st. george’s

St. George’s, Grenada Cruise Port The town of St. George, Grenada, outside of the cruise port exit. Many cruisers aspire to sail to the “Saint” islands, one of which is St. George’s, Grenada. While this is a less common port of call, it’s interesting. Most of the major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Celebrity port here, and I like many things about the Grenada Cruise Port. I’m not a fan of tender ports, as the tendering process can be lengthy and eat into your time in port, so I enjoy that this port has a pier and a short one. (Note: the streets of St. George’s are not accessible, so if you have mobility issues or use a wheelchair or scooter, I do not recommend navigating the town). Grenada Cruise Terminal The port area itself is unimpressive and features the standard duty-free shops and tourist stalls selling local trinkets and tchotchkes. The official language is English, but the currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$). Most vendors will accept US dollars, but like many Caribbean ports, they may not accept your currency if damaged or overly won, and you may get your change back in EC$. Grenada is a small island, ranking 185th in size worldwide, and the port city of St. George’s also serves as the island country’s capital. It’s also one of several Caribbean nations prohibiting civilians from wearing camouflage. Exploring St. George’s On Foot The Grenada cruise port terminal is off Melville Street and a short walk from the city center. Some cruisers may opt to just walk around the town, which is very doable, but on one condition – that you don’t have any mobility limitations. My biggest issue with this cruise port, or rather the surrounding city, is that it is not very pedestrian-friendly. The town is very hilly, sidewalks are sometimes nonexistent, and the sidewalk infrastructure is hazardous, with steep drops, holes, gaps, and other obstacles. If you choose to explore St. George’s on foot, I recommend a stop at the Grenada House of Chocolate. If you are a cruiser who uses a walking aid, wheelchair, or scooter, or has trouble getting around, do not – and I repeat, DO NOT, attempt to navigate the town of St. George’s. Complicating the sidewalk issue is that drivers in Grenada drive on the left side of the road, which can become hazardous for Americans unfamiliar with this in the many places where you have to walk in the road. If you do not have any limitations, and like the idea of exploring St. George’s by foot, you can find a walking tour map here. Grenada Cruise Port Beach Another thing I don’t love about the Grenada cruise port is that there is no pool or beach accessible at the port or on foot. There are, however, some great beach options nearby, with Grand Antse Beach being the most popular and well-known. Cruisers who wish to enjoy a beach day at Grand Antse can book an excursion, take a taxi, or, for the more adventurous, take public transportation at the low cost of just $1 per person each way.  Another interesting way to get to Grand Antse from the Grenada Cruise Port is via water taxi, which, at $5 per person each way, is an affordable option. Of course, traditional taxis are also an option. Grenada Port Taxis Like most cruise ports, the Grenada Cruise Port has a taxi stand located in the terminal, which is regulated by the government. There, drivers will provide their options and pricing to take cruisers to various attractions, which include the waterfall and beaches. During my visit, drivers asked for $20 per person to take us to Grand Antse Beach, but those prices were negotiable. So, the cost of a taxi from the Grenada Cruise Port to Grand Antse Beach or any other location may vary, depending on your negotiation ability. Best Excursions in St. George’s, Grenada Because of its small size, cruisers will find fewer excursion options at this port, but here are some things to do in St. George’s, Grenada: Grenada Cruise Port Ship Schedule As with all cruise ports, I recommend using Cruisemapper to access the ship schedule for the  Grenada Cruise Port. The ship schedule for Grenada can be found here. Grenada’s Time Zone Keeping track of time zones can get complicated when cruising, especially for itineraries with multiple time zone changes on one sailing. Your captain will make announcements during the cruise to update you on these changes, but it’s good to be aware of these differences ahead of time when planning your stop at the port, especially for excursions. Most cruise lines operate on “ship time” set to the time of its departing port, so for sailings off the eastern coast of the US, this is Eastern Standard Time (EST). Grenada’s time zone is Atlantic Standard Time (AST), and they do not observe Daylight Saving Time, so the AST time zone may differ from EST — or it may be the same — depending on the time of year. Dress featured in the main photo: Acelitt black sleeveless tank dress. Other Things to do in Grenada