Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda cruise holidays

With over 365 beaches, there is a slice of white sand heaven for every day of the year - even a leap year - on the idyllic Caribbean holiday island of Antigua. Antigua played host to Admiral Horatio Nelson's fleet in the late 1700's. Nelson's Dockyard now bustles with crew and guests from yachts and cruise ships sailing these waters for pleasure rather than for King and Country. The main Antigua cruise port - St John's, is also the capital and a vibrant hub for shopping as well as being within easy range of some of the best beaches - at Fort James, Deep Bay, Galley Bay and Hawksbill.

A must on your cruise to Antigua is a visit to Nelson’s Dockyard, the only Georgian dockyard in the world – where you’ll also find Clarence House, which was built for future King William IV when he served under the great British naval leader. Just above the dockyard is Shirley Heights, a partly restored fortification with great views of Montserrat and Guadeloupe. 

Almost perfect weather conditions and low humidity, due to the warm prevailing trade winds, allows Antigua to boast of being the sunniest of the Eastern Caribbean islands with the lowest annual rainfall. It is also the largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands although it is only 14 miles long and 11 miles wide. Still, with a population of less than 70,000, this means there are lots of wide open spaces - especially on those gorgeous beaches.