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Some of the smallest islands of the Caribbean are home to some pretty incredible sights. That's definitely the case with Montserrat, one of the Leeward Islands in the British West Indies. It's just 35 miles southwest of Antigua in the Lesser Antilles, but few cruise lines have called here in recent years -- volcanic activity rendered the southern part of the island off-limits to residents and tourists alike in the mid-1990s. Today, the Soufriere Hills volcano has quieted, and a government-mandated exclusion zone monitored by the Montserrat Volcano Observatory keeps islanders and guests out of harm's way.
Just 10 miles long and seven miles wide, Montserrat is often referred to as the "Emerald Isle of the Caribbean" because of its uncanny resemblance to coastal Ireland and the Irish ancestry of many of the islanders. Today it's a British Overseas Territory, and the island has attracted many famous Brits over the years, including Beatles producer Sir George Martin, who owned the recording studio AIR Montserrat until it was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. That storm damaged 90 percent of the island's buildings; six years later, a volcanic eruption buried the capital of Plymouth.
This is definitely one of the Caribbean's lesser-known ports of call, but lines like Windstar Cruises, Voyages of Discovery and SeaDream Yacht Club stop at this off-the-beaten-path island.
Why go to Montserrat?
Pros: Montserrat features black-sand beaches and a town that was buried in ash after a volcanic eruption.
Cons: For safety reasons, the island has an exclusion zone to keep people away from the volcano.
Bottom Line: Though not many cruise lines stop here, it's a unique and interesting destination.
Currency & Best Way to Get Money
Montserrat's currency is the East Caribbean dollar. Be aware that few Montserratian businesses take credit cards. You can find two banks -- Bank of Montserrat and Royal Bank of Canada -- and their associated ATMs in the new capital of Brades, a 10-minute drive from the port of Little Bay. For current currency conversion figures, visit www.oanda.com or www.xe.com.
Language
English is the official language of Montserrat, but as you travel across the island you may also hear Spanish and Haitian Creole spoken by immigrants from Dominica, Guyana, the Dominican Republic and Haiti who moved to the island to help it rebuild after the volcanic activity settled down in 2010.
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