The cruise ship terminal on the north side of the harbour is wrapped around the duty-free shopping complex of Pointe Seraphine, where most visitors who arrive by ship spend their first hour ashore. The architecture is a pleasant pastel pastiche of Caribbean colonial vernacular, the shops are mostly chain-brand jewellery, perfume, and rum, and the dock has a steady stream of taxis and tour vans.
Locals know to keep walking — a short water taxi or a five-minute drive gets you into the real city. But if you are off a ship and want something painless, this is the painless option.