Category: St. John’s (Antigua)

MAIN SIGHTS OF ANTIGUA

This history-themed tour to the heart of Antigua’s National Park begins with a drive through the countryside, rolling hills and quaint villages enroute to your first stop: Nelson’s Dockyard—the world’s oldest working dockyard from the Georgian era, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have a guided tour of the dockyard, which now serves as a major yachting centre in the Caribbean. Enjoy the ambience and restored buildings of this 18th-century dockyard as your guide shares its eventful history.

Next up is a stop at the Blockhouse Ruins, which offer a view of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding coastline. You will then continue to the ruins at Shirley Heights, a great photo opportunity at a vantage point overlooking Nelson’s Dockyard, the English Harbour, and its’ surroundings. More vistas and landscapes await you on your return drive. Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate.

Please note: Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate. The tour sequence may vary or operate in reverse

PANORAMIC ANTIGUA and BEACH

Spend a few hours off the ship and discover Antigua. Board your bus and enjoy the island’s tropical countryside and villages as you head for English Harbour, paying a first visit to the UNESCO world heritage site: Nelson’s Dockyard. You’ll have a guided tour of the dockyard, which now serves as a major yachting centre in the Caribbean.

Enjoy the ambience and restored buildings of this 18th-century dockyard as your guide shares its eventful history. You will then make your way to the Dow’s Hill Historical Centre for a presentation of Antigua’s rich history, heritage, and culture. More countryside awaits you as you approach the final stop on your tour: a white-sand beach with a reserved sun chair, rum, or punch drink. Enjoy approximately 1 hour of beach time before returning to the ship.

Please note: Umbrellas are available for hire at the beach. The tour sequence may vary or operate in reverse

STINGRAY SWIM & SNORKEL

Also known as the “puppies of the sea”, the southern stingray is a friendly soul that likes to play. This tour gives you an opportunity to get up close and personal with these marine creatures at Antigua’s so-called Stingray City, situated in Seatons Village. After boarding a boat and being taken to a nearby coral reef, you will be able to snorkel, swim and feed the rays in the waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Views of the coral reef and surroundings serve to add another level of enjoyment to the tour, during which you will also have a chance to find out how these animals live from your guide. This tour is family-friendly and a must-do while on the island. Guests must be at least 5 years old to participate.
Please note: Guests will be required to wash their hands before and after the animal interaction. Children must be at least 5 years old to take part.

All participating guests will be required to sign a waiver which may only be available in English. Stingray City is a popular tourist attraction. As such, guests may experience crowds

KAYAK, SNORKEL and BEACH

This activity gives you an opportunity to spend half a day off the ship and explore Antigua from a waterside perspective.

A motorboat will first take you to the kayak dock at one of the mangroves lined off-shore islands. Instructions and a safety briefing will follow, after which your guided 45 minute kayak tour begins, during which you will be taken around the North Sound Marine Park, with a snorkelling stop at a sheltered off-shore reef. A boat will be on hand to take keen snorkelers out to a nearby reef, where guides will provide and fit your gear and show you where fish can be seen. If snorkelling is not for you, you can simply relax on the beach, go for a swim in the shallow beachside waters, drink some rum or fruit punch, eat some homemade banana bread, or take in some Caribbean sun before returning to the port. Guests must be at least 6 years old to participate.

Please note: Children must be at least 6 years of age to take part. Snorkel gear, fins, snorkel belts, life jackets and refreshments are provided during the tour. We recommend wearing footwear that can get wet, that are flat and non-slip. Participants should be in good physical condition. The max. weight allowed per two-person kayak is 400 lbs./181 kg. This tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility,

heart/neck/hip/back/respiratory problems or for guests who have had recent surgery. Women who are pregnant are prohibited from participating in this tour. The spotting of marine life is not guaranteed

ANTIGUA BEACH BREAK WITH LUNCH

This tour begins with an approximately 10-minute drive by minibus to the beach. On arrival, a welcoming cocktail (fruit juice or rum punch) will be served that you can then enjoy while seated in your reserved lounger. Your tour also includes lunch, after which there will be more time for you to enjoy at the beach. You’ll have approximately 5 hours at the beach before heading back to the ship.

Please note: A lounge chair is provided free of charge at the beach. Parasols can be hired for a nominal charge. The beach area features toilet facilities, freshwater showers as well as a beach bar and a restaurant.

ISLAND SAFARI & BEACH

Once you’ve stepped off the ship and boarded your open safari truck, you can sit back and begin to enjoy Antigua and its landscape. This exploration will take you South of St. John’s through rustic villages. From the village of Swetes, the tour then continues on through the rainforest, to the southern coast and Old Road Village for refreshments. This was the first western settlement on the island, established in 1632 by the British naval explorer Captain Thomas Warner.

Have your camera ready to take some photos of the coastline and Caribbean Sea before you head off again along the island’s southern coast en route to the beach. Enjoy approximately 1 hour at the beach either relaxing on the sand or by taking a dip in the water. Your return journey will take you to see more of Antigua’s villages and landscape – with further opportunities to take photos along the way. The tour ends with your return to the port and your ship. Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate.

Please note: Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate. The tour is not available for pregnant women and guests suffering from pre-existing neck/back conditions. The type of vehicle used on this tour is an open-air safari truck. This is not a self-driven tour; a driver will be provided

CATAMARAN CRUISE & LOBSTER LUNCH

Join us on Mystic Cruises for a catamaran experience that will take you through the coastal waters of the Caribbean Sea. Antigua’s coastline is dotted with boutique resorts and a multitude of white sandy beaches, one of which will be your first stop. Stretch out on the sand, go for a dip in the waters or take advantage of the sun and work on your tan. The crew will remain on hand to serve you juices or soda to quench your thirst. You will spend approximately 1 hour here. Part two of the tour will then see you sail on for approximately 2 hours towards the island’s western coast to reach the second of two beach visits.

While on board, a Caribbean spiny lobster lunch buffet will be prepared for your enjoyment. When it comes to relaxation, you can do no better than find yourself aboard a luxury craft eating lobster for lunch with a glass of something bubbly in your hand. Upon arriving at the second beach location, another approximately 1 hour of free time will be spent. Reboarding your boat for your return sail to the port, you will make your way back along the coast, enjoying further views, an open bar and the sweet sound of Caribbean rhythms playing in your ear. Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate.

Please note: Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate. Guests are recommended to wear swimwear under their clothes as well as to bring a towel and high-factor sunscreen

BEACH-HOPPING SAFARI

This half-day tour of beach-based fun begins when you leave the ship to board an open-sided, safari-style bus for a ride through Antigua.

Situated on Antigua’s Caribbean seaboard, Turner’s Beach is a little slice of heaven with soft sand, turquoise water, free use of beach chairs and a serving of rum or fruit punch. Enjoy your time here any way you like before the safari bus takes you to the nearby Darkwood Beach, one of Antigua’s most popular stretches of shoreline. You’ll have a little time to take photographs before you make your way to the third and final stop: the Valley Church Beach. Sip a cool complimentary refreshment as you relax on your sun lounger and savour your surroundings. The route back up to St. John’s will then bring your outing to a close.

Please note: Guests are recommended to wear swimwear under comfortable clothing, high-factor sunscreen and to bring a towel, a camera and a hat. Toilet facilities are available at most beach stops. The order of the tour and the beaches visited are subject to change

SAIL, SNORKEL & BEACH

Your guide will meet you at the ship and will walk with you a few yards away to a sailing catamaran awaiting your arrival. From here, you will embark on a boat ride to Paradise Reef.

En route, you will be able to see Fort James, Runaway Bay, Dickenson Bay, Prickly Pear Island, many secluded beaches, five-star hotels and exclusive homes. Once you arrive at the snorkel site, you’ll be given a briefing before you are invited to go snorkeling accompanied by expert guides in the waters. Or you can simply take a swim, relax or soak up the sun on board the boat. When you return, there will be an open bar where you can enjoy rum punch, beers, water and soft drinks. You will then be taken to one of Antigua’s 365 beaches to have a swim, walk the beach or simply relax before you are taken back to your ship. Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate.

Please note: Guests must be at least 4 years old to participate.

It is recommended that guests bring a swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen. The snorkeling site may change depending on the weather. For safety reasons, if no other snorkeling option is available, time will be given at the beach instead. The sighting of wildlife is not guaranteed. Alcohol will only be served after the snorkeling portion of the tour is completed

BEACH ESCAPE

Experience a relaxing and carefree day on a white sand beach. Board your transportation with your guide and ride through Antigua’s countryside, rich in daily West Indian life, local villages, old churches, that exemplifies West Indian culture, to Valley Church Beach.

Enjoy approximately 3 hours of relaxation whilst you soak up the sun, take a gentle stroll along the beach, refresh yourself with a swim in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, or treat yourselves to a snack or an early lunch in the nearby restaurant overlooking the water.

Please note: Food and drinks are not included in the price of this tour. Umbrellas are available for rent at an additional cost. It is recommended that guests bring a bathing suit, towel, and sunscreen