Looking for a tropical holiday with world-class beaches, verdant landscapes, and rum distilleries? Look no further than the Eastern Caribbean island of Barbados. Barbados is an easy choice for anyone looking for a balmy holiday and sunny weather.
Cruising from Barbados comes with perks like carnivals, pristine beaches, and snorkelling with marine life. To make your trip even more interesting, we have shortlisted some of the best things to do in Barbados. Here is a guide to help you plan your Barbados cruise.
When is the best time to cruise from Barbados?
The best time to cruise from Barbados is between November and March. This is the dry season in Barbados with very little rain and temperatures averaging 30°C. The island, however, is perfect for a Caribbean holiday all year round. Even during the wet season, the showers tend to be short and quickly give way to blue skies.
The period between November and March is also Barbados’ festival season. Large crowds gather to enjoy the Round Barbados Sailing Week, Holetown Festival, Agrofest, Oistins Fish Festival, and Barbados Reggae Festival. There’s nothing quite like a Barbados New Year’s blowout, and many adjacent Caribbean islands celebrate carnivals with live music, parades, and feathers.
Which cruise lines sail from Barbados?
Onboard some of the luxurious cruises from Barbados, you can take advantage of endless opportunities to savour, sip, and play. Some of the finest cruise lines, including MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and P&O Cruises have sailings from Barbados.
If you are looking for opulent comforts, board cruises from operators such as Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, and Seabourn. Enjoy awe-inspiring views of the majestic Caribbean Sea, poolside film screenings under the night sky, and food that will impress the pickiest of critics.
Where do cruises from Barbados go to?
Most Barbados cruises set sail from Bridgetown, the country’s capital. There’s something for everyone in this historic port city, and you can get around easily by taxi or car.
Many cruises departing from Barbados will explore the islands of the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. A popular cruise stop is Phillipsburg, the capital city of the Dutch side of Saint Martin island. St. Maarten, as the Dutch call it, is a Caribbean Island split between France and The Netherlands. In Philipsburg, you can enjoy the azure waters of Great Bay Beach or hop to Indigo Bay for a snorkelling expedition.
Your Caribbean cruise might stop at St. George’s, Grenada’s capital, also known as Spice Island. You’ll find spice trees, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa here. Besides the lush vegetation, you will get to tour the mountains, colonial architecture, and colourful scenery of this landscape.
Next, head to Fort De France, Martinique, a perfect harmony of two cultures set against a volcanic landscape. Discover hidden alleys, museums, boutiques, wrought-iron balconies, and some of the city’s most historic buildings.
Many Caribbean cruises leaving Barbados will make a stop in Colombia’s busy port of Santa Marta. One attraction of Santa Marta is its proximity to Minca, a mountain village popular for its jungle trekking, waterfalls, and fresh coffee. If you have time on your hands go for the Lost City Trek, a venture to a city abandoned half a millennium ago.
What should you do whilst you’re in Barbados?
You will have plenty to do in this tropical paradise with a coastline stretching over 97 km of pristine beaches. You can start by going snorkelling or simply swimming with Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles on the island’s west coast. Snorkelling will be accessible if you are on a private charter or a catamaran tour.
You will have plenty of food options wherever you go. Daphne’s on Paynes Bay Beach, Champers on Rockley Beach, The Tides Barbados in Holetown, Cafe Luna in Oistins, and Brown Sugar in Bridgetown are some options we recommend. Many fine-dining restaurants near the Caribbean offer spectacular views of the sea.
You will experience a medley of flavours with exquisite seafood specialities like conch fritters, Apalachicola Oysters, grilled lobster, pan-seared grouper, pompano, tuna, and stone crabs. Take the Original Bajan Walking Food Tour if you want to eat like a local. Afterwards, if you have any room left, try rum tasting at Mount Gay Distillery, also known as “a rum lover’s paradise.” They’ll take you on a tour of their fully operational rum-making facility.
If you want to venture further into the island, go for Hunte’s Garden, a mere 20-minute drive from Bridgetown. Apart from seeing orchids and lush greenery, you can learn more about the flora and fauna in Barbados. Another nature-filled experience you can do nearby is a visit to the Harrison’s Cave and Animal Flower Cave
If you get a chance, go for a walk around Speightstown, the second largest town in Barbados. The affluent merchants who once inhabited this charming town have left their mark here. You’ll see the old colonial architecture and townhouses from their times. Even though it’s pretty peaceful here, the town has local gift shops, business centres, and fishing camps.
Extend Your Stay?
Given all the activities and adventure Barbados offers, a short day tour will not be enough to savour them all. Barbados has a whole different universe waiting to be discovered.
From excellent snorkelling and delectable cuisine to world-class rum and rich cultural life, this gem of an island has plenty of things to do. Watersport enthusiasts will have a field day windsurfing and jet skiing on Dover Beach. A camping trip to Silver Sands Beach or snorkelling with turtles at Paynes Bay beach is just a few of the reasons to stay a little longer.
This will allow you to visit the most popular places and enjoy the festivals.
