The
irregular coastline of Antigua offers numerous bays, several excellent harbors
and many lovely beaches: in fact, the locals say the island has 365 beaches,
one for each day of the year. Having been a British colony for many years, the
island also has historic shipyards – once overseen by Horatio, Lord Nelson –
that are interesting to explore. The island and its scenic harbors are
attractive to modern-day sailors, too: the annual yachting and sailing season begins
in December and culminates in a grand regatta each May.
Most
cruise ships that call on Antigua dock at Heritage Quay or Nevis Pier in St.
John’s, the island’s capital. Some smaller cruise ships drop anchor in Falmouth
Harbor on the south side of the island and run tenders in to the dock. Wherever
you step ashore on Antigua, there will be duty-free shopping, boutiques filled
with local crafts, and restaurants close by. If you dock at Heritage Quay,
several of Antigua’s cultural treasures, including the Museum of Antigua and
Barbuda and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, are within easy walking
distance.
To
expand your choice of beach excursions, Antigua’s quiet sister island, Barbuda,
has miles of gorgeous, white-and-pink sand beaches. Thanks to several ships
that were wrecked on the island’s reefs, there are some very good spots for
scuba diving, too. There’s also a sanctuary for frigatebirds in the lagoon next
to the town of Codington. Barbuda can be reached by round-trip catamaran service
from Antigua.
To
select a cruise that will take you to Antigua and Barbuda, talk with Anita, your
Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert.
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