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Falmouth Antigua Cruise Port Guide
Location:
Falmouth Harbour is a large, protected, horseshoe-shaped bay. There are two main centers of activity: the north side of the harbor, where the small village of Falmouth is located, and the more visitor-oriented east side of the harbor, which has most of the restaurants. The east side of Falmouth Harbour is within easy walking distance of Nelson's Dockyard.
The New Falmouth Pier, the exclusive port of entry for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, is new addition.
When you disembark the ship at Falmouth there is a taxi stand inside the secured port area and it has the rates posted on a board for fares for destinations and tours. So just walk through the port to the right near where the ship docks and past the first building with shops and you will see the taxi stand. Taxi's inside the secured area will be reputable.
Map of Antigua
Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers
Monthly Climate Averages for Falmouth Antigua
Sightseeing:
Tours Excursions Transportation:
Taxis are available throughout Antigua. Fares between the airport, harbor, and many hotels and destinations are fixed and can be obtained upon arrival. Sample fares from V.C. Bird International Airport to Nelsons Dockyard--US$21; Shirley Heights--US$21; St. John's US$7. Taxi drivers are also qualified as tour guides for sightseeing trips. Tour rates can be obtained via above link.
Buses from St John’s to Falmouth and English Harbour are plentiful, cost around EC$3 and take about 30 minutes. They start early and generally run until about 7pm. Rush hour is particularly bustling, with lots of buses between 4pm and 5pm. There are very few buses on Sunday.
A water taxi from the dockyard across the harbor to Galleon Beach costs US$12, round-trip.
It pays to compare your cruise line shore excursions here.
Nearby Places:
There are 365 beaches on Antigua, one for each day of the year. The great majority rest inside the calm protected waters of the island's Caribbean side. All are open to the public, and so the challenge posed to a visitor is not how to gain access to the best of them but simply how to locate the beach that suits one's taste. Exploring on your own is the best way to do this, although it is wise to bring a companion along to particularly isolated locations. Antiguans are understandably reluctant to divulge their own favorites, so here are a number of good starters. Be sure to acquire specific directions before you go.
The Antigua Rain forest Canopy Tour is a unique eco-tour through Antigua's lush rain forest where you embark on an unforgettable journey through the verdant forest, high above the trees.
Nelson's Dockyard and the English Harbor is one of the premier tourist attractions in Antigua and no visit to the island would be complete without seeing the restored Georgian yard named after the famous English Admiral Horatio Nelson.
Shopping and Food
Currency:
Antigua uses the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (E.C.), although most of the vendors in town will readily accept U.S. dollars.
US$1 = EC$2.70
Communication:
There is wi-fi throughout the port and marina.
Opening Hours and Holidays:
The main public holidays celebrated throughout the Caribbean, during which virtually all shops and offices close, are:
January 1 New Year's Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
May 1 Labour Day
Whit Monday
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Dec 26 Boxing Day
Antigua also celebrates Caricom Day in early July, Carnival on the first Monday and Tuesday of August, Independence Day on November 1 and United Nations Day in October.
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