Senior Sailor Says…
Viking Sea sailed into St. Kitts, an island in the West Indies, on Day Four of our 11-day “West Indies Explorer” cruise.
The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean.
Saint Kitts and the neighboring island of Nevis constitute one country: the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, gaining independence in 1983.
Separated by a shallow two-mile-wide channel known as “The Narrows,” St. Kitts was home to the first Caribbean British and French colonies in the mid-1620s.
The island initially produced tobacco, but farmers switched to sugarcane in 1640 because of stiff competition from the colony of Virginia. The labor-intensive cultivation of sugarcane led to the large-scale importation of enslaved persons from Africa.
The purchasing of enslaved Africans was outlawed in the British Empire by an Act of Parliament in 1807 but would continue for another 30 years on the island.
Sugarcane Plantation
After boarding a small bus, our driver/guide pointed out several landmarks as we made our way to Fairview Great House and Botanical Garden.
We began our tour after an informative talk by an employee.
The 300-year-old colonial property offers insight into how the wealthy lived. On the first floor, there is a recreated dining room, kitchen, and sitting room, with a bedroom on the second floor offering a view of the water.
We also toured the original kitchen with its volcanic stone and brick oven and the bathing room with its sun-warmed bath. One room, fashionably transformed into a museum, held placards explaining in depth the history of enslaved persons on the island.
Then, we followed the stone bridge to the lush tropical botanical garden, where many of the plants date back to the 1700s.
After our tour, we listened to steel drum music before returning to the port.
As we strolled toward the ship, several shops beckoned us to browse and shop.
The tour ended before noon, and we were able to enjoy a leisurely lunch and the activities on board.
Click here to learn more about the cruise and other Viking Cruise offerings.
