Cruises to Grenada Island

P & O Cruises, P & O Ventura, Princess Cruises - Sea Princess, Princess Cruises - Caribbean Princess,
P & O Cruises, P & O Oceana, Princess Cruises - Ruby Princess, Fred Olsen - Black Watch, Fred Olsen - Braemar, Princess Cruises - Emerald Princess, Cunard - Queen Mary 2, Star Clippers - Royal Clipper, Cunard - Queen Victoria.

Island of Grenada Overview

The capital city of St. George's is as colorful and charming as ever. Visitors can still bask in the sun on the wide white sand of Grand Anse Beach, hike through fertile rain forest in Grand Etang National Park or enjoy a lazy waterfront lunch along the horseshoe-shaped Carenage harbor. On a driving tour around the island, see lush forests with trees reaching toward the sky on verdant hills and valleys.
Grenada's famous nutmeg industry will interest visitors who can tour spice plantations and processing stations to learn about the hardy new varieties of nutmeg trees.

Language: English.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money
Grenada's local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, at $2.67 E.C. to $1 U.S. You can use American dollars around the island, though you may receive change in the local currency. ATM's are plentiful in St. George's and other major tourist areas.

Best Juices
Try Mauby, passionfruit juice, ginger beer, golden apple juice, sorrel



By Bus: Grenada's colorful local buses, bearing 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 $0.75.

By Car: Grenadians drive on the left side of the road. A driving permit is required; it costs between $11 and $12 and can be purchased from car rental agencies. Local companies include C Thomas & Sons (473-444-4384) Rates start at $50 a day. 

History
Grenada is an island of British, French and West Indian cultural influences, all of which are visible in its colorful capital, St. George's. Head up to Fort George for views over the city and the harbor, or to Fort Frederick for a bird's-eye prospect over miles of green hills to the north and east of the city. The Grenada National Museum (Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.) is small but has fascinating artifacts (such as the childhood bathtub of Napoleon's wife, Empress Josephine). Vendors peddle spices, crafts, produce and more each morning in Market Square, at its liveliest on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and noon.

Hire a driver or rent a car and head to Annandale Falls. About 15 minutes outside St. George's, this mountain stream cascades some 40 feet down into a pool below. You can swim here or hike along a path to the top of the falls.

Grenada has a lush and mountainous interior -- one-ninth of its land mass is preserved in the way of parks, natural sanctuaries and wildlife preserves. Grand Etang National Park is Grenada's largest forest reserve and contains excellent hiking trails that range from easy 15-minute strolls to rigorous expeditions of several hours. Trails wind past cascading waterfalls with inviting swimming holes and up to Grand Etang Lake, a volcanic crater lake. The trails are easy to navigate; the Forest Reserve offers both maps and human guides (a fee may apply).

Grenada Shore Excursions
Visitors who want to experience Grenada's tropical rain forests, plantations and cascading waterfalls should book a half- or full-day Travelgrenada Tours. Guides combine informative commentary on the island's flora and fauna with outdoor adventures like hiking and swimming.

Grenada Spice Plantations
Take a guided tour of the Dougaldston Spice Estate (Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.), a historical monument to Grenada's past where most of the island's precious spices (nutmeg, allspice, clove, cinnamon, ginger, cocoa, bay leaves, mace) are grown and processed. Nearby is the Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station (473-444-8337, Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 2 - 4 p.m.), which offers tours of one of the largest nutmeg processing factories on the island. Note that the station is only operating at about 20 percent of its capacity, after the loss of about 85 percent of its nutmeg trees in Hurricane Ivan.

Take a trip to Sauteurs have some lunch and a juice at Top of the Town, on the northern side of the island, where you can see the steep 100-foot cliff (known as Carib's Leap) where Carib Indians jumped to their death in 1651 rather than surrender to French colonists. Another nearby stop is the Pavillion Restaurant & Bar, a beautiful scenic location that serves up a wonderful West Indian lunch buffet.

Grenada Beaches
Best Beach for a Half-Day Tour: Dr Grooms Beach is just a few miles south of St. George's; its clear, calm waters are perfect for an afternoon of swimming and snorkeling.

Best Beach for Active Types: Grand Anse Beach is Grenada's most famous stretch of soft white sand. Located just south of St. George's, this stunning two-mile beach has attracted many of the island's hotels and resorts.

Lunching
For great harbour views check out The Mangrove Restaurant (473-443-2782), is located at Calivigny Harbour, (20 minutes from St. George's), and serves up some of the island's best seafood grill, and international cuisine. If you're in port on Sunday, check out the fabulous grill and barbecue and cocktails.

The deli at the MNIB (473-440-3191) Young Street serves daily breakfast and lunches, (about 3 minutes from Cruise Terminal).Snack on fresh fruit, indulgence in a roti and their famous blend of local juices such as sour sop, passionfruit, lime or guava.

Try the Amba Kaila Spice Place ( 473-435-4906) close to Annadale falls. We especially love the nutmeg ice cream. They have a restaurant and demonstration of spices.

Shore Excursions
For First-Timers: Take a driving tour through Grenada's lush interior to some of its most memorable attractions. Highlights include photo stops at Grand Etang Lake and Annandale Falls, a brief climb up to Fort Frederick and a tour of a traditional spice plantation.

For Active Types: Go on a hike to the spectacular Seven Sisters Falls. Your guide will point out local flora and fauna on your way to and from the falls, where you can take pictures or go for a quick swim in one of several clear pools.