barbados
This island which is located in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean region of the Americas is an island that should definitely be on your radar to visit. It is the most easterly island. It is outside of the principal Atlantic hurricane belt. Dry season is from December to May. The primary language is English. The Barbadian Dollar is the local currency, but you can use USD easily. You will likely get your change in the Barbadian Dollar. The general exchange rate is 2 BBD to 1 USD.
barbados cruise stop
So, you are stopping in Barbados on your cruise, and you want to get the most out of one day on this beautiful island. There are so many options for exploration so I will give you some ideas on top things to do and tell you how we did it!
Cruise port is right in downtown Bridgetown the main city of Barbados. At the cruise terminal there is an awesome Barbados sign for you to snag a photo at with the ships behind it.
things to do in Barbados
Explore Bridgetown
Getting to the main downtown area is about 1 km or 15 minutes walking. In the downtown you can see some artisan shops, Old Town Hall, St. Mary’s Church, National Heroes Square and Independence Square. I think most visitors skip over the town and elect to take some transportation to some of the main sites and beaches.
Mount Gay Rum Distillery
If you are on a cruise you can buy an excursion here that includes the tour and a rum drink and transportation over to this attraction. It is in the opposite direction of the main town. It is located next to Brandon’s Beach which is not one of the main attraction beaches.
Harrison Caves
Harrison Caves are located centrally within Barbados. These limestone caves have deep crystal pools and flowing streams. You can take a tram tour for around $57 per person. Most cruises over a package or two that includes this.
Snorkeling tours
With crystal waters and beautiful fish and incredible turtles need I say more. Turtle bay is a highlight of the area. If you want to get out on the water and see the beauty from below there should be some offers for packages from your cruise ship. Some tours also include a shipwreck.
Beaches
Carlisle Bay is among the most popular beaches to check out in Barbados and is much closer to the cruise terminal. You will find no shortage of restaurants and bars here and crystal blue waters. Another favorite is Bathsheba which is on the opposite side of the island and known for being the best surf location on the island. It has beautiful rock formations. Another beach that is close to the cruise port is Brandon’s Beach which is also located near Mount Gay Rum. Crane Beach is a little further from the cruise but known for its rugged cliffs and pink-tinged sand.
our itinerary
After looking at how close Mount Gay was the cruise terminal, we decided to just walk there and pay for tour through them which cost significantly cheaper than paying for the excursion. We considered just heading over to Brandon Beach which is so close by but after reading about all the hype of Carlisle Bay we decided we should check it out. After we were done with our tour of the distillery and we bought our souvenir rum, we easily were able to catch a taxi to Carlisle Bay. We soaked in the sun and enjoyed the beach and then started heading back along the beach to Boatyard Club beach bar. After grabbing a drink there, we proceeded to walk back from the beach to the cruise terminal. This walk took about 35 minutes and brought us through Independence Square, National Heroes Square and through some of the artisan shops. We were able to snag a picture of us at the Barbados sign at the cruise terminal before jumping back aboard.
Like always with a cruise, you feel like there is so much to explore than time you had for it but honestly, we had a wonderful time and think this island should be on your wish list!
