About Anchorage:
Property:
Anchorage Hotel is an ideal location for family and friends, divers, hikers, whale watchers, adventure seekers and those traveling to Dominica on business who want to relax after work. This charming and laid back 3-star family owned and managed property is perched on the edge of the tranquil Caribbean Sea, only one mile south of the Capital city, Roseau.
Our Hotel offers 32 spacious, air conditioned en-suite bedrooms, comfortably furnished with island-style décor, direct dial telephones, high speed internet and Cable TV.
Founders:
Carl & Janice Armour left Eden Estate where they farmed coconuts, bananas and cattle alongside a heavy equipment business as the pollen was playing havoc on Janice’s asthma. They moved to the outskirts of town while they bought land on the bayfront in Castle Comfort and developed their home with four rooms and a bar below.
Soon after yachters came in and requested service because the chosen location was the calmest Anchorage this close to the Capital City, Roseau. Not only did they come for the rum punch which was served directly from the barrel, it became a home away from home and they named the place “The Anchorage.”
Carl’s training as a civil engineer and heavy equipment operator came in handy as he mobilized men and machinery to erect a seawall from end to end. By 1972 an additional twelve rooms and a restaurant and bar were commissioned and the rest is history.
Mrs. Janice Armour is a pillar of Dominican society being the first black woman to work in a bank in Dominica. She has devoted herself to the development of Dominica's tourism product and marketing Dominica as an eco-tourism destination, locally, regionally and internationally. Eager to build on Dominica's diverse natural attributes, Janice researched, promoted and developed numerous tourism related activities. She was among the first to offer services for tourists to experience the depth of Dominica's product through Anchorage Safaris Tours, the island's first inbound tour operator. Horseback riding, mountain biking, bird watching, sailing and scuba diving were some of the myriad activities that she introduced to tourists and accentuated as part of the tourism product mix.
On the evening of June 11th, 2010, Mrs. Janice Armour received the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Award of Excellence for 2010 at the prestigious 34th Annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball and Awards presentation held at The Plaza in New York City.
Management:
Ms. Yvonne Armour
CEO/Managing Director
Yvonne is a multilingual Professional with over 25 years of regional & international experience working in managerial positions in the tourism/hospitality industry, in both the public and private sector. She possesses strong personal commitment to holistic lifestyle and environmental preservation, with keen interest in niche tourism product development, i.e. health and wellness, sports, heritage and agro-tourism. Yvonne excels in dynamic, challenging environments while remaining focused and pragmatic.
Mrs. Carla Armour
Director of Marketing & Product Development
Accommodation:
Poolside
OurPoolside rooms of which there are 12, contain 1 queen sized bed, cable television, direct dial telephone access, free high speed internet, and hot and cold showers. These rooms can accommodate up to 2 persons.
Oceanfront
We also have 19 Oceanfront rooms, 2 of which contain 1 king sized bed. The remaining 17 rooms contain 2 double beds each and are able to accommodate up to 4 persons. For large groups an extra single bed can be placed in the rooms, at an additional cost, to accommodate up to 5 persons.
They are equipped with, hot and cold showers, mini fridge, coffee makers, iron and ironing boards, cable television, direct dial telephone access and free high speed internet. All the rooms on the second floor contain private balconies with a spectacular view of the ocean.
Dining:
Your home away from home, you can sample home-style Creole Cuisine alongside a mouth watering continental snack menu at our full service Ocean Terrace Restaurant or relax in our Carib Bar & Poolside Lounge sipping our famous “Laro’s Anchorage Rumpunch’ or enticing local cocktail.The Ocean Terrace Restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Join The Anchorage Hotel in collaboration with Carijazz Muzik every Thursday night from 7:30-10:30 pm for our Seaside Buffet Dinner andWord, Sound & Powerwith live entertainment, performance poetry, dancing and more. Enjoy our delicious Creole buffet treats, bar specials & exotic cocktails!
Services & Amenities
Guest Room Amenities
Free High Speed Internet Access
Cable Television Channels
Desk and desk chair
Direct Dial Telephone Lines
Air Conditioning
Irons and Ironing Boards
Available Services
Parking
Laundry Services
Currency Exchange (available at front desk)
Safe Deposit Box
Multilingual Staff
Luggage Storage
Ocean Terrace Restaurant
Carib Bar Lounge
Room service
Sunday Breakfasts till noon
Thursday Night Seaside BBQ Dinner & Live Entertainment
Event Hosting & Catering
Weekly exercise classes
Meeting room & meeting facilities
Anchorage Whale Watch & Dive Center
Profile
Our knowledgeable and experienced team will organize everything for your unforgettable marine encounters. Whether you are embarking on some of the best diving in the world, observing some of the largest mammals living on this planet, or just want to learn how to be an ardent diver, our team will ensure that yours is a remarkable, unforgettable experience.
As Pioneers of the Dive & Whale Watching industry in Dominica, we offer a full service PADI Dive facility. Our fleet consists of a dedicated dive vessel Domnik, a 30’ custom boat which accommodates a maximum of 14 divers. Additionally we offer 2 other vessels which are used primarily for our Party Cruises and Whale Watching tours but can also accommodate larger dive groups; Passion, a 75’ sailing Catamaran which accommodates up to a maximum of 60 passengers andMiser’s Dream, a 60’ powered Catamaran which is comfortably furnished for overnight island trips and can accommodate up to a maximum of 50 passengers. Our Whale Watching, diving and snorkeling tours depart several times a week.
We can boast the Caribbean’s only Sperm Whale Skeleton mounted near our lounge where our guides hold educational talks and briefings for our whale watching tours. There are many activities available at The Anchorage from shore diving, snorkeling, fishing, games and Kayaking for when you may need a ‘wind down’ from the Nature Hikes and many other land based activities we can organize for you.
Vessels
DOMNIK
Custom Dive or Snorkel Boat (Island Hopper...Very popular Dive Boat)
Length Overall30’
Beam12’
Capacity14 Divers Twenty (20) snorkelers or Whale Watchers
PowerSingle 315hp Cummins six cylinder turbo-charged diesel
ToiletsOne (1) complete with face basin
Fresh Water shower on stern/ Dive Platform/Custom Dive Ladder
Fly bridge with controls upstairs as well as downstairs
PASSION
Luxury Tahiti Fountain Pajot Sailing Catamaran
Length Overall75ft
Beam34ft 6”
Draft 2ft board up /7ft Boards down
Capacity60 Pax Whale Watching 60 pax Snorkeling
Power2-140 HP Yanmar Diesels / 2-3:1 Gears
Cruising Speed with engines at 1800rpm—10knots—maximum 12 knots
ToiletsTwo (2) and wash basin
Fresh Water Showers Two showers inside
Auto Pilot assists in freeing captain to concentrate on the whales
Hydrophone on board
Life Jackets on board
MISER’S DREAM
Sixty foot Luxury Power Catamaran Jarrod Built
Length Overall60’
Beam26’
Capacity50 pax whale watching 60 pax snorkeling
PowerTwin 420 hp Yanmar six (6) cylinder Turbo-charged diesels
ToiletsTwo (2)
Fresh Water Showers near stern/ two showers inside
Auto Pilot assists in freeing captain to concentrate on the whales
Anchorage Marine Adventures
Champagne Snorkel Excursion:Everyday from 8:45am
Duration 3 hours
Cost: US$30 pp
Your adventure begins from the moment you board one of our comfortable and spacious vessels where a detailed briefing is given. Once on site our knowledgeable PADI trained Dive Master and Dive Instructors will give you a site orientation and issue equipment provided. Moored in the Soufriere Scotts head MarineReserve the sandy bottom is only a few feet below. The main reef is south of you and about the size of half a football field. Extending from shore, and in places as close as 2ft (60cm) from the surface, on the outer edge the reef forms a dramatic wall of 60ft (18m) depths to the sea floor.
A Myriad of reef fish swim around you, Sergeant Majors in their black yellow and white livery swarm, waterfalls of blue Creole Wrasses stream off the reef into the depths and other schooling reef fish abound. In the depths larger fish may be seen. Follow the guide as he points out the various fish, coral heads and passing larger fish. There is an old shipwreck for those who wish to free-dive, you may see cannon and chain, lying there for 300 years. At the Champagne reef the guide will then take you towards "Champagne bubbles", put your head into the water as you approach and hear the sound of rushing water, it's hot vent gasses being squeezed from the sea floor, warming the reef and creating glistening net curtains of warm bubbles; giving the site it's name. It is one of very few places in the world where you can swim in active volcanic activity.
The second site is called La B'yma local patois word for the “Abyss”, the mooring is in 20ft of water but the edge of the reef drops into a volcano with a charted bottom of 15,000ft, this is a snorkeling into the blue experience, a really dramatic encounter with the sea. On one side the reef, and shallow water, the other the Caribbean and inky black below. One never knows what will swim by, turtles, eagle rays, it is never known.
Each snorkel is a 40 minute duration, all safety equipment is provided and a thorough briefing is given at each site.
Discover Scuba: By Reservation
Duration 4 hours
Cost: US$95 pp single tank; US$120 pp double tank
We invite participants to our meeting room where you will settle down to watch our specially edited PADI dive video outlining all pertinent information about 20-25 minutes. After this is the instructor begins his presentation detailing the fun as well as safety aspects of scuba diving.
The Instructor’s assistant will have already sized students and have all equipment standing ready at the poolside ready for equipment fitting after which students are transferred to the pool.
After a comprehensive briefing with the instructor, students enter pool for skills training. After the first debriefing over a refreshing glass of freshly squeezed local fruit juice, students are guided into the open water where the adventure dive on the reef takes place.
Certified Scuba Diving: Everyday from 8:45am
Duration 4 hours
Cost: US$55 pp single tank; US$75 pp double tank
Scuba Diving magazine has voted Dominica second (2nd) dive destination overall in the Caribbean/Atlantic
category in the 2007 Reader’s Choice Awards, up from number three (3) for the previous two years.
Guests will be escorted to the dive boat and assisted on board. A boat orientation and safety briefing will be conducted before you set off for Dominica’s south-west, the Scotts head/ Soufriere Marine Reserve; an area of outstanding natural beauty above and below the water line.
Once on site a thorough dive briefing will be given and time, depth and returning air- pressure will be discussed. Once you slip in to the turquoise blue your adventure truly begins. Please follow the Dive master, they know the sites and can point out the hard to find and interesting critters.
Upon surfacing, it is strongly suggested you switch tanks immediately. A fruit juice beverage will be served during your surface interval and the boat heads to the second site. Again, a thorough briefing will be given and the dive undertaken.
The dive location chosen will be dependent on level of divers experience, weather conditions as well as conditions at the actual sites. Guests are reminded that this is a certified divers’ dive, if a client has not dived in 2 years or more please take a refresher course.
Single tank dive excursions include all of the details of the Double Tank excursion except for the second dive.
All dives are lead by a qualified and insured PADI Dive Master or Dive Instructor.
Anchorage’s Signature Whale Watching Excursion: Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays from 2pm
Duration 3.5 hours
Cost: US$57.50 pp
Your experience will begin with a detailed informative briefing and visual of a real female sperm whale skeleton (the only one in the Caribbean) in the comfort of our bar lounge.
You will then be escorted to our luxurious 60’ catamaran and taken out on the tranquil Caribbean Sea off Dominica’s west coast in search of the most magnificent animal, “The Sperm Whale”. The largest of the toothed whales, it is the most accomplished mammalian diver.
The sight rate is over 95% and because the animals know us, they voluntarily visit our vessel demonstrating their navigational skills. On most of the trips you must hear them breathe!
Your chances of seeing many other cetacean species including the shy Short Finned Pilot Whales, Humpbacks and the lively Spotted and Frasier’s Dolphins in action are great!
Knowledgeable naturalists with the use of visual will inform you throughout the trip and find the whales using hydrophones and “bird’s eyes” while you enjoy the spectacular scenery of our beautiful mountainous lush island (from tip to toe), which the indigenous people “The Carib Indians” call “Waitikubuli”, meaning – “Tall is her body”.
Anchorage has a very well defined sighting rate for whales and dolphins in Dominica. We at the Anchorage can boast of having the most knowledgeable naturalist on the island who is involved with the conservation and research of these whales. We have partnered with some of the most recognized whale conservation societies such as IFAW – International Fund for animal welfare, CARIBwhale – as well as the GRD – German Research Development society.
What’s on at the Anchorage
Daily Sunset Happy Hours EVERY afternoon from 5:30 – 7:30pm
Sunday Breakfast till noon – Enjoy a leisurely breakfast of sumptuous local and continental menu choices at the seaside every Sunday from 7:30am till noon.
End your Day the Pilates way with Carla every Thursday
Pilates is a system of exercise which tones and strengthens from the core.
Time: 5:30-6:30pm Price: EC$20.00
Thursday Night Seaside BBQ Dinner with Word, Sound & Power
Live Music, Spoken Word, Poetry, Drumming & Open Mic.
A diverse line- up each week. Join us every Thursday from 7:00 -10:30pm
Monthly Birthday Soirée – last Saturday of the month from 7:30pm – 12:00am
Join the Celebration with persons born in that month
Live entertainment provided by CARIJAZZ Muzik
Price: EC$15.00 with a free drink. (In house clients are complimentary)
Anchorage “Signature” Whale Watch Excursions
Join Dominica’s Whale Watch Pioneers on one of our comfortable 60ft or 75ft luxury catamarans.
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday from 1:30 to 5:30 pm.
Regular Price US$57.50; Special Residents/Local Price EC$69.00. Children’s rates 50%
**Added value: Briefing at our Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre, home of the Caribbean’s onlymounted Sperm Whale Skeleton
A Full Service Oceanfront Hotel just minutes south of the city, Roseau offering 32 modern airconditioned rooms, yacht services, pool, seaside restaurant & bar, wireless internet, meeting room, mobile spa services (available upon request). Our Ocean Terrace Restaurant, Carib Bar & Poolside Lounge opens daily for Sumptuous Breakfasts, Lunches & Dinners, hosting & catering functions
Full Service PADI Dive Centre offering Diving, Snorkeling and courses year-round
Boat Charters, Pleasure & Moonlight Party Cruises, Shopping Excursion to Les Saintes
and Inter-island day and overnight trips
Split-Stay Vacations Possible with sister properties:
Harmony Villa in the center & Picard Beach Cottages & Portsmouth Beach Hotel in the north of the island
**NB. Minimum numbers and conditions apply for all tours
Call (767) 448 2638 or email