Exclusive Antigua Culture and History Tour

Enjoy this exclusive small group tour to Antigua's beautiful and historic South Coast. Smaller groups allow for more personalized visits of locations including Shirley's Heights, Dow Hill Interpretation Center, and Nelson's Dockyard.

English Harbour, Antigua's historic district, is focused on the 15 square miles of Nelson's Dockyard National Park. Developed as a base for the British Navy in the great age of sail, the harbor served as the headquarters of the fleet of the Leeward Islands during the late 18th century.

Although the dockyard was greatly expanded at that time by Horatio Nelson, it was gradually abandoned in the nineteenth century and was closed in 1889. Today Nelson's Dockyard has been completely restored, and it is now the only Georgian dockyard in the world.

Further above the harbor, at Shirley's Heights, are the partially-restored fortifications of the harbor's colonial observation post; the view from Shirley Heights extends out over the harbor and far across the Caribbean to neighboring islands.

Dow's Hill Interpretation Center is a place visitors can watch an impressive multimedia presentation of Antigua's history from its initial settlement to independence. Observation decks at Dow's Hill provide another fine view of the harbor and the ruined fortifications of Fort Berkeley, located on the far side of the bay.

Enjoy a lovely day with us as we travel the beautiful Southern Coast of the Island through the lush and natural rain forest. Smell the fresh fruits as we stop at the Pineapple Farm. Feel relaxed and comfortable in an air-conditioned bus on this small group tour of Antigua.

Please Note: The National park admission charge ($15 US per person) is not included and must be paid on the day of the tour.

Special Dominica Favorites

On this sure-to-be memorable excursion, you will enjoy two of Dominica's most popular attractions, Emerald Pool and Trafalgar Falls, and do so in the afternoon, after the cruise line mobs from the morning have gone away.

Your tour begins as you proceed to the Trois Pitons National Park (a UNESCO Certified National Park) to visit the Emerald Pool. To reach the pool, there is a 20-minute walk with your guide over packed dirt with some inclines. Once at the pool you may choose to take pictures of the 40-foot waterfall, take a quick dip, or just enjoy the beauty of this tropical rainforest.

From the Emerald Pool, travel through the lush countryside to the village of Trafalgar. Your first view of Trafalgar Falls will be of the top, cascading side by side out of deep gorges carved out by the falls. Guests will set out on a 20-minute walk over uneven and occasionally steep terrain, past ginger plants and vanilla orchids, to reach the falls' viewpoint where you can enjoy the scenery and take pictures.

Upon departing Trafalgar Falls, you will drive to the Botanical Gardens for fabulous photo opportunities. Perhaps you'll even catch a glimpse of Dominica's national bird, the Sisserou Parrot, found only here in Dominica.

Following your tour, you will be returned to your ship.

Skyline Drive & Island Overview Shore Trip

This is a two-hour orientation tour of St. Thomas, with stops at some of the island's highlights and exciting views of the island itself.

St. Thomas is a mountainous island with one long ridge of hills running east and west through the center of the island, with smaller ridges branching off. The island is thirteen miles long by four miles wide, encompassing a little over 31 square miles. The highest point is Crown Mountain at 1,556 feet.

St. Thomas has a history that dates back to 1500 B.C. and the Ciboney people. They were replaced by the Arawaks and then the Caribes, long before Christopher Columbus first saw the island in 1493 on his second voyage to the "New World." Unfortunately, almost all signs of the pre-Columbus days have been lost to time.

Most of the structures and ruins that remain date from the 16th and 17th century and include Blackbeard's Castle (Skytsborg), Fort Christian and Bluebeard's Castle (Tower Fort). During your scenic orientation drive, you will be able to see them on nearby hilltops.

Riding along the crest of St. Thomas on "Skyline Drive," visitors are treated to vistas of Charlotte Amalie town, harbor as well as Hassel and Water Islands to the south; the Atlantic Ocean, Magens Bay, and Inner and Outer Brass and Hans Lollick islands to the north; and the chain of cays leading to St. John and the British Virgins to the east.

On this St. Thomas excursion, your driver/guide will make stops at various scenic overlooks as traffic/safety allows. You will pass by Drake's Seat, believed to be the spot where Sir Francis Drake himself watched for enemy vessels. A stop will be made at Mountain Top, where you will take in the most amazing views from the balcony of the shopping arcade, and if you choose, purchase a "world-famous" banana daiquiri.

At the end of the two-hour driving orientation, you will have the option of being dropped off in downtown Charlotte Amalie to experience its world-famous shopping or be taken back to the cruise ship dock.

Please Note: Guests departing from downtown will be responsible for their transportation back to their destination. Depending on the number of guests participating, tour will be conducted in vans or open-air safari buses.