Dickenson Bay Beach is one of the best beaches in Antigua for cruise passengers, thanks to its close proximity to the St. John’s cruise port, calm turquoise water and ample amenities. If you’re wondering what to do in Antigua on a cruise, this guide walks you through exactly how to plan the perfect beach day from ship to shore.
Where Is Dickenson Bay Beach in Antigua?
Dickenson Bay Beach is located on the north west coast of Antigua, about 10 minutes from the St. John’s cruise port.
The capital city of St. John is where cruise ships visit. Following an expansion, up to five large cruise ships can now call at Antigua cruise port in one day.
Dickenson Bay Beach is 4.6km from the cruise port and only a short drive, making it a top choice for cruisers who want a relaxing beach day without a long excursion.
To visit Dickenson Bay on your port day in Antigua, there’s no need to pay extortionate cruise excursion fees – it’s one of the easiest beaches to get to.
Taxis are available directly outside the cruise terminal (Heritage Quay) and drivers know Dickenson Bay well. Many taxi drivers will offer round-trip service, which makes getting back to your cruise ship easy and stress-free.
Expect to pay $12-15 US dollars each way but always confirm the fare first with the driver.
Water taxi to Dickenson Bay Beach
You can opt to take a water taxi from St John to Dickenson Bay Beach. The water taxi leaves from the cruise pier and offers a scenic way to arrive at the beach.
To find the water taxi service from St John to Dickenson Bay Beach, exit the port area and you’ll find several independent water taxi operators waiting.
Prices are approximately $25 return per person but always check with the operator first.
Dickenson Bay Beach
Once you arrive by taxi, it’s a short walk (1 minute) to the wide stretch of soft sand and crystal-clear Caribbean water. Dickenson Bay is known for its gentle waves, making it ideal for swimming and floating.
It is ranked as one of Antigua’s best beaches by Trip Advisor (2025).
Most sections of the beach offer:
- Beach chair, sun loungers and umbrella rentals
- Easy walk-in water access
- Vendors selling drinks and snacks
This is the perfect beach to relax, enjoy the views, and unwind after a busy morning onboard your cruise ship.
Sun loungers can be rented from:
You can expect to pay up to $15-30 for a sun lounger for the day.
Where to Eat at Dickenson Bay Beach
One of the highlights of visiting Dickenson Bay Beach on a cruise is how easy it is to grab lunch without leaving the beach. Several casual beach bars and restaurants line the shore.
Expect menus featuring:
- Fresh seafood
- Grilled chicken or fish
- Burgers and fries
- Rum punch and tropical cocktails
Most restaurants are relaxed and beach-friendly, making it easy to go straight from the ocean to lunch.
Recommended places to eat:
- Ana’s On The Beach offers fresh seafood, burgers, curries and pasta dishes
- Salt Plage has tacos, crab cakes, grilled fish and burgers on its menu
- Starfish Beach Bar has a small menu that includes burgers, tacos and chicken wings
- Red Roof Beach Bar is known for its jerk chicken
Things to do at Dickenson Bay Beach
This beach is a great spot for simply relaxing but if you’re looking for something more active there are several options.
We would recommend packing your beach bag to go swimming at this beach. The shallow water is calm and great for swimming so you should bring snorkel gear with you.
Horse back riding is offered by vendors on the beach but beware, we saw the horses chained to a fence near the beach and this put us off.
If you’re looking for something more high-octane, you can hire jet skis and take a banana boat ride from Tony’s Water Sports Beach Bar and Grill.
One unusual feature you shouldn’t miss on your port day on Dickenson Bay Beach is the red British telephone box.
This iconic sight is located near the Salt Plage and is great for photo opportunities.
Tips for visiting Dickenson Bay Beach on a Cruise
- This beach is easy to visit independently so no cruise excursion is required
- If taking a taxi, organise a pick-up time so you have a return journey organised in advance
- Antigua accepts US dollars and East Caribbean Dollars; credit cards are also accepted but for sun lounger rentals and vendors, take cash with you
- 4 to 5 hours at Dickenson Bay Beach is ideal. This allows enough time for swimming, lunch and relaxation while still returning to the ship well before all-aboard time
- Plan to leave the beach by mid-afternoon to allow for traffic
- Have lunch at one of the many beach bars and sample some rum punch
- Grab a photo at the red telephone box
- For few crowds and cheaper sun loungers, walk further away from where your taxi drops you off
Dickenson Bay Beach is one of the easiest and most relaxing Antigua beach options for cruise passengers. Perfect if you want a classic Caribbean day without the stress of a long excursion.
Laura is a UK cruise blogger based in Cornwall, UK. She founded Cruise Lifestyle in 2016 to share useful advice about cruising, destinations and food.
Last port visited: Bridgetown, Barbados
Next port of call: unknown, but she can’t wait for cruising to resume safely!
Find me on: Twitter/X
We haven’t been to Dickenson’s but have been to Fort James Beach at Runaway Bay which is just along the coast. A taxi driver took us there on our first visit in 2010 and we enjoyed it so much we returned in 2012 & 2016.
We haven’t been back to the Caribbean since so perhaps another cruise is due, however, we are finding other paces in the world more appealing at the moment. Perhaps if a deal comes along we might be tempted.