Road Town British Virgin Islands Cruise Port Guide

British Virgin Islands

The islands were discovered by Francis Drake in 1595, when he sailed through the channel south of Tortola that bears his name. After conflicts with the Spanish and the Dutch, Britain annexed the islands in 1672. Tortola became notorious as the haunts of buccaneers, providing the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure

Approximately 80% of the

British Virgin Islands' population lives in Road Town on Tortola. It is the largest of the islands, and Road Town is the administrative center of the Handsome yachts ply the usually placid waters of Sir Francis Drake Channel, while vacationers bask on the inviting beaches.

Pier Information . The ship is scheduled to dock in Road Town. The town center is within walking distance.

Shopping . Most of the shops are on Main Street in Road Town. You will find a variety of stores. Pusser's Company Store, a mahogany-trimmed bar accented with many fine nautical artifacts, sells T-shirts, postcards and upmarket gift items. Pusser's Rum is one of the best-selling items. The local currency is the U.S.

Cuisine . Fish dishes are an excellent choice.

Snapper, dolphin, grouper, tuna and sworldfish figure prominently on most menus. There are also restaurants that serve both West Indian and East Indian specialties as well as pubs offering British fare.

Tortola is noted for its beautiful beaches. The best ones are along the north coast. The most popular ones are Smugglers Cove and Apple Bay.