4 to 5 hours ashore
Champagne Reef
- Taxi 10 to 15 minutes south to Champagne Reef.
- Snorkel through the bubbles rising from the sea floor.
- Back in Roseau with time to walk the Botanical Gardens.
Rather book it? A Champagne Reef snorkel tour with gear.
Dominica shore excursions
The Caribbean's "Nature Island": rainforest waterfalls, hot springs and a reef bubbling with volcanic gas, most within half an hour of the pier.
Getting ashoreShips dock at the Roseau cruise berth on the capital's waterfront. On busy days some use Woodbridge Bay, about a mile north and a short drive from town.
Dominica port day essentials
read this before you book
Which pier you're at
Roseau cruise berthOn the waterfront by the center. Shops, markets and cafés are about a 5-minute walk.
Woodbridge BayAbout a mile north of the center, used mainly when several ships are in. Take a taxi into town.
Taxis
Taxis wait outside the terminal gates. Agree the fare, and whether it is per person, before you leave.
Champagne Reef is about 10 to 15 minutes away, Trafalgar Falls about 20, the Emerald Pool about 40 to 45.
Money
Eastern Caribbean dollars. US dollars are widely accepted near the port, but change may come back in EC dollars.
Language
English. Many people also speak Kwéyòl, a French-based Creole.
Back on board
All-aboard is usually 30 minutes before sailing; your ship's daily planner has the exact time.
Be aware
- Roads are narrow and mountainous, and traffic drives on the left. Allow extra time for every drive.
- Check that your watch is on ship time; the island's clock may not match your ship's.
Last checked November 2026. Prices change; confirm before you pay.
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Plan your day in Dominica
pick by your time ashore
6 to 8 hours ashore
Trafalgar Falls and hot springs
- Drive about 20 minutes inland to Trafalgar Falls.
- Soak in the hot springs at Wotten Waven nearby.
- Back to Roseau for a late lunch.
Rather book it? A falls and hot springs tour.
9 hours or more
Emerald Pool and the rainforest
- Drive about 45 minutes to the Emerald Pool.
- Walk the rainforest trail and swim below the falls.
- Return with a wide margin; mountain roads are slow.
Rather book it? A full-day nature tour. Leave the Boiling Lake hike to fit hikers with a guide.
Times are approximate. Whatever you choose, plan to be back at the pier an hour before all-aboard. Compare tours for each idea below.
Compare Dominica tours
Start times and meeting points vary by tour. Check them against your ship's schedule before you book.
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Dominica tours from GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide's own search results for Dominica Roseau, in GetYourGuide's order. Check each tour's start time and meeting point against your ship's schedule.
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Dominica tours from Shore Excursions Group
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Scout's notes on Dominica
Short port days
Champagne Reef, where volcanic bubbles rise through the water, is about 10 to 15 minutes south by taxi. Trafalgar Falls is about 20 minutes inland, and the Botanical Gardens are a 15-minute walk from the pier.
Long port days
Combine Trafalgar Falls with the Wotten Waven hot springs, or go farther to the Emerald Pool, about 45 minutes away. The all-day hike to the Boiling Lake is only for fit hikers with a guide.
Getting back on time
Roads are narrow, steep and winding, so drives take longer than the distance suggests. Agree the fare and your return time with the driver before you set off.
From fellow cruisers
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