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Cruises to Grenada

622 Reviews
Grenada (Photo:NAPA/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Grenada

To the uninitiated, the Southern Caribbean island of Grenada is better known for its political history than it is for being a vacation paradise. (U.S. troops intervened in a coup during President Reagan's administration, at the time a controversial volley in the Cold War.) But for the tourists pouring in to explore its numerous beaches or hike its mountainous rainforests via the island's increasing cruise business -- on a recent day, five ships were docked at the capital of St. George's -- such associations belong in the past. So, too, does Hurricane Ivan, which damaged 90 percent of Grenada's buildings, destroyed 85 percent of its nutmeg trees, and left more than half the population homeless in September 2004.

Nearly 15 years later, St. George's is as colorful and charming as ever. Restaurants, tourist attractions and hotels are back in business -- in many cases refurbished and looking even better than they did before.

Visitors can still bask in the sun on the wide, white-sand Grand Anse Beach, visit the Mona monkeys that live near Grand Etang National Park, or enjoy a lazy waterfront lunch along the horseshoe-shaped Carenage harbor. Take advantage of Grenada's topography and work up a sweat as you hike to one of the island's multi-tiered waterfalls; then, cool off with a relaxing swim in the chilled waters. Make sure to sample some of the diverse, wonderfully seasoned cuisine, befitting Grenada's "Isle of Spice" nickname. At St. George's market, you'll find ginger, cinnamon, mace, turmeric and nutmeg sharing space with coconuts, bananas and more exotic fruit, such as star-shaped carambola.

Grenada's famous nutmeg industry is still recovering from the 2004 hurricane; the trees take between seven and 15 years to mature enough to bear fruit. But interested visitors can still tour spice plantations and processing stations to learn about the hardy new varieties of nutmeg trees that are being planted -- varieties that will hopefully survive the next big storm. Or tour River Antoine Estate, a rum distillery that still uses a 19th-century water wheel to produce 152-proof liquor, considered too strong for visitors to bring home on a plane. Either way, the natural bounty of one of the Caribbean's friendliest islands will entice those searching for eco-tourism adventures or laze-the-day-away relaxation. Grenada truly has assets to fulfill both.

  • More about Grenada

  • Why Cruise to Grenada?

  • Grenada Cruise Port Facilities?

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MSC Virtuosa

4 Night
Caribbean - Southern Cruise

291 Reviews
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Seabourn Ovation

11 Night
Caribbean - Eastern Cruise

98 Reviews
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Volendam

14 Night
Caribbean - Eastern Cruise

605 Reviews
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Norwegian Jewel

14 Night
Southern Caribbean - Tampa

2,377 Reviews
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Sponsored

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Royal Caribbean

14 Night
Caribbean - Southern Cruise

197 Reviews
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12 Night
Caribbean - Southern Cruise

245 Reviews
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14 Night
Caribbean Cruise

1,392 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

7 Night
Caribbean - Southern Cruise

291 Reviews
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10 Night
Ultimate Southern Caribbean

211 Reviews
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7 Night
Caribbean - Eastern Cruise

98 Reviews
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10 Night
Ultimate Southern Caribbean

211 Reviews
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14 Night
Southern Caribbean - Miami

2,427 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

7 Night
Caribbean - Southern Cruise

291 Reviews
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25 Night
World Cruise

133 Reviews
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14 Night
Caribbean - Eastern Cruise

98 Reviews
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More about Grenada

Why Cruise to Grenada?

Pros:

Lush botanical gardens, waterfalls and a wealth of spices make shopping and sightseeing a delight

Cons:

Grand Anse is a beautiful beach close to the cruise port; expect major crowding when multiple ships call

Bottom Line:

Grenada is a lively Southern Caribbean port with history, shopping and sun

Grenada Cruise Port Facilities?

Those docked at the Melville Street Cruise Terminal are within walking distance of the major sights of St. George's, including the Grenada National Museum, Market Square and several pretty churches. The Carenage and the city's forts are just a quick cab ride (or, in the case of Fort George, a steep walk) away. Those docked at the Carenage can enjoy the area's duty-free shops and waterfront restaurants or walk to nearby St. George's.

Busy port days bring up to three ships, but the vibe here, while bustling, lacks the hustle of some islands. The world-famous Grand Anse Beach is only a 10-minute cab ride away from the port. Many of Grenada's hotels are located at Grand Anse, as are numerous water-sports operators who can help you arrange activities such as diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, parasailing and kayaking.

Good to Know?

The streets in St. George's are steep, with deep gutters running under very narrow sidewalks. Make sure you watch where you are going so you don't turn an ankle -- or worse.

Getting Around?

On Foot: Ships dock within walking distance of downtown St. George's, which boasts shopping, dining, historic forts, churches and a museum.

By Taxi: Cabs are plentiful at the cruise terminals and in downtown St. George's. The government of Grenada sets the rates; a trip from St. George's to the Grand Anse Beach area is $10. (You can also take a water taxi from the Carenage to Grand Anse for about $4.) Private or group tours can be arranged with cab drivers, with average hourly rates running about $25; make sure you agree upon a price ahead of time. A two-and-a-half-hour tour hitting four highlights -- Grand Etang National Park, Grand Etang Lake, Annandale Falls and Fort Frederick -- costs about $70 for one to four people.

By Bus: Grenada's colorful local buses -- essentially vans that bear personalized monikers like "Upper Level," "Hot Boys" and "Spectacular" -- are the most cost-effective way to move about Grenada. Available from St. George's for most short rides (such as the Grand Anse beach area), bus rides can cost as little as 75 cents. The trip from Melville Street Cruise Terminal to Grand Anse costs $1.

By Car: Grenadians drive on the left side of the road. Driving permits are required; they cost between $11 and $12 and can be purchased from car rental agencies. Local companies include Y&R Car Rentals (473-444-4448) and Indigo Car Rentals (473-439-3300). Rates start at $60 a day and $63 a day, respectively.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

Grenada's local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar. You can use American dollars around the island, though you may receive change in the local currency. ATMs are plentiful in St. George's and other major tourist areas.

Language?

English is the official language spoken in Grenada. You will also hear a French-African patios spoken by the locals.

Where You're Docked?

Most ships dock at the Melville Street Cruise Terminal, which exits through the Esplanade Shopping Mall and then out into downtown St. George's. Other (mostly smaller) ships dock nearby at the Carenage, a horseshoe-shaped waterfront area with shops and restaurants.


Grenada Cruise Reviews

2 Fabulous weeks in the Caribbean

Grenada We visited a garden high up in the mountains. The garden is small but the young guide who showed us round was extremely knowledgeable, and the views were stunning. A good way to spend a couple of hours. OnRead More
Presto2

Love Those Days At Sea

We chose this cruise because we like Celebrity Millenium class ships AND we could visit our granddaughter who had moved to Grenada to marry her husband. What a beautiful, lush green island!! We toured as much as weRead More
kh76sp

Voyager is sad and needs major refurbishing

We took the bus and “do Granada on your own. Bus ride was one hour. We arranged for private tour guide and spent 3 hours seeing the beautiful Alhambra. You can get audio guides but having a private tour guide is wortRead More
CruiseDeBo

Very nice ship.

The lunch included in the tour was bad. Tour was okRead More
oskidunker

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