Antigua is a laid-back island with a rainforest in its interior surrounded by rolling hills dotted with quaint little villages and cultivated fields. Locals say that the 365 beaches that line the shore “offer a different one for every day of the year.” Your Ensemble Experience will give you an inside look at all Antigua has to offer and the cultural heritage behind it.

Your first stop is Smith’s Hall’s Estate, a charming local home that remains active in raising cattle and sheep. You’ll be warmly welcomed by the owner, Mrs Hall, who’ll show you around and share family stories and the history of the estate while you enjoy a soft drink.

You’ll then drive through the rainforest and countryside through local villages rich in daily West Indian life and culture, to a magnificent view of Falmouth Harbour on your way to English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Built in 1725, the Dockyard served as the base for the English naval squadron patrolling the West Indies. A National Park’s guide will lead you on a short walking tour through Nelson’s Dockyard with its beautifully restored buildings, built with the brick ballast from the earliest sailing ships.

You’ll then drive back to St John’s to a lovely Caribbean rum shack on Sir Vivian Richards Street. Here your rum tasting includes stories and anecdotes about how local rums are made, told by the owners: one of Antigua’s most respected husband and wife teams.

The rums will be complemented with a choice of delicious regional specialties: crab backs, conch fritters, salt-fish fritters, jerk chicken, chicken fingers plus crab cakes made from fresh local ingredients. The local recipes will be shared with those who wish to know the chef’s secrets!

Ensemble® Experience shore excursions are capacity-controlled, subject to change without notice, and require a minimum number of participants. All times are approximate. Your Ensemble® Traveler host onboard will advise on the final details.