MAR 07: St. Kitts

We docked in St Kitts at 07:00. Alongside us came Virgin Voyages RESILIENT LADY, with a passenger capacity of 2700 people. Put into service in 2023, she looked brand new. She had a somewhat peculiar shape, with the superstructure set well in from the sides of the hull.

To stretch our legs—and, in Pam's case, to do some shopping—we wandered into the port's stores. Getting from the ship to there was longer than a hop, skip, and jump on our warmest day so far.

This afternoon, we took our first cruise tour, a 4.5-hour adventure billed as "The Best of St. Kitts. 

 Tour Description

Gain a historical perspective of St. Kitts through its architectural icons.

See the fortress at Brimstone Hill, which UNESCO has declared a World Heritage site.

Admire the ingenuity of using local volcanic rock for construction.

Browse the fine batik textiles produced at Romney Manor.

Visit several of the most impressive landmarks on St. Kitts while the guide explains their historical significance. The Eastern Caribbean’s oldest town, Basseterre, is full of architectural treasures that reflect its French and British colonization. A prime example is Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site known as the Gibraltar of the West Indies. The hilltop fortress is a tribute to 18th-century British military engineering and presents smashing views of the neighboring islands. Stately Fairview Great House is another fine representation of the colonial era and the ingenuity of using local building materials such as volcanic rock for the kitchen oven and bath. The natural beauty of St. Kitts will shine at venues that include the lookout atop Timothy Hill and the lovely botanical garden at Romney Manor, an estate that Thomas Jefferson’s great-great-great-grandfather owned. If you see monkeys, chances are, they are vervets.

Our driver and tour guide, Jaja, drove us through Basseterre, pointing out landmarks before turning the bus north on the coastal road.

Our first stop was Fairview Great House. After a brief orientation by a docent, we wandered around admiring the plantation house and gardens.

As we got on the bus to head to our next stop, I was beginning to think the tour would have a high yawn factor.

rainforest with the chimney of an old sugar cane factory in the background

Romney Manor was more interesting to me. Apparently, the people who built it brought in plants from all over the world. There was an impressive 400-year-old salmon tree. We found a demonstration of how locals used wax and dyes to create elaborate, multi-colored patterns on cotton interesting. The technique was called “batik.” 

When we got near Sand Point, we turned inland, climbing up a twisting and, in places, narrow road to Brimstone Hill Fortress. Do not be deceived by the fact that the fort is on a hill rather than a mountain, which must be a minimum of 1,000 feet high. Brimstone Hill Fortress tops out at 800 feet but was still the proverbial high ground, bristling with cannons in all directions. It was not surprising that it was known as the Gibrator of the Caribbean.

To reach the main fort and its gun batteries, one had to hike up slanted, widely spaced steps. 

Descending Brimstone Hill, we drove back to and past Basseterre to a vantage point near the island's southern end. From it, we could see the island's Atlantic and Caribbean sides, with its sister island, Nevis, in the background.

From there, it was back to the ship, which sailed for Jost Van Dyke where it will anchor in the morning.