Antigua is the largest of all the English-speaking Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean and it is 14 miles long and 11 miles wide. Home to the famous West Indies cricketers (likes of Viv Richards). A volcanic mountainous island like Dominica with vegetation, beaches and buildings looking about the same from the ship.After a late breakfast and a majority of passengers disembarking for tours we passed through security to the harbour entrance to find a local tour company for an island tour. As it was Sunday all the shops were closed for the weekend and everyone was at church (very religious and of many denominations). Passed through many small towns with many churches, colourful homes and nearly all the towns look very poor. Our tour driver said the island relies on tourism to survive as the sugar industry has collapsed. Stopped on the hillside looking across the magnificent Falmouth Harbour before proceeding to English Harbour where Nelson’s Dockyard is.Christopher Columbus landed on Antigua in 1493 and in 1632 the British colonised the island and Sir Christopher Codrington’s arrival in 1684 heralded the development of its large scale sugar cultivation and many are still there today.In the 18^th century the British Royal Navy (Admiral Horatio Nelson) chose the island as its base. Making it the most important military base in the Caribbean, located in the English Harbour and now-a-days it has been converted into a museum and national park. We had a half hour tour which was very interesting seeing all the old buildings and where the ships were docked/repaired plus about the poor hijacked sailors who were paid in rum. Included in the price of US $8.00 each was Shirley Heights. Where we saw the commanding views of English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyards with breathtaking photo shots of the historical sites. The original buildings are still here and this was the signal station to alert the troops of approaching ships from the sea.