Cruise port · Guadeloupe (France) · Southern Caribbean
Guadeloupe cruise port guide
Guadeloupe is a butterfly-shaped French island in the Southern Caribbean, and ships dock in Pointe-à-Pitre, its main city, right by the markets and the striking Memorial ACTe museum. A port day here can mean rum distilleries and white-sand beaches on flat Grande-Terre, or rainforest waterfalls in the national park on mountainous Basse-Terre.
- French Caribbean culture
- Rum distilleries
- Beaches
- Rainforest waterfalls
Photo: Zivax, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country
- Guadeloupe (France)
- Region
- Southern Caribbean
- Type of stop
- Cruise port
- Language
- French and Guadeloupean Creole. English is spoken at some tourist businesses but not widely.
- Currency
- Euro (€). Cards are widely accepted; U.S. dollars are rarely taken.
- Best time to visit
- January–December
- Average highs
- 80–85°F through the year
About Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is a full part of France, so you’ll find euros, French bakeries, Renault taxis and road signs in French, all wrapped in Creole culture, music and cooking. The two main wings of the island could hardly be more different: Grande-Terre is low and dry, with beaches and sugarcane, while Basse-Terre is dominated by the La Soufrière volcano and dense rainforest. Pointe-à-Pitre sits where they meet.
It’s a rewarding port for travelers who enjoy food, culture and nature and are comfortable getting by with a few words of French. English is less widely spoken than on many islands, and Pointe-à-Pitre is a working city rather than a polished tourist town. Plan ahead and you’ll be rewarded with a day that feels genuinely different from the rest of the Caribbean.
Where cruise ships dock in Guadeloupe
Ships usually dock at the cruise terminal in central Pointe-à-Pitre, a short walk from Place de la Victoire, the Saint-Antoine market and the waterfront. Memorial ACTe is about 15 to 20 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride. Some smaller ships call at Basse-Terre town or anchor off the Îles des Saintes instead. Taxis wait near the terminal, but rates are high by Caribbean standards; tours and rental cars are good alternatives. Sainte-Anne’s beaches are about 30 minutes east, and the Basse-Terre waterfalls are 45 minutes to an hour away.
Best things to do in Guadeloupe on a cruise
- 1
Memorial ACTe
history
A large, dramatic museum on the waterfront dedicated to the history of slavery and the slave trade, housed in a black granite building wrapped in a silver lattice. Exhibits are moving, multimedia and well presented, with audio guides available in English. Allow at least two hours.
- 2
Marché Saint-Antoine and Place de la Victoire
culture
Pointe-à-Pitre’s covered market is packed with spices, vanilla, colorful madras fabric, punch bottles and local fruit. A few blocks away, Place de la Victoire is a leafy square lined with colonial buildings and cafés. Morning is the liveliest time.
- 3
Sainte-Anne and Grande-Terre beaches
beach
The town of Sainte-Anne has a long, shallow, palm-fringed beach with calm water, food stalls and a relaxed local vibe. Nearby, Plage de la Caravelle and the beaches toward Saint-François are also lovely. It’s about 30 minutes from the pier.
- 4
Guadeloupe National Park waterfalls
nature
On Basse-Terre, the Cascade aux Écrevisses is a short, easy walk from the road to a pretty waterfall and swimming hole. The Route de la Traversée climbs through rainforest with lookouts. The bigger Chutes du Carbet involve longer hikes and are better on organized tours.
- 5
Pointe des Châteaux
scenery
The rugged eastern tip of Grande-Terre, where limestone cliffs face the Atlantic surf and a cross on a hilltop offers sweeping views toward La Désirade. It’s about an hour from Pointe-à-Pitre and pairs well with beach stops along the way.
- 6
Rum distillery visit
food
Guadeloupe produces rhum agricole, distilled from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses. Distilleries on Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre, such as Damoiseau near Le Moule, offer tours and tastings. Remember to have a designated driver if you’re renting a car.
- 7
Îles des Saintes
nature
A cluster of small islands south of Basse-Terre, with Terre-de-Haut’s pretty bay often compared to the most beautiful in the world. Fort Napoléon overlooks the harbor. Ferries take time, so this is best on a long call or when your ship anchors here directly.
Guadeloupe weather by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 8027 | 8027 | 8027 | 8228 | 8328 | 8429 | 8429 | 8529 | 8530 | 8429 | 8328 | 8228 |
| Low °F (°C) | 7825 | 7725 | 7825 | 7926 | 8027 | 8127 | 8228 | 8228 | 8328 | 8228 | 8127 | 7926 |
| Rain in (mm) | 2.050 | 1.640 | 1.742 | 2.564 | 3.180 | 4.6116 | 4.8121 | 5.6142 | 5.7144 | 5.6142 | 5.8148 | 2.667 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
What to eat and drink in Guadeloupe
Start with accras de morue (salt cod fritters) and boudin créole, then try a colombo, the island’s spiced curry of chicken, pork or goat. Bokits, fried bread pockets stuffed with fish, chicken or salad, are the classic street food. For dessert, look for sorbet coco, hand-churned coconut sorbet sold on beaches, and French pastries from any boulangerie. Ti-punch, made with rhum agricole, lime and cane syrup, is the local aperitif.
Tips for your port day
- Learn a few French phrases; English is spoken less here than on most cruise islands.
- Bring euros or use a card; U.S. dollars are rarely accepted.
- Taxis are expensive, so share one or consider an organized tour for longer trips.
- Many shops close for a long lunch break and on Sundays; check timing if shopping is a priority.
- Traffic around Pointe-à-Pitre can be heavy, so build in extra time to get back to the ship.
Cruise lines that visit Guadeloupe
Often on the same itinerary
Guadeloupe cruise FAQs
Is Guadeloupe part of France?
Yes. Guadeloupe is an overseas region of France and part of the European Union, so it uses the euro and French law applies.
Can you walk from the Guadeloupe cruise port into Pointe-à-Pitre?
Yes. The cruise terminal is in the city center, a short walk from the main square and the market. Memorial ACTe is about a 15- to 20-minute walk.
Do they speak English in Guadeloupe?
Not widely. French and Creole are the main languages. Staff at tourist sites often speak some English, but a few French phrases go a long way.
What is the best beach near Pointe-à-Pitre?
Sainte-Anne is the most popular choice, about 30 minutes east, with calm water and food stalls. The beaches around Le Gosier are closer but smaller.
Do U.S. citizens need a passport for Guadeloupe?
Bring one. Guadeloupe is part of France, and while cruise lines set their own document rules for round-trip sailings, a passport is the safest choice.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, NASA POWER climate data.