Tortola and Antigua
The British Virgin Islands’ sailing water and Antigua’s beaches and naval history.
Get Island Cruise QuotesTwo British Islands, Two Very Different Days
Tortola and Antigua turn up as the “third island” on many Eastern Caribbean weeks, and on longer sailings. Both fly British-linked flags, both have beautiful water, and both reward a little planning before you step ashore.
Tortola is the largest of the British Virgin Islands, a sailing paradise of dozens of islands and cays. Ships dock at Road Town, the small capital. Antigua sits farther southeast in the Leeward Islands; ships dock at St. John’s, its capital, beside the Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay shopping areas.
Tortola and the BVI
Most of Tortola’s best beaches, including Cane Garden Bay, lie on the north shore over a steep ridge from Road Town. The drive itself is part of the experience, with views over the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Boat days are the other big draw: ferries and tours run to Virgin Gorda for The Baths, a field of giant granite boulders and sea pools, and to Jost Van Dyke and smaller cays.
See Tortola shore excursions for tours with live prices.
Antigua
Antigua is known for its long list of beaches and for English Harbour, on the south coast, where Nelson’s Dockyard is a restored 18th-century Georgian naval base and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shirley Heights above it has one of the best views in the Caribbean. Closer to the pier, St. John’s has a cathedral, markets and duty-free shops.
Popular tours combine the dockyard with a beach stop, or go out by catamaran around the coast. For bookable options see Antigua shore excursions.
Tortola and Antigua Questions
Can I see The Baths from a cruise to Tortola?
Yes, on a long enough call. The Baths are on Virgin Gorda, reached by boat from Road Town; most cruise visitors go with an organized tour that times the return to the ship.
Is Antigua really a beach island?
Very much so. It has a long coastline of white-sand bays, and many cruise visitors spend the day at a beach a short taxi ride from St. John’s.
What currency do these islands use?
The British Virgin Islands use the U.S. dollar. Antigua uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted in cruise areas.
Where These Islands Fit
Tortola and Antigua lie at the far end of what a week from Florida can reach, so they appear more often on eight- to ten-night sailings and on San Juan departures. Antigua also features on many Southern Caribbean routes alongside St. Kitts; Southern Caribbean Cruises covers that region. When you ask for quotes, tell us if either island is a must and our cruise advisors will filter for it.
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