Called the 'Tahiti of the West Indies,' Union Island is a tiny volcanic jewel where kitesurfers skim turquoise shallows, sailors swap stories over rum punch, and the Tobago Cays wait just a short boat ride away.
Ships anchor in Clifton Harbour and tender passengers to the Clifton Jetty, right in the heart of the village.
💡 Pro move: Hurricane Beryl (July 2024) impacted the island. Infrastructure and services have largely recovered, but confirm availability of specific tours and restaurants before your call.
Union Island has no cruise pier — all ships tender to the public Clifton Jetty.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Small ship & expedition lines | Clifton Harbour anchorage📍 | Tendered |
| Luxury yachts & charter vessels | Clifton Harbour marina📍 | Tendered |
Union Island is the jumping-off point for some of the finest marine experiences in the Eastern Caribbean.
The standout excursion from Union Island — a catamaran day sail to five uninhabited keys, swim with green sea turtles, snorkel pristine reefs, and relax on powdery sand. Book through your ship or hire a local charter at the jetty.
Find Tobago Cays tours →A man-made island built entirely from discarded conch shells by a local named Janti. Take a 2-minute water taxi from the jetty ($5 USD each way), sit on a barstool made of conch shells, and sip a rum punch while watching kitesurfers fly overhead.
Book a Clifton harbour tour →Union Island is one of the Caribbean's top kitesurfing spots. JT Pro Center on the north shore runs beginner lessons in a flat, shallow lagoon — ideal for first-timers. Even non-participants can relax at the beach bar.
Find kitesurfing lessons →Union Island's most secluded beach — a crescent of golden sand on the leeward west coast. Superb snorkeling directly from shore, frequent seahorse and turtle sightings, and a handful of simple beach shacks serving fresh catch. Best reached by water taxi from Clifton.
Book a Chatham Bay water taxi →A 15–20 minute uphill walk from the Clifton jetty takes you to the ruins of a 17th-century fort offering 360-degree views of the harbour, Palm Island, Petit St. Vincent, and Mayreau. Free and entirely walkable from the tender dock.
Find Union Island guided hikes →A 20–25 minute walk (or 5-minute taxi) from the jetty brings you to Richmond Bay's Big Sand Beach and Sparrow's Beach Club — sun loungers, a bar, and a restaurant serving French-Caribbean fusion on a beautiful protected white-sand shore.
Book Union Island beach club →Clifton is easily walkable; most beaches and viewpoints are a taxi or water taxi away.
From the tender jetty, walk the colorful single-street town past fruit stalls, boutiques, and the Anchorage Yacht Club. Catch local fishing boats loading up and yachts rocking in the harbour. End with a beer at the marina bar.
Head uphill from central Clifton to the old fort ruins above town. The 360-degree panorama takes in the harbour, surrounding Grenadine islands, and the open Caribbean — easily the best viewpoint accessible on foot from the tender dock.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Upcoming cruises that call at Union Island, Grenadines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.