Cruise Holidays To St Kitts

Overview

St Kitts and its tiny neighbour, Nevis, form an independent state in the British Leeward Islands and offer a taste of the 'real' Caribbean, as the economy depends on sugar cane more than tourism. The sleepy capital, Basseterre, is charming, its streets lined with palm trees and pretty, olde-worlde colonial buildings, sensitively restored after hurricane damage in the late 1990s.

The Circus is the centre of the town and comes alive Friday afternoons with locals 'liming' (relaxing). Quaint Independence Square is another key place to explore - with its colourfully painted fountain, 18th century houses and towering Roman Catholic cathedral.

Outside the town, cruise lines offer excursions to see the 17th century Brimstone Hill fortress and Romney Manor, an old sugar plantation which houses a batik factory. You can also take a day trip to Nevis (15 minutes by speedboat), where there are pretty, candy-coloured houses and decent beaches.