Port Elizabeth, Bequia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Cruise Ship Port Guide

Port Elizabeth is the small capital of Bequia, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and it’s one of the most laid back stops you’ll find anywhere in the Windward Islands. There’s no dock here, so ships anchor out in Admiralty Bay and tender everyone ashore to this Bequia cruise port, also known as the Port Elizabeth Bequia cruise port or the Bequia Grenadines cruise port.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ cruise sector welcomed 244,390 passenger arrivals across its deepwater harbours, a 2.6% rise on the previous year according to a statistics report cited by Travel And Tour World, and Bequia’s tender only anchorage is part of that wider growth story, even if it still feels like one of the quieter corners of it.

Where exactly is Port Elizabeth, Bequia?

If a search for “Port Elizabeth Caribbean” or “Port Elizabeth St Vincent” brought you here, you’ve landed in the right place. This one sits on Bequia, the second largest island in the Grenadines after Carriacou, roughly nine miles from Kingstown, the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It’s a different town entirely from the much bigger Port Elizabeth in South Africa, now known as Gqeberha, so if that’s the one you meant, our cruise port guide for South Africa’s Port Elizabeth covers that stop instead.

Bequia itself means “island of the clouds” in the ancient Arawak language, which is a lovely name for a seven square mile island with a population of around 4,300. Most cruise passengers know it for one thing, the sheltered anchorage in Admiralty Bay.

Getting ashore: tenders, not a pier

Cruise ships can’t dock at Bequia because Admiralty Bay is too shallow and too tight for a commercial pier. Instead, they anchor offshore and everyone gets ferried ashore in tenders, the small boats used to shuttle passengers between ship and shore, landing at the jetty right in the middle of Port Elizabeth.

There’s a tourist information booth right on the jetty, and shops, bars and restaurants face the bay just steps away. Taxis wait under the almond trees nearby, ready for passengers coming off the ship or off the ferry that uses this same jetty on its run from Kingstown, covered in our Port of Kingstown cruise ship port guide.

Which ships call at Bequia

Because the harbour can’t take mega-ships, Port Elizabeth is usually visited by smaller, more intimate vessels such as Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Star Clippers and Windstar, with the bigger lines only dropping by now and then. Bequia has recently seen triple digit growth in cruise calls, with as many as 104 visits forecast to its anchorage according to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Tourism data reported by WIC News, so even a small island jetty can feel busier than it used to.

Bequia is one of several calls on a typical Windward Islands itinerary, as covered in our Windward Islands cruise ship port guide, often paired in the same trip with the islands covered in our Mayreau cruise ship port guide, our Tobago Cays cruise ship port guide and our Clifton Harbour, Union Island cruise ship port guide.

A step by step guide to your day at this Saint Vincent and the Grenadines cruise port

• Tender ashore to the jetty in Port Elizabeth, and stop at the tourist information booth if you fancy a map or some local tips.
• Walk into town, since the shops, restaurants and open air market all sit right on the bay, a couple of minutes from the jetty.
• Pick your transport for the day, whether that’s walking the Belmont Walkway, flagging a taxi under the almond trees, or booking a water taxi to a nearby beach.
• Spend your hours ashore on the beach, browsing craft shops, or visiting one of the small museums, depending on how long your ship is anchored.
• Head back to the jetty in good time, since tenders run to the ship’s own schedule rather than a fixed timetable.

Exploring Port Elizabeth town and the Belmont Walkway

Port Elizabeth is only a few streets deep, but the waterfront path, the Belmont Walkway, is where all the action happens. Bars, restaurants and craft shops line the route, and the open air market is worth a browse for local produce and souvenirs.

If you need to get online, the Bequia Technology Center in town offers internet access, handy since coverage can be patchy elsewhere on the island. Given how much of your day involves walking uneven waterfront paths and sandy tracks, it’s worth packing some blister prevention.

Beaches near the Bequia cruise port: walking times and water taxis

Bequia is ringed with gold sand beaches, plenty of them tucked into their own coves, and several are within reach of the tender jetty without needing a full excursion.

• Princess Margaret Beach: around a 30 minute walk from the jetty along the Belmont Walkway and the newer Princess Margaret Walk, or a quick taxi ride if you’d rather not walk in the heat.
• Lower Bay: a little further round the headland past Princess Margaret Beach, with calm water that suits swimming and other water sports.
• Along the way: stop at Gingerbread for homemade nutmeg ice cream, or Frangipani, run by the daughter of a former prime minister, both on the walkway route.

Water taxis also run from the Belmont Walkway to Lower Bay and Princess Margaret Beach for a modest flat fare, though most operators aren’t officially regulated, so agree the price before you climb aboard. Between the walking and the sun, a reef safe sunscreen and a bottle of water are worth packing before you set off.

Getting around: taxis, tours and a few watch-outs

Open backed taxis wait under the almond trees near the harbour, and their rates are fixed by the Bequia Tourism Association Office, which will hand you a printed rate card if you ask for one. Most drivers also offer a personalised island tour at an affordable hourly rate for up to four passengers, with a lower per-person rate for larger groups, usually covering Fort Hamilton, the turtle sanctuary and the whaling museum in a couple of hours.

One thing that catches people out is that water taxi fares aren’t standardised in the same way. Prices vary from one boat operator to the next, so always agree the fare before you get in, or stick to the official taxis under the almond trees where the rate card takes the guesswork out of it.

If several small ships happen to anchor in Admiralty Bay on the same day, taxis and water taxis get busier than usual, so it’s worth agreeing your return trip to the jetty in advance rather than hoping one will be waiting.

Local public transport vans also serve the island, but they may wait until full before setting off and schedules can be erratic, so if you use one, have a backup plan for getting back to the ship. Look out too for the manchineel tree, some of which grow near the Belmont Walkway. Its fruit is poisonous and touching the bark can cause a rash, so admire it and keep your hands to yourself.

Things to do beyond the beach

• Sargeant Brothers Model Boat Shop: a family run workshop that has been crafting model boats for over 60 years, a proper Bequia speciality, with craftsmen carving commissioned models for the yachtsmen who sail into Admiralty Bay.
• Bequia Maritime Museum: on the road from Port Elizabeth toward Hamilton, with a guided tour covering the island’s Scottish boat building heritage and whaling tradition, plus a display of model boats.
• Fort Hamilton: the ruin of a cannon battery and lookout built by the British in the eighteenth century, on the northern end of Admiralty Bay.

Bequia is also one of the few places in the world where limited whaling is still permitted, a tradition tied to the same maritime heritage covered at the museum. Some listings still recommend the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary, a haven for endangered hawksbill turtles, as a highlight of a Bequia visit, but at least one recent visitor report suggests it may no longer be running. Check locally on arrival before you build your afternoon around it.

Money matters ashore

The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, though US Dollars are accepted almost everywhere around Port Elizabeth. If you pay in US Dollars, just check that your change comes back in US notes rather than local currency, since it’s easy to end up with a pocket full of coins you can’t spend back onboard.

Common Questions

Does the cruise ship dock at Port Elizabeth?

No, Bequia has no deepwater pier for cruise ships. Vessels anchor in Admiralty Bay and everyone gets tendered ashore to the small jetty in Port Elizabeth town.

How far is the beach from the tender jetty?

Princess Margaret Beach is roughly a 30 minute walk along the Belmont Walkway, or a short taxi or water taxi ride if you’d rather skip the walk.

What currency do I need in Bequia?

The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is official, but US Dollars are widely accepted in shops, restaurants and by most taxi drivers around Port Elizabeth.

Are taxi fares fixed?

Yes, the Bequia Tourism Association Office sets taxi rates and issues a printed rate card, though water taxis are less regulated, so agree the fare first.

Is the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary still open?

Reports conflict. Older listings describe it as active, while a more recent review suggests it’s closed, so check locally before planning your day around it.

Do big cruise ships visit Bequia?

Rarely. Most calls come from smaller lines such as Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, Star Clippers and Windstar, since the harbour can’t take mega-ships.

Is there internet access in town?

Yes, the Bequia Technology Center in Port Elizabeth offers internet access for anyone who needs to get online during their visit.

What is the best way to reach Lower Bay?

Walk past Princess Margaret Beach along the Belmont and Princess Margaret walkways, or take a water taxi straight from the jetty area.

Why Trust About2Cruise

This guide draws on port operator details, tourism board information and cruise line notes about how Port Elizabeth really works for passengers, cross checked across multiple sources rather than lifted from a single listing. Where facts conflicted, such as the current status of the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary, we’ve said so rather than guessing. Read more about how About2Cruise researches its port guides.