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St Barts cruise port guide

Luxury cruise ships frequent St Barts but the island also attracts plenty of private yachts - Getty
Luxury cruise ships frequent St Barts but the island also attracts plenty of private yachts - Getty

Why go?

St Barts (or Saint Barthelemy) is the Caribbean’s most stylish island. It is small and surprisingly hilly and beautiful, expensive and deliciously French (rather than French West Indian) and there is nowhere else in the Caribbean like it. Only luxury cruise lines visit St Barts, though it is possible to visit for the day from St Maarten.

Cruise port location

There are no berths for cruise ships, so you will anchor just outside Gustavia harbour and tenders will run you into the Customs and Immigration office right on the town’s waterfront, on the eastern arm of the very pretty harbour town.

Can I walk to any places of interest?

Yes. Tiny Gustavia (the capital) is right there around you: four or five streets of shops – French fashion, even retro fashion, wine and cigars, jewellery and perfume – and bars and restaurants, some on the waterfront. There is even a beach (Shell Beach), with a bar, Shellona, within walking distance.

Read more:Telegraph Travel's Caribbean Cruise Guide

Getting around

There is no public transport on St Barts, so you will be reliant on taxis (quite hard to come by sometimes, so you are advised to book one in advance), to take you to the beach or on an island tour. Taxi drivers often do the island tour anyway, which takes around an hour.

What to see and do

Nothing is far on St Barts so you can do pretty much everything in one day – an island tour, a beach stop for a couple of hours (the island’s beaches are lovely and have good variety) and then a visit to the shops back in Gustavia as you wait to depart. Eating out, at one of beach bars or restaurants, is also essential to the island’s elegant, leisurely way of life.

Shell Beach in Gustavia - Credit: Getty
Shell Beach is within walking distance of Gustavia Credit: Getty

What can I do in four hours or less?

You can walk around the pretty streets of Gustavia so there is no need to arrange a tour unless you want to be guided. A few of the original Swedish buildings are visible on the western arm of the bay, where you will also find the island’s Wall House Museum, with prints, artefacts and descriptions of traditional St Barthian life, including Swedish times. There is a lovely view from the small bell-tower on the hill – and also from the waterfront bars, watching the superyachts come and go.

The island is surprisingly rough and mountainous and there are plenty of stops for the excellent views, including the one overlooking the airstrip – watch out your hat doesn’t get blown off by a landing plane.

There is a lovely, eccentric shell museum in Corossol and then you will visit the saltpond at Salines, the lagoons and the distinctive local “case” houses in the east, designed carefully to shelter the inhabitants from the ocean wind.

The Wall House museum St. Barts - Credit: Getty
The Wall House museum dates back to the Swedish period in St. Barts Credit: Getty

There’s an ATV tour of the island – offered by Crystal among others – a trip driving the beaches and steep backroads. Island tours are offered by all cruise lines and many taxi drivers, but you can guarantee a good outing with Easy Time Tour. Alternately, Marine Service offer a jet-ski tour of the island and boat hire. There is a semi-submersible to look at the corals and fish, offered by Seabourn.

You might want no more than to head for the beach. The cruise companies will set you up for a day on the sand, often including a sail, snorkelling and then a picnic. Or you can head out independently. St. Jean is the liveliest beach and it has several bars, including Nikki Beach, Eden Rock’s Sand Bar and Pearl Beach, where you can find a lounger, but there are also much quieter beaches if you want an afternoon of seclusion. You can get yourself dropped at Anse de Grande Saline or Anse du Gouverneur.

If you are travelling independently, ready-made picnics are available in Gustavia and St. Jean.

What can I do in eight hours or less?

There are options for a day sail through island companies that are bookable independently or on board, usually in combination with a visit to the beach where there is snorkelling, sunbathing and a meal. Often this is at the undeveloped Anse de Colombier in a marine park, which can only be reached by boat. Organised tours will provide food. The companies sometimes also provide watersports equipment.

Man snorkelling in St. Barts - Credit: Getty
If you're interested in getting a little closer to nature snorkelling could be a good option Credit: Getty

Eat and drink

St Barts is known for having the best restaurants in the Caribbean, so you will eat well. There is not much local fare; most restaurants have French or continental menus. See above for the beach bars. Or try le Tamarin, set in a lovely garden. In Gustavia most of the restaurants open in the evenings, but try L’Isoletta or one of the waterfront bars.

Don’t leave the island without…

Besides the shops you find nowhere else in the islands – Chopard, Cartier, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and local Poupette - St Barts actually creates some of its own original products.

See Pati de St Barth for stylish beachwear and knick-knacks, and Ligne de St. Barts, which produces perfume. You will also find local straw work, hats and baskets, woven from the local latanier palm.

Boutiques on the main street in Gustavia, St. Barts - Credit: Getty
St. Barts' high end shops are worth a browse for keen shoppers Credit: Getty

Need to know

Flight time

There are no direct flights to St Barts, but there are hopper services from Antigua (eight hours plus from the UK) and nearby St Maarten (itself reached via Amsterdam or Paris, nine hours plus).

Safety

There is no issue with crime in St Barts. Do not leave valuables or cash lying around and you will be fine.

Best time to go

St Barts is at its best from early December into the middle of the year (basically the high season – hotels rates reduce in late April). From July onwards it can get very hot, though there is often a sea breeze. Avoid the hurricane season, which runs from September into October. November is the rainy season, so it can be cloudy and grey.

A taxi ride through St. Barts offers some excellent views - Credit: Getty
Taking a taxi around the island is a simple way of appreciating the island's scenery Credit: Getty

Closures

Shops take a long lunch hour and Sundays can be quite quiet out of season.

Read more: Telegraph Travel's Caribbean Cruise Guide