Castries Cruise Port
Castries, Saint Lucia · Caribbean
Cruise ships dock at Pointe Seraphine — Main Cruise Terminal, Castries.
Castries cruise port has two docks; both are walkable to the city centre via a short bridge or the XCD 4 water taxi.
At a glance
Port summary
Pointe Seraphine handles most large ships; La Place Carenage is the in-town berth. Either way Castries is at the door, with minivans and government-rate taxis fanning out to Pigeon Island, Marigot Bay and Soufrière.
Cruise docks
🚢 Pointe Seraphine — Main Cruise Terminal
Primary cruise berth across the harbour from Castries, with a duty-free shopping arcade in the terminal complex. 15-min walk via the bridge or 1-min water taxi to La Place Carenage and the city centre.
📍 Latitude: 14.014744, Longitude: -60.996447
See dock on port map →🚢 La Place Carenage — In-Town Cruise Berth
Secondary cruise berth right in front of Castries on Jeremie Street; smaller ships and overflow calls dock here. Step straight into town.
📍 Latitude: 14.011177, Longitude: -60.990924
See dock on port map →Getting to Castries
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Pointe Seraphine is across the harbour from town — 15-min walk over the wooden footbridge, or 1 min on the water taxi. La Place Carenage is in the city centre.
📍 Cross the wooden bridge from Pointe Seraphine, or step straight off La Place Carenage.
Tiny harbour water taxi shuttles between Pointe Seraphine and La Place Carenage — the fastest way to Castries from the main cruise dock.
📍 Water-taxi jetty in front of Pointe Seraphine arcade.
St Lucia taxis use government-set zone fares; agree the rate in USD before getting in. Most accept cards if you ask first. No meters.
📍 Government-rate taxi rank just outside Pointe Seraphine and La Place Carenage gates.
Cruise lines run paid shuttles to Reduit Beach and Pigeon Island on big-ship days. Convenient but only useful if Reduit/Pigeon is your one stop.
📍 Cruise line shuttle desks at Pointe Seraphine and La Place Carenage.
Privately operated minivans (route 1A to Rodney Bay/Gros Islet, 3H to Soufriere) — cheap but irregular schedules. Cash only, XCD preferred.
📍 Minivan stand on Jeremie Street near Castries Market — 5-min walk from La Place Carenage.
Driving is on the LEFT in Saint Lucia and a temporary EC$54 (US$22) local permit is required at pickup. Mountain roads are steep and narrow — only for confident left-side drivers.
📍 Rental desks in Castries downtown; some deliver to the cruise dock.
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Carry small USD notes for taxis and tours, plus a few XCD for the market and minivans. Cards fine in larger restaurants.
Things to do
Derek Walcott Square
Short stop🚶 Walk
Leafy central square named for the Nobel poet — saman tree, war memorial, the Basilica facing.
🕐 Late afternoon when the sun drops behind the saman tree
Reduit Beach
🏖️ Beach
2 km of golden sand at Rodney Bay — calm-water swimming, palm shade and beach bars.
🕐 Morning before the wind picks up
Vigie Beach
🏖️ Beach
Long calm-water beach, 5-min taxi north of Pointe Seraphine — handy if not going to Reduit.
🕐 Mid-morning before sun is fierce
Pigeon Island Beaches
🏖️ Beach
Two calm-water beaches inside the park — quieter than Reduit, with the fort climb attached.
🕐 Late morning after the fort climb
Castries Central Market
Short stop🛒 Market
Bright shed and arcade selling cocoa sticks, hot sauce, breadfruit and coconut basketry.
🕐 Saturday morning is busiest
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
Castries' painted-interior basilica facing Walcott Square — Caribbean-toned biblical murals.
🕐 Mornings before tour groups arrive
Fort Rodney Climb
📸 Viewpoint
20-min climb up Pigeon Island to a British naval lookout — Pitons south, Martinique north.
🕐 Early morning before midday heat
Marigot Bay Viewpoint
Short stop📸 Viewpoint
Roadside lookout above Marigot Bay — turquoise yacht harbour, rainforest hills, beach.
🕐 Late morning when light hits the bay
The Pitons Viewpoint
Short stop📸 Viewpoint
Coastal lookout north of Soufrière onto Petit and Gros Piton — St Lucia's UNESCO image.
🕐 Mid-morning when light is best
Sulphur Springs Drive-in Volcano
🌿 Nature
Steaming sulphur vents in the world's only drive-in volcano caldera, plus mineral mud baths.
🕐 Mid-morning to avoid Soufrière traffic
Diamond Botanical Gardens & Falls
Short stop🌿 Nature
Tropical garden around a multi-coloured mineral waterfall and 18th-c Soufrière Estate baths.
🕐 After the Sulphur Springs as part of a Soufrière day
Pointe Seraphine Duty-Free Arcade
Short stop🛍️ Shopping
Air-con duty-free arcade at the cruise terminal — rum, jewellery, perfumes, tourist info.
🕐 Anytime during cruise calls
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Plan my day →Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Castries?
- Your ship docks at one of the cruise terminals in Castries, Saint Lucia. The specific berth is assigned by the port a few days before arrival.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Castries?
- Yes. Castries is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Castries centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Ferry, Taxi, Shuttle bus, Local bus, Car rental. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Castries?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Castries independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Castries and are cards accepted?
- Castries uses the East Caribbean Dollar. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Castries cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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