Before I arrived in Grenada, I had read much on the Internet about this destination.  I am always interested in seeing what the Newsgroups have to say, as they are rarely short on personal opinion.  After a few weeks, I had read nearly every range of description about the people of Grenada, from being very warm and friendly to very rude.  I had to double check to be sure the authors were all writing about the same country.

The broad differences in opinion made me wonder.  How could this be possible?  I could only conclude that the visitor was in part responsible for an unpleasant incident or misunderstanding.  Often, visitors unwittingly bring a negative attitude that provokes a negative response from the locals, leading the visitor to conclude that the locals are indeed hostile.

I always try my best to carry an outwardly positive attitude when I travel to a foreign destination.  It’s not difficult - I just remind myself that I’m in the Caribbean and my friends at home are not!  I make sure I smile a lot and greeted everybody with “Good Morning” or “Good Afternoon” before conducting any business.  The results from this approach have been quite amazing so far.  If I still receive a negative response after this effort, then I can safely conclude that I have met an unfriendly person.  If it happens more than once, then I begin to form another conclusion based on the pattern.  Either way, I’m certain I’m not the cause.

After spending a week in Grenada, I can say that the people were definitely different than the neighboring Vincentians and St. Lucians, but it was difficult to pinpoint the difference.  There was no question that the Grenadians were friendly, but I found them to be considerably more reserved.  When addressed, they all answered politely, but were never engaging.  They did not initiate conversation or perpetuate it when addressed.  I suspect that this is a British trait inherited from their Colonial ties.  Not a bad thing, just something that should be kept in mind when assessing the level of friendliness.

I can also add that I was never harassed by anybody during my entire stay.  I walked in some of the less affluent areas and never once felt that I was being stalked, nor was I ever approached or harassed to buy something, or give someone money.  I never overheard anybody make any disparaging remarks under their breath.  This is a more affluent Caribbean island, and I think that is reflected in the attitude of the people in the tourist business - they’re not desperate to get your money.

Cruisers and Bareboat Charterers

I had always considered bareboat chartering and cruising to mean essentially the same thing.  You’re on a boat in a nice part of the world – that’s it.  This trip showed me that there’s a difference.  We ran into a number of long-term cruisers, and these people helped set me straight.

Bareboat charterers are on vacation, down for one week, maybe two.  They are in a greater hurry to get it all in and are prepared to pay for the convenience.  They have holiday money and are short on time.  I have observed four basic groups: families, couples, retirees, and partyers.  

The first three groups are usually quiet and generally stick to themselves, preferring to engage in more personal activities such as passage-making, snorkeling, sunbathing,  touring, shopping, and cooking on board.  You almost never meet them in restaurants and bars, or anywhere for that matter.  You might have a brief encounter on the beach or on a tour, but that’s about it.

Partyers, on the other hand, can be met easily in restaurants and bars, or during Cocktail Hour on board their boat if you are lucky enough to be anchored nearby.  The opportunity to empty somebody else’s liquor cabinet should never be dismissed lightly.

Cruisers, on the other hand, have all the time in the world, and are on a fixed budget.  You see, the more cost conscious they are, the longer they get to stay in the Caribbean.  They can be seen at anchor in one place for weeks at a time.  They explore each destination in far greater detail than I could ever imagine.  They know the locals, the best prices, and engage in activities that are inexpensive or free.  They enjoy a “local” price from Boat Boys, if they are even approached.  You might meet them at Happy Hour before they retreat back to their boats for dinner.  They often invite each other aboard for dinner.  You will rarely see them at a restaurant, and certainly not at the bar later.   If you are fortunate enough to stumble into some cruiser social function such as a "pot luck" beach barbeque, you will be treated to some great insights into a very peaceful and pleasurable lifestyle.

These important differences helped me understand why the two groups actually rarely meet.  They share very few common objectives.  With that new insight, I began to understand more clearly that this Usual Suspects website is targeted more at the bareboat charterer, and not the cruiser.