The 9 Best Boat Trips in Antigua

1.Snorkel – Lobster Lunch Cruise to Bird Island and Paradise Reef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 438 reviews · from $185Our pick

Spend about six hours aboard a 55-foot motor catamaran from Jolly Harbour, with two snorkel stops, beach time at Bird Island, and a grilled lobster lunch when in season. Captain Demari and crew members such as Vonte and Quante have been praised for patient snorkel help, good humor, and attentive service. Hotel pickup is included in many areas.

“Lots of fun, bordering on too much fun. Good trip overall, fine snorkeling, saw several huge sea turtles, the lobster lunch was excellent. I gave it 4 stars because one of the three crew members (not the captain, thank goodness) began drinking, flirting, and dancing with several of the young women on the trip as the day went on. The women were into it and partying hard so it wasn’t like he was being overly aggressive or making unwelcome advances; it just felt unprofessional and a little unsafe to have a crew member taking shots and grinding with the guests. The captain and junior-most crew member were professional and acted…”

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2.Antigua Sunset Catamaran Cruise From St. John’s

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 63 reviews · from $133

Set sail from Dickenson Bay at about 4 pm for a 2.5-hour catamaran ride along Antigua’s coast. Expect rum punch, other drinks, light hors d’oeuvres, Caribbean music, island commentary, and sunset views. Hotel pickup is offered, but confirm the exact pickup time and return arrangements before booking.

“This trip was an absolute blast! The crew members were hilarious - cracking jokes and dancing the entire time. They served us drinks and appetizers and provided us with some cool information about the sites we passed by, all while playing great music. My husband and I loved our experience and would recommend it to anyone looking to have some fun!”

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3.Sail and Snorkel at Cades Reef

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 61 reviews · from $110

Join Tropical Adventures Antigua for a six-hour catamaran trip from St. John’s to Cades Reef. Snorkel over protected coral, eat a barbecue lunch, relax at a quiet beach, and sail back with an open bar. Crew members including Elroy, Chad, Theo, and Ishmael may guide the day, with stops adjusted for sea conditions.

“Out of all my shore excursions, this might have to be my favorite one so far. The staff was very friendly and engaging and the beaches that they stopped at were absolutely beautiful. Snorkeling was just OK... not a lot of fish to see but that could be because the seas were very rough that day. Lunch was served on board and was tasty. Drinks were plentiful. The whole boat had a great time! It was a fun and relaxing day!”

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4.FANTASTIC Green Island and Sea Turtles – Half Day share boat trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · from $179

Join Phoenix, Greta, Jerome, or Andrew for a small-group trip from St. John’s to Green Island. You’ll ride by van and boat, reach the beach before the large catamaran arrives, look for sea turtles, snorkel, and enjoy fruit, drinks, and a shaded umbrella. The boat may leave while you relax ashore.

“It was private with just 4 of us. It was relaxing and so enjoyable without the crowds. I’ve used them before.”

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5.Stingray City Experience Antigua – Cruise Ship Passengers Edition

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 52 reviews · from $139

From St. John’s Port, you’ll ride an air-conditioned vehicle and a short boat trip to a shallow marine platform where stingrays move freely. Guides such as Tafari and Greta help you enter the water, feed and touch the rays, and return to your ship on schedule. The tour lasts about 3 hours 10 minutes and serves up to 32 people.

“To start with, Greta was our tour guide and she was spot on. We had timely pick-up and brought us back to the ship on time. She was there with us the whole tour guiding us and instructing us. She got into the ocean with us and showed us Read more”

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6.Adventure Power Boat Tour Antigua and Private Laviscount Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · from $198

Spend 6.5 hours speeding through Antigua’s northeast marine area with Adventure Antigua. Visit private Laviscount Island for lunch and giant Aldabra tortoises, climb around Hell’s Gate, and snorkel near Great Bird Island when conditions and timing allow. Crews have included Leslie, Arian, Makai, David, Mark, and Bob.

“This was a very good tour overall, and I loved the guides, but it really only goes to two places: Laviscount Island and Hell’s Gate. I loved both those stops, but the itinerary says that Great Bird Island is also included, and it isn’t. We snorkeleRead more”

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7.Power 360 Sightseeing and Snorkel Cruise Antigua

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 23 reviews · from $146

Spend about six hours aboard the power catamaran Excellence, circling Antigua with a stop for snorkeling, beach time, lunch, and drinks. You will pass the Pillars of Hercules, Devil's Bridge, English Harbour, beaches, and notable homes. Hotel pickup is offered at selected hotels, with Ray and the crew praised for attentive help.

“This boat had about 120 people. When you take this boat there is a section of really rough water for about 20 minutes. The crew warns you that the front of the boat will get wet and tossed around. There was nowhere else to go as the boat Read more”

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8.Reef Explorers Transparent Boat and Beach Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews · from $89Best value

Cruise Antigua’s coast in a fully transparent boat with an entertaining crew, looking down at coral, fish, and sea urchins. You’ll pass Hawksbill Rock and the century-old Andes Ship Wreck before stopping at Deep Bay Beach to swim, sunbathe, or snorkel. The three-hour trip costs $89 per person.

“My husband and I recently took the clear boat tour, and it was absolutely fantastic from start to finish! Despite the rain throughout most of our journey, it didn’t dampen our spirits one bit—in fact, it added a special touch to an already memoRead more”

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9.Antigua Seafood Lunch Cruise From St. John’s

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 11 reviews · from $172

Set out from St. John’s at 9:00 a.m. for a catamaran sail along Antigua’s west coast. Stop at a beautiful beach for swimming and sun, then enjoy grilled lobster when in season, or shrimp, fish kebabs, chicken, or a vegetarian meal. Caribbean music and sparkling wine round out the day.

“The beautiful Ocean views and the lobster was delicious. From the stop at the beaches to going into the ocean it was a great experience would definitely suggest it.”

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