Monday, April 1, 2024

Cruises to Castries, St Lucia

cruise to saint lucia

Its blue azure waters, enjoyable atmosphere, a lot of watersports options, and a large number of facilities guarantee a fun-filled beach experience for all visitors. Nearby, toward Pigeon Island, there is a Pigeon Island public beach, another beautiful spot you can check out. La Place Carenage cruise terminal is located at the heart of the Castries downtown, in the south of the bay. Historic landmarks, shops, restaurants, parks, and main city attractions including a famous Castries central market are within a short walking distance from the cruise terminal.

Night Southern CaribbeanDetails

The bay also had an important role in the history of St Lucia, as it served as a battleground between French and British navies. Throughout history, the place was occupied by the Amerindians, pirates, French and British, mainly due to its favorable strategic position. Restaurants in St. Lucia are a blend of Creole and Caribbean influence, and the coastal setting means lots of fresh catches rule the menus. This small park in the center of Castries is a historic square honoring Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott. Watch as people go by from one of the shaded benches, resting up before or after your shopping trip at Castries Market.

cruise to saint lucia

St. Lucia Cruise Port Facilities?

A decent percentage of the island -- some 19,000 acres -- is protected as part of the St. Lucia National Rain Forest. It's also possible to climb the two Piton peaks, as well as take a guided walk through the rainforest, while the Sulphur Springs – which lie at the heart of a dormant volcano – are always worth a visit too. Of course, if you'd rather just relax then you'll find loads of picture-perfect beaches dotted around the island, such as Smugglers Cove and Anse des Pitons.

Luxury Cruises to Castries, St. Lucia

Snorkeling and diving the clear waters are must-do activities on Pigeon Island, but so are tours of the museum and military ruins within the park. Having some of the lowest crime rate numbers in the Caribbean region, St. Lucia is an extremely peaceful and safe holiday destination for international travelers. St. Lucia’s authorities continuously collaborate with the island’s tourism industry to maintain a safe environment for visitors. Cruises sailing to St. Lucia all dock in a small, picturesque bay by Castries, which is flanked by Pointe Seraphine Port on the northern side and La Place Carenage right towards the downtown. Sometimes, cruises will drop their anchors at the Industrial Port, but that is quite rare.

Related Cruises

Located in the southwest of St. Lucia, around 45 km/28 miles from the port of Castries, the Pitons are the absolute highlight of the island and a must-see place in St Lucia. The house is a museum where you can learn about its owners and the history of the island, and enjoy stunning views of Port Castries, Reduit beach, to Pigeon Island. Head south by car, and in a little over an hour you’ll be at Sulphur Springs, where you can drive right past an active volcano. They call it the “drive-in volcano,” and it’s one of the most unique sites in St. Lucia. Bathe in the warm sulfuric pools—also called mud baths—while you’re there, which supposedly have healing and relaxing properties. St. Lucia itself is sprawling and mountainous, protected yet easily explorable.

cruise to saint lucia

Two local business executives join GPH's St. Lucia Cruise Port - Seatrade Cruise News

Two local business executives join GPH's St. Lucia Cruise Port.

Posted: Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

There's little doubt that the Caribbean is one of the most enchanting regions on Earth for explorers, which is why it has captured the imaginations of so many visitors through the ages. Centuries ago, it was navigators, conquistadores and pirates that sailed these seas, finding adventure at every turn, although these days it's become something of a paradise for tourists. No island encapsulates this more than St Lucia, and while it may have a reputation for being a honeymooner's haven, the reality is that there's much, much more than just relaxing resorts to discover here. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. The beach features several resorts and restaurants backed by stunning volcanic and mountainous landscapes. It takes a 1-hour 30-minute drive to get to Jalousie Beach from Port Castries.

St. Mark’s Colonial House – St. Mark’s Colonial House is a 150-year-old Colonial house situated only a 10-minute drive from Castries port. In case all the berths are reserved and occupied, a cruise ship may anchor in the bay. In that case, passengers are transferred to La Place Carenage cruise terminal via tender boats.

Gros and Petit Piton

The prettiest part of the island is in the south, and most visitors head there to see the former French colonial capital Soufriere, the lush Diamond Botanical Gardens and the world's only "drive-in" volcano. More options include hiking through the rainforest, snorkeling the sunken wreck off of Anse Cochon and horseback riding along the coast. Marigot Bay – Situated on the western coast of St Lucia, a 30-minute drive from Castries cruise port, Marigot Bay is a magnificent natural harbor with deep, crystal clear water and several beautiful, sugar-white beaches.

With its intoxicating natural beauty and a secluded paradise feel, St. Lucia is a frequent stop on all major Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries. The world’s only drive-in volcano to the world’s best saltfish – and boundless white sand beaches in between. Furthermore, Cruise Critic makes no guarantees for availability of prices advertised on our site. A mecca for outdoor enthusiasts with thriving coral reefs and rain forest preserves. Visit the Diamond Botanical Gardens and Falls and the Morne Coubaril Estate. The trail is rocky and steep in some parts – therefore, you should go with a tour guide as they know the fastest and safest way to get you to the top.

The island of St Lucia boasts rich marine wildlife and offers an amazing snorkeling experience. The best place to snorkel is Anse Chastanet, located within a short drive from the town of Soufriere and the Pitons, and around a 1h 30 minutes drive from the St Lucia port. Anse Chastanet is part of the Marine Reserve and you can explore the beautiful, shallow reef directly from the shore. A few meters downstream, you’ll come across the mineral baths whose construction and usage date from the era of the King Louis XVI of France. There is also a gallery and a gift shop displaying the owner’s artwork including hand-painted ceramic and pottery items.

You can delight in the local food served on handmade ceramic plates, take a moment to enjoy the tranquility of the gardens, or take some incredible panoramic photos of the island! Pink Plantation House is located within a 10-minute drive from Castries downtown. On a cruise to Castries, It’s an hour’s southbound drive to Soufriere, which is where most excursions will take you to get to the massive Pitons nearby.

English is the official language, but locals often speak Kweyol, a French-influenced patois based.

While it's true that much of St Lucia has been conquered by the luxury travel industry, there's still plenty of rugged wilderness to explore, with the Pigeon Island Nature Reserve being an excellent place to start. As well as being home to some stunning beaches, this small island – which is connected to the rest of St Lucia by a causeway – also harbours the 18th-century Fort Rodney, which seems to have been made for exploring. The best time to enjoy St. Lucia is the high season falling between the middle of December to the Middle of April. You can offer your taste buds a treat at a new bar or restaurant every day and night, savor multi-course meals, and a great wine bottle. Then there is the quarter-mile waterfront promenade where guests can enjoy the warm sun and balmy breezes from the ocean all day long. The Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, on the other hand, feature St. Lucia’s vivid, mineral-laced waterfalls, bubbling hot springs and medicinal baths.

While you’re walking around Derek Walcott Square and the city center of Castries, stop in this joint art gallery and restaurant where you can sit and enjoy lunch on the terrace overlooking Castries. Note that the restaurant is closed on Saturday, but they’re known for their fixed rate Sunday brunch. Dishes have a Caribbean and Creole influence, from salted codfish to shrimp and coconut sauce, curried lamb or simple sauteed vegetables. While you enjoy Reduit Beach, take a walk to Spinnaker’s for the quintessential beach bar experience in St. Lucia. They serve American and Caribbean food, with classic bar foods like hot wings, deep fried calamari, catch-of-the-day mains, pan-fried mahi mahi, and burgers.

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