including the 350 year old Saman tree that consumes over ½ acre of the property. It is also home to Caribelle Batik where you can watch demonstrations on ancient dyeing techniques used to create an array of products.
Fort George at Brimestone Fortress
No St. Kitts island tour would be complete without a stop at Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park. This UNESCO National Heritage site has plenty to explore including Fort George Citadel, the remains of the Prince of Wales Bastion and other forts, and a museum. This is also one of the best vantage points on the island to take in the coastal vistas and stunning views of neighboring islands.
Ride the St. Kitts Scenic Railway
If you want to explore a bit more of the island then maybe a ride on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway will peak your interest. This 3 hour long ride consists of a 30 mile circle around the island- 18 miles on a narrow gauge train and 12 miles by bus.
This “Last Railway in the West Indies” was built between 1912 and 1926 and was originally used to transport sugar cane. Today, the railway provides visitors with a scenic view of the island while learning a bit of history…and sipping on a few complimentary drinks!
Tickets can be purchased at many local hotels as well as your cruise line’s shore excursion deck for either just the railway or in combination with a catamaran sail. This is sure to make your list of the 5 Best Things to Do in St. Kitts on a cruise too!
Hike Mt. Liamuiga
If you are out for a bit of an adventure then hiking Mt. Liamuiga is certainly one of the 5 Best Things to Do in St. Kitts on a cruise! A dormant volcano, Mt. Liamuiga is St. Kitts highest point of elevation at 3792 feet above sea level and certainly another one of the great spots to admire the coastal views of the island.
The approximately 2.5 hour hike to the top through lush rainforest is considered strenuous so you should consider your fitness level first. If you do make it to the top, you will be rewarded with amazing views…and maybe even a picnic lunch while you rest? The total hike is about 6 miles so by the end you might be referring to this peak by its former name, Mt. Misery!
Spend the Day at a Beach
St. Kitts is home to many pristine beaches so why not take advantage of one of them during your visit to this island. South Friars and Cockleshell Beach are popular among cruisers. South Friars is located just beyond Frigate Bay and is a great place to relax and catch some rays. If you venture a bit further down the southeast peninsula, you will find another stretch of sandy heaven at Cockleshell Beach. Here, you will have amazing views of sister island, Nevis.
If you want to explore Nevis a bit, hop on a ferry or one of many catamaran excursions over to this sister island of St. Kitts and enjoy a relaxing beach day at Pinney’s. Voted as one of the best beaches in all of the Caribbean, you might even rub elbows with the rich and famous here.
Or, you might choose to venture to Frigate Bay, home to St. Kitts major tourist hotels and a string of beach bars referred to as “The Strip”. This popular tourist area is sure to provide you with a little fun in the sun. You can also purchase resort day passes to the popular St. Kitts Marriott.
Visit Wingfield Estate
No trip to St. Kitts would be complete without a visit to Wingfield Estate. Wingfield Estate was the first working estate on the island for tobacco, sugar, and rum. You might want to tour the remains of the old sugar mill and rum distillery while learning some history about this estate which was originally owned by Sam Jefferson, the great-great-great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson.
Or, you might want to be a bit more adventurous by hiking the Wingfield Forest Trail or by ziplining through the lush rainforest with Sky Safari Tours. Either way, you are in for a great time and amazing photo opportunities. Be sure to have your GoPro ready as you won’t want to miss out on any of the action. We love ziplines, rainforests, and adventure so this definitely ranks number one on our 5 Best Things to Do in St. Kitts on a cruise!
Ready to Explore St. Kitts?
Now that you know the 5 Best Things to Do in St Kitts on a cruise, what are you waiting for? Plan your visit now! We visited for the first time in 2014 onboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas and can’t wait to get back there again this year. This island will surely be a highlight of your next Caribbean cruise.
Photo Credit Stephen Rees|Source| CC BY 2.0
Photo Credit Eric Hutton|Source| CC BY 2.0
Pinney’s Beach, Nevis – Photo Credit bencampbell|Source| CC BY 2.0
Frigate Bay, St Kitts – Photo Credit