Southern Caribbean Islands
- Dawn Klintworth
- Feb 26
- 8 min read
A Cruise Diary: Our Ports on Vision of the Seas
I know, I know - what am I doing writing a travel blog? I know what you're thinking "Dawn, don't you usually post about weddings and other large events? " You are correct, I usually do focus on the weddings, but I also realized that this blog is a perfect spot to document our travels. It helps us remember what we did and where we went (and where to get the best deals), but it also helps out those of you planning a similar trip - whether a honeymoon or large family vacation.
My husband, Mick, and I recently took a 12 days cruise on Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas, and this blog is a recap of what we did in each port, along with my commentary of what we liked, what we didn't like, and what we would do differently.
One of my favorite things about cruising is how each port becomes its own little chapter—some adventurous, some relaxing, all worth remembering. This sailing on Vision of the Seas gave us a great mix of DIY exploring, beach days, and one excursion we’ll never forget. Here’s exactly where we went, what we did, and what we’d tell friends planning the same stops.
Frederiksted (St. Croix)
Our first port of call, after 3 days of very choppy seas (first time I've ever been seasick), was St. Croix. If you are prone to seasickness, be sure to bring some over the counter remedies or pick some up in the gift shop while on board.
St. Croix is part of the US Virgin Islands, so no passport needed here. We started with a walk through the downtown port area. There were flea market–style booths set up (see picture above) - which were fun to shop at if you like the local souvenirs. But there was not a ton of shopping beyond that. Still, it was a pleasant way to get our bearings.
We discovered Rainbow Beach this trip—and the best part - it’s completely free. It's a short walk from the port - in fact, you can see the beach from the dock (picture above was taken from the dock - it's a mile walk from the dock). Calm water, beautiful views, and plenty to do if you want more than just lounging. They rent snorkeling gear, jet skis, and other water equipment right on the beach.
If you are a snorkeler and have your own gear (or if you want to rent some at Rainbow Beach), St. Croix is a great place to get some water time in. These guests (in the picture below) brought their own gear and were snorkeling right off the beach. If you're looking to explore on your own, this is a great option, but there are also many great guided excursions that offer snorkeling as well.
We didn't bring our swimming gear in port with us, so we decided to walk around Frederiksted. Near Strand Street, we found Ruff Night, also known as the “Hair of the dog” bar. Drinks were cheap, the atmosphere was fun, and you can pet dogs next door while supporting the Ruff Night pet rescue. One of those places that just feels good to spend money at. You can find out more about this dog rescue/adoption group here: https://ruffstartstx.org/
Helpful tip: This is a great port to skip excursions and do your own thing.
Basseterre (St. Kitts)
Our next port was St. Kitts/Nevis and the capital town of Basseterre. The port area in St. Kitts has a great mix of local shops and duty-free stores. St. Kitts is known for monkeys - the monkey population outweighs the human population by 1.5 to 1. Beware if a man comes and puts a monkey in your arms in port. He'll offer to take picture and all - which are cute, but they don't do it for free. He'll ask for a tip - we learned that the hard way.
A quick walk around town gives you a nice feel for everyday life there. Visit the downtown park called Independence Square and learn about the history of St. Kitts. The tree-lined plaza is surrounded by beautiful Georgian Style architecture and features a central fountain.
We had visited St, Kitts before, so we were familiar with the area and where to go. From the town square, we grabbed a cab to the Shipwreck Beach Bar. Cab prices vary, and drivers will haggle, but we paid $7 per person one way. Now, if you've never been to the Shipwreck before, do not be alarmed when your cab driver pulls down a rocky road wide enough for one vehicle. The road leading to the Shipwreck is like a back alley drive - at the end of that alley is the Shipwreck. He's not taking you to some remote location to kill you. 😂
The Shipwreck was fantastic—great views, its own beach, plenty of beach chairs, and good, inexpensive food and drinks. You can swim, snorkel, relax all day, or even book time at their spa. And, you can see monkeys in the wild right at the entrance to The Shipwreck.
Helpful tip: Always confirm cab prices before you enter their vehicle and don’t be afraid to negotiate.
Fort-de-France (Martinique)
This was our most adventurous stop. We booked a kayaking excursion through the mangroves, and while it was absolutely beautiful, there’s one thing I cannot stress enough:
👉 Bring bug spray. Mick got eaten alive - me, not so much. The mangroves are stunning, peaceful, and unique—but the bugs are relentless.
Martinique is part of France and has been since 1946. It is directly represented in the French parliament and is considered an outermost region of the European Union. They speak French in Martinique, use the euro, and its citizens have full French citizenship. Parlez-vous français?
Our tour started with a bus trip to the mangroves - probably an hour drive. The traffic in Martinique was congested (rush hour). When we got to the Mangroves, we left our personal belongings on the bush and only took our phones (with waterproof covers) and ourselves.
The kayaking itself was a really cool experience, gliding through narrow waterways surrounded by lush greenery. If you ever want to test the strength of your marriage, go kayaking in a double kayak with your significant other. If you can survive not tipping the kayak over and still like each other at the end of the trip, you can survive anything! 😂 Just as with anything in life - communication is key.
Afterward, the tour included time at a free beach, which was a perfect way to cool off and relax after paddling. The tour included free rum punches at the beach. Yummy! We took an extra one for the bus ride home. Warm water, soft sand, and no extra cost made it an easy win.
Helpful tip: The excursion is worth it for the scenery alone—just don’t forget bug spray, even if you think you won’t need it. And sunscreen!
Roseau (Dominica)
Dominica is an independent sovereign nation, having gained independence from Great Britain on November 3, 1978. It is a parliamentary democracy and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Their currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar. Dominica is often confused with the Dominican Republic, which is a separate nation, although they both are located in the Caribbean.
For this port day, we decided to walk to the downtown area of Roseau. It was quite a hike from the port - we logged over 12,000 steps this day. But, there was a gorgeous concrete pathway lined with palm trees and beaches that led us to the downtown.
Once in town, our first priority was finding bug relief spray. We walked into a pharmacy called Jollys. It's a great place to visit if you need anything as far as toiletries, first aid, medicine, etc. They had a bug spray that worked great! Here's a picture of it. Mick was happy to find some relief from the itchiness.
We ventured around the downtown area. There was another ship in port that day, so the downtown was bustling with farmer's markets, vendor souvenir booths, and people!
Similar to Martinique, the architecture in Dominica was very French Carribean. Narrow streets, no sidewalks, and taxis/cars zipping around everywhere made walking the downtown an exercise in caution. But, the architecture made it worth it. The colorful buildings, gingerbread trim, and high - pitched roofs showcase the traditional creole style.
If you are a fabric lover, quilter, or sewer, then this next place is for you. As many of you know, I like to sew, quilt, knit, etc. I always try to find new fabric/craft stores wherever we visit. I saw online that there was a fabric store that had great reviews. It was called L.A. Dupigny & Co Ltd. Unfortunately it was closed the day we were in port, so I can't provide my own reviews of the place. But, that is definitely a place I want to visit if we ever go back to Dominica.
Philipsburg (St. Maarten)
The final port of call for this cruise was St. Maarten. The one word I can use to describe Philipsburg, St. Maarten is 'money'. We walked from the port to the downtown shopping district. It was about a mile walk. Alternatively, you can catch a water taxi to get there and it's about $2 per person. We were all about getting our steps in, so we chose to walk.
What I liked most about this port was how very clean it was. They had nice large sidewalks (some brick even) and a very nice shopping district (luxury shopping). We passed the marina on our way to downtown and I was amazed at all the yachts in port. A quick google search tells me that while tourism is the main economic activity in Philipsburg, it's not where the wealthy choose to live, but rather, where they chose to visit and spend their wealth. Hence, the high luxury shopping district.
We did find the best deals for duty free liquor in St. Maarten. Go to Front Street and find Friendly Duty Free 2. They are located at 43_E Front Street. They have an air conditioned show room and had the very best deals on liquor we've seen. Mick ended up getting a bottle of scotch to bring home. Remember though, the cruise ship will hold if for you until you get back home. Unfortunately, you can't consume it on the ship. The ship gave us a map of downtown - pictured below.
While we didn't do this, we were told that we should take a bus or taxi to Maho Beach. This is right by the airport and you can see all the planes flying in right over your head. The couple who told us about it went to a small bar there and were amazed at the planes coming in - it was loud, thrilling, and exactly as crazy as everyone says. We will plan this for our next time in St. Maarten.
Helpful tip: Public buses are safe, easy, and way cheaper than excursions here. Shopping is expensive, except at Friendly Duty Free.
Final Thoughts
This cruise proved (again) that you don’t need pricey excursions to have amazing port days. With a little confidence, local transportation, and a sense of adventure, we found beaches, bars, wildlife, and views we’ll talk about for years.
If we sailed this itinerary on Vision of the Seas again, we’d do some things the same, but want to explore more of certain islands—just with more bug spray packed. 🦟
If you are looking for a travel advisor to help you plan your next trip, we know a guy! Reach out to Chris Lay at https://clay.dreamvacations.com/home-page. He and his staff can help you plan the vacation of your dreams!
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