It will really depend on which island your cruise stops at - St. Kitts or Nevis. If you are on one of the larger ships it will be ST. Kitts. If you are on a small ship it could be either. Tell us which island and we'll be able to give you some good suggestions.

we are on a larger ship so i am pretty sure it will be St Kitts, although it does show on our itinerary both places so i am thinking it might be like Cozumel and PDC in mexico where they make a brief stop or send some tenders over to the smaller island. I know for sure we can get off in st kitts so thats the info we should go with.

thanks for replying!

The one must-see sight for St. Kitts is the Brimstone Hill Fortress. It is about 20 minutes drive from Basseterre. Interesting fort, magnificent views, a small snack bar, and gift shop.

You can easily rent a car and drive there or hire one of the taxi drivers outside of the ship/port to take you. They will give you a tour along the way. If you want to stop at Romney Manor and see them making batik fabrics and walk their lovely grounds, it's on the way to Brimstone Hill.

You might also want to drive to the end of the Southeast Peninsula. It is the dryer side of the island and the road has magnificent views of beaches, Nevis, and (so far) undeveloped land.

A good place for a drink or lunch would be the Ballahoo Restaurant upstairs overlooking the Circus, the main square or circle in St. Kitts.

Ting

Thanks for your insight and helpful island tips. Sounds like it would make for a good sightseeing day on our own! if you wanted to combine some beach and r&r time, what sight seeing what would you be sure to include that would only take about 2 hrs or so - the most interesting in other words?

The best beaches are on the Southeast Peninsula. If you wanted beach time and lunch, you could go all the way to the end of the island to Turtle Beach. There are facilities, lounge chairs, and a restaurant/bar.

You can see Wilbur, their resident pig, and also have a good chance at seeing vervet monkeys.

It's not the best beach but it has good food and drink.

One of my favorite beaches is South Friar's Bay which is the first beach you come too after driving through Frigate Bay, where all the hotels and villas are. There are beach bars there (I like the Shipwreck) and lounge chairs as well.

If it's not really a beach day or even if it is, I still would recommend Brimstone Hill. It's unique in the Caribbean and you get a chance to see the lush volcanic island landscape, and the abandoned sugar mills.

I first visited from a cruise ship--taxi to Brimstone Hill, then to the beach. I was hooked and have been going back for 15 years, though now we spend most of our time in Nevis.

Ting

THanks again Ting for your help - sounds perfect for our first day in Kitts!

Hi fellow Canadian...

Since you are only in St. Kitts for one day I highly recommend a tour of the island. You can contact Thenford Grey who is a reliable and knowledgeable guide. E-mail thenang06@yahoo.com

He will take you to Brimstone Hill Fortress, Caribelle Batik, Black Rocks, Carib Drawings, various plantations and if there is time a drive to the southeast peninsula.

You can also go on Blue Water Safaris catamaran excursion. www.bluewatersafaris.com

A website you might find helpful is www.discover-stkitts-nevis-beaches.com and www.myislands.myeyez.net

hey back Torontonian!

thanks for the great leads and websites -we will definitely be checking them out. and yes i like the idea of guided tours so that you can stop along the way and enjoy a cool bev without a DD in the group.

ciao for now from rainy Vcr.

I agree that you should find a taxi for a tour. My favorite drivers are Greg from Ballahoo and Set-Up, but they're all great. Heading out of town, stop for a photo-op at the historic Fairview Inn. Fantastic architecture. On to Romney Manor -- be sure to explore the gardens. Then Brimstone Hill. Just before reaching Dieppe Bay you will pass a palm grove on your left. Immediately at the end of the grove, turn left onto a small road and follow it to the end. You will be rewarded with specacular views of the reef, Golden Lemon, Dieppe Bay fishing boats -- it's really incredible. Then on to Rawlins Plantation or Ottleys Plantation for lunch. At Ottleys, ask one of the staff to point out the path you can walk through the jungle. It follows a dry creek bed and was part of the route taken by slaves from Ottleys Village up to work at the plantation. True jungle, lots of vines. Back in Basseterre, explore Independance Square, which originally was a slave market. Then on to that previously recommended drink at Ballahoo, or more informally, across the street at the Palms Hotel. Say hi to Patsy!

We are cruising in March and will be stopping at St Kitts for the first time. We're looking for a nice beach with chair rentals and some shade or umbrella rentals. Which beach do you recommend?