Basseterre

Saint_Kitts_and_Nevis

Cruise Port in Basseterre

Basseterre on the west coast of the island of Saint Kitts is the capital city of the two-island nation, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Worthwhile places to see in Basseterre include:

  • Bicycle Rental, Cayon St (near Church St, +1 869 466-3912. USD15.00 per day.

Bicycle Rental, Cayon St (near Church St, +1 869 466-3912. USD15.00 per day.

The city has a decent selection of small stores on its several primary streets. They offer restaurants, souvenirs, jewelers and local crafts, plus nearly everything needed for daily life by its citizens and visitors.

Among other crafts, the island produces and offers very high-quality batik, in the form of cloth, clothing, and numerous kinds of home decorations and accessories. The batik is made at Caribelle Batik, which is about 11 miles outside Basseterre, situated in a historical sugar plantation, Romney Manor, which has a lovely tropical garden around it.

In the past several years, the waterfront in Basseterre has been filled in to create a sizeable, duty-free, open-air shopping mall catering primarily to visitors. As of Fall 2009, most of the many storefronts were occupied by a good range of merchants, with more being built, but not rapidly. Many prices seen (Spring 2011) were competitive with many other island cruise ports. Virtually all merchants accept U.S. currency. Before giving you duty-free rates, merchants often ask for something that shows you are not a resident, such as a cruise card, foreign driver's license, or a passport.

  • Shipwreck Beach Bar, +1 869-764-7200. A rustic dive bar with ocean views. You can get up close with the monkeys which hang around nearby. Live entertainment every Sunday afternoon.

Shipwreck Beach Bar, +1 869-764-7200. A rustic dive bar with ocean views. You can get up close with the monkeys which hang around nearby. Live entertainment every Sunday afternoon.

The main resort area is in Frigate Bay.