Cruise News and Reviews

Introducing Castries, St Lucia

The verdant, green-clad tropical island of St Lucia is one of the most beautiful in the whole of the Caribbean, making it a big success with vacationers and honeymooners. It is famous for its natural features, varying from the soaring twin Pitons in the to the sweeping arc of white sands of St Lucia’s beautiful Reduit Beach in the flatter north. This leads to gorgeous Pigeon Island, which isn’t properly an island at all, but is joined to the main island by a narrow  road.

The islands’ capital, Castries, is attractively situated in a protected area against a backdrop of mountains. The strategic importance of its superb natural harbour was identified from the early days of Western settlement. For many years Britain and France fought for possession of St Lucia. At the end of the 19th century, Castries was an important hub for Caribbean shipping.

Many tremors, tropical hurricanes and devastating fires obliterated any vestiges of Castries’ colonial past, leaving a essentally new town. There are only a handful of 19th- and early 20th century Creole style wooden buildings that have been spared from being destroyed.

St Lucia can also boast the world’s only drive-in volcano, as well as pungent sulphur springs, and well-known Diamond Falls where the mineral-rich waters are renowned for their beneficial qualities and bathers can enjoy in pools ranging from tepid in temperature through to very hot.

Undoubtedly, the island’s spectacular scenery, gorgeous beaches and verdant greenery make St Lucia one of the Caribbean’s top destinations.

Port of Call Description

Your cruise ship will be scheduled to dock at the Port of Castries. The town center can be reached by foot in about fifteen minutes. Rarely, if the main port anchorages are fully occupied, the ship will berth at Port Careenage, which is further from town. Port Seraphine can handle 5 to 6 cruise ships on any one day. Taxi fares are set, so make sure you are using a regulated taxi, identified by a number plate including the lettering TX.

For more port details check the St Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority Website at http://www.slaspa.com/. For a list of cruise ships (with itineraries)  that visit St Lucia visit Cruises Visiting St Lucia. For more information see Cruises To St Lucia.

Things to Do

For Shopaholics
You’ll find two modern duty-free shopping cemters at either side of the port. Pointe Seraphine, the closer, offers local mementos and regionally sourced items. Local products include hand-screened batiks, stylish pottery and intricate straw articles. Across the port La Carenage is a large mall packed with outlets and eateries. Water taxis are available between Pointe Seraphine and La Place Carenage. For a different and more authentic experience, visit the local and energetic market in downtown Castries. Here the original Market Hall, constructed completely of iron and completed in 1894, still exists. The market hosts over 300 traders.

Dining
For gastronomes 2 restaurants near the port stand out.  The Coal Pot, which features New World cuisine a match of local cuisine with exquisite French cooking. Alternatively try Jacques Bistro for a different type of fusion cuisine. Both these two restaurants are located in Ganters Bay, near the dock.

Derek Walcott Square
This is named after the St. Lucian-born Nobel Prize Winner for Literature, well known for his superb poetry. For a flavor of his poetry-

Schizophrenic, wrenched by two styles,
one a hack’s hired prose, I earn
me exile. I trudge his sickle, moonlit beach for miles,

tan, burn
to slough off
this live of ocean that’s self-love.
(Codicil)

The main building in the square is the 19th century Cathedral. Its sombre shape hides a stylish inside of note for the richly colored stained-glass windows. Also in the square stands a 400 year old samaan tree. Nearby you’ll get to Morne Fortune, meaning lucky hill. Its top provides a panoramic vista of Castries.

Tour to Fond Doux Estate
This 19th century West Indies style working plantation gives visitors the chance to get a real taste, feel and smell for St. Lucia due to the tropical fruits and plants on the estate. There are acres of cocoa bushes, bananas and coconuts along with coffee, nutmeg, cardomon, and lots of citrus fruits. The fruit orchards, old sugar mill and fascinating herbs garden are always open for tourists to see. The estate’s restaurant offers a exciting Creole menu.

Tour to Soufriere
This is St Lucia’s most historic town named by the French after the sulphorous smell that wafts down from the nearby volcano. Located to the south of the island and in a beautiful setting, it is around an hour’s trip from Castries, along a winding road through steep, green-clad countryside.
The town still features a few original Creole wooden buildings, but it is most famous for its incredible natural surroundings. Wonder at the iconic twin Pitons,a drive-in volcano, take a dip in its sulphur pools. And include in your visit the booming Diamond Falls waterfall. Currently Holland America offer a cruise that includes visits to both Castries and Sourfriere. Click on Cruises to Soufriere.

Trip to Pigeon Island
This beautiful place isn’t accurately speaking an island, but is joined to the main island by a articificial causeway. Pigeon Island has more history than any other part St Lucia. It has been utilized both as a pirate hideaway and a military base. Interesting are the partially restored ruins of an 18th century fort constructed by the British. Also check out the Pigeon Island Museum, which details the island’s history. Windstar cruises visit Pigeon Island.

Trip to Rodney Bay.
Rodney Bay is St Lucia’s largest resort, a busy town of shops, bars, restaurants, and hotels behind Reduit Beach, a wonderful stretch of fine sand. (Rodney Bay|The town|The resort} is about a 15 minutes by taxi from Castries.

Jungle Activities
St Lucia’s rugged terrain is ideal for adventure. On offer are walking, quad-biking, biking and horse-riding. Those who don’t mind heights will try out the zip-wire rides soaring above the jungle canopy. An alternative is more chilled-out Aerial Tram, which gives brilliant views of the surrounding countryside.

Other Info

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) U.S. $ are generally ok
Language: French & English
Time Zone: GMT -4