Princess Cruises has several ships that stop in Antigua with multiple itineraries to choose among. The 20-day Caribbean Grand Adventure goes roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on the Emerald Princess with a one-day stop in Antigua. Take an off-road vehicle into the countryside, snorkel in crystal-clear water, swim with stingrays or indulge in a champagne and lobster lunch cruise.
Princess Cruises
1-800-PRINCESS
princess.com
Luxurious Silversea Cruises has multiple cruises that dock in Antigua. The Silver Whisper runs from New York to Barbados and includes a day at St. John's, Antigua. With all of its rooms featuring ocean views, a champagne bar and a capacity of fewer than 400 passengers, the Silver Whisper has been called "the most elegant cruise ship afloat" by CyberCruises.com. Most cruises are one-way and require airplane accommodation to return home.
Silversea Cruises
1-877-760-9052
silversea.com
Celebrity Cruises' Exotic Southern Caribbean trip includes some of the Caribbean's least-visited islands like Curacao, Bonaire and Antigua. One of Carnival's newest ships, the Celebrity Constellation accommodates more than 2,000 people on its 11 decks. For an active excursion, check out the Canopy & Challenge Tour. Get strapped onto a pulley and zip-line through the rainforest, swiftly moving down a steel cord through the canopy on a gravity-propelled thrill ride.
Celebrity Cruises
1-800-647-2251
celebritycruises.com/
Norwegian Cruise Line's southern Caribbean cruises range from 9 to 14 days, ample time to soak up the sun and explore the islands. Passengers praise the Norwegian Dawn for a quick boarding process, helpful staff and felt "treated like royalty," as one customer put it. Learn about Antigua's history at Nelson's Dockyard, an early 18th-century base for England's navy, and the Blockhouse Ruins, which are perched precariously on a cliff.
Norwegian Cruise Line
1-866-234-7350
ncl.com
Get up close with Antigua's animals on a Carnival excursion. A three-hour horseback ride on the beach takes you past historic Fort James and miles of coconut trees before riding straight into the Caribbean Sea. Alternately, try your hand at fishing marlin, tuna, wahoo off a catamaran. Carnival Cruises has suspended service to Antigua after a 2009 incident in which eight American Carnival passengers were arrested while docked at St. John's, Antigua.
Carnival Cruises
1-888-227-6482
carnival.com
