Saint Kitts and Nevis, officially the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, is a two-island nation in the West Indies, seated in the Caribbean ocean. It’s home to rain-forested mountains and beaches with white, gray, and black sand.
Saint Kitts, the larger of the two islands, the capital of Basseterre is on the Southwestern coast, which is the historical half of the island. It’s also home to medical and veterinary schools that draw in many international students!
Our ship, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, docked in Basseterre around 8am with a final gangway time of 5pm. With no excursion booked, we got off the ship around 9am to seek out what tours would be available from vendors in port.
To my absolute excitement, there were multiple people walking around with baby monkeys. Of course, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity! As they usually let you take pictures then ask for money, as a heads-up they wanted $10 USD per person. This is higher that I was used to for pictures with animals, but we did knock him down $15 total for two.
We spoke with a few of the tour operators in port and booked an open bus tour which took us around the island with a few stops and to the beach for only $20 each. Drinks included! His original price was $25, so make sure you always try to haggle, as the first price is always going to be the highest one. Even if it sounds cheap to you!
Port Day Itinerary
Morning
Start with having breakfast onboard and then head down to the gangway to start your day! Once in port, there’s a Saint Kitts sign and vendors with baby monkeys if you want to take pictures. Make sure to have cash for the animal photos!
Walk around the port if you desire before you book a tour with a vendor or hire a taxi.
Afternoon
Scenic Railway
Built in 1912 to deliver sugar cane, this 3-hour tour takes you in a 30-mile circle, with 18 miles by train and 12 miles by bus. It’s the “Last Railway in the West Indies” and a unique way to see this beautiful island.
Independence Square
Named on the occasion of St. Kitts and Nevis achieving political independence from the United Kingdom on September 19, 1983. It’s also the original site for slave auctions on the island. Slavery was abolished in 1834.
Timothy Hill Overlook
An incredible 360-degree view of the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans meeting! You can actually see the color differences in the waters. An absolute do not miss!
The Circus
The hub of Basseterre and named for the fire that destroyed Basseterre on July 4th, 1867. The whole town east of West Square street was destroyed. The inefficiencies of the fire department at the time were partially to blame for the extent of the damage. It’s now a landmark and popular meeting area.
Wingfield Estate Sugar Plantation Ruins
Wingfield was the first land grant in the English West Indies in 1625. The plantation grew sugar cane for over 350 years into the mid-2000s. In 2013 the original rum distillery was discovered on the property and is dated back to 1681 but is believed to be even older. It is recognized as the oldest intact distillery in the Caribbean.
Bloody Point
This area is situated to the west of Challengers Village. It gets its name from the Massacre of the Kalinago that took place during the colonization of the island by English and French settlers.
Lunch
I would recommend grabbing something local! While visiting the sugar plantation ruins, there was a street full of vendors. One vendor was selling grilled chicken and ribs in a homemade mango BBQ sauce! We got the chicken with corn and bread with a fresh passion fruit juice. Only $13 for the whole thing!
Mid-Afternoon
At this point you should be back near the port! You can spend your final time walking around downtown Basseterre or picking up any final trinkets.
Board the Ship
They do ask for photo ID along with your cruise pass when trying to get out of the port, so make sure you have some on you! A passport is best, since you should have that whenever you leave the ship, but any government photo ID will do the trick.
Need data on the islands?
Unfortunately, your Wi-Fi package doesn’t carry over ashore, so if you need data for navigation or in case of an emergency, I recommend Holafly’s global sim card! They do have one that also covers just the Caribbean but make sure to price compare so you get the best deal for your sailing!
Originally Published January 4, 2025
