Antigua is still a popular vacation spot for travelers who could choose to vacation anywhere. So how does Antigua and Barbuda attract this well-heeled crowd? In the case of Antigua (pronounced
an-TEE-gah), you start with what nature gave you: an abundance of sun and immaculate white sand. Then you add some of the most luxurious villas and exclusive resorts in the Caribbean, and you have a veritable magnet of attractions for any taste.
Antigua has smaller island dependencies, including Barbuda (pronounced bar-byou-dah), about 25 mi/40 km north of Antigua (more of a bird sanctuary than a lavish resort) and the uninhabited Redonda, 35 mi/56 km to the southwest.
Antigua, however, still has some vacation hotels for travelers who aren't as wealthy (more, actually, than its high-end neighbors, Anguilla and St. Barts). Anguilla also has excellent golf courses, forested hills and beautiful offshore islands. It's a favorite destination for yachters.
Fort James has also become a popular historic site, in addition to Nelson's Dockyard, the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, Fort Barrington and Betty's Hope Sugar Estate.
Location
If your ship docks in St. John's, the capital city on the northwestern coast, you'll be right in the middle of either Redcliffe Quay or Heritage Quay. The latter is a large, duty-free shopping center, and the former houses quaint shops but is not duty-free. Both have restaurants and Internet cafes. Cruise ships may also dock at Deepwater Harbour. Most other points of interest are nearby. The main office of the Antigua Tourist Board is one block away from Heritage and Redcliffe quays, at the corner of Nevis Street and Friendly Alley. It's open Monday-Friday 8 am-4:30 pm (phone 462-0480; fax 460-6093). There is also a tourist-information booth inside Heritage Quay that is open Saturday and Sunday (phone 562-6944; fax 562-6945). The Deepwater Harbour is within walking distance to the city, but you may prefer to take a short taxi ride.
English Harbour, on the southern coast of the island, is the only Georgian dockyard in the world and a magnet for private yachts. There are services available right at the pier, but a five-minute stroll to Nelson's Dockyard National Park offers everything you could want—banks, telephones, post office, travel agency, photo shop, restaurants, museum, art galleries and gift shops. The nearest tourist-information office is at the entrance to Nelson's Dockyard National Park. Hours are Monday-Thursday 8 am-4:30 pm and Friday 8 am-3 pm. There's no phone, but the National Parks Authority nearby can be reached at 481-5021.
Both port areas in the city are safe during the day, but if your ship stays late, it's best not to travel or walk about town by yourself after dark.
Shore Excursions
Consider signing up for the excursions offered by your ship. They may not be the least expensive way to see the island, but you won't have to waste your limited time making arrangements yourself—and you won't have to worry about missing the ship. Shore excursions—and their prices—vary from cruise line to cruise line. Typical excursions include historical and archaeological tours of Antigua, nature tours to Fort Berkeley, snorkeling or golf. Check with your ship's shore-excursion staff or your travel agent for additional information.
