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St Barthélemy / Special Interests / Cruise

By Sara Macefield

St Barthelemy, better known as St Barts or St Barths, carries the crown as the most chic and exclusive island in the Caribbean and a magnet for the jet-set. Stylish with a capital “S” and seriously laid-back, this stunning island boasts a string of top restaurants and chic hotels. It is the smallest of the French islands at eight square miles, which makes it easy to explore in a day for cruise arrivals.

Unlike other islands, there is no slave trade legacy as its volcanic landscape was deemed unfit for sugar plantations. Instead, today’s population is descended from Norman and Breton sailors and there is little trace of the island’s Scandinavian ancestry despite being ruled by Sweden for more than a century – though the capital Gustavia provides a fleeting reminder in its name and some buildings.

Not surprisingly for such an upmarket island, St Barths attracts small upmarket cruise ships which generally moor outside Gustavia Harbour and transport passengers ashore in tenders (small boats) to Port de Pleasance in the centre of the capital. Gustavia is a pretty place that’s ripe for exploring with its colonial buildings and chic boutiques. Nearby are a couple of attractive beaches, but those wanting to explore further can take a tour or hire a Jeep as it takes only one or two hours at most to explore the island.

Cruise on St Barthélemy

Browse Cruise on other islands

Anguilla | Antigua and Barbuda | Aruba | Barbados | Bonaire | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Curacao | Dominica | Grenada & Carriacou | Jamaica | Montserrat | Nevis | Saba | St Kitts | St Lucia | St Martin/St Maarten | St Vincent and the Grenadines | Tobago | Trinidad

Or read our other island guides

Anguilla | Antigua | Aruba | Bahamas | Barbados | Bermuda | Bonaire | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Cuba | Curacao | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Grenada and Carriacou | Guadeloupe | Haiti | Jamaica | Martinique | Montserrat | Nevis | Puerto Rico | Saba | St Barthélemy | St Eustatius | St Kitts | St Lucia | St Martin/St Maarten | St Vincent and the Grenadines | Tobago | Trinidad | Turks & Caicos Islands | US Virgin Islands

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St Barthélemy’s weather

St Barthélemy weather chart

When to go and weather

Looking for inspiration?

  1. Head to St Jean beach where the hip, beautiful people go to see and be seen
  2. Indulge yourself in some designer retail therapy
  3. Sample the delights of fine French wines and dining
  4. Get pampered at one of the many island spas
  5. Experience a night of cinema under the stars during the annual St Barth Film Festival

St Barthélemy Events

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