we're in St Kitts on a cruise in Feb.... we've toured the island before, and are instead looking a beach relatively close to the cruise port, where we can rent a chair and umbrella for the afternoon..... resort or beach restaurant.... any suggestions appreciated

The closest beach to the cruise port is Frigate Bay, a 15 minute taxi ride from the port complex. Other beaches good for day trippers are South Friars, about a 20 minute taxi ride and Cockleshell Beach, a 30 minute taxi ride. All three are the only beaches with facilities (lounge chair and umbrella rentals, water sports, beach bars and casual restaurants). They all will have their fair share of your fellow cruise ship passengers who want to spend time at the beach.

thanks..... are there any recommended beach bars that will rent us a chair for a few hours ?

All of the beach bars on those three beaches have lounge chair and umbrella for rent. Except for Carambola (see below) chair umbrella rentals will be the same price.

Carambola on South Friars is an upscale restaurant with upscale lounge chairs/umbrellas and above average food/drink menu with prices to match.

Spice Mill on Cockleshell is somewhat upscale but not as much as Carambola. While they do offer a few higher end food items they also have a more standard beach bar menu at competitive prices. Same for their chair/umbrella rentals.

The other beach bars on all three beaches are more casual and serve the same type of beach bar food/drink in the same price range. The only appreciable differences are the size of the "beach shack itself" and number of people they accommodate at any given time.

As I said in my earlier reply, all will have their face share of your fellow cruise ship passengers and other day trippers.