St Kitts Cruise Port Guide & The Perfect One Day Itinerary
This St Kitts cruise port guide will explain what to do in one day, the best tours and excursions, and other travel tips.
St Kitts is a beautiful, lush island in the Southern Caribbean. It’s a common port on a Southern Caribbean cruise, and a great standalone vacation destination.
When I visited Basseterre St Kitts on my Southern Caribbean cruise, I honestly had low expectations. It was less known to me, and I wasn’t sure what to do during our visit.
I was pleasantly surprised that St Kitts became my favorite port of the entire trip!
St Kitts and Nevis is the perfect combination of lush greenery, white sand beaches, and crystal-clear water. During my one day in St Kitts, I opted for a beach day at my new favorite beach bar.
Below, find a list of some other great activities on the island. Keep reading for this ultimate St Kitts cruise port guide and one day itinerary.
St Kitts One Day Itinerary
There are many great things to do in St Kitts and Nevis. In the next section, I list a few great options. Below, learn how I spent my one day in St Kitts for a sample one-day itinerary in port.
When I take a Caribbean cruise, one of my biggest priorities in port is seeing the beauty of the island and enjoying the amazing weather.
For this reason, I opted for a beach day in St Kitts. We also stopped at a few viewpoints on the way to the beach to capture photos of the fantastic views.
Cockleshell Beach & Reggae Beach Bar
If you are a beach bum like me, the best beach in St Kitts is Cockleshell Beach. Its only a short drive from the cruise port and has four different beach bars.
The beach is protected by a bay with great swimming and fine sand beaches. Its also the stop to catch a boat to the sister island of Nevis.
While there are at least four different beach bars at Cockleshell beach, there are two I recommend:
They are Reggae Beach Bar and the Spice Mill. The Spice Mill is more upscale, but Reggae is livelier and my personal favorite.
During my one day in St Kitts, we caught a taxi from the cruise port to the beach for $30. We then spent the day at Reggae Beach bar where we rented chairs for $5 each and an umbrella for $10.
The beach bar has service to your seats and offers delicious cocktails and food. My favorite item was the Reggae Colada which is a pina colada with passion fruit instead of pineapple.
After an incredible and relaxing day at the beach, our taxi driver returned to pick us up. On the way back, I highly recommend stopping at a viewpoint to see amazing views of the island. Your taxi driver will know of the best viewpoints if you ask.
Other Fun Things to Do in St Kitts
If you have more time than a day in St Kitts or aren’t feeling a beach day. The following three activities are a great way to spend your day.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is great throughout the Caribbean and St Kitts is no exception. This half-day tour is a great option for snorkeling in St Kitts.
It includes snorkel equipment, an open bar, a light lunch, and stops at some of the best snorkeling locations.
The catamaran itself is luxurious, with comfortable seating and lounging, private restrooms, and is a great medium size to meet new people without experiencing crowds.
Nevis Day Trip
Nevis is St Kitts’ sister island, only a short boat ride away. Compared to St Kitts, Nevis is less populated, less crowded, and more remote.
A day trip to Nevis is a great way to spend a day in St Kitts. This full day catamaran trip to Nevis includes an open bar, buffet lunch, swim in the ocean, and beach break on Nevis.
I love this excursion because it’s a great way to spend time on the water and see Nevis. Its also a more comfortable way to transit to the island compared to the public taxi boats.
Historic Train Ride
One of the most popular activities in St Kitts is taking a scenic train ride. I personally think this tour is a bit overpriced but may be worth it for some.
The tour includes rum punch, and a ride throughout the island of St Kitts. I recommend this activity for people with mobility issues as it’s a great way to see the island without much physical strain.
Frequently Asked Questions About St Kitts
Before we get into the details of this St Kitts cruise port guide, here are some quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about St Kitts.
When is the best time to visit St Kitts?
St Kitts is a fantastic vacation destination with amazing weather year-round with the exception of hurricane season from June through September.
What is the official currency of St Kitts?
While the official currency of St Kitts is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, the US dollar is widely accepted.
What is the official language of St Kitts?
English is the only official language of St Kitts and Nevis.
How to get a taxi in the St Kitts cruise port?
There isn’t an official taxi stand in St Kitts (at least from my experience). From the moment you walk off the ship, taxi drivers will be approaching you, which is a bit overwhelming. The best practice is knowing what amount you want to pay and keep asking people for that price to your destination until someone agrees. Generally, they will originally offer $10 higher than they are willing to accept.
Where to Stay in St Kitts
I have only visited St Kitts as a cruise port. If you choose to visit for longer, you are for sure in for a treat!
During my recent visit, I checked out some of the resorts on the island to scope out where I’d stay on a longer visit in the future.
The top two resorts in St Kitts are the Park Hyatt and the Marriott. They are both great options, and I’d choose based on your hotel program preference (I’m a Marriott Bonvoy gal).
The Park Hyatt St Kitts is bright, beachy, and luxurious. My favorite part is the giant resort pool that overlooks the ocean. The hotel also has a kid’s pool, three restaurants, a spa, and a gym. They also offer an all-inclusive option.
The Marriott St Kitts is a giant, beautiful property. The resort has two pools, an 18-hole golf course, a casino, and 7 onsite restaurants.
You could spend an entire trip on the property and never get bored. As with the Park Hyatt, the Marriott has an all-inclusive option.
Summary of this St Kitts Cruise Port Guide
If you takeaway one thing from this St Kitts cruise port guide, it should be to not underestimate the island.
It’s a great port with many things to do from relaxing at the beach, to sightseeing from a train, to a day trip to Nevis. With so many great activities, you cannot go wrong with visiting St Kitts for a day or for longer.
If you plan to visit St Kitts on a cruise, plan your day around any one of the activities above. If you are visiting on a standalone trip, take your time with one activity each day.
For more information on a Southern Caribbean cruise and other great ports, check out my complete guide here.
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