Come along with me for a walk around Castries, St. Lucia, filmed during our port stop on Holland America’s Rotterdam. We’ll head from the ship into town, poke around the local market and the craft market, and get a feel for whether this port is worth exploring on your own.
Castries, St. Lucia Cruise Port Walk Around
Castries, St. Lucia walk around from the Rotterdam into town, through the local produce and fish market, the craft market and the downtown streets.
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Key Takeaways
- On this visit, Rotterdam docked at a different pier than the one I’ve used on other cruises, so it was a longer walk into downtown.
- Traffic is heavy and it seems like every vehicle is diesel. Every time I crossed the street, I felt like I was taking my life into my own hands.
- Near the port you’ll pass little shops like The Shoe Surgeon, a cobbler, and a woman grilling food on the street.
- The local market sells produce, spices and fish. It’s interesting to see, but it was crowded and I could still smell the fish long after I left.
- There’s a craft market near the main market if you’re looking for souvenirs.
- I was offered smoke on the street, and I just said no thank you and kept walking.
- Some of the side streets felt too sketchy for me, so I turned around and stuck to busier areas.
Good to Know
It was hot, humid and sticky the day I walked around. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes, especially if your ship is at the farther pier.
Honestly, Castries wasn’t my favorite. I don’t know many people who would plan a vacation around visiting the town itself, so if you want to see the best of St. Lucia, a ship excursion is probably the better way to go.
If you do explore on your own, keep your wits about you, be careful crossing the streets, and don’t be afraid to turn around if an area doesn’t feel right.