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Cruise passengers may find that the port of Roseau has a small but decent tourism district. During our visit, I walked from the cruise port to the other side of Roseau and back again. Dominica, an Anglophone island between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, may well be the most unspoiled of the larger Caribbean islands.
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This is a tour which I missed out on last time I was in Dominica but would love the chance to do when I go again. There’s no official entrance fee for Titou Gorge, however if you’re visiting on your own you will have to pay to hire a life vest (which is mandatory). You can get a taxi from the port in about half an hour, although the price will differ depending on how many people are in your group. There are plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from in Dominica, but alas- for our most recent Caribbean season, we always docked in Roseau on a Sunday when the city was much, much quieter than usual. There’s a good supermarket with a pharmacy upstairs just two minutes from the cruise pier, and there’s free wifi in port. Locals in the city and outside are all very friendly and welcoming, as there is an increasing reliance on tourism in the economy.
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And although, like almost every Caribbean island, Dominica’s history is intertwined with colonialism and slavery, it’s also home to the only community of direct descendants of the indigenous Caribbean people. There are over 2000 Kalinago people living within the Kalinago territory on the east coast of Dominica, upholding centuries-old traditions and a way of life which is intrinsically linked with the forest. Always travel safely though, be careful of your belongings, especially on public transport, and in the rainy season, be careful in the mountains and on the roads. There is much accommodation to be found around the island, most of it on the low lying coastal regions, particularly on the more sheltered eastern side. Roseau has a great selection of hotels catering to different budgets and it’s a good choice for a stay on the island.
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Instead, it is dense with rainforests, waterfalls and tropical plants and animals. For an idea of what to expect, watch the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, which was filmed on part on the island. The Dominica cruise port of Roseau is modest by Caribbean standards, but it also is a gateway to one of the region’s best ecotourism islands. The entire trip goes along the coastline, so Purple Beach is a possibility for anyone with a rental car who wants to explore the island.
Unlike some bigger islands, Dominica doesn’t have a cruise terminal or elaborate outdoor mall that visitors walk through to reach the tourism district. Instead, they walk right off their ships and into the city of Roseau for a limited amount of shopping, restaurants and excursion operators. They will find a smaller district than other major ports, but it is colorful and growing. Once off the ship, head inland to visit the island's impressive national parks or into the water to spot plentiful sea life. Dominica ranks as one of the top sites for scuba-diving in the Caribbean.
FEATURED PHOTO: Cruise ships in Port - Dominica News Online
FEATURED PHOTO: Cruise ships in Port.
Posted: Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Roseau Cruise Ship Berth is located in the heart of downtown Roseau and is within walking distance to shops, restaurants and attractions. Taxis offer a tour of the island and will usually charge $150. A few excursions that take visitors only to Mero Beach usually cost less than $50. Otherwise, some island tours include Mero Beach along with other stops such as Salton Waterfalls, the sulphur springs at Wotten Waven and the baths at Ti Kwen Glo Cho. The cost for such a guided, multi-stop tour will range around $125 to $150. Dominica is a great place to go for ecotourism adventures such as hiking and whitewater rafting.
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Island favorites include tee-tee-tee, which are small freshly spawned fish and manicou, which are small opossums. You will find plenty of juices like pineapple, melon and mango along with a wide range of beers, rum and local spirits. Most roads are paved, but driving can be tricky with steep and narrow roads. There are no MPH signs on the island, but go slower, just as you would in any unfamiliar location. The roads are winding and narrow and littered with potholes, so it can be a difficult drive. Driving is on the left side of the road, the use of horns is expected frequently, and if you’re leaving the city, make sure the gas tank is full as gas stations are few and far between.
The island still has a Carib population of about 3,000; they occupy a northeastern corner of the island. A drive through this "Carib Territory" will give you a rare glimpse at traditional native life in the Caribbean. And for something completely different, and involving absolutely zero water at all, this cooking class with local chef Daria is resoundingly popular.
Hurricanes have been known to hit the island too, especially during the Caribbean Hurricane Season, which coincides with the end of the wet season. Dominica’s old market in Roseau is an incredibly historic place. This was one of the major trading markets in the Caribbean, and unfortunately, was primarily used a slave-trading market for centuries. With ramshackle streets that were first laid down in the colonial days, museums and old markets to explore. It’s a colorful, cultural and intriguing place to visit on Dominica.
It’s also possible to arrive on the somewhat frequent ferries from neighboring Martinique and Guadeloupe, or of course, as is common in the Caribbean, via cruise ship. Dominica is a small island nation located in the eastern Caribbean, with the islands of Guadeloupe found to the north and Martinique lying to the south. Dominica is famous for its natural, volcanic scenery, and the best place to experience this is in the magnificent Trois Pitons National Park. Named for the mountain peak, Morne Trois Pitons, which presides over the island, this is a spectacular area of beauty. Today, the market has found new life though as a center of arts and crafts on the island, showcasing local goods and giving traders and craftspeople a place to sell their unique cultural creations.
This four- to eight-hour round trip takes visitors to a water-filled crater, said to reach 197 degrees fahrenheit. Because of the length of the trip, visitors should expect to pay around $125 per person. Dominica is about 380 miles south to southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It lies about midway between the islands of Antigua to the north and St. Lucia to the south. It’s a common stop on eastern Caribbean cruises, especially during the dry season. Within easy walking distance of the cruise pier there are numerous shops and markets selling a wide variety of local goods like rum, baskets, batiks, wood carvings, scented soaps and postcards.
Mero Beach, 12 miles north of the Roseau cruise port, is popular with tourists and locals alike. It is one of the beaches that shore excursion operators are most likely to visit. Dominica cruise port is right in the centre of Roseau, the capital city. It’s a scenic spot, with the colourful houses of the city directly in front of the pier, and a stunning mountainous backdrop directly behind that. You can walk directly from the ship to the city in mere minutes, and there are always plenty of taxis waiting at the end of the pier, as well as a collection of little souvenir stalls along the waterfront. Roseau, Dominica is one of the Caribbean's most scenic and diverse cruise destinations.
The upper falls, called Father, empties into hot sulfur springs. The lower falls, called Mother, flows from the river into a natural swimming pool. Know that you will have to climb over boulders in spots and the area can be slippery. Roseau’s downtown is quite compact, walkable and close to the cruise pier. If you are wanting to get outside of the downtown area and explore the rest of the beautiful island, car rental and taxis are the most common.
The gardens are just a ten to fifteen minute walk from the cruise pier, at the foot of Morne Bruce hill, and they’re free to visit. Spot the baobab tree which was felled by a hurricane in the 70s, crushing a yellow school bus in the process (luckily there was nobody inside). The gardens are used as much by the locals as by curious tourists, and once in a while you might spot a cricket match taking place here.
The “Island of Nature,” as it is known, has several acres of rainforest, 12 major waterfalls and 172 species of birds. After meeting your local representative at the pier area, take a scenic and panoramic drive for approximately 30 minutes to your host's home in the mountains. You will be introduced to local fruit, vegetables, and concoctions made by the chef. Roll up your sleeves and learn to cook 3-4, authentic and seasonal Creole dishes that the host has put her own creative twist on during your exclusive, small group hands-on cooking class. Mero Beach – Located halfway between Roseau and Portsmouth, this popular beach is located near to a few shops and bars, making it an ideal way to spend the afternoon. Spread across 14 acres, these gardens are located just before the trailhead to Trafalgar Falls.
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