English Harbour, Antigua cruises

A dynamic, non-stop destination with good music, delicious food and an exciting history, Antigua is the Caribbean must-see island. Explore exciting St. John’s or soak up the sun on one of 365 beaches. Learning to dive in a day or ATV off-roading are just two of the endless ways to make your stay even more memorable. Zip wire above treetop canopies or dive at exciting locations like Deep Bay.

Loved by all for its stunning Caribbean beaches and warm welcome, Antigua is home to the rum punch party, some world famous cricketers and a fascinating history to boot. The port of English Harbor built in 1723 is one of the island’s most intriguing highlights. Explore the nautical heart and UNESCO world heritage site of Nelson’s Dockyard, Britain’s best colonial Caribbean legacy. Now a fully restored 18th century working dockyard, this is where Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson kept his fleet and lived for three years. The museum dedicated to his memory here includes exhibits and discoveries unearthed as recently as the last decade.

Just across the bay, the old lookout point at Shirley Heights is famous for hosting steel band ‘jump up’ parties with live local music and dancing into the night. This gives unforgettable views of English Harbour and a stunning view south through the Leewards chain.

Head to Hemingway’s house in the colorful capital of St. John’s, also home to a good choice of restaurants and clubs and great duty-free shopping for emeralds, original art and craft. Take a taxi to the sweeping soft white sand of beautiful Half Moon Bay, just one of Antigua’s famed 365 beaches; this is, after all, the island which boasts “a beach for each day of the year”.

Green Island is an unspoiled hideaway of exotic birds, pelicans and brilliant white sand for excellent snorkeling with very good restaurants at nearby Nonsuch Bay. The twenty tiny islets around Great Bird Island to the north can be seen in a wonderful panoramic vista from the summit for those with enough energy to hike to the top.

Five Islands Village, home to cricketing legend Richie Richardson, is a good choice for luncheon and a trek up Mount Barrington is well worth the burn for great views from the old colonial fort’s lookout point.