ST. GEORGE'S, GRENADA

Thursday, April 6, 2000

12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

6 Hours - The Ship Will Tender

DINING OPTIONS

Dress suggestion for this evening:  CASUAL - Dresses or pant suits for women; Jackets for men.

(Guests are kindly requested not to wear Tank Tops and Shorts in the dining Room at Dinner)

ROOM SERVICE IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY

Average Temperature:  85

Language:  Official Language is English but French-African patois is also spoken

By name isle of spice, island of the West Indies, the most southerly of the Windward Islands, situated about 100 miles (160 km) north of the coast of Venezuela in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Grenada covers a total land area of 133 square miles (345 square km), including the dependency of the southern Grenadines to the north-northeast. The capital is St. George's. Oval in shape, Grenada island is about 21 miles (34 km) long from north to south and 12 miles (18 km) wide from east to west. The population in 1990 was estimated at 110,000.

The Land

Volcanic in origin, the island is dominated by a thickly forested mountain ridge running north-south down its center and rising to an elevation of 2,757 feet (840 m) at Mount St. Catherine. Short, swift-flowing rivers and natural springs have deeply dissected the central highlands. The southern coast of the island is indented with many beaches, bays, and natural harbors.

The island has a tropical maritime climate with a rainy season from June to December, though showers occur periodically throughout the year. Temperatures along the coast rise to about 85º F (29º C) in the afternoon, fall to about 74º F (23º C) at night, and vary little from month to month. Occasional hurricanes can cause extensive damage. Grenada's warm temperatures, high annual rainfall, and fertile black soil support a rich tropical vegetation, and bananas, limes, mangoes, and coconuts grow in profusion. The country is well known for its production of such spices as nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, cloves, ginger, and vanilla, as well as cocoa. The animal life, apart from domesticated livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs), includes the mona monkey, the agouti, the armadillo, the mongoose, a variety of turtles, and land crab.

The People

Blacks, mulattoes, and East Indians make up most of the population. In addition there are white (French, British, and American immigrants and descendants), Indian, and Carib minorities. English is the official language; a French-African patois, a remnant of French rule, is also spoken. Nearly two-thirds of the population is Roman Catholic, and more than one-fifth is Anglican. The annual growth rate of the population is comparatively high for the West Indies because of the country's high birth rate, while the death rate is near the regional average. More than one-third of the population is under 15 years of age. The town of St. George's is Grenada's only urban settlement.

The Economy

Grenada has a developing market economy that is heavily dependent on agricultural exports and tourism. Unemployment affects about one-third of the work force. The gross national product (GNP) is growing more rapidly than the population; the GNP per capita is among the lowest in the Caribbean.

Agriculture accounts for approximately one-fifth of the GNP and employs more than one-fourth of the work force. The nation's arable land is mostly divided into privately owned small holdings and is underutilized; agricultural cooperatives have been formed from some large estates. Bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, and mace are produced for export. Fisheries are being developed. Industry consists mostly of the processing of agricultural products. Tourism is increasingly important to the economy. Construction of an international airport at Point Salines was completed in 1984.

Government and Social Conditions

Grenada is a constitutional monarchy and a member of the Commonwealth. The country's 1974 independence constitution provides for a governor-general of the island who is appointed by the British monarch and for a bicameral parliament. This legislative body consists of a popularly elected, 15-member House of Representatives and a Senate whose 13 members are appointed on the advice of other government leaders, such as the prime minister, who must himself be a member of the House of Representatives.

Health conditions in Grenada compare favorably to those of many developing countries, and the average life expectancy is about 67 years. Education is free and compulsory between the ages of 6 and 14 years. The educational system includes primary, junior, and secondary schools, as well as technical centers and a teacher-training college.

History

The warlike Carib Indians dominated Grenada in 1498, the date Christopher Columbus sighted the island. The Caribs had migrated from South America and wiped out the prior inhabitants, the more peaceful Arawaks. For 150 years after Columbus, the Caribs ruled over Grenada. In 1650 the French governor of Martinique purchased the island from a French company and established a settlement at St. George's. In 1672 the island became subject to the French crown and remained so until 1762, when British forces captured it.

Grenada remained in British control during the later 18th and 19th centuries. In 1833 the island's black slaves were freed with a minimum of economic and social upheaval. Grenada was the headquarters of the government of the British Windward Islands from 1885 to 1958. From 1958 until 1962 the island was a member of the West Indies Federation. Grenada became a self-governing state in association with the United Kingdom in 1967.

Grenada Island Tour

3 ½ hours, $34.00 Adult / $26.00 Child 

Times:  1:30 PM

Drive through the bustling Capital city of St. George’s for a short overview provided by your driver/guide, before continuing to Annadale Falls located in the lush interior of the island.  It’s a short steep walk to this green paradise, where many of the island’s flowering and medicinal plants can be found.  You’ll then proceed to Grand Etang Lake, the crater of an extinct volcano, located 1,900 feet above sea level.  A complimentary beverage will be provided at the panoramic overview of Grand Etang Lake.  Take in more of Grenada’s beautiful scenery during your downhill return drive to Fort Frederick, started in 1779 by the French and completed by the English in 1791, for a brief tour and wonderful panoramic view.  You’ll return to the pier via Lowthers Lane.

Note:  The sequence of stops may vary.

Scenic Mountain Drive, Annandale Falls and Fort Frederick

4 hours, $39.00 Adult / $29.00 Child

Time:  12:30 PM

Here’s a special tour combining the very best of Grenada.  You’ll travel through the island’s capital, St. George’s, past homes with red-tiled roofs and spice markets.  Taking the main road to Gouyave, you’ll pass the local villages of Grand Mal and Happy Hill before arriving at Beausejour Bay, one of the bay’s on which U.S. military landed during the 1983 intervention.  From here, your drive will continue through other small villages on your way to Dougaldston Spice Estate, a historical monument to Grenada’s past, where you’ll make a short stop before continuing to Gouyave, the island’s fishing village described as the “town that never sleeps.”  Traveling through verdant fields of banana, cocoa, nutmeg and other spices, you’ll head to the center of the island and shimmering Grand Estang Lake, formed in the crater of an extinct volcano, situated 1,900 feet above sea level.  Here you’ll enjoy a refreshing drink before your descent through carpets of green mountain fern and the village of Vendome on your way to Annandale Falls.  A short but steep walk will bring you to this green paradise, where many of the island’s flowering and medicinal plants can be found.  Afterward, you’ll travel to Fort Frederick, which offers a spectacular panorama of the harbor and surrounding areas.  You will then return to St. George’s Pier via Lowthers Lane.

Scenes of Grenada & Grand Anse Beach

3 Hours, $36.00 Adult / $27.00 Child

Time:  1:00 PM

Take this pleasant drive with your driver / guide along the postcard-perfect Carenage, through the capital city of St. George’s, past the Government House then on to Richmond Hill for a stop at Fort Frederick.  This fort, with its commanding view of the port area, was started by the French in 1779 and completed by the English in 1791.  Following your brief tour of the fort, you’ll continue your drive through Woodlands in the sugar cane belt for a short visit to a small rum distillery to taste the fine product.  Then you’ll visit a quaint island resort located on Grand Anse Beach for a complimentary drink and have about one hour to relax or swim (changing rooms available) before returning to the ship.

Note:  This distillery may not be operating during this tour due to the seasonal nature of this product.

Rhum Runner Beach Expedition

3 ½ hours, $32.00 Adult / $24.00 Child

Time:  1:45 PM

Take this fun-filled Caribbean adventure to one of Grenada’s excellent beaches.  Aboard this party cruise, you’ll enjoy unlimited rum punch or soda, fresh fruit and a live steel drum band.  Your knowledgeable guide will provide an informative commentary during your 45-minue cruise from St. George’s picturesque inner harbor, past Grand Anse Beach dotted with the island’s most exclusive hotels, and then on to Rhum Runner Beach.  Here you’ll have ample time to swim, sunbathe or simply relax on this beautiful, sun-soaked beach.  Then it’s party time during your return cruise back to St. George’s Harbor.  With your friendly crew, you will dance to the band’s Caribbean beat, join a conga line and have the time of your life while you do the limbo!

Note:  Please bring a towel and wear a bathing suit.

New Waves Snorkeling

3 ½ hours, $42.00 Adult / $34.00 Child

Time:  12:00 PM

After a brief transfer by minibus, hop on board a sailing catamaran for a motor sail past Grenada’s picturesque harbor on the way to your snorkeling site.  The calm, shallow waters of Grenada’s many bays make this a great place for beginners, while experienced snorkelers will enjoy the deeper areas of the reef.  The reefs are very healthy and support a variety of hard and soft corals such as star, finger, brain and some impressive stands of pillar coral.  The coral provides habitat for numerous tropical fish, including parrotfish, trumpet fish, sergeant majors and butterfly fish.  Your equipment, including a snorkeling vest, as well as professional instruction, supervision and transportation, are all included.

Discover Scuba Diving

4 hours, $84.00

Time:  12:15 PM

If you have always wanted to experience the thrill of scuba diving, why not take the plunge in the warm waters of Grenada?  After a brief taxi transfer to the dive shop, your boat dive adventure begins with a short lesson, during which you will acquire the knowledge and skills required to make this a safe and exciting experience.  After practicing your newly acquired skills in a swimming pool, you’ll join your instructor on a fantastic journey to explore this beautiful marine ecosystem.  The reef features a multitude of colorful sponges, sea fans and hard corals including some impressive stands of pillar coral.  A wide variety of fish including schooling chromis, parrotfish and the popular angelfish are routinely seen here.  Your scuba equipment, professional instruction, supervision and transportation are all provided.

New Waves Certified Scuba

4 ½ hours, $89.00

Time:  12:15 PM

After a taxi transfer to the dive shop to receive your equipment, you will have a short boat ride on the way to the first of two exciting dive sites.  Depending on conditions, the first dive will probably be a reef.  The reefs here form a mini-wall that has the most prolific fish life in Grenada.  You will likely swim through schools of brown chromis and grunts, while a variety of other tropical favorites such as parrotfish and angelfish are routinely spotted.  The shallow portion of the reef is thick with hard corals and sponges including some huge stands of pillar coral.  In the deeper sections approaching the maximum depth of 70 feet, you may see black coral and a multitude of wiry whip coral extending out from the wall.  The second dive will be on a shallow reef, where schools of Creole Wrasse or the occasional lobster or moray eel may be seen.  Your scuba equipment, professional supervision and transportation are all provided.

Note:  Certified divers must have their certification cards with them to participate on this tour.