First time visit with one day!

We will have one full day in Antigua. We are not bus excursions people. We like to see as much as possible when it is truly worth the journey.....we are also fine with hanging at a beautiful beach with amenities and snorkeling. We either DIY when it makes sense, or private tour.

The historical harbor looks worth the effort? If so, would there be time to go there as well as to a really beautiful beach?

Would love some input from those who have been. Thanks much!

As you get off the ship there are lots of taxis waiting. They will take you on a trip for around $25, they usually show you a map of where they might go but will try to take you to where you ask. This is a really beautiful island and would be a shame to sit on a beach and not see it all. They drop you at the ship where there are shops and bars nearby to wander round.

Thank you for your thoughts and input dronnygirl. When you suggest grabbing a taxi to see all the sites, are you recommending a full day with that cab driving to various sites.....I am not sure what $25 translates to in terms of seeing the island. Is this price for two people or per person?

We do like the idea of seeing and spending time at the Dockyards....thinking we might catch a cab there if it is too far to walk from the port, afterward we are considering various beaches for a couple hours....if time permits followed by time in town.

It all depends on how much time you have ashore. We are always off the ship early as there may be several ships in port and we like to be before the crowds. The taxis usually take 6 or 8 people and will wait until they are full but this won't take long. It's around $25 to $30 per person and usually around 4-5 hours. We went to Shirley Heights and Nelsons Dockyard - wish we'd had longer to look around there so will definitely visit again when we are there in March. Our driver was really knowledgeable and kept stopping to pick local fruits for us to try. He then dropped us off at Turners Beach for an hour or so and picked us up later. We were dropped off in St Johns and had a look round the shops. You can negotiate with the drivers if you want to see a particular place or if you want longer at the beach etc.