Port Elizabeth (Bequia) Cruise Port
Port Elizabeth, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Caribbean
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Port Elizabeth — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Plan my port daysWorking Grenadines harbour town with a walkable shore path, cheap minibuses and two beaches you can reach without a tour.
At a glance
Port summary
Bequia has no cruise berth. Ships anchor in Admiralty Bay and tender to the jetty at Port Elizabeth, which puts you in the middle of town with a tourist booth, a craft market, banks and the taxi rank all within a minute. What makes this port unusually good for independent travel is that it has real local transport: dollar vans run across the island for EC$1-4, water taxis cross the bay for about EC$15, and open-back taxis work to fixed fares you agree at the rank. Princess Margaret Beach is a 20-minute walk south along the Belmont Walkway, which is flat until a short rocky section with steps at the far end, and Lower Bay is another 15 minutes beyond it. Shops close for lunch and most shut on Sunday, and the dollar vans thin out in the afternoon, so plan the return leg rather than assuming one will turn up.
Cruise dock
🚢 Port Elizabeth Jetty — Tender Landing
Bequia is tender-only: ships anchor in Admiralty Bay and run tenders to the main jetty in the centre of Port Elizabeth, which also serves the St Vincent ferries and the island's water taxis. There is no cruise terminal building, but the tourist booth, craft market, banks and taxi rank are all within a minute or two, and the Belmont Walkway starts at the south end of the waterfront.
📍 Latitude: 13.01079, Longitude: -61.23651
See dock on port map →Getting to Port Elizabeth
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
The ship's tender is the only way ashore. Admiralty Bay is sheltered so the crossing is usually easy, but the jetty is shared with ferries and water taxis and queues build for the last runs.
📍 Ship's tender platform; you land at the main jetty in the centre of Port Elizabeth.
The Belmont Walkway runs along the shore from town to Princess Margaret Beach in about 20 minutes. It is flat and paved most of the way, then narrows to a rocky stretch with steps at the far end.
📍 Turn left off the jetty and follow the waterfront south onto the Belmont Walkway.
The dollar vans are the cheapest way across the island and run to Lower Bay, Friendship Bay and Paget Farm. Cash only, no timetable, and they thin out after the middle of the afternoon.
📍 Dollar vans wait on the road behind the jetty and pick up anywhere along the route if you wave.
Fares are fixed by route rather than metered, roughly EC$25 to Princess Margaret Beach and EC$55 to the airport for the vehicle, and island tours run about US$30 an hour. Agree the price first.
📍 Open-back pickup taxis wait at the rank beside the jetty.
Water taxis skip the walkway and run you straight across Admiralty Bay to Princess Margaret Beach or Lower Bay. Cash only, and it is the easy way back when the heat has beaten you.
📍 Water taxi boats work the waterfront either side of the jetty and along the Belmont Walkway.
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Bring small EC dollars for vans, water taxis and the market. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere but change comes back in EC dollars, usually at a rate that is not in your favour.
Things to do
The Belmont Walkway
Short stop🚶 Walk
The shoreline path from town to Princess Margaret Beach, past bars built out over the water.
🕐 Early, before the sun is high on the unshaded stretches
Princess Margaret Beach
🏖️ Beach
Bequia's best beach and the reason most passengers walk the Belmont Walkway.
🕐 Mid-morning, before the beach bar fills up for lunch
Lower Bay Beach
🏖️ Beach
The locals' beach one headland further on, with beach bars and calmer water.
🕐 Any time, though the beach bars are best around lunch
Friendship Bay Beach
🏖️ Beach
A long breezy bay on the south coast where you will often have the sand to yourself.
🕐 Late morning; the trade wind picks up through the afternoon
Port Elizabeth Market and Craft Stalls
Short stop🛒 Market
Fruit, spice and craft stalls right beside the jetty, busiest first thing in the morning.
🕐 Early morning; the market winds down by mid-afternoon and closes Sundays
Snorkelling in Admiralty Bay
🎯 Activity
Reef and rocks at the edges of the anchorage, reached from the beach or by a short boat hop.
🕐 Morning, when the bay is flattest and clearest
Mac's Pizzeria
🍽️ Restaurant
A terrace over the bay that has been serving its lobster pizza to yacht crews since 1980.
🕐 Lunch; it fills quickly when a ship is in
Jack's Beach Bar
🍹 Bar
The beach bar at the quiet end of Princess Margaret, with loungers and a rum punch list.
🕐 After a swim, once the walk is behind you
Fort Hamilton
Short stop📸 Viewpoint
An old gun battery on the ridge with the best view over Admiralty Bay and your ship at anchor.
🕐 Morning, before the climb turns into hard work
Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary
Short stop🌿 Nature
A one-man hawksbill turtle project on the windward shore, raising hatchlings for release.
🕐 Morning, when the tanks are being cleaned and fed
Bequia Model Boat Workshops
Short stop🛍️ Shopping
Workshops on the waterfront where model schooners are still carved and rigged by hand.
🕐 Weekday mornings, when someone is usually working at the bench
Moonhole
other
A 1960s community of stone houses built into a natural arch at the island's western tip.
🕐 Morning, and only with a driver who knows the road
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Plan my port days →Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Port Elizabeth?
- Port Elizabeth is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Port Elizabeth?
- Walking into Port Elizabeth from the cruise port isn't practical. Plan to use a shuttle, taxi, or public transport.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Port Elizabeth centre?
- Typical options include Ferry, On foot, Local bus, Taxi, Other transport. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Port Elizabeth?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Port Elizabeth independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Port Elizabeth and are cards accepted?
- Port Elizabeth 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?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Port Elizabeth cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- 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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