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Pigeon Island St. Lucia - what do do?


Communik8r
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Hi, we are on Wind Star Jewels on May 18th. In checking the itinerary, we are on Pigeon Island for a full day, arriving at 8:00 am on Sunday and leaving at 7:00 am the next day.

 

What can we do without taking a guided tour? Will we be docked or tendered? Where? Are there thinks to do where we are dropped off? we would like to explore, come back to the ship for lunch, then explore some more. Is there a town within walking distance? Will we have access to the water toys provided by Windstar?

 

Are things open on Sunday?

 

Since we are there overnight, how late can we get back on the ship?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Michael and Terri

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You tender to shore. Last tender back is 5:45 p.m. If the weather permits, the sports platform will be open. Where you are dropped off is a kind of park/historical area (can't remember the name). There's a small beach nearby, but really not a lot to do without taking a cab somewhere.

 

We booked a private excursion and saw most of the island.

 

You may want to do a little research; go to the St. Lucia forum on TripAdvisor as there's a lot of information there

Edited by 6rugrats
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  • 1 month later...

There's a small fort on Pigeon Island that's worth going up to for the views - pathway up is quite steep and then the final section is a short vertical ladder that you need to climb to access the fort. There were taxis available outside the gated entrance to Pigeon Island. Some cruisers who went into Castries said the taxi fare was around $30 US each way, but your voyage director should be able to give you a better idea of current taxi costs at your nightly port talk. There is a beach on Pigeon Island itself, but if you want to go a bigger one, Reduit Beach is nearby.

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The day on Pigeon Island was fantastic. The crew set up the best beach experience. We tendered. There were chaises, fabulous bbq lunch, comp drinks, and music on the beach area. The beach is small. However, the area used by the cruise is separate from the public section. The water is gorgeous. They even bring all the beach and water gear. You can snorkel, sail, kayak, and just relax on a nice beach. The only thing missing was beach umbrellas. there is some shade from trees. Go early for shady spot. Relax and enjoy! No need to go anywhere else. Also, we were close to the Sandals and picked up their free WiFi.

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The day on Pigeon Island was fantastic. The crew set up the best beach experience. We tendered. There were chaises, fabulous bbq lunch, comp drinks, and music on the beach area. The beach is small. However, the area used by the cruise is separate from the public section. The water is gorgeous. They even bring all the beach and water gear. You can snorkel, sail, kayak, and just relax on a nice beach. The only thing missing was beach umbrellas. there is some shade from trees. Go early for shady spot. Relax and enjoy! No need to go anywhere else. Also, we were close to the Sandals and picked up their free WiFi.

 

 

 

This sounds great! I didn't know they would set up lunch on the beach except for the big beach BBQ on Mayreau. Thanks for the info.

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It's a sea day to Grenada that includes a scenic passage of the pitons around ten am.

 

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

 

 

If possible, ask the ship photographer to take photos of you at the front of the ship while passing by the Pitons. Great photo opportunity.

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This sounds great! I didn't know they would set up lunch on the beach except for the big beach BBQ on Mayreau. Thanks for the info.

 

 

 

Lunch on the beach at St Lucia is only for itineraries that have their beach BBQ at St Lucia, such as the Classic Caribbean itinerary. Jewels of the Windward Islands will only have lunch on the beach at Mayreau.

 

At least that was our experience two months ago.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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This sounds great! I didn't know they would set up lunch on the beach except for the big beach BBQ on Mayreau. Thanks for the info.

Check your cruise. We had no such lunch on the beach at this port on this cruise itinerary. I don't know what this other poster is talking about. BBQ Lover is correct.

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Yes indeed, we just came off Jewels with Windstar - our 3rd Pigeon Island visit and loved it just as much. The Beach BBQ here only happens with WindSURF. Windstar beach BBQ is on Mayreau and it was actually much better than the one on Pigeon island as the beach there is much better. However, Pigeon island is great for just hanging out and going for a walk or a swim and we always enjoy it. Take money as there is a little cafe there. The Marina will be down if weather permits (we had poor weather so no luck). You can rent sunbeds for the little beach at Pigeon Island - the day flies by. Its a good evening to book Candles. Say hello to Malachai, the friendly Rasta who sells shell ornaments near the jetty!

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  • 11 months later...

So am I understanding correctly that for Jewels of the Windward Isles, Windsurf does the BBQ at Pigeon Island (and then also stops at Castries)? Sounds like Pigeon Island, as well as (Mayreau and Bequia) are good days to leave things unplanned?

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Unless things have recently changed to the Jewels of the Windward Islands Itinerary, the BBQ lunch is at Mayreau. There is an overnight at Pigeon Island. No stop in Castries. Leave Pigeon Island early for Granada with a scenic passing of the Pitons.

 

Wind Surf does the BBQ lunch at Pigeon Island when doing the Classic Caribbean Itinerary.

Edited by BBQ Lover
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Unless things have recently changed to the Jewels of the Windward Islands Itinerary, the BBQ lunch is at Mayreau. There is an overnight at Pigeon Island. No stop in Castries. Leave Pigeon Island early for Granada with a scenic passing of the Pitons.

 

Wind Surf does the BBQ lunch at Pigeon Island when doing the Classic Caribbean Itinerary.

 

 

 

Hmm. The current itinerary for Wind Surf's Jewels sailings in Feb and March shows an overnight at Pigeon Island (8 am - 6 am), then a daylight stop at Castries (8 am - 5 pm) then an overnight sail to Grenada. Mayreau is also an 8 am - 6 pm stop.

 

Seems like it would be easier to do a beach bbq for the overnight stop but I am sure they have good reasons for what they do.

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Well then it looks the Jewels of the Windward Islands Itinerary has been modified for this year. This is probably due to the fact that Wind Surf's home base was changed to Barbados after the hurricane damage in St Maarten.

 

All of the previous discussion of this thread was from last year when only MSY Windstar was doing the Jewels Itinerary and Wind Surf was based out of St Maarten.

 

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Edited by BBQ Lover
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Update: Pigeon Island is a great place for hiking, swimming, enjoying nature, or relax. This year we were at Pigeon Island both weeks. The first week, the ship was there Monday overnight. The beach area was set up with chaises, umbrellas, and water equipment. During the day, tenders went back and forth until it got dark. After that, tenders went to and from Rodney Bay until 10 pm. On Tuesday morning, it sailed to Castries. It wasn't far. We docked in Castries on the town side. The beach BBQ was on Friday at Mayreaux. It was great. The second week, we were at Pigeon Island on Friday for the beach BBQ. Since it was rainy, I passed on the lunch and stayed on the ship. There was a nice lunch served in the veranda. Whether you went to the BBQ or stayed on the ship, the lunch was nice.

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The Windsurf moves from Pigeon Island on the Tuesday morning to Castries as the Pride comes in to Pigeon Island for their beach BBQ. On our recent cruise on the Pride, we sailed into Pigeon Island as the Surf was sailing out to go to Castries and crossed each other’s path.

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  • 2 weeks later...

We just returned yesterday from b2b on the Wind Surf doing both Classic and Jewels itineraries. The first week when we were at Pigeon Island, there were various excursions offered such as zip-lining and the aerial tram ride through the rain forest. There is really nothing to do on Pigeon Island except the beach and the hike to the fort described earlier. Otherwise you’d have to arrange a cab to take you anywhere. The beach bbq the first week was on Mayreau.

 

The second week we were at Pigeon Island on Friday for the beach bbq. The weather wasn’t great. We were anchored quite a distance from the beach and with high seas, the tender ride was challenging to say the least. It rained on and off but the bbq went on anyway. We ate and went back to the ship.

 

The little restaurant/bar to the left of the pier where you’re dropped off has good WiFi. Just need to buy a drink. The food is good, too. We had lunch there when we returned from our tour on week one.

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