St John’s Antigua Cruise Port: A Complete Guide By A Local

My name is Sara and I’ve spent the last 3 winters living in Antigua with my family.  We come each year as my boyfriend is a yacht captain and the boat he works on is based in Antigua.  We’ve joined in with the local community, especially as our sons go to school on the island.

I’ve also worked on cruise ships as  I used to manage the spa outlets on all of the P&O and Cunard cruise ships.  So I know how exciting a port day can be!

I’ve put together my insider tips and knowledge for a day in Antigua.

Where is St John’s Cruise Port Antigua Located?

The cruise port is located in Deepwater Harbour which is in St John’s.  St John’s is the capital of Antigua.  It’s right in the town and you can walk there very easily.

How to Get to the City of St John’s from the Cruise Port

It’s very easy to walk to St John’s from the cruise port as the ships dock in the town itself.  Once you disembark the cruise ship and leave the terminal you are in the town.  You’ll be by Heritage Quay which is the main shopping area.

Are there Free Shuttles from St John’s Antigua Cruise Port?

There are no free shuttles as there is no need for them as you can walk there.

Can you walk into St John’s from your cruise ship?

Yes, as the town is at the end of the cruise ship terminal.  You will walk to St John’s to be able to take any tours or taxis to leave the cruise port.

Are there taxis available from St John’s Antigua Cruise Port?

Yes, there are a lot of taxis in St John’s Antigua that will be waiting to take you to explore the island.  You’ll find them generally on Heritage Quay which is at the end of the ship dock.

✅ You should confirm the price of your taxi before you leave St John’s.  Also, depending on where you go, you might want to ask the taxi to wait. 

There is no Uber on the island and getting a taxi outside of the main tourist attractions can be tricky.  Most people tend to book their drive for the day and ask them to wait as they visit different locations on the island.

Best Shore Excursions From St John’s Antigua Cruise Port

There are three ways to explore Antigua.

1. You can hire a taxi for the day following your own itinerary and their recommendations.  
2. Rent a car and drive yourself.  This will give you a lot more flexibility and will be better value than hiring a taxi all day.
3. Take a shore excursion and there are plenty to choose from.  

I’ve selected some of the cool places and activities to do in Antigua and listed them below.

Walking Tour of St John’s

This is ideal if you want a more relaxed port day and don’t want to travel too far.  St John’s is small, however, there’s enough to see and do to keep you busy for a couple of hours. 

If you’re keen on the history of the town then you can visit the Antigua and Barbuda Museum, walk to the Cathedral and then take in Old Recreation which is the old cricket ground.

For those of you who enjoy shopping, there is Heritage Quay for jewellery and tax free shopping.  Or Redcliffe Quay for more local clothing and art.  You’ll also find in both quays a variety of bars, cafes and restaurants to enjoy and people -watch from.

⭐️ Check Prices and Availability Here

Take a Cooking Class

If you’re into the tastes of the Caribbean, then why not take a cooking class? Nicole’s Table is the best in Antigua and she offers a variety of different classes.  She covers cooking with jerk flavours, making local curries, dishes from the sea, and cooking with rum. 

⭐️ I’ve tried her jerk class and it was super tasty! Check availability here!

Visit Stingray City

This is one of my must do things in Antigua – swimming and feeding the stingrays.

Antigua is one of the only places in the world where you can swim and interact with stingrays.  (You can visit them in Grand Cayman too!) Whenever friends and family come to visit it’s the number one experience that I encourage them to try.

During the tour you are taken out to a remote pontoon on the edge of a reef where the stingrays congregate for feeding.  Your guides will help you into the water and encourage you to snorkel around them.

You’ll also have an opportunity to feed them and to carefully hold one in the water.  They also have a professional photographer at hand to capture the moment for you. so you’ll get a great photo of you with a stingray!

⭐️ Book Early, Check Availability Now

Snorkelling or Scuba Diving Tour

Antigua is a fantastic place to visit if you want to see turtles, rays and much more.  

If you’re a snorkeler the easiest way to get to see them from the cruise port is to take a boat tour.  Most of the good spots on the island require a boat to reach them.  

There are lots of different tours to choose from.  I’d particularly recommend Eli’s Eco Tour as you get to spend a good amount of time at some great locations in the north of Antigua near the cruise port.

For those of you who scuba dive, there are several dive centers on the island to choose from that can also offer courses.

⭐️ Book Snorkeling Here or Scuba Here

Nelson’s Dockyard

If local history interests you then the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nelson’s Dockyard is fantastic.  It’s a restored British naval base, and yes, it’s where Nelson was based for a time.

It’s an open air museum so very interactive and great for all ages, plus an actual museum space as well.  There are plenty of tour companies that run from the cruise port to Nelson’s Dockyard, or you can choose to drive yourself and just follow the sign inside.

There’s also plenty of space to stretch your legs or let little ones run loose.  And lots to see it’s still an active marina today, you can also watch yachts and their crew come and go.  You can even walk up to the old fort and get an incredible view back over the marina.

✅ This is the top rated Historical Tour in Antigua

Rum Making Masterclass at Galleon Beach

If you’re looking for something a little different, and want to combine snorkeling at a beach, with one of the best restaurants on the island and some rum tasting then this is the day out for you.  

Galleon Bay is located in the south of the island and whilst it’s got a very chilled out vibe, it’s actually got a lot to keep you busy for the day.  There’s fantastic snorkelling at a couple of wrecks which are located just off of the beach and you’ve got a good chance of seeing turtles!

In the middle of the beach is Loose Cannon Bar and Restaurant, which serves some of the best beach food on the island – we eat there a lot, and so I’ve tasted most of the menu which is delicious.  As well as this, there’s a rum making masterclass workshop behind the restaurant where you can blend together your own rum!

A fun, and alternative way to spend a day!

⭐️ Check Availability for the Rum Making Course

Zipline

If you enjoy a bit of an adrenaline rush whilst you’re away, and are happy to fly through the air on a zipline, then this is the activity for you.  Located in a tropical rainforest, it’s not only fun, but beautiful too.

They have a variety of different packages that you can choose from depending on how many zip lines you want to ride and if you want to add on the high wire assault course at the end.  

It operates in a tour with set times so you  complete the zip lines in a group.  The guides are very knowledgeable and make sure that you are comfortable so it’s suitable for total beginners and those scared of heights (like me!).  Plus they take children from 4 years old upwards so it’s fun for families too!

⭐️ Book your Zipline Tour Here

Explore A Beach Or Two

Antigua has over 365 stunning beaches to choose from, so you’ll be sure to find a beach to suit your needs.

Best for snorkeling – Galleon Beach or Lon Bay

Top for restaurant choice and activities – Dickenson Bay

Fun for families – Galleon Beach or Pigeon Point Beach

Best for off the beaten track – Rendezvous Bay or Half Moon Bay

One of the easiest ways to explore the beaches is on a land tour where they’ll take you a few different ones in a day.

Getting From The Airport To The Cruise Port

The closest airport to the cruise port is VC Bird International Airport which is 8.3km away.  The easiest way to get there is to take a taxi.  There is public transport, however, it’s not direct and so I wouldn’t recommend it.

Places To Stay Near St John’s Antigua Cruise Port

Antigua is renowned for it’s amazing all-inclusive resorts, so you’ll find lots of them to choose from, ones that are adults only, some that suit families and even ones that cater to nudists.  

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay near to St John’s, then these three are three places come highly recommended:

Royalton Antigua – just 4km from the cruise port, this family-friendly all-inclusive resort is extra special as they have wonderful sea villas that you can choose from and butler service.  

Sandals Antigua – only 5km from the cruise port, this adult-only resort on the beach on Dickenson Bay, right in the middle of the action.  I’ve recently had friends who stayed there and said that they would highly recommend it.

Blue Waters Resort – slightly further away than the other two at 8.5km, this family-friendly luxury all-inclusive resort to the north of St John’s is well worth a visit.  We’ve been there ourselves on day passes to use the facilities and it’s a brilliant resort.  It’s got some great sailing equipment, a few different pools to choose from and delicious food.

Antigua Quick Facts

• English is the official language of Antigua and Barbuda.  They also speak Antiguan Creole which is an English based Creole language spoken widely in the Leeward Islands which includes Saint Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla and Montserrat.
• The currency of Antigua is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD) or more locally called “EC”.  You’ll find that most things will be priced in EC, and higher priced items such as tours and accommodation will also be advertised in US dollars.

Cruise Lines That Visit St John’s Antigua Cruise Port

Most cruise lines that come to the Caribbean use St John’s as part of their itinerary as it’s a popular stop and can take ships of all sizes.

These include:

• MSC
• Cunard
• P&O
• Celebrity
• Club Med
• AIDA
• SeaDream Yacht Club
• Marella Cruises
• Viking Cruises
• Virgin Cruises
• Holland America Line
• NCL
• Costa Cruises
• Fred Olsen
• Seabourn Cruise Line

St John’s Antigua Cruise Port FAQs

Antigua is a popular country on the Caribbean cruising routes, and you’ll find up to 5 ships in the cruise port at any one time. 

The benefit of this is that there are lots of different tours that you can take from St John’s, and many taxi drivers are ready to haggle for a day price to drive you around the island.

If you’re not looking to travel far, then you can relax in St John’s as the cruise port is conveniently located on the edge of the town.   You can easily walk to the town to take in some Antiguan history, shopping and tasty food and drinks.  

If beaches are more your thing, then the nearest is about an hour’s walk from the cruise port at St James Fort.  However, there are plenty of tour operators happy to take you to explore the other beaches.

A visit to Antigua is definitely worth it!