Your extensive sightseeing tour includes popular sights like Nelson’s Dockyard National Park (a colonial-era naval base and prominent yachting location), a stop at the picturesque Blockhouse Ruins, Fig Tree Drive, and Shirley Heights (the location for the island’s yachting and sailing competitions). Then complete your day with time on the white sandy beach at the Jolly Harbor Beach Club.
Your guide for the day will meet you at the cruise terminal.
Our tour will drive through Antigua’s capital, St. John’s, and pass by the Holy Family Catholic Cathedral, where you will learn about the dormant volcano upon which the church was built. We will then drive by the Prime Minister’s White House, the Parliament Building, and Factory Road to see the remains of where a Sugar Factory once stood. Next, we drive past Cricket Stadium, named after Antigua citizen Sir Vivian Richards, the best Cricket player in the Caribbean.
Next up is All Saints Village, the 2nd largest town in Antigua, known for pottery and Antigua’s national dish, fungi & salt fish, a hearty stew made from cornmeal and okra, with pepperpot included. The tour continues to Liberta Village, the first village on the island to become free from slavery, as its name indicates. You will pass by Antigua’s aircraft manufacturing plant, and see old churches dating back 300 to 500 years, all built from limestone–nature’s unique stone, which changes color throughout the year.
The next stop will be Nelson’s Dockyard, named after the British war hero, Admiral Horatio Nelson. The historic museum features the rich history of the island. Note especially, the Clarence House, where Queen Elizabeth spent her honeymoon. The dockyard is operated by the National Park Service of Antigua and Barbuda (entrance fee included). Your ticket also serves as admission to the next stop, Shirley Heights (a must-see lookout point), where you can view the elegant yachts just offshore.
After photos at Shirley Heights, you will travel to the tropical side of the island and stop at “Sweets Village.” Here, Momma Elaine, a local native, will invite you to sample the sweetest pineapple in the world while telling you how they grow their local vegetables and fruit. And she will educate you about the fruits and vegetables used on the island to cure different illnesses.
The tour will continue through the gorgeous hills of the Rain Forest and Fig Tree Drive. While in the Rain Forest, we will stop at the highest point on the island, “Buggy Peak” (now called Obama Peak), also home to the government’s Cades Bay Pineapple Farm.
And finally, we arrive at the beautiful Jolly Harbor Beach, located on the Caribbean side of the island. It features newly renovated Pop-Up Beach Bar & Restaurant. You can enjoy time on your own for lunch and swim in the ocean, or just relax on a beach chair before heading back to the ship.
The main tour will return to the ship around 1 p.m. For those staying at the beach club, the return will be around 3 p.m.
Diane, and I plan to spend the afternoon at the beach, returning to the ship at approximately 3 p.m. Transportation back to the boat takes about 30 minutes and is included in the tour price.
For those that want to spend the afternoon at the beach club, we negotiated a $10 per person rate (usually $20 per person) which includes two chairs and one umbrella.
If you want to rent an umbrella and chairs, please bring $20 and additional cash for lunch and tips.
Tour Options
#1 Tour as listed above with return to the ship around 1 p.m. | $80 per person
#2 Tour as listed above with a return to the ship around 3 p.m. | $80 per person
#3 Tour as listed above, with a 90-minute horseback ride on the beach, with a return to the ship around 3 p.m. | $170 per person
Inclusions: Local Guide, Transportation, Entrance Fees, Gratuities
Not Included: Souvenirs, Beach Chairs, Umbrellas, Meals, Deviations
Cancellations after September 15, 2023, are non-refundable
Footnote: About the two principal sites:
Nelson’s Dockyard National Park
Nelson’s Dockyard is the largest of Antigua’s National Parks and is still used today as a working dockyard for numerous yachts and ships, fully restored to its original splendor, including the 18th and 19th-century buildings of the Dockyard–shops, hotels, and marina businesses. This one-time British naval site is named in honor of Admiral Horatio Nelson, a British naval officer who lived in this Royal Navy Dockyard from 1784 through 1787. Nelson’s Dockyard provides many sites and activities for visitors to explore and enjoy.
You can browse the Dockyard Museum in the former Admiral’s House. It presents visitors with exhibits regarding the Dockyard’s history and current archaeological research on the island.
The Copper and Lumber Store Hotel offers five-star accommodations and is a magnificent venue for special occasions. Take time to admire the glamorous luxury yachts that now line its marina.
Shirley Heights
Drive up to Shirley Heights and stroll around the old military fortifications. You can view breathtaking scenic landscapes with 360-degree views. A spectacular view over English and Falmouth Harbour greets your eyes, and on a clear day, the neighboring islands of Montserrat and Guadeloupe can be seen. Perched high above English Harbor, the view from Shirley Heights is simply amazing.
It offers a breathtaking view of the yachts moored in the harbor below, named after Governor Thomas Shirley, who fortified the port in 1781.
Review of your options:
1. Robison/Newbold Tour: Best of Antigua
2. Robison/Newbold Tour: Horseback Riding Tour
3. Rent a driver or taxi for the day and explore the island
4. Walk around town on your own
5. One of the eleven main excursions listed by Celebrity:
a. Ultimate Beach Experience in Hodges Bay
b. Nelson’s Dockyard
c. Island Sightseeing
d. Catamaran Cruise with lobster lunch
e. 4x4 Off-Road & Beach Adventure
f. Zipline & Canopy Adventure
g. Antigua Walking Tour
h. Horseback Beach Experience
i. Yoga Experience on Galleon Beach
j. Discover Sailing
k. Local Life experience
You may book the first excursion by contacting our travel agent, Marcie Ewing:
|
No comments:
Post a Comment