St. John's, Antigua Cruise Port

St. John’s is the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, and has a population of more than 20,000 people. This thriving and exciting city is Antigua’s chief port and it acts as the commercial center for the entire nation. Tucked within a pocket in Antigua’s northwestern coast, the town stretches for a little over four miles in all directions. Even the largest cruise ships are welcomed to dock right in the harbor because of its spacious crescent-shaped lagoon, and its deep coastal waters. The inner city has a number of tourist draws, including historical and artistic museums, as well as a number of liquor distilleries. The city skyline is dominated by breath-taking chapels, a lighthouse, and a fair amount of old fortresses. Quaint shops, restaurants and cafes line the busy streets, along with grand architectural houses that have been restored to near perfection. Saint John’s also famously has 365 beaches, one for each day of the year!

• Saint John’s Cathedral dates back to 1683 when it was a humble wooden chapel. Today it is a magnificently decorative structure with Baroque towers.
   
• Explore Betty’s Hope, a sugar plantation that was first established in 1674. The simple stone, windmill structure stands as a monument to the slaves the plantation exploited and mistreated for hundreds of years.
   
• Old Fort James was built by the British in the 17^th century to protect the harbor from invaders. Today it makes for a good walking tour where visitors are often bowled over at the impressively large guns.
   
• The wonderfully modern Museum of Antigua and Barbuda is a large estate that guides its visitors through the long and colorful history of the entire Caribbean area.