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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.
Shore Excursions
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.
Featured Shore Excursions
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.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines in the Caribbean after 3+ years with Borealis ship
It isn’t the place to go for beaches because they are mostly rocky from past volcanic activity. A guided two-hour city tour including the gardens, Morne Bruce and the original slave market costs about $50 per person. Champagne Beach is called a bubbling beach because of the small gas bubbles continually rising in the water from the volcanic floor. The movement of the water heightens underwater activity and gives snorkelers the opportunity to see a wide variety of underwater creatures. A coral reef lines the shore, and tourists can enjoy snorkeling at this location. The sand on this beach is honey colored, unlike the black and brown sanded beaches in other parts of the island.
10 Things To Do In Dominica: Complete Guide To The Caribbean's Best-Kept Secret - TheTravel
10 Things To Do In Dominica: Complete Guide To The Caribbean's Best-Kept Secret.
Posted: Tue, 04 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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.
Travelling around the Roseau Cruise Port
Morne Diablotin National Park offers the highest point on the island, rising more than 5,000 feet above sea level. Tubing on the Layou River is a way for the whole family to enjoy Dominica’s beautiful scenery. Visitors can hire them through their cruise line or directly right along the cruise port. The cost is about $50 to $75 per person depending on the sailing date and other factors. Outside of Roseau, the most popular shore excursions on the island are hiking, swimming and river tubing. Most of the hikes travel through the rainforest and have levels of difficulty by category.
There is an outdoor restaurant in that area, so it is a good spot for lunch too. Take along your swimming suit as there are hot pools throughout the gardens. You will be able to find American and Continental cuisine on most of the menus in Roseau if that is what you prefer, but the restaurants in Roseau usually have a specialty or daily special dish to try.
It’s also one of the more popular beaches for snorkeling and diving. Incredibly, this spot is an area where there is an opening in the Earth’s crust. Flooded with hot, bubbling water that rises in a vapor cloud, this fumarole is about 200 feet wide. Located in Morne Trois Pitons National Park, it is a one of a kind experience. It is a grueling trek, though, that is humid and muddy and can take three to six hours to complete one way.
Shopping / Restaurants
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.
You can hire one of these taxis at both airports and most hotels. The adjacent to the cruise pier street has an outdoor market, shops and restaurants. At the cruise terminal are parked taxis, mini- and tour buses. Roseau Dominica is the country's capital, principal seaport, and the largest city, with population around 15,000. The city is part of Saint George Parish and is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, Roseau River, and the Morne Bruce Mountain. It is located on the island's western coast and features a combination of modern and colonial French architecture.
The driest months are January through April, but don't be surprised if you experience a brief downpour every day. Originally populated by the Carib tribe of Indians, the island gets its name from Christopher Columbus, who first spotted the land in 1493 on a Sunday. (Domenica means "Sunday" in Italian.) In the 1800's, the French and British fought for control of the island. If you glance at a map of Dominica, it's clear by the town names that the French populated the South (Roseau, Soufriere), while the British occupied the North (Portsmouth).
Also, remember when crossing the street that cars drive on the left. During your Dominica cruise, you can find just about anything at Pirates on Long Lane, from souvenirs and cigars to local cheeses. But Kalinago Barana Aute in the Carib territory is a must if you’re scouting for carvings, pottery, and handwoven baskets. Today, Dominica boasts the largest population of Carib Indians, an indigenous people of the Lesser Antilles.
There are many great activities and sights to see in the city of Roseau and across the rest of the island of Dominica. Much of the charm of Dominica lies in the beautiful scenery, which is quite unlike many other places in the world, but there is also much to see and experience in the capital too. Champagne Beach & Reef – On the southwest coast of the island, and closest to Roseau, this beach gets its name from volcanic vents that release bubbles from fissures in the ocean floor. You will need swimming shoes here, as there are more pebbles than there is sand.
Whether I stayed near to Dominica cruise port, or travelled further inland, I never had a bad day in Dominica. This island might just be my favourite Caribbean nation, thanks to its super-friendly people, relaxed vibe, and utterly captivating and wild scenery. It’s definitely a place that I’d love to explore at my own pace, without the time restrictions of living and working on a cruise ship; but for now, this is a downright brilliant start. There are many, many diving spots around the island; but you don’t have to go far to find the closest one.
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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