Posts

Showing posts from August, 2013

Relaxed Anguilla

If you’re looking for an exceptionally relaxing port of call on your next Caribbean cruise, look for itineraries that mention Anguilla. The island’s very appearance is low-key: while many neighboring islands are mountainous, Anguilla is a low, flat island made mostly of coral. The reefs around the island protect its beautiful beaches and offer wonderful opportunities for snorkeling and diving.   Anguilla doesn’t have a harbor that can accommodate large cruise ships, although smaller ships are able to anchor in Road Bay. However, you can experience Anguilla if your ship calls on St. Maarten/St. Martin (the island that’s half Dutch, half French). You can catch a ferry from Marigot (on the French side) to Anguilla for the day.   From the ferry landing at Blowing Point on Anguilla’s west end, it’s a quick taxi ride to one of the island’s beaches, where you can simply relax on the white sand or rent snorkeling and diving equipment. Anguilla is known as a good place for be...

Unspoiled Caribbean: Dominica

In a region of beautiful islands, Dominica is prized for its exceptional and unspoiled natural attributes. The island’s lack of commercial development means that much of its mountainous interior is best seen on foot. If you venture along the trails, which range from easy to challenging, you’ll be rewarded by the lush surroundings of rainforests, waterfalls, and natural freshwater pools. As your ship approaches the town of Roseau (larger ships) or the town of Portsmouth (smaller ships), the island may look familiar – it’s had a starring role in a number of pirate movies. But, seeing the island on the movie screen can’t compare with being there in person. Jagged cliffs rise dramatically from the ocean, mango and banana trees sway in the breeze, and whales can be spotted in the deep water around the island all year long.   If you’re up for a fairly strenuous hike, Dominica’s Boiling Lake is one of the world’s largest hot springs (its impressively high temperature is due to h...

So Many Beaches: Antigua and Barbuda

The irregular coastline of Antigua offers numerous bays, several excellent harbors and many lovely beaches: in fact, the locals say the island has 365 beaches, one for each day of the year. Having been a British colony for many years, the island also has historic shipyards – once overseen by Horatio, Lord Nelson – that are interesting to explore. The island and its scenic harbors are attractive to modern-day sailors, too: the annual yachting and sailing season begins in December and culminates in a grand regatta each May. Most cruise ships that call on Antigua dock at Heritage Quay or Nevis Pier in St. John’s, the island’s capital. Some smaller cruise ships drop anchor in Falmouth Harbor on the south side of the island and run tenders in to the dock. Wherever you step ashore on Antigua, there will be duty-free shopping, boutiques filled with local crafts, and restaurants close by. If you dock at Heritage Quay, several of Antigua’s cultural treasures, including the Museum of Anti...

Sail to St. Kitts and Nevis

If you’re lucky enough to visit St. Kitts and Nevis on your next Caribbean cruise, you’ll enjoy the lush, tropical beauty of these islands. Little wonder that they were fought over by the Spanish, French and British before becoming a long-time part of the British Empire. Since 1983, St. Kitts and Nevis has been an independent nation. Cruise ships, both large and small, sail into Port Zante, St. Kitts, just outside the historic capital of Basseterre. Port Zante is a deep-water port that can accommodate the largest ships currently at sea. Birdrock Port, located just across Basseterre Harbor, is a freight port that can also welcome cruise ships when Port Zante is full. From the port area, it’s just a 15-minute stroll to downtown Basseterre. The 18 th -century buildings that have survived numerous hurricanes, fires and earthquakes give the town a timeless air. The hub of activity is The Circus, an octagonal plaza that’s a smaller version of London’s Picadilly Circus. The much-pho...