IslandStar

I will be in Grenada on a Sunday and am concerned about what will be open. I am really hoping to see the rum distillery and the nutmeg plant as well as to be able to shop for spices ect. I was in a different port once on a Sunday and he only things that were operating were tours that had been previously booked, and the only "shops" that were open were at a small straw market that was right at the port. I'm not fond of shopping at the port. I am planning to do an island tour even if everything is closed, but I'm sure hoping that won't be the case, and I'm also hoping to be able to do my shopping along the way rather in port.

 

Can anyone please shed some light on this? Thanks bunches

Sunday for us on Grenada is always a bit tricky as we don't have a regular schedule. I would highly recommend contacting one of our tour operators such as Sunsation Tours and correspond with them to build your own tour and check what is and isn't open on the particular Sunday you are in. Hope this helps - have a wonderful day on island :cool:

We will be in Grenada in December and was wondering if anyone has used Seafaris in the last few months and is it worth it? Struggling with what to do. Thanks

I can only go with my experience of them. I have done it more than once as have always had a really good time. The staff are great and very professional, the equipment is very good and the guided part of the snorkel is particularly useful as you cant find the statues by themselves. They have received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 6 years in a row more than any other tour operator on the island and just posted about winning a luxury travel guide award. What I like in particular is you learn about the island as well as see it and then you have the morning or afternoon at the beach or shopping or wandering town depending on when your tour is. Hope this helps :cool:

Thanks for posting. We are bringing our 8, 4 and 4 year olds in March and starting our research. I contacted several tour operators and not one said no. Good tip on seafaris. I'll check them out. We were thinking of sailing/snorkeling.

 

I'll look into the children's museum also.

 

 

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Seafaris and bouncy castles on BBC beach (taxi will take you there) would get my vote for those age groups. I am not aware of a Children's museum in Grenada? Whatever you choose I am sure you will have a wonderful day in Grenada :cool:

We were thinking we might forgo an arranged tour and just explore on our own. I have to find out where we dock in relation to town, i.e., if it's within walking distance. Also, a concern we have is that we're in port on a Sunday, and we know that sometimes shops are closed on Sundays. Can anyone tell us if this is the case on Grenada? Thanks in advance.

Hi there. Whether you dock outside or, more rarely, inside on the Carenage, everything is within walking distance. In general the shops inside the cruise ship terminal remain open but most outside shops are closed. Check in advance if you wish to visit certain places like the nutmeg factory or the chocolate factory just to be sure they will be open :)

Hope you have a wonderful time in Grenada :cool:

Hello, Island Star. I'm hoping you can tell me whether many of the shops and attractions will be open on a Sunday in St. George's. Thanks in advance!

oh my gosh so sorry I missed this question - hope I haven't caused too much of an inconvenience. We love our Sundays and so not a lot is open outside the cruise ship terminal in the way of shops.

If you have a particular attraction in mind like a nutmeg production plant or the chocolate factory I would contact them directly via email to double check.

most of the water tours do work on the weekends.

Hope you have a lovely time on our beautiful island :cool:

I was looking for whale watching co. any one out there have a suggestion

First Impressions are our whale watching company on island. I would call them and ask them what sort of whale migrations are happening about the time you visit although as with any wildlife see them cannot be guaranteed.

Also bear in mind our drop-off to where they pass our shores is about 4 miles out unlike Guadeloupe or Dominica so there will be a fair motor to get there. I do hear folk see large pods of dolphins on the way though.

Best of luck and don't forget to post back if you book with anyone your experiences on our beautiful island :cool:

Our upcoming cruise stays in Grenada until 11:00pm. What kinds of things could we do in the late evening (besides sunset on beach, sunset sails, etc...)?

We are a quiet island most of the time so it depends what day you arrive in port. Friday evenings Mount Cinnamon have a huge bonfire on the beach which is always nice to have a drink next to. The last Wednesday of each month there is Bingo in the national stadium - you could win a pig (no I am not kidding :eek:)

Check out Umbrellas Beach Bar as they usually have a fantastic band that you could dance away to if all else fails.:cool:

Hello Everyone,

 

We have a 7 day cruise booked from April 30th till May 7th. I have been going through the excursions on the Royal Carribean website..however I am disappointed to see that ALMOST majority of them don't have anything for kids who are under 4. My toddler just turned 3 and I wanted to know are they super strict on the age requirements.

 

I also wanted to know if you could all PLEASE suggest some things to do on this port.

 

Thank you so much.

It is worth remembering that the cruise ships don't work with all the operators available on an island which is why you may find your choice limited. I guess it depends if you little one is very active or not and if they are interested in seeing how stuff is made.

Grenada Seafaris take tiny tots as young as 2 out on their 2.5hr adventure (fast boat, snorkeling or swim I guess at that age in the marine park, sightseeing).

The other option on the water would be the water inflatables (very small park) at BBC beach which you could visit - perhaps good for the afternoon after a morning adventure :)

If none of this works for you then we do have gorgeous Grand Anse beach which is ideal for sandcastle building.

hope this helps:cool:

It worked, so thank you for sending the pictures. I may get a necklace or two, just to hang in the vehicles, if I am not able to use the spices to bake with.

Think of the spice necklace as a PotPourri but on string :p you could cook with it but then you wouldnt have a nice memory of Grenada every time you get in your cars :D

Thanks for your advice IslandStar. I made it to Fort George and the views were outstanding. It was well worth the climb. I had to walk farther than expected the ship docked at The Carnage due to the swells. I visited the chocolate museum and had some delicious ice cream. I also enjoyed my walk through the pedestrian only tunnel too.

 

Earlier in the day I had dome a ship excursion to Clarks Court rum factory and to Mourne Rouge beach, so overall it was a perfect day in Grenada. :)

Thrilled you had a wonderful time and sorry you had to dock on the inside - a rare occurrence but we have had some late swells this year :o From my own perspective I would love there to be more for our visitors around the Carenage to visit and appreciate but slowly we will develop our attractions. Hope you visit us again soon.

We will be visiting Grenada in November, and I'm wondering if there is anything to see and do within walking distance of the ship? I'm trying get get feel for what is available that is cheap before I look into booking an excursion. Thanks in advance!:D

There are numerous threads on this so will try to pull the info together all in one place for you :)

New Chocolate museum opened which is next to the National museum

Batik workshop (almost opposite the choc museum)

Carenage to potter round - limited shops (if any- a lovely tiny one on far side of the carenage but gets very limited visitors) but a few bars to watch the world go round

Fort George - up above your ship for spectacular views (two access routes: 1=near vertical, 2=not so steep)

Sendall Tunnall to walk through if you dont fancy a steep walk over to the carenage

:cool:

That was posted by Island Star. Hopefully she will see your question and respond. :)

 

My understanding of her post and my impression after visiting Grenada a number of times would be she is buying the same cinnamon in the grocery stores as tourists buy in the various 'tourist shops' but she pays a better price for it.

 

It likely is packaged more traditionally without a 'gifty' look but the product is the same. I could, of course, be mistaken.

Sail7Seas - you are Spot on!! :)

Sail7seas, in regard to Grenada, I use a lot of cinnamon. So are you saying in Grenada, we can get this at the grocery store for the same price as a vendor, or your saying it might be a better quality than what the vendor has to sell?

Gosh sorry for the delay in my reply and for not being clear. Sail7Seas is correct.....A vendor sells the same as the supermarkets as all our spices come from the same places in the country. It isn't necessarily better quality but it may be cheaper as it isn't all gift packaged etc.:p

Everyone says buy spices but I think they are over priced, particularly in the cruise terminal, and who know how long they have been sitting in the store/on the counter?

 

Old spices lose their full flavor.

 

Buy from a place like Williams Sonoma and know what you are getting,

IMO

It does depend on the spices you want as they are seasonal but as a local from the 'Spice Island' I strongly recommend going outside the cruise ship terminal, ask a price of any of the shop vendors and ask when they were picked/processed. I buy my spices locally at the supermarket next to the cruise ship terminal and they are always fresh.

We produce cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mace, allspice, orange/citrus peels, wild coffee used by the locals, and especially nutmeg, providing 20% of the world supply. If you are getting nutmeg from your store in the US it may be ours but more likely it is from Indonesia because.... "Most of Grenada’s nutmeg is sold to Europe as its quality and flavour exceeds that of Indonesia. There has been growing concern in the EU over the quality of nutmeg imported from Indonesia and India due to the high levels of contamination with a naturally occurring mycotoxin called Aflatoxin caused by two moulds. As such our products are exempt from REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances)." :cool:

I always feel so nervous walking through the tunnel. :eek:

We do it but I don't much 'love it'. :D

 

I hear you and sympathise BUT at present it is totally pedestrian - not sure how long it will last. I do the walk on a regular basis and as long as you keep to the right hand side (heading away from the cruise liner terminal - left-hand side if on way back) you will be fine.:p If super nervous about the traffic when in there - just stop and hug the wall and wait for it to go past.

I found a stable that will take us up into the mountains at a reasonable price. I will post when I come back from the cruise.

Mea Culpa - you are absolutely correct. :p This is what I have found with a little bit of investigation. Not sure if it is the same people you have found. They are on facebook................. Footprint Horse-back & Donkey riding stables grenada, west Indies

Looking forward to your reveiw of this MANE attraction (pun intended lol) :rolleyes:. Have a geat day out:cool:

Depends on what you want in terms of price and facilities :)

From where you land heading south......

Coconuts creole restaurant - great food, restaurant facilities

Happy Dayz - haven't eaten there but hear very good things, basic facilities

Beach vendors - going to be the most cost effective option and some are good and some are not as good

Umbrellas - good food, good prices, restaurant facilities, sports TVs

Savvy's Cabana on the beach - good food, open cabana but high end facilities, relatively expensive

I guess a good option would be to work up that appetite by visiting all of them and checking menus and prices and then deciding on what is best for you.

There's also a new option of Sweetly's which is between Grand Anse Beach and BBC beach which is a cafe-type place. Excellent Italian patries and coffee and superb views BUT a mega walk. I guess you could get a taxi there for morning coffee and then stroll back along Grand Anse looking for lunch.

oh my gosh so many options I am getting peckish. Have fun :cool:

Thank you so much Island Star. You are such a great resource for these boards. I love reading your responses to many questions and your obvious love for your country shines through. I think I am going to take option B, partially because I want to walk through the tunnel. :)

You are most welcome :cool: There had been a plan to make the route you want to take as a garden walk with statues and plants and info but unfortunately it never came off. It is certainly less strenuous than Option1 and now the tunnel is shut to traffic it is a pleasant walk through. Suggest as an additional option if you continue through and follow the road left and left you will come to our new Chocolate museum/shop then you can head back up to the fort.

Have a wonderful day on our beautiful island :D

Hello ... someone skilled about Grenada knows if it's doable to walk from Morne Rouge Beach to Grand Anse (near Umbrella beach bar) ?

Thank you

Totally do-able and in about 20 minutes in a slow stroll. Leave Morne Rouge beach heading up the road. It doubles back on itself so keep following it and heading up. You will pass Sweetlies on your left at the crest of the hill (yummy Italian patisseries and stunning views). All downhill now - follow the road and just past the Flamboyant Hotel reception (right hand side) there is a road on your left - follow it down and you are at Grand Anse Beach. Have fun :)

I was hoping that someone could post directions from the cruise terminal to Fort George. I know that they are very close and that the climb up the hill to the fort is very steep. Do I need to walk through the Sendall Tunnel to get there?

 

I have been to Grenada many times but never really enjoyed St. George's before. I have always rode off on a tour to another part of the island. Looking forward to getting some good photos from Fort George.

 

Many thanks for any advice or assistance.

There are two options for walking up. One is very steep; the other less so :o

Option 1: Come out of cruise liner terminal and turn right heading towards the Sendall Tunnel. Just before the tunnel on the right hand side are the steps heading up.

Option 2: Come out of cruise liner terminal and turn right heading towards the Sendall Tunnel. Walk through the tunnel (currently pedestrian only as North Carolina contractors are shoring up the cliff face - thank you NC :)) Immediately after the tunnel on the left hand side are the steps heading up at a more leisurely pace - has flowers and a paved path I think.

Whichever option you choose please take water with you as not sure if they have a shop at the top. Have fun and looking forward to seeing the pictures:cool:

Thank you for the information. What tour companies offer excursions to the park? I have read about Grenada Seafaris, and their tours start at $75. Are there other tour operators that you would recommend that might be more economical?

Apologies for the delay in my reply.. I guess it depends if you simply want to snorkel the park or if you want to combine it with a lot of other sightseeing and information from a nautical perspective. Essentially my take on it is Seafaris have a lot of info, two massive engines for a fun ride and guided snorkeling for the price.

I would say snorkeling only then it would be less expensive as you go to one or two locations in close proximity to each other. In this case Eco-Dive would get my highest recommendation.

Hope you have a brilliant day regardless of who you choose.

Can anyone tell me about their experience on the island? Who did you use? Comments, suggestions.

 

 

Thanks

Robyn

I do not believe we have this on island:confused: sorry

We are wanting to snorkel at the Underwater Sculpture Park. We have our own gear and normally snorkel on our own (not through an excursion/tour). Is it possible to snorkel at the Sculpture Park on your own, or is it only available through a tour? If you can snorkel at the park on your own, what would be the best way to get there? Are there public buses that you could use to get there, or would you need to take a taxi or rental car?

You can access it from a bay further north of the sculptures but it is a considerable swim and the swim back is against the prevailing current. I would conservatively guess to swim there, round and back would be 1km swim and so would only be for the strongest swimmers. You need to pay a fee to enter the marine park and if diving you must by law go with a local operator.

All that said I would personally advise you go with an excursion or tour, especially ones that have voluntarily been instrumental in donating towards the development and maintenance of the park and the pieces there. They know where all the pieces are and the MPA fee (US$1 snorkeling/US$2 diving) is included in their tour price

I am not going to live in fear and allow it change my plans. There is not a place that things don't happen. I would not allow this to judge a nation and didn't mean it to come across that way.

Thrilled you will be visiting our beautiful island and we wish you a wonderful cruise and fabulous day on our island. [also did not mean to come over as defensive in any way :o]

This is very sad to hear. I sure hope we do hear what happen and what was involved that made a person lose a life. I can't say this does not make me nervous knowing I will be going to this port April 2 for our first time and doing a private tour. My family wanted me to cancel and not get off the ship.

I understand your concerns but if you start to head down that road I would suggest you may not get off at any port anywhere else or even your own home port or travel again. Know that we as a nation are distraught that this has happened but please, please do not judge an entire nation by the action on one person that is already in custody and has been charged.