The stop in St. Lucia on my 7-day Caribbean Cruise aboard the Norwegian Epic was, transparently, the reason I chose this itinerary! For so long, I’ve admired photos of St. Lucia and the famous Pitons that make this island so unique. And I knew that I had to get as close to them as I could. Needless to say, mission accomplished! If you have a port day in St. Lucia, there is no better way to spend it!
About the Tour
I partnered with Spencer Ambrose Tours for a full day relaxing at Sugar Beach. Sugar Beach (also known as Jalousie Beach) is smack dab in the middle of the Petit and Gros Pitons! While you’re there, you can quite literally touch the Petit Piton. You can’t get any closer than that! The soft white sand, crystal clear water, and incredible snorkeling made for the perfect port day in St. Lucia. Normally when I travel, I’m constantly juggling all of the logistics: transportation, meals, meeting points, packing, the list goes on. Spending the day with Spencer Ambrose Tours made it so easy, as they took care of everything. The only thing I had to worry about was whether I wanted to snorkel, lay on the beach, or float in the water!
Meeting the Group & Scenic Speedboat Ride
Meeting the group was incredibly easy, as they were right at the exit of the port with signs and bright neon shirts. After a short wait for the rest of the group, we boarded our speedboat out to the beach. The ride was about an hour, which included made several stops along the way. We were able to admire and learn about small fishing villages, beaches, and natural rock formations that lined the coast. One of my favorite stops was to a narrow cave. Captain Terry pulled the bow of the boat right up to the opening where we could hear hundreds of bats inside. Wild! Before long, the iconic Pitons were in sight and they were spectacular to witness! Once we arrived at Sugar Beach, it was a quick disembark and it was straight to enjoying the perfect Caribbean day!
Snorkeling
At the base of the Petit Piton was great snorkeling! Spencer Ambrose Tours provided clean masks and snorkels, so there was no need to bring your own. The rocks created many natural reefs and the wildlife was spectacular! I saw a ton of different fish and lots of colorful coral. I swam alongside angelfish, butterflyfish, boxfish, and even eels! A group near me even saw a school of squid, but they swam away before I could clean my mask and see. The snorkeling area is roped off, so there is no need to worry about boat traffic (which gave me peace of mind). Venturing further off into the bay (to the left, if looking out to sea), the water gets pretty deep. This is the perfect spot for free diving! The water is a much deeper blue, and you’ll see larger fish out here (this is where the squids were!).
Lunch and Rum Punch!
Fuel time! After a big morning of snorkeling, we were treated to an authentic Creole lunch and refreshing rum punch. The entree was fresh chicken bursting with Caribbean flavor. Sides included rice, beans, coleslaw, and mac and cheese. They were all provided in to-go containers, so I took mine over to my beach chair to munch in the sun. Also provided were bottomless glasses of their homemade rum punch! The traditional saying in the Caribbean run punch is: “One of Sour, Two of Sweet, Three of Strong, Four of Weak.” This rhyme explains the ratios of citrus, sweetener, alcohol, and juice. They nailed it, and it was so refreshing to sip on a hot day. Spencer Ambrose Tours also had water, soda, and Piton beer available all day.
Sugar Beach
After lunch, I spent the rest of the afternoon being a true beach bum. The sand was soft and golden, and the water was calm and crystal clear. I loved how the beach had floating mats and hammocks available to the public, so I could relax to the max. I might have even dozed off once or twice! The beach is also home to Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort. This five-star hotel has tons of additional amenities to enjoy, if you’re looking for an elevated experience! There were outdoor restaurants and cafes where (for an additional cost) you could grab a bite to eat, sweet treat, or refreshing drink. You could also book a spa treatment, for a true luxurious experience.
Returning to the Ship
After a full day of sun, sand, and salt, we boarded our speedboat back. Getting back to a ship on time is always a top concern for me, especially when booking with third-party companies. Captain Terry assured us that Spencer Ambrose Tours has never once missed a cruise ship, which put my mind at ease! The ride back to the port was more alive, as we were all starting to feel the rum punch (and buzzing from a great beach day!). We made a few more pit-stops along the ride back, my favorite being a ride through Marigot Bay. The bay way lined with beautiful palm trees and huge yachts, and it immediately made my list of “places to explore” next time I’m in St. Lucia! We arrived back to the ship over an hour before all aboard, which was enough time to clean up and watch for pier runners!
How to Book with Spencer Ambrose Tours
If you’re looking for a perfect port day in St. Lucia, Spencer Ambrose Tours are experts in making that happen. The exact tour that I booked is the Sugar Beach Break. You can book it by clicking here, clicking on Speedboat Adventures, and selecting Sugar Beach Break from the drop-down menu. Visiting Sugar Beach is also included in their Land, Sea, and Beach Adventure. In addition to spending time on the beach, you’ll visit Sulphur Springs Park where you can choose between visiting the mud baths or taking a volcano tour. You’ll also stop at the Toraille Waterfall, to admire the 50-foot falls and dip in the pool below. On my next trip to St. Lucia, you can definitely catch me doing this so I can see even more of the island! If you get Captain Terry, Destin, or Mindy on your boat, consider yourself lucky- they’re the best guides!
Thank you to Spencer Ambrose Tours for hosting me on this tour. As always, the content & opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
No Comments