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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to spend a week sailing aboard a catamaran in the Caribbean? We always have! And, last week, Matt and I had the opportunity to find out as we spent seven nights sailing aboard the TradeWinds Mohala in a closed loop around Antigua. Today, I want to share our Antigua sailing itinerary, including the stops along our TradeWinds catamaran route!
At the end, I will answer some of the most frequently asked questions and share a few tips. And, yes, you can book a single cabin on these TradeWinds sailings. No need to charter an entire boat!
So, let’s jump in as I share exactly what a week of sailing around Antigua looks like, day by day!
We were hosted by TradeWinds for this sailing. But, of course, all opinions and experiences are our own.
Our 7 Day Antigua Sailing Itinerary with TradeWinds
For our trip, we sailed on a weeklong Saturday to Saturday on the Mohala, TradeWinds newest 60-foot electric catamaran. Most cruises run on this same schedule, which is the most common sailing, so many airlines offer direct flights into Antigua on Saturday.
TradeWinds currently has five catamarans based in Antigua, including two electric catamarans. For our trip, three of us sailed together for the week, which gave us a chance to make a few new friends! That said, some of my photos show Mohala, which we sailed on, while others show Ohana, their other electric catamaran based in Antigua, taken from the decks of our boat.
So, while this is our personal experience aboard Mohala, you will likely have a fairly similar itinerary aboard any of the TradeWinds sailings in Antigua. Of course, day-to-day activities can be customized based on each group’s interests when possible!
These Antigua sailings circumnavigate the island, offering a mix of sailing, snorkeling, diving, fishing, beach time, and onshore stops. That said, the precise route varies slightly based on the weather. But the one constant is that these TradeWinds sailings are all-inclusive and fully crewed, with all logistics taken care of. This means you’re not planning anything, just showing up and enjoying that nice breeze and rich blue waters!
What Our Antigua Catamaran Sailing Route Looked Like
Our Antigua sailing route kept us close to shore for most of the trip, starting and ending at Jolly Harbour Marina. So, there are no long ocean crossings, and the ride was very smooth. Plus, being on an electric catamaran, it was equally quiet!
So, let’s dive in and look at our day-by-day Antigua sailing itinerary with TradeWinds! And, to make it easier to picture what each day was like, I filmed and shared a daily vlog on Instagram. So, under each day, I will include a link to each video to help this experience really come to life for you.
That said, your TradeWinds cruise might not look exactly like our Antigua sailing, but it will be just as memorable!
Day 1: Flying to Antigua & Boarding the TradeWinds Mohala Electric Catamaran
Matt and I started the day with 6 AM flights out of Dothan Regional Airport, landing in Atlanta, grabbing breakfast in the airport lounge, and hopping on a direct flight to Antigua. You can find direct flights from other major cities, including New York, Miami, Charlotte, Toronto, and more. When we landed, I was shocked to see a large British Airways flight at the gate next to us and to learn about direct flights from London!
TIP: Fill out your Arrive Antigua form before arrival so that you have your QR code ready to go at Immigration
Once we arrived, we stopped at the taxi stand and grabbed a taxi to Jolly Harbour. The ride took about 45 minutes and cost our group of three $50. I recommend carrying cash for these taxi rides in Antigua!
We had a couple of hours to kill when we pulled up to Jolly Harbour, so we popped into The Fat Urchin for a cold Caribe draft beer and some fantastic fish and chips.
As we polished off that refreshing drink, we heard the sound of Conch shells blowing. This is your signal that it’s time to board your new home for the week. And, the first order of business is taking off your shoes, because you won’t be needing those on board!
Our captain, Austin, and first mate Sammie, greeted us aboard the Mohala with welcome drinks. And, we shared a toast with our sailing family for the week. I was traveling on a media trip with four other travel writers, a few of whom had plus-ones, and TradeWinds’ wonderful PR rep. It turned out to be such a great group!
My first impression of the TradeWinds Mohala electric catamaran was its obvious freshness and newness. Our cabin for this Antigua sailing was more spacious than I expected, and I loved having the little window at sea level!
Once we set sail, we had a chance to get settled, which meant unpacking in your cabin so they could store your luggage for the week.
TIP: Pack light! You can easily do this in a carry-on. Soft-sided luggage is always helpful for storage.
We didn’t go far on this first night, dropping anchor just outside the marina near Reeds Point. I wondered to myself whether this was intentional, in case flights are delayed or whatnot. Then, for our first dinner, Austin and Sammie made us some amazing Mahi Mahi and even Key Lime pie for dessert!
We settled in for a wonderful first night’s rest before getting this bucket list sailing trip started.
Click here for my Day 1 video that includes a full cabin tour!
Day 2: First Full Day Sailing, Hiking, & One Epic Sunset
The next morning started out like each of the following days would, with breakfast and a little debriefing of our plans for the day! As the planner in our family, it was honestly refreshing to just sit back and let someone tell me the plans for the day. This must be what life is like for my kids on our family trips. No schedule, no planning, just show up!
Our breakfast was always a family-style spread of fresh fruit, breads, cereals, and unique daily dishes, including eggs, pancakes, and more. We didn’t even notice at first, but when we were enjoying our breakfast each day, Sammie and Austin popped into our cabins to make our beds.
For lunch, we had a homemade chicken salad, which hit the spot after some mid-morning swimming. After lunch, we took the dingy onto shore near Deep Bay for a short hike up to experience 360-degree views of the surrounding area.
We spent most of the day sailing, and honestly, pinching ourselves that we were really here! Our Destination Home for the night would be near Dickenson Bay.
Captain’s cocktails and snacks are served daily at 5 pm and most often enjoyed on the top deck. And, this first night, we were treated to our best sunset of the week. I thought that it was an ok sunset, until I turned around and saw the sky lit up in shades of orange, pink, blue, and purple!
We enjoyed a lovely pork tenderloin dinner and a glass of wine before resting up for another sunny day in Antigua.
Click here for my Day 2 video that includes the most amazing sunset!
Day 3: Fishing, Cocktails, Snorkeling & Cruising Antigua
What I love about this Antigua sailing cruise is that Captain Austin sailed the boat as much as possible! And, he was more than willing to teach anyone interested in sailing and even let guests take the helm while out at sea. This was right up Matt’s alley and a real treat!
After breakfast and a morning spent sailing, we took the dinghy over to The Hut Little Jumby Bay. I was expecting a little beach shack, but it was really nice! We all opted for painkillers and margaritas, including non-alcoholic options for a couple of people who don’t drink. Our crew always went out of their way to make matching mocktails for those guests, too!
We had a delicious lunch, sailed to a new spot, and did some drift snorkeling along a reef near Redhead Island and Rabbit Island!
Captain’s cocktails were pina coladas, and Snapper was served for dinner. I should mention that the fishing lines are often in the water, and crew and guests work hard to catch local fish to serve on board when possible, often Tuna, Mackerel, or Mahi-Mahi.
Someone asked me on Instagram if I felt bored during the trip. And, the answer is no!
Honestly, I loved having downtime to just lie out in the front section of the boat in the sun and make small talk with the other guests. It truly is a flexible experience, giving me a rare “it’s your trip” kind of feel. You could opt out of anything, or express interest in doing something that wasn’t on the day’s itinerary.
Turns out, this is my jam. Laid-back luxury without too much structure. This Antigua sailing just felt so much quieter than other resort experiences, where you cross paths with hundreds of people on a given day.
Click here for my Day 3 video that includes a look at The Hut Little Jumby!
Day 4: Matt’s Birthday & Snorkeling with Sea Turtles near Green Island
This was my favorite day for so many reasons! First, it was Matt’s birthday, which was so incredible to celebrate on board Mohala. From our first cup of coffee, the crew and other guests greeted him with a warm “Happy Birthday.” It ended with a wonderful chocolate coconut cake, his favorite, that our first mate, Sammie, made just for him!
We, Matt included, sailed to our next destination immediately after breakfast, heading to Green Island, where we would be for the rest of the day and the entire next morning. I mentioned in my main post about sailing with TradeWinds that one of the things we loved was that we were able to access places that you can’t reach by land, including this hidden gem!
The bay we anchored in had calm water and protected coves, making it the perfect place to snorkel. And as soon as we arrived, we were greeted by Sea Turtles popping their heads out from below the water!
We snorkeled all afternoon, taking little breaks to lie out on the catamaran and do some stand-up paddleboarding.
Then, Captain Austin called a board meeting, which in Antigua meant cocktails and snacks in waist-deep water using a paddleboard as a table!
To wrap up the night, Sammie served us her famous Butter Chicken, and the dessert was a birthday cake and a birthday wish for Matt!
Click here for my Day 4 video that includes the board meeting and birthday celebration!
Day 5: More Sea Turtles & Trivia Night in Falmouth Harbour
The magic of this sailing is that while there were a couple of day trip boats in the bay when we arrived the day prior, they were gone by mid-afternoon, leaving the bay all to ourselves! So, in the morning, we scarfed down our breakfast so that we could spend more time snorkeling with the Sea Turtles before pulling up anchor!
The water around Green Island, Antigua, was so beautiful – calm and deep shades of blue and green!
Lunch was seared Tuna and I was so surprised at how different each meal was from the last. Of course, the kitchen aboard Mohala was large and lovely, but Sammie went above and beyond for us.
We got in some lounging time, reading books, chatting, and just enjoying the sea breeze through our hair. If you are someone who likes to sneak in little naps while on vacation, this is the trip for you! We popped into a little cove near Indian Creek for anyone who wanted to snorkel some more or take out the kayak.
Next, we showered and freshened up as we arrived in Falmouth Harbor. Dinner was on land, and we chose The Clubhouse at the Antigua Yacht Club in English Harbour Town because they have a trivia night. While we were off the boat, Sammie and Austin did a full cabin refresh, including new bedding and towels.
Click here for my Day 5 video, which includes a tour of the main Catamaran floor!
Day 6: Snorkeling, Nelson’s Dockyard & Sunset at Shirley Heights
At first, we felt like a week was going to be such a long time aboard a catamaran, but by day six, we were starting to get a little sad that it was almost over. Time both stood still and flew by for us this week aboard Mohala!
We had breakfast and our daily look at the map to see where we were heading next before making our shortest sail yet! We popped around the bend to settle in English Harbour for the rest of the day and night.
After a fantastic homemade quinch lunch, we took the dinghy over to Nelson’s Dockyard and had some free time to explore. I have to say that we had gotten quite used to not having to wear shoes. But it was nice to walk around and let my Apple Watch know I was still alive and mobile when I wanted to be!
Next, our TradeWinds crew arranged for a cab to take us up to Shirley Heights for the Thursday cookout and sunset celebration. There was a steel drum band and a reggae band. You have to see the sunset in my video below!
Austin and a couple of brave members of our group actually hiked up to Shirley Heights. Again, this itinerary is flexible, and the crew does their best to accommodate everyone!
TIP: Bring cash for the taxi fare and admission ($10 each) to Shirley Heights.
We went back to the boat after sunset, and it was time for our last dinner aboard Mohala! At this point, we were so relaxed and definitely had our sea legs. We stayed up a little later than we had been, enjoying some music and cocktails on the top deck.
Click here for my Day 6 video, which includes Nelson’s Dockyard and that Shirley Heights sunset!
Day 7: Closing the Loop & Heading Back to Jolly Harbour
After our morning routine, we got the sails up for one final time on this Antigua sailing! Later that afternoon, we would be heading back to Jolly Harbour, eating dinner out, and spending our last night aboard the boat.
We really made the most of this day, stopping at one more snorkeling reef, where we also saw a few Sea Turtles and Rays. They have a detailed fish book on board, and it was fun going through it to figure out what we say, laughing at the silly category names like “Big-Lipped Bottom Feeders” or something like that!
As we made our way back to the marina at Jolly Harbour, our whole group was just soaking it all in and reminiscing about our favorite moments from this sunny week together aboard Mohala. It’s no wonder that so many couples and groups sail for the first time by just renting a single cabin, then build friendships that bring them back together with strangers who become lifelong sailing friends!
We sat back and watched Austin park that 60-foot vessel way better than I can even pull into my Target parking spot. Other TradeWinds employees were on the docks, guiding him in and welcoming us back to both shore and reality. But we all made a vow to hold onto this feeling as long as possible!
Austin made us one last round of Captain’s cocktails, and both he and Sammie joined us for dinner at a local restaurant.
Click here for my Day 7 video, which includes a tour of the main Catamaran floor!
Day 8: Departure Day & Flying Home
We were served one last amazing breakfast on board before making sure we had packed everything for a 9 AM disembarkation. We hugged each other and said goodbye to the crew and other guests. It felt a bit like the end of that wonderful week at summer camp, where you vow to send letters and to come back next year.
After that, we headed to the airport early! They do have a Priority Pass lounge there, and it has a great outdoor seating area. We flew back to Atlanta and then to Dothan, Alabama, arriving just after dark. It felt surreal that we had woken up on a TradeWinds catamaran just that morning!
TradeWinds Antigua Sailing Trip Tips & FAQ
I hope that sharing our Antigua sailing itinerary helps you know what to expect when you book a TradeWinds sailing in Antigua. Before wrapping up, I want to answer a handful of specific questions I was asked. These include details on what to pack and what not to pack for an Antigua sailing trip with TradeWinds!
TIP: Pack Light
Most of the time is spent barefoot on board, so you only need a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of sandals. Days are spent in swimwear and cover-ups, with attire everywhere beachy-casual, made from lightweight linen and gauze. You won’t have room for luggage in your room. So, plan to unpack and hand over your suitcase or bags for storage while you sail.
TIP: Bring Cash
I brought cash for my crew tip, but didn’t grab enough cash for other things. Honestly, you hardly spend any money when on this all-inclusive sailing, but when you do go ashore, cash is preferred and sometimes the only option, especially for taxis. Both US Dollars and Eastern Caribbean Dollars are used, with many places listing prices in both.
One of my top tips for international travel is to order foreign currency in advance!
TIP: Trust Your Captain
While this post shares what we did on our Antigua sailing at the end of April, early May, your Antigua sailing itinerary may not be exactly the same. Your captain knows best and may alter it based on weather, crowds, and time of year to make the most of your time.
If you’re new to TradeWinds sailing, these are the most common questions I received while sharing this trip.
FAQ: Did You Get Seasick?
We didn’t have any issues with motion sickness. Most likely because we were always fairly close to the shore while in Antigua and didn’t do any big crossings. They do have ginger ale, and we had ginger cookies on hand for anyone feeling queasy. But if you are prone to motion sickness, talk to your doctor in advance and make a plan.
FAQ: Is There Wifi? Did You Get Cell Service?
To encourage connection with your friends and family, the TradeWinds catamarans do not have Wi-Fi. That said, as an Airbnb Host, I always need to be connected, and my AT&T International Day pass worked great on this Antigua sailing! Others had eSims that they used.
FAQ: Should You Fly in a Day Early?
This is totally up to you, depending on flight schedules and any flight deals you find. With larger cruises, it’s always recommended to fly in a day early to be safe. That said, this is a very small curated sailing. I am guessing that they can be a bit flexible and accommodating if flights are delayed. That may be why the first night is spent close to the marina — just my guess!
FAQ: How Many People are on a TradeWinds Sailing?
These TradeWinds catamarans have four or five guest cabins. The TradeWinds Mohala, which we sailed for this Antigua sailing, had five, so it could accommodate up to ten guests. We had eight in our group this week. So, it definitely is a more intimate experience than pretty much any other vacation you can take.
FAQ: Would You Bring Your Kids?
In my main TradeWinds Mohala post, I have a dedicated section to answer this question. So, make sure to read that. But, for me personally, it’s one of those trips where I would probably rather only pay for Matt and me at this stage in life.
FAQ: Is There Air Conditioning?
Yes, the Mohala had AC in the cabins and worked really well. We were never too hot. And if you are hot during the day, the top deck gets such a nice breeze!
FAQ: What Should I Pack?
Again, pack light! This is a casual barefoot style. I bought these lightweight shorts from Old Navy in two colors before the trips, and they were perfect. And, this Amazon athletic dress (with shorts) was perfect for some onshore activities.
Make sure to bring reef-safe sunscreen and a splash-proof crossbody bag for trips to shore. I also appreciated having some good aftersun lotion and some hair and body oil on hand for after my showers. I had a bit of a rats nest at one point from snorkeling so much!
FAQ #8: What Shouldn’t I Bring?
You do not need heels, wedges, or fancy shoes. Other than a couple of light sundresses, you don’t need elaborate outfits on this Antigua sailing. Light makeup is all you need, and I don’t think anyone in our group used a hair dryer or any hair tools all week. It felt good to just be natural and carefree!
When you get to your cabin, each room has a color-coded bag with two turkish style towels and two water bottles for you to use all week. We brought a couple of our own Dock and Bay towels and didn’t need them. You do leave this in the cabin when your cruise is over, but you can buy some Tradewind merch here.
FAQ #9: How Do You Book This?
Basically, if you are not a TradeWinds Member, you should first browse their destinations and itineraries on the website. Then contact them by phone or email, or inquire about availability. Tradewinds has a membership program, and members get priority booking and a more cost-effective plan for future sailings. They will tell you more about that on board.
But what makes them unique is that anyone can book a single cabin or multiple cabins for an all-inclusive, one-time price starting at $7,700 per cabin per week. You can also redeem RCI points or Thirdhome keys for a TradeWinds sailing. This makes it so easy to try catamaran sailing and see how you like it!
Learn more about how to book a Tradewinds Sailing here!
Want to Know More About Our TradeWinds Catamaran Sailing?
Our TradeWinds Mohala Antigua sailing itinerary is just one example of what you can expect. Every sailing will vary slightly based on weather and your group, but the overall experience is consistently relaxed, all-inclusive, and incredibly well done.
We kept telling our crew, Austin and Sammie, that they were the best—and they laughed and said every crew is just as good. After experiencing it ourselves, I believe that. TradeWinds clearly has a very high standard, and it shows.
Do you want to know what this catamaran cruise costs and how to book a single cabin? Read my full breakdown here and see whether where I share why this bucket list sailing trip lived up to the hype! An experience like this is much more accessible than you think!
And, make sure to follow along for more travel inspiration!
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