Cheers Port Zante Bar: The First Cold Drink Off the Ship in St. Kitts
Basseterre's cruise-port watering hole for cheap Carib, free WiFi, and world-class people watching
Why Go
Step off the gangway at Port Zante and Cheers is almost impossible to miss ΓÇö it sits right on the main walkway of the cruise pier, which is exactly why it works. Before you commit to a taxi tour or a beach transfer, this open-air bar is where St. Kitts first hands you a cold local beer and lets you get your bearings island-style.
The Experience
Cheers is a casual, no-frills open-air bar built for cruise passengers and the crews that serve them. Grab a stool, order a round, and watch the parade of day-trippers, vendors, and taxi drivers flow past on the Port Zante promenade. The vibe is friendly and unhurried ΓÇö staff are chatty, the music is easygoing, and it doubles as an unofficial meeting point for groups splitting up to shop the duty-free stores or wander into downtown Basseterre. It's not a destination bar; it's the island's front porch, and that's the charm.
What to Try
Local Carib beer is the move ΓÇö it's typically around US$3, or two for $5, and ice cold. The bar also mixes the usual Caribbean suspects: rum punch, pi├▒a coladas, and daiquiris made with local rum. If you're settling in for a while, order at least a few dollars of food and drink per person and you'll unlock the free WiFi ΓÇö a genuine perk for cruisers avoiding roaming charges.
Insider Tip
Use Cheers as your rally point, not your whole stop. Order a two-for-$5 Carib round, connect to the free WiFi (it kicks in with a purchase of about $4 per person), message home, then walk five minutes into Basseterre proper for the Circus clock tower and Independence Square before your ship's all-aboard. And stick to beer or straight rum pours if you're picky ΓÇö some visitors find the fruity mixed drinks on the light side for the price.
The Practical Stuff
Located in the middle of the main walkway at Port Zante cruise terminal, Basseterre, St. Kitts. Hours generally track cruise ship schedules ΓÇö busiest mid-morning through late afternoon on port days, quiet when no ships are in. US dollars and EC dollars both accepted. Free WiFi with a minimum purchase (roughly US$4 of food/drink per person). Casual dress, walk-ins only, no reservations needed.
Pair It With
- Chop Shop ΓÇô Port Zante — A few steps away in the same port complex ΓÇö pair your drinks with a quick bite or a fresh trim before reboarding.
- Immaculate Conception Catholic Co-Cathedral Guide — A short walk into Basseterre for a dose of island history and architecture between rounds.
- Horsford's Valu Mart Guide — Stock up on local snacks, hot sauce, and bottles of Kittitian rum to take back on board.