Basseterre cruise port, Saint Kitts and Nevis
St Kitts was England's first colony in the Caribbean, in 1624, and the French took the other end of the island the same decade. Brimstone Hill, the fortress on the volcanic slope above the coast, was called the Gibraltar of the West Indies and is a World Heritage site.
Worth knowing. The island still has a railway, narrow gauge, built to bring sugar cane down to the coast. It is the last one left in the West Indies and now carries passengers round the island.
What to do in Basseterre for free
Port Zante puts you five minutes from the middle of Basseterre. Independence Square is a park ringed by Georgian stone, and it was the slave market. The Circus, where the two shopping streets meet, has a green cast-iron clock and drinking fountain in the middle of it that went up in 1883.
What costs money
The ship's own excursions usually cost more than booking the same trip yourself. Two things come with the price. The ship waits for its own excursions and does not wait for you. And if the port is missed, P&O refunds its own without you asking. A trip you booked yourself is a claim on your travel insurance, so check what your policy covers. The ship sells its own trips to all of these, and the desk is open on board if you would rather do it that way. That advice points at links I am paid for, so weigh it accordingly.
I get a small commission if you book through these links. It costs you nothing extra.
The train round the island. Three hours, thirty miles, and the good seats are upstairs in the open air. More people here pick this over a beach, which is not true of many islands.
Brimstone Hill. A quarter of an hour up by taxi, and the walls stand about eight hundred feet above the sea. On a clear day you are looking at four other islands from the top.
Which ship calls at Basseterre, and when
Every call here between 15 August and 28 November 2026, with the hours ashore P&O published. These times are a guide, not a promise: the captain gives the real ones the day before.
| Ship | Sails | Day | Ashore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arvia | 23 October 2026, 14 nights | Day 13 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 23 October 2026, 15 nights | Day 13 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 23 October 2026, 22 nights | Day 13 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 23 October 2026, 22 nights | Day 19 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 6 November 2026, 14 nights | Day 5 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 7 November 2026, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 14 November 2026, 14 nights | Day 11 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 20 November 2026, 14 nights | Day 5 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 21 November 2026, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 28 November 2026, 14 nights | Day 11 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 4 December 2026, 14 nights | Day 5 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 5 December 2026, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 12 December 2026, 14 nights | Day 11 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 18 December 2026, 14 nights | Day 5 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 19 December 2026, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 26 December 2026, 14 nights | Day 11 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 1 January 2027, 14 nights | Day 5 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 2 January 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 4 January 2027, 35 nights | Day 13 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 9 January 2027, 14 nights | Day 11 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 15 January 2027, 14 nights | Day 5 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 16 January 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 23 January 2027, 14 nights | Day 11 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 29 January 2027, 14 nights | Day 5 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 30 January 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 6 February 2027, 14 nights | Day 11 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 12 February 2027, 14 nights | Day 5 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 13 February 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 20 February 2027, 14 nights | Day 11 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 26 February 2027, 14 nights | Day 5 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 27 February 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 6 March 2027, 22 nights | Day 10 | 07:30 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 12 March 2027, 16 nights | Day 4 | 07:30 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 13 March 2027, 15 nights | Day 3 | 07:30 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 22 October 2027, 14 nights | Day 13 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 22 October 2027, 15 nights | Day 13 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 22 October 2027, 17 nights | Day 13 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 22 October 2027, 17 nights | Day 18 | 07:00 |
| Arvia | 22 October 2027, 22 nights | Day 13 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 22 October 2027, 22 nights | Day 18 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 30 October 2027, 16 nights | Day 17 | 07:00 |
| Iona | 30 October 2027, 21 nights | Day 17 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 5 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 6 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 8 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Arvia | 8 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Iona | 12 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 13 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 13 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 15 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Iona | 15 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Arvia | 19 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 20 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 20 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 22 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Arvia | 22 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Iona | 26 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 27 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 27 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 29 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Iona | 29 November 2027, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Arvia | 3 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 4 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 4 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 6 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Arvia | 6 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Iona | 10 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 11 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 11 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 13 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Iona | 13 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Arvia | 17 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 18 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 18 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 20 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Arvia | 20 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Iona | 24 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 25 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 25 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 27 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Iona | 27 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Arvia | 31 December 2027, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 1 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 1 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 3 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Arvia | 3 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Iona | 7 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 8 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 8 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 10 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Iona | 10 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Arvia | 14 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 15 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 15 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 17 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Arvia | 17 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Iona | 21 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 22 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 22 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 24 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Iona | 24 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Arvia | 28 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 29 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 29 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 31 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Arvia | 31 January 2028, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Iona | 4 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 5 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 5 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 7 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Iona | 7 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Arvia | 11 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 12 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 12 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 14 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Arvia | 14 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Iona | 18 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 19 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 19 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 21 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Iona | 21 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 |
| Arvia | 25 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 26 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 26 February 2028, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 28 February 2028, 27 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Arvia | 28 February 2028, 27 nights | Day 15 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 3 March 2028, 14 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 4 March 2028, 14 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 4 March 2028, 22 nights | Day 10 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Iona | 6 March 2028, 26 nights | Day 1 | leaves 18:00 |
| Arvia | 10 March 2028, 16 nights | Day 4 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
| Arvia | 11 March 2028, 15 nights | Day 3 | 07:00 to 18:00 |
How long you get ashore in Basseterre
The published times give you between about 10.5 and 11 hours alongside, depending on the sailing. Take off the time it takes a few thousand people to get off, and the time you need to be back on board before the ship leaves, and that is your day. P&O give the real hours the day before, and the all-aboard time is earlier than the departure time.
The other stops on these cruises
Every one of these is on at least one of the sailings that calls at Basseterre.
- AntiguaNelson's Dockyard at English Harbour is a working Georgian naval yard that never fell down: Horatio Nelson was based here from 1784, hated it, and called it a vile hole.
- BridgetownEnglish from 1627 and never changed hands, which is why the island kept its parliament, its cricket and its place names.
- CastriesBritain and France exchanged this island fourteen times, which is why the towns are French and the law is English.
- CuracaoWillemstad is a Dutch town built in the tropics and painted every colour there is, and the whole of it is a World Heritage site.
- DominicaThe Nature Island, and the mountains are the reason: rainforest over most of it, and Morne Trois Pitons inland, a World Heritage site with the second largest hot lake in the world steaming in the middle of it.
- Fort de FranceIn May 1902 Mount Pelee destroyed Saint-Pierre, then the island's main city, killing about thirty thousand people in minutes; a prisoner in a thick-walled cell was among the very few to live.
- Gran CanariaColumbus put in at Las Palmas in 1492 to mend a rudder on his way west, and the house he is said to have stayed in is now a museum about him.
- GrenadaSt George's sits inside a drowned volcanic crater, which is what makes the harbour that shape.
- La CorunaThe Spanish Armada sailed from this harbour in 1588, and it is still guarded by the Tower of Hercules, a Roman lighthouse from about the year 100 which has never stopped working: the oldest one on earth still doing its job.
- OranjestadDutch since 1636 and dry as a bone.
- St MaartenThe island has been split between the Dutch and the French since the Treaty of Concordia in 1648, which makes it the smallest piece of land in the world shared by two nations, and there is no border to speak of.
- TenerifeMount Teide stands 3,715 metres over the island, the highest point in Spain and, measured from its base on the sea floor, the third largest volcano on earth.
- TortolaRoad Town has been the seat of these islands since the British took them from the Dutch in 1672.
Money and language in Saint Kitts and Nevis
East Caribbean dollar (XCD, $). The same currency as Antigua, St Lucia and Grenada, fixed at 2.70 to the US dollar. US dollars are fine. Onboard is always charged in sterling, so this only matters ashore.
English.
Free, and it works with no internet. Give it the dates you sail and it works out your own stops and saves the street map for each one. It shows you round the ship too.
All the ports written up so far, the things to do before you sail, or the ship pages for Iona and Arvia.