St. John's

When Columbus discovered Antigua in 1493, he encountered the unfriendly Carib Indians. Columbus named the island Santa Maria de Antigua, in honor of a church in Spain. For many years, both the Spanish and French were unable to settle on the island due to the fierce nature of the Caribs. But in 1632, the British took control of this island, developing the sugarcane industry with the use of slaves imported from Africa. In 1981 Antigua was granted independence anb became a British commonwealth.

The following Shore Excursions are available for this port on this cruise, and may be reserved beginning 180 days before the cruise begins.

Spectacular Antigua
Tour Code: ATG-4053
Duration: 3 1/2 hours
Retail Value: $99.00
Price: Free

Take a step back into Antigua's historic past during this scenic visit to Antigua National Park, the Blockhouse Ruins and Nelson's Dockyard Village.

Depart the pier for the scenic, 35-minute drive to Antigua National Park, a beautiful, 10-square-mile expanse featuring the famous English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard. The dockyard was named after Horatio Nelson, who served here in the 1700s. Upon reaching the National Park, you will proceed to the Dow's Hill Visitor Center to view a cultural audio/visual show depicting Antigua past and present. This show is unique to the Caribbean, and puts the West Indies in perspective. You will then take a brief guided tour of the area, which offers wonderful panoramic views and photo opportunities. On a clear day, the island of Montserrat (27 miles away) can be seen.

Next, you will continue on for the brief drive to the Blockhouse Ruins. Built in 1787, the ruins overlook the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Creek. On a clear day, the island of Guadeloupe can be seen from this viewpoint. The powder magazine, gun platforms, water catchment, officer's barracks, and a 32-pound cannon still exist; evidence that this was once a principal lookout post. You will then proceed to Shirley Heights for cliff-top views over Nelson's Dockyard, Galleon Beach and Falmouth.

Your trip will conclude at Nelson's Dockyard Village, where you will see the Admiral's Inn, museum, mystery pillars, art gallery, gift shop, bakery, and fabulous yachts tied to the old stone quayside. You will be served refreshments at an 18th-century inn before you are transferred back to the pier and ship.

Back to Excursion List

Enter an e-mail address to receive all the available shore excursions for this cruise:

Terms & Conditions:

Free Unlimited Shore Excursions are for full fare guests only, capacity controlled and subject to availability. Requested excursions may not be available at time of booking. Supplement will apply on Regent Choice excursions (indicated by the above) and excludes Private Arrangements and all Adventures Ashore programs. In order to ensure quality guides and sufficient transportation, we must provide the tour operator with passenger counts at least 36 hours in advance. Therefore no refunds will be given within 36 hours of tour departure for cancellations or no-shows. Please pay special attention to scheduling and tour lengths when booking your shore excursions. In many cases, it is not possible to participate in more than one tour per day in a given port. Tours operate rain or shine. Tours require minimum participation levels to operate so please sign up as early as possible. Tours may be cancelled if minimum participation levels are not met. Prices, Itineraries and General Information shore excursion prices are subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases or currency fluctuations. Please consult the Destination Services Desk onboard for information. During local or national holidays, access to certain facilities (such as museums or archaeological sites) may be limited or denied. In such instances, adjustments will be made to minimize inconvenience to guests. Some tours have limited availability. Tours are generally available for reserving 180 days prior to the beginning of a cruise. Please sign up early to avoid disappointment. Regent Seven Seas Cruises reserves the right to require guests to complete a liability waiver for select shore excursions. For more information, please visit the Destination Services Desk onboard.